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BA (Hons) Placement year available

Fine Art

Develop your practice, explore and experiment with new processes and media, and engage with contemporary fine art practice and theory.

At ARU, studying Fine Art allows you to experiment with your creativity, explore materials and processes, and discover which media best communicate your ideas.

We encourage creative risk-taking, and you’ll have to the chance to explore many new practices and artistic platforms, including photography, printmaking, performance art, film and video, digital media, installation and site-specific approaches. Take a look at some of our students' work.

Our tutors, who are all professional artists, and expert technicians will be on hand to support you.

Why ARU?
  • Join a course that scored 92% for ‘Freedom of students to express ideas, opinions and beliefs’ in the National Student Survey 2024

  • Get hands-on in your own studio space from day one

  • We offer an annual prize of £3,000 for the student with the best graduate work

  • Benefit from our Fine Art Research Unit's lecture series

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • Fine Art Practice 1
  • Critical Histories of Art
  • Ways of Seeing
  • Into ARU
  • Approaches to Drawing *
  • Experimental Practice *
  • Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
Year 2
  • Fine Art Practice 2 (core module)
  • Critical Issues and Debates
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
  • Printmaking Ideas and Processes *
  • Spatial Practices *
  • Archive: Creative Futures *
  • Exhibitions in Context *
Year 3
  • Fine Art Major Project
  • Research Project *
  • Working in the Creative Industries *
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course.

Year 1
  • Foundation in Art and Design
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall.

Placement year
  • Work Placement - Cambridge School of Art
Module details

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Facilities

As well as our dedicated fine art studio with your own workspace, you’ll have use of facilities including:

  • Ruskin Gallery, a professional digital art gallery
  • life drawing studio
  • dedicated Mac and PC suites with the latest software
  • specialist printmaking workshop including etching, screen-printing, and lithography
  • 3D workshops for physical media including wood, plastic, metal and clay
  • comprehensive photography and media facilities
  • Future Lab, a digital workshop with a variety of computer-aided manufacturing machines.

Careers

Our BA (Hons) Fine Art degree opens the door to many different creative and professional opportunities.

As a student at ARU, you’ll have opportunities to exhibit your work, and develop professional skills in curating, group work, event management, and marketing and promotion. Our modules cover professional practice and include live briefs, and there’s careers and employability support on offer from day one. You can be sure you’ll develop skills and experience you need to stand out.

As a graduate you might work in fine art practice, community arts projects, prop and set making, art therapy, or museum and gallery administration and education. Or you could pursue creative roles in advertising, art direction, marketing, digital content production, as well as lecturing and teaching.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us. You might also choose continue your studies on our MA Fine Art degree. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can evidence this experience on your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Entry requirements

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