BA (Hons) Fine Art

Why study Fine Art at ARU?

• Join a course that scored 92% for “Freedom of students to express ideas, opinions and beliefs” in the National Student Survey 2024.
• Study on a course whose third-year students won the Freeland Painting Prize in 2023 and 2024.
• Get hands-on in your own studio space from the very start of your course.
• Join a school that recognises and invests in up-and-coming talent – we award an annual prize of £3,000 to the student with the best graduate work to support their ongoing practice.
• Attend our Fine Art Research Unit's lecture series to discover contemporary debates in fine art practice.

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.

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.