BA (Hons) Fine Art

What it's all about?

HE, full-time, day-time

This broad-based course will help you to develop your work with a high level of professional awareness. It offers an expansive and critically informed approach to fine-art practice, encouraging synergie between practice and theory through both the course modules and the delivery of our unique integrated practice/theory teaching model.

Embracing the diversity of 21st-century art practices, the course explores Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Lens-Based Media or Digital, Installation, Performance, and Social and Public Art.

As part of our growing creative community, you'll be based in studios and workshops at our Blenheim Walk Building, and will have the opportunity to work with professional artists. You'll also receive ongoing support from staff who have a wide range of practical and academic expertise. Throughout the course, you'll learn how to work professionally as an artist, with elements of the course involving taking part in real projects in a range of public and social situations.

Mature students (21+)

We welcome mature students.

Course content
First year

Here, you'll have the opportunity to acquire and develop new techniques, processes, skills, approaches and understanding. As well as advancing your art practice, these will prepare you for developing your work in response to different contexts and environments.

Modules include Fine Art Practices 1, Fine Art and Identity, Fine Art & Social Context, Fine Art Practices 2, Fine Art & Site, Personal Professional Development 1 and one elective.

Second year

You'll reinforce the development of your work with supporting modules in contemporary and professional practice, focusing on professional development and artists' strategies.

Modules include Practice and Communication, Contemporary Practice 1, Professional Practice 1, Practice and Material, Contemporary Practice 2, Professional Practice 2, and one elective.

Third year

You'll establish a critical position as an emerging professional artist, undertaking an agreed project in the form of a public exhibition and a dissertation.

Modules include negotiated study, dissertation and final project.

Assessment

Assessment is coursework-based.

Real-life briefs

In addition to their own course-driven projects, previous groups of students have created exhibitions and taken part in arts events outside the College as part of live professional practice.

Resources

You will be able to access our specialist workshops after the appropriate induction. These workshops include print-making (including textiles), ceramics, clay/plaster, photography, computers and multimedia, wood, metal and plastics.

Study visits

Students may be invited on cultural visits to galleries, exhibitions and events of interest appropriate to the course. Previously, these have included visits abroad and one-day excursions within the UK.

Progression & career opportunities

You must successfully pass each year in order to progress to the next year. Graduates in Fine Art undertake a variety of careers, including independent art practice, community arts, curating and teaching.