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BA (Honours) Fine Art

Abstract art works in gallery
Year of Entry 2023/24
BA (Honours)

Fine Art

Full-time Art and design

Establish and refine your own individual creative approach to contemporary practice through risk taking, experimentation, critical thinking and practical skills.


Everything you need to know...

What is the fee? Home: £9,250 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
How long will I study? 3 / 4 Years
Where will I study? City Campus
What are the entry requirements? 112 UCAS Points
What is the UCAS code? W102
When do I start? September 2023
Placement year available? Yes

Employability

95% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating (2019/20 Graduate Outcomes Survey).

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Course summary

  • Develop your skills as an artist in state-of-the-art studios and workshops.
  • Work with curators to exhibit your work and become part of the creative community.
  • Learn about contemporary art and culture from leading experts.

This course develops artists and creative thinkers to attain practical skills while developing your critical and theoretical knowledge of fine art. In the studios, you'll explore and experiment through practice in a vibrant environment. We celebrate the breadth of possibilities contemporary art offers, supporting the development of the creative, critical and analytical skills needed for a range of professional art-related careers.

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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Student View

Watch student Frankie Hodson talk about what it’s like to study on this course.

How you learn

Watch senior lecturer Gary Simmonds talk about this course.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This interdisciplinary course is based on your individual art practice in studios and workshops. Your work will be supported by the development of a theoretical and historical understanding of art. You'll also learn how to exhibit your work and develop relationships with industry professionals – preparing you for a fulfilling career in the arts. 

You’ll learn through

  • practical workshops
  • lectures and seminars
  • group and individual tutorials
  • exhibitions and presentations
  • study trips
  • independent study
  • demonstrations
  • applied industry (live) projects
  • Blackboard online learning portal                                                             
  • presentations and feedback sessions
  • peer group activities

Take a look at the department's Instagram and TikTok to see what innovations and creations our students have been working on. For content directly from our BA Fine Art sudents please visit the course Instagram.

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

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a single or multiple work placement/s in between your second and third years. Placements give you real-world experience to prepare you for your future career. Previous students have worked in galleries with practising artists and in schools, while others have set up their own artist residency in Greece. You may also be able to work or study abroad with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing scheme.

Live projects

You'll have many opportunities to take part in live projects, including exhibitions and events in the public domain. In the second and third year of the course, you’ll exhibit your work in a gallery, open to the public.

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 could include workshops, conferences or visits to practitioners’ studios, museums and special collections. You may further enhance your studies with optional field trips, though these will incur additional costs. 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.

Networking opportunities

As our academic staff actively work in the professional art world, you can benefit from their connections and networks. You'll be able to attend regular guest lectures with leading artists, curators and thinkers. We have strong links with many local venues including the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Site Gallery and artist-run studios and galleries such as Bloc Projects and S1, (some of which were set up by our graduates). These connections will help you gain experience by forging relationships and attending private views and events.

 


Future careers

This course prepares you for future study and careers in

  • art
  • curation
  • film direction
  • production
  • editing
  • set design
  • prop-making
  • novel writing
  • scriptwriting
  • art direction
  • animation
  • art therapy

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.

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Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

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Equipment and facilities

You'll have access to a wide variety of facilities across the university campuses – including a 24-hour learning centre, Students’ Union, cafes and eateries, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces and more. You'll be based in a fully equipped and purpose-designed studio, with state-of-the-art facilities including

  • painting and sculpture facilities
  • dedicated TV, film and photography studios
  • industry-relevant hardware and software
  • performance spaces
  • a creative media centre
  • professional galleries
  • print, wood, metal and ceramic workshops
  • 3D printing

Learn more about your department

Art and Design facilities tour - shared workshops

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

Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 112

This must include at least 64 points from two A levels, or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject, such as Art and Design). For example:

  • BBC at A Level.
  • DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.

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

GCSE

  • English Language or literature at grade C or 4

You will also require a portfolio of creative design work available for consideration at interview

• 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 - merit in art and design

If English is not your first language, you will need 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.

Portfolio review

If your application is successful you will receive an email inviting you to submit your portfolio by email and submission details by an online google form.

The portfolio helps us understand whether we are able to offer you a place on the course you’ve applied for. Your UCAS statement and portfolio provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your creative experience, potential ability and enthusiasm for the course you’ve applied for.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

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

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

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
Module: Art Context 1 Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Art Practice One Credits: 100 Assessment: Practical

Year 2

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Art Context 2 Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Art Practice Two Credits: 100 Assessment: Coursework
Optional modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Art Exchange Credits: 60 Assessment: Coursework

Year 3

Optional modules
Module Credits
Module: Placement Year Credits: -

Final year

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Art & Critical Practice 3 Credits: 120 Assessment: Coursework

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. 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 2023/24 is £15,860 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

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Additional costs for Art and design courses (PDF, 272.7KB)

Legal information

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

 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

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