Program Overview

Fine Art - BA (Hons)

Overview

Fine Art - BA (Hons) is a practice-based course that offers students the opportunity to develop their artistic skills and knowledge in a supportive and stimulating environment. The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of fine art practices, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, performance, lens-based media, ceramics, and history and theory.

Course Details

• Award: Bachelor of Arts with Honours
• Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• School: Belfast School of Art
• Campus: Belfast campus
• UCAS code: W100
• Start date: September 2025

Career Opportunities

With this degree, you could become:

• Artist
• Art Writer
• Curator
• Artist in Residence
• Gallery Assistant
• Printmaking Technician
• Assistant Technician

Graduates from this course are now working for:

• The MAC
• Arts Council of Northern Ireland
• Arts Council of Ireland
• Belfast Print Workshop
• Seacourt Print Workshop
• Breakthru Films
• Warsaw
• Trademark Films
• London

Course Structure

The course is divided into three years, with each year building on the previous one to provide a comprehensive understanding of fine art practices.

Year 1

• History and Theory 1 (Study Skills): Introduces art historical, theoretical, and contextual study and its relationship to studio practice.
• Studio Practice 1: Introduces students to the course and to the culture and practice of Fine Art.
• History and Theory 2 (Histories of Modern and Contemporary Art): Focuses on introducing students to key practices and concepts of modern and contemporary art.
• Studio Practice 2: Develops students' responsibility for their art practice.

Year 2

• Professional Practice 1: Conducts a project in a professional area of art or cultural practice.
• Studio Practice 3: Develops self-direction and encourages students to locate their art practices in relation to the wider professional realms of contemporary art.
• Studio Practice 4: Focuses on the production of more resolved artworks and the experience of exhibition or other appropriate professional contexts.
• History and Theory 3 (Key ideas and issues in Contemporary Art and Culture): Introduces key theoretical discourses in visual and material culture in relation to practices of art making, critique, and interpretation.

Year 3

• Studio Practice 5: Culminates in a professional exhibition of selected artworks in the Degree Show.
• Professional Practice 2: Develops students' research, study, and professional skills, and identifies wider professional and graduate opportunities.
• History and Theory 4 (Dissertation): Identifies and pursues a major research project related to students' interests and studio practice.

Admission Criteria

• A level: Grades CCC
• Applied General Qualifications: Award profile of MMM
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 96 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects
• Scottish Highers: Grades CCCCC
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades DDD
• International Baccalaureate: Overall profile is minimum 24 points
• Access to Higher Education (HE): Overall profile of 55% (120 credit Access Course)
• GCSE: Pass at Grade C/4 or above in English Language
• English Language Requirements: Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and EU Settlement Status Fees: £4,855.00
• England, Scotland, Wales, and the Islands Fees: £9,535.00
• International Fees: £17,010.00

Additional Mandatory Costs

• Students purchase materials for their own coursework.
• Consumable workshop contribution of up to £100 is optional.
• Local field trips to museums, galleries, and exhibitions may incur additional costs.