BA (Honours) Fine Art with Foundation Year

Year of Entry 2025/26
Fine Art

BA (Honours)

Fine Art with Foundation Year

Full-time Art and design

Harness your curiosity, imagination and inventiveness to explore the ideas and possibilities of Fine Art – developing your own creative approach to contemporary art practice with an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: See fees section below
    International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    4/5 Years

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Bookmark

    What are the entry requirements?

    80 UCAS Points

  • Checkmark

    What is the UCAS code?

    A011

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025

  • Avatar

    Placement year available?

    Yes


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Course summary

  • Join an interdisciplinary community of practising artists whose work investigates the present and shapes the future  
  • Grow your confidence to make art in an inclusive environment which encourages diverse perspectives 
  • Experiment with materials and processes, taking risks, investigating unfamiliar concepts and testing new ideas
  • Collaborate in curating exhibitions, events and screenings and grow your networks locally, nationally and internationally

If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Fine Art, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.

Studying Fine Art develops the imagination, practical and critical skills needed for an ever-changing world. This course will help you develop your individual art practice and build your networks to open up future professional opportunities.


Creative UK membership

We are members of Creative UK, which means our art and design students are also members until they graduate. With 10,000 members in its network, Creative UK represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries, advocating on the issues that matter the most to creative communities.

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View our students' work

View our gallery of student work and learn more about the exciting projects they've been working on this year.

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How you learn

At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.

This foundation course brings together students across all our art and design courses as one creative community. You’ll work and learn together in a dedicated studio space and have access to our top-class facilities.

Based in our bespoke studios, workshops, and digital spaces, you’ll become part of a dynamic and collaborative learning community. Together, you’ll undertake creative adventures, explore possibilities, and challenge conventions.   

Through our teaching, we help you unlock your potential to contribute as a creative thinker and doer and apply your knowledge to art practice, culture and society.

You learn through:

  • Studio practice    
  • Workshops    
  • Technical demonstrations    
  • Group and individual tutorials   
  • Creative reviews   
  • Lectures
  • Guest talks 
  • External visits and field trips   

Key themes

Your foundation year will help you get to grips with University life as you study alongside a creative community of Art and Design students. Expect to be hands-on in the studio, learning through doing as you explore the creative process with collaborative projects, workshops and field trips.

Find out more about your foundation year.

Throughout the course, you’ll develop your making and thinking skills using a diverse range of creative processes, media and software – and you’ll explore ideas and practices through workshops led by skilled tutors and technicians. 

Activities include painting, print, sculpture, installation, photography, moving image, performance and interaction, art writing, site-specific and socially-engaged/participatory work, and other forms of contemporary art practice. 

You’ll learn different methods for research, understanding how artists work and think, and how research supports the development of contemporary practice. By collaborating with others, you’ll build confidence in communicating ideas and sharing your work with audiences. 

At every step, we’ll help you position your practice in relation to real-world opportunities and challenges, so you can create work for particular contexts and participants through exhibitions, screenings and other live projects with external partners.

Course support

We’re a dedicated, qualified, and highly experienced teaching team, with world-leading research and recognised professional creative reputations, who take the time to get to know you.  

Throughout your learning journey, you’ll experience a range of dedicated personal, academic and career development support, such as:

  • Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones and online resources to help with planning and structuring your assignments
  • Access to office and studio space, expert workshops, freelancing opportunities and a vast business network to tap into
  • Industry-specific employability activities and careers support for up to five years after you graduate

The course develops strategies of attention, empathy, imagination, courage and resilience in the face of an uncertain future. Our course prioritises care as a critical activity – care for global human contexts and for the more-than-human world.

Course leaders and tutors

Joanne Lee
Joanne Lee
Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design

I am a photographer, writer, researcher and publisher with a curiosity about everyday things and the ordinary places in which I live and work.

Applied learning

Your course has been designed to embrace real-world challenges and provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to be successful. 

We do this by developing your expertise in collaboration with the professional creative and cultural sectors – with commercial and creative practitioners, commissioners, clients and arts organisations. 

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements before your final year. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. 

Previous students have worked in galleries with practising artists and in schools, while others have set up their own artist residency. You may also be able to work or study abroad with the possibility of funding through the Turing scheme.

Live projects

Take part in live projects in creative and critical arts practice where you work with external partners to respond to real-world challenges, projects and opportunities. 

Field trips

We offer opportunities to go on study trips and visits in the UK and abroad – with free travel and accommodation for all mandatory field trips. These might include workshops, conferences or visits to practitioners’ studios, cultural institutions and special collections. 

There’s also the option to enhance your studies further with our optional field trips. Recently, the course has visited the Venice Biennale and Berlin. These trips are valuable for the experience of seeing work first-hand and understanding the professional world of contemporary fine art.

Students can also apply for funding through the Turing Scheme to support a study exchange or placement outside of the UK. 

Networking opportunities

Many of our academics are professional art practitioners and world-renowned researchers who help you understand and access thriving art networks.

With a diverse set of guest lectures, you’ll hear first-hand advice from leading artists, curators and thinkers. Previous guests have included: 

  • Uthra Rajgopal, winner of the prestigious Art Fund New Collecting Award 
  • ArtsCatalyst, a Sheffield-based visual arts organisation
  • Harun Morrison, artist, writer, and former trustee of the Black Cultural Archive
  • Shepherd Manyika, an artist-educator working with leading UK Art Galleries
  • Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad, a social designer whose work fosters collaborative culture 

Exhibitions

You’ll exhibit your work in prestigious public galleries and exhibitions, such as The Post Hall Gallery, the Millenium Galleries, Bloc Gallery and S1 Art Space.

At the end of your final year, you’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your work in our annual Future Now Festival of Creativity – to which we invite VIP guests, employers, businesses, influencers, friends and family and the general public. The festival is widely attended and is hosted in the city centre. You’ll also be able to curate and exhibit your work on our online Gallery.


Future careers

This course prepares you for careers and future study in: 

  • Art practice
  • Research 
  • Curation 
  • Museums and galleries 
  • Creative and critical writing 
  • Publishing 
  • Film direction 
  • Production and editing 
  • Set design 
  • Prop-making 
  • Art direction 
  • Animation 
  • Music and media industries
  • Teaching 
  • Art therapy

Our graduates exhibit in diverse galleries and festivals, have been nominated for the Turner Prize, Jarman Award, Oscars and BAFTAs, written and starred in TV series, released critically-acclaimed music and published significant works of fiction.  

Our graduates also lead major art galleries, teach and research at UK and international higher education institutions.

Previous graduates who have become successful in their field include:

  • Martin Clark, director of Camden Arts Centre
  • Kid Acne, internationally renowned artist and illustrator
  • George Shaw, Turner Prize nominee 2011
  • Rosalind Nashashibi, Turner Prize nominee 2017
  • Nick Park, Oscar-winning creator of Wallace and Gromit
  • Hannah Duraid, The Great Escape Game entrepreneur
  • Dawn Shadforth, British music video and documentary director

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Take a look around the shared workshops in the Department of Art & Design at Sheffield Hallam University.

Equipment and facilities

We strive for an inclusive and equitable studio environment where divergent ideas, histories, and practices are encouraged to thrive.  

Our fully equipped and purpose-designed studios, workshops and facilities include state-of-the-art equipment, such as: 

  • Painting and sculpture spaces
  • Project space 
  • Dedicated TV and film studios
  • Photography studios  
  • Industry-relevant hardware and software  
  • Performance spaces  
  • Creative media centre  
  • Professional gallery  
  • Printmaking 
  • Wood, metal and mixed media workshops
  • Ceramics workshops  
  • Casting and metalwork facilities
  • 3D printing 

You'll also have access to a wide variety of facilities across the university campuses – including a 24-hour learning centre, Students’ Union, cafés and eateries, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces and more. 

Media Gallery

Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 112-120

This must include at least 32 points from two A Levels or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:

  • BBC-BBB at A Level
  • DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • Merit overall from a T level Qualification
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies

GCSE

  • English Language at grade C or 4

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 18 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in a media-related programme, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each skill, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre- sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score. As part of our selection process, we may request a portfolio or other evidence of your ability.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Foundation Projects — Developing Creative Practice
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Foundation Skills & Methods
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 2

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Developing Fine Art: Progressing Ideas And Expanding Practice
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Introducing Fine Art: Ideas, Materials And Processes
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 3

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Contexts For Fine Art: Working With Sites, Communities, Audiences And Participants
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Experiments In Fine Art: Curiosity, Testing, Positioning
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Future Now: Collaboration In Action
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Study Abroad - Creative Industries
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 4

Optional modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Placement Year
Credits -
Assessment
Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Challenging Fine Art: Deepening Creative And Critical Investigation
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Presenting Fine Art: Resolving Ideas And Making Public
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Ordinary Fine Art Studio
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fees for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2025/26 are regulated by the UK government and are yet to be confirmed. For an indication, our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

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Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

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Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (PDF, 219.2KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

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