You are here:
Home »
Courses »
Fine Art, BA (Hons)
Fine Art BA(Hons)
The Fine Art course offers a broad introduction to the dynamic and exciting world of contemporary art practice. All students are allocated an individual workspace. Fine Art at UCLan was highly rated in the National Student Satisfaction survey 2011, coming third from the top nationally in new universities. Students can work in traditional or new media-from painting to performance art. You will be able to access a broad range of facilities including dedicated wood, metal and plaster workshops, specialist screen and relief print workshops, film/video, photographic and digital media work stations and facilities. There is an emphasis on experimental and creative practice. You will be expected to develop ideas and explore media as the course progresses. Work in the studios is supported by tutorial group teaching, a series of lectures from visiting artists and a professional practice programme to prepare for life after graduation.
240 points at A2 plus interview with portfolio. Students enter the course from Foundation Art and Design and other pre degree art and design courses, sixth form colleges and schools. All students are interviewed with a folder of artwork. The interview focuses on your interests and ambitions in the visual arts, eg, exhibitions you have seen.
Programme Spec:
To download the Programme Specification for this course, please click here.
The BA(Hons) Fine Art course covers all areas of contemporary fine art practice including painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, animation, video, sound, performance, drawing, site based projects, illustration and artists' books.
Year 1 First year projects are designed to introduce students to research methods, creative practice and experimental work in use of materials and drawing. This is taught through workshop inductions, projects, technical demonstrations and studio practice. Course work can be made in any medium and you do not need to have prior experience of these before joining the course. All students are provided with individual workspaces. First year students take an optional module and an introductory course in the History and Theory of Art.
Year 2 The emphasis in Year Two is on the development of your own practice. You are allocated an individual tutor and work as part of a group for seminar sessions and studio tutorials. You can opt to do a placement and work on exhibition projects. Contextual Studies is closely related to your studio work and include a series of talks from contemporary artists on aspects of art practice.
Year 3
Final year students develop their own practice towards the end of year public and professional degree exhibition. The studio course is organised through a variety of presentations, tutorials and group crits. Work in the studios runs alongside a series of professional practice workshops looking at areas that artists work in after graduation; these include artists' residences, how to apply for an exhibition, arts funding and project management. Students can take either a taught module or dissertation in the History of Theory of Art.
Course at a glance
This course provides a broad introduction to the dynamic and exciting area of contemporary Fine Art practice. Fine Art students can access a broad range of facilities including dedicated wood, metal and plaster workshops, specialist screen and relief print workshops, and video, photographic and digital media workstations and facilities. You will be expected to develop ideas and explore media as the course progresses. Work in the studios is supported by tutorial groups, a series of lectures from visiting artists and a professional practice programme to prepare for life after graduation. The course places an emphasis on an approach to making art which is experimental and innovative. As a student you can choose to specialise or work in a broad-based way. There is no preferred 'house style'. We encourage students to work independently and learn new skills as your ideas develop to a professional level.
Year 1
Fine Art Studio Practice 1 (C)
Ideas and Images in Modern Art (C)
Drawing (O)
Fine Art Studio Practice 2 (C)
Printmaking (O)
Video and New Media Screenings (O)
(C) Compulsory
(O) Optional
Year 2
Fine Art Image and Context Project Development (C)
Investigating Contemporary Practice (C)
Fine Art Studio Practice (C)
The Creative Practitioner (C)
(C) Compulsory
Year 3
Fine Art Studies (C)
Postmodern Practice (O)
Dissertation (O)
Degree Project Public exhibition/ Presentation (C)
Employability Skills for the Creative Practitioner (C)
The large and well-lit Fine Art studios are located over all three floors of the Hanover Building on the City Campus. The facilities include dedicated wood, metal and plaster workshops, specialist screen and relief print workshops, and video, photographic and digital media work stations and facilities. Students have access to a dedicated exhibition space, the mac suites, editing facilities and film studios in the Media Factory. Fine Art students work in close proximity to students studying on the faculty's Fashion, Media, Design and Performing Arts courses.
Assessment includes exhibitions, presentations, seminars and written work. Assessment of the final module is based on the degree exhibition. Students prepare an illustrated presentation portfolio based on their work over the final year.
We aim to create the perfect blend of knowledge, practical experience and relevance to equip UCLan graduates with the confidence and skills they need to get ahead in the world of work.
We have great links with employers including household names such as Sony, BAE Systems and Apple. We also have links with the smaller companies in the region and offer help and assistance to more than 1,000 of these – with many of our graduates staying in the region it is important we develop these relationships.
There are lots of projects for students to get involved in. Year 2 students can choose the Creative Practitioner module, which helps with future employability. Our students also spend time in placements in schools, community projects, and other key areas across the creative industries. A number of our students, for example, were recently involved in the production of a new feature film directed by the artist Shezad Dawood, where they spent time working in areas such as props, set design and music.
Students are able to study abroad in Year 2, with most students choosing this option spending a semester in Connecticut. There are also annual research visits to Germany, and the course is developing links with independent galleries in Berlin to provide students with the chance to gain international experience. Initiatives such as the Global Echo Exhibition have also provided our students with the opportunity to exhibit their work internationally.
The course trains students to work as creative practitioners, and graduates of the department pursue careers as artists and in business throughout the UK and abroad. Other career paths include artists’ residencies, community arts, graphic design, museums and galleries, web design, arts education, research fellowships, professional arts organisations, publishing, TV and radio, journalism, theatre set design, illustration, conference and events management, and curatorship.
Graduates from the BA Fine Art and BA Drawing and Image Making courses have exhibited work internationally in major exhibitions, commercial, independent and public galleries in London, Germany, Japan and the United States. The reputation of the course goes a long way beyond the Northwest region. Former students include the award-winning and internationally renowned land artist Andy Goldsworthy. For our current students the climax of the course is the Art and Design degree show. This is a public exhibition of work held in the Fine Art studios in June. It attracts visitors and talent scouts from the creative industries, arts organisations and galleries in London and the Northwest. Each year it generates a tremendous response from the press across the region. These are some examples of student work from the Fine Art and Drawing and Image Making course degree shows over the past few years.
The photo to the right is of Fine Art Film Maker Paul Bratt's work. He graduated in 2008 and his highly individualistic films and animations feature handmade puppets and marionettes. Pauls work has continued to attract critical acclaim. They were featured in the prestigious 2008 New Contemporaries exhibition at Rochelle School in London and the Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art alongside the work of up and coming international and UK based artists. New Contemporaries is highly competitive and Paul’s work was selected from 1400 entrants to the exhibition.
Our graduates are working a wide variety of fields as artists selling their works in galleries. One former student has been an artist in residence in China and then New York; another had a commission from Kenzo’s Paris fashion house while other still have gone onto careers in illustration web design, curatorship of galleries and museums, education. Some of our students have undertaken further study at Masters or PhD level.
Sarah Watson graduated from the BA Drawing and Image Making course in June 2010. Her second year project based on an ‘Invisible Car’ featured a used Skoda which disappeared against the backdrop of the Fine Art studios. Sarah’s car generated huge interest and was featured in the international news networks, BBC online, The Sunday Mirror and hello magazine.
Michael Walker said: ‘The workshop and technical assistance at UCLan are really good… my knowledge of contemporary art and art in general is really well developed. Not only are we inspired by the people that work here, you are also inspired by the other students as well. A creative environment makes you more creative yourself.’
Rachel Stuchberry said: ‘I’m a traditional artist but the tutors have encouraged me to move away from that and experiment a lot more.’
Lucy Huartson said: ‘UCLan is an amazing university and you get a lot of support. I have enjoyed it and had a good experience.’
The 2011 National Student Survey placed Fine Art as the top course in UCLan for student satisfaction, third best nationally for Fine Art amongst all universities, and second best nationally amongst the new universities. The feedback from students regarding teaching input and resources was extremely positive.
From foundation courses through to world-leading research degrees, you can study a wide range of subject areas at UCLan. Whether you want to develop your knowledge in a subject you enjoy or gain further qualifications to enhance your career, at UCLan there are numerous progression routes for you to follow.
The standard fee for UK/EU students studying this course is below. For further information including the availability of bursaries/scholarships or student financial support please view our Fees and Finance pages.
£9000 per year.
If you are interested in applying for this course, our comprehensive How to Apply pages will guide you through the process. Here at UCLan, our aim is to encourage you to develop your potential and we offer a flexible approach to admissions, which reflects our commitment to all those who would benefit from our courses.
UCAS
UCAS Code: W101
Short Form of Course:
BA/FA
Institution Code Name: CLANC
Institution Code: C30
Campus Site: U
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, United Kingdom
