Why study this course?
The Fine Art BA (including foundation year) BA (Hons) is a four-year degree with an in-built foundation year that will give you the chance to explore a range of artistic directions before going on to specialise specifically in areas of fine art during your subsequent years of study.
More about this course
A foundation year course is a great route into a fine art degree, especially if you don’t meet the necessary requirements to enter a three-year undergraduate degree in fine art or painting.
In your foundation year you’ll undertake intensive studio workshops that will allow you to develop a range of skills and techniques that you will be able to take with you into the following years of your fine art degree.
During these workshops you’ll have the opportunity to explore observational drawing, creative drawing, painting, conceptual modelling, practical making, performance, colour, materials, process, collage, composition curating, exhibiting and more. You’ll also work on interpretative projects that will enable you to establish your own artistic style and forge a clear direction.
Your tutors will introduce you to the skills and work ethic you’ll need to study fine art at undergraduate level and also encourage you to be experimental in your approach to fine art projects.
Towards the end of your foundation year, you’ll work on subject-specific projects that will strengthen your independence as an artist and allow you to further show off your creativity. You’ll also attend a series of lectures and seminars that frame creative practice within historical, contemporary, conceptual and cultural contexts.
As part of the course, you’ll have regular opportunities to present your work – both as works in progress and finished projects – to your peers and tutors. This will allow you to gain feedback on your work, hone in on your individual objectives and develop your own creative style as you progress through the course.
After your foundation year (year 0), you will study the same modules and content as students on the Fine Art BA (Hons) degree.
Fine art is a hugely broad and popular area of the arts but should you decide you want to specialise in a more specific subject following your foundation year, we will be able to facilitate this.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 0 modules include:
Critical & Contextual Studies: Foundation (core, 30 credits)
Formats (core, 30 credits)
Project (core, 30 credits)
Techniques (core, 30 credits)
Year 1 modules include:
Critical & Contextual Studies 1 (Art) (core, 30 credits)
Project Work 1 (core, 30 credits)
Techniques: Fine Art (core, 30 credits)
Visual Intelligence (core, 30 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Critical & Contextual Studies 2 (Art) (core, 30 credits)
Methods and Enquiry 1 (core, 30 credits)
Professional Practice 1: Fine Art (core, 30 credits)
Project Work 2 (core, 30 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Critical & Contextual Studies 3: Dissertation (Art) (core, 30 credits)
Major Project (core, 30 credits)
Methods and Enquiry 2 (core, 30 credits)
Professional Practice 2: Fine Art (core, 30 credits)
What is a degree with foundation year?
This is a four-year degree course with a built-in foundation year (Year 0). A foundation year at our School of Art, Architecture and Design is the starting point for many of our art, architecture and design students and acts as an introduction to the wide range of creative practices explored within the University. You may join with a clear idea of the subject you intend to study or you may use it as an opportunity to explore a number of different directions or experiment with your creativity. A foundation year degree is also a great choice if you don’t meet the necessary entry requirements for the standard undergraduate degree. You’ll graduate with a full undergraduate degree with the same title and award as those who studied the three-year course.
