BA (Honours) Fine Art
UCAS code
W102Attendance
Full-time
Three years full-timeAt a glance
Learn how to develop exciting approaches to your fine art practice, as well as the ability to operate as a professional artist, on a course with a reputation for graduates who are successful in the cultural industries. You can take advantage of the latest creative facilities, studios and workshops and learn from fine art tutors who are nationally and internationally renowned artists.
Key points
Develop an art practice that is exciting, current and critically aware.
Benefit from tutors who are practising artists of national and international renown.
Develop skills using the excellent range of workshops, studios and facilities available.
Prepare for an artistic career within the cultural industries with practical, theoretical and professional modules.
What is fine art?
Fine art is a subject that forms relationships with many different areas of knowledge including making technologies, media (for example painting, sculpture, photography, video, performance), research practices and arenas of dissemination (such as exhibiting), while maintaining an essential relationship to fine art as an historic and contemporary discourse. Critically engaged with the world, fine art asks questions without a need to provide answers.
About this course
Explore all aspects of contemporary art practice on this dynamic and exciting course, with its long history of producing students who are successful within the cultural industries.
We encourage you to consider and question existing art practices while developing your own approaches, helping you to quickly become self-directed and independent. You are encouraged to take creative risks and to experiment with different media, all within the context of the contemporary art world.
You develop your understanding of the relationship between the process of making and the context of showing by exhibiting your work and reflecting on your own and others work. The study of art context and theory constitutes a key part of the course, as does developing your ability to operate as a professional artist.
Our dedicated team of fine art tutors are all practising artists of national and international repute. Academic excellence is also supported by a large team of experienced technical specialists.
As a student at the Sheffield Institute of Arts, you have access to a huge range of creative resources to experiment and engage with. You can take advantage of facilities such as dedicated studios state-of-the-art hardware and software TV, film and photography studios a creative media centre performance spaces a gallery well-equipped workshops 3D printing for rapid prototyping.
The course has a simple structure with three modules a year. These are developed at each level, offering increasing levels of challenge as the course progresses.
The studio module asks that you spend the majority of your time devoted to making and developing work in our dedicated studios.
The art context and theory module supports this by developing your critical understanding and awareness.
The professional art practice module supports and develops your professional skills to help you operate within the cultural industries.
Throughout the course there are field trips to galleries and events nationally and internationally. Year two also offers the opportunity of an exchange with an institution in Europe, America or Australia under the Erasmus scheme.
We also run a weekly lecture programme showcasing invited artists of international standing.
Key areas of study
Practical workshops can include drawing installation painting performance photography printmaking sculpture artists publications film and video electronic and digital media sound.
Associated careers
Career paths could include artist curator writer arts administration technician actor film director producer editor sound recording lighting camera work set designer prop-maker comedian novelist scriptwriter art director animator musician teacher art therapist further study.
A number of our graduates have become highly successful and include
Nick Park, Oscar-winning creator of Wallace and Gromit
George Shaw, Turner Prize nominee 2011
Dawn Shadforth, director and winner of MTV awards, working with artists such as Kylie Minogue, Oasis and Bjφrk
Rosalind Nashashibi, the first woman to win the Beck's Futures art prize and represent Scotland at Venice Biennale
Course content
Year one modules
fine art studio 1 studio practice research, production and critical evaluation art context 1: art history and theory professional art practice 1: professional practice sessions
Year two modules
fine art studio 2: studio practice, research, production and critical evaluation professional exhibitions of work art context 2: theoretical study options (for example art and philosophy, or art and the body) professional art practice 2: professional practice sessions
Year three modules
fine art studio 3: studio practice, research, production and critical evaluation final degree show art context 3: dissertation, seminar presentation or placement professional art practice 3: professional practice conference
Assessment
exhibition studio work essays assessed presentations
Entry requirements
2014 entry requirements
A portfolio of creative design work available for consideration at interview and GCSE English at grade C or above, plus one of the following
260 points including art and design and at least 160 points from two GCE/VCE A levels, or BTEC National qualifications, or one AVCE double award. AS levels and Key Skills may count towards these points.
Scottish Highers 260 tariff points from at least four Highers to include a relevant subject
Access an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in an art and design-related programme from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate
Foundation Diploma pass in art and design
If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Download our application guidance to ensure you understand the selection process and how to produce a strong application and portfolio.
We are looking for students with
a passion for and awareness of contemporary art
self-motivation
creativity and visual awareness
a portfolio that includes sketchbooks and project work
the ability to develop ideas
2013 entry requirements
A portfolio of creative design work available for consideration at interview and GCSE English at grade C or above, plus one of the following
260 points including art and design and at least 160 points from two GCE/VCE A levels, or BTEC National qualifications, or one AVCE double award. AS levels and Key Skills may count towards these points.
Fees
Home and EU students
2013/14 academic year
For 2013 entry, mandatory UK field trips are included in the course fee.
International students
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,680 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 a year
How to apply
You apply for this course through UCAS.
Contact details
For more information or to check the progress of your application phone +44 (0)114 225 5555, fax +44 (0)114 225 2167, e-mail admissions@shu.ac.uk