The aim of the course is to develop your understanding and creative potential in the visual arts. For four days a week Fine Art students work in studios and workshops on individual programmes of work agreed with tutorial staff. For one day each week there is a programme of historical and theoretical studies: Contextual Studies. Together these enable you to develop studio skills and skills in research, analysis and communication and to become more informed about the historical, critical and social context in which you are working. All staff are practising artists, most with international exhibiting experience and there is also an extensive list of visiting staff.

You will be able to choose from a wide range of disciplines, working in areas from painting and sculpture to photography, video, live art, sound and digital imaging. After the introductory part of the course you decide on the balance of your work in discussion with staff. You can use one or a combination of these means.

• Standard art and design requirements. 
• A portfolio of work, plus paintings, lens based media (or a photographic record of these as appropriate). 
• A short written piece relating an exhibition you have seen. 
• You will receive advance information about the selection process. 
• The interview panel normally consists of two staff. 
• Those accepted onto the course are normally expected to do some preparatory work before arrival.

Year 1

Year 1 is designed to introduce you to a range of studio practices, to different attitudes and approaches to the making of artwork and to a variety of means for the realisation of visual ideas. You can:

• Work in painting, sculpture or media throughout the course or move between these disciplines (with the agreement of staff);
• OR opt for the varied weighting between Main and Contextual Studies (four modules in Main Studies and two in Contextual Studies, as opposed to five modules in Main Studies and one in Contextual Studies).

During your first year you spend three days per week in the studio on individual work and periods in:

• Introductory courses to photography, printmaking, video, computing, and methods and processes in painting and sculpture;
• Contextual Studies which includes the history of art and design;
• spects of Contemporary Art Practice (ACAP): lectures, seminars and visits concerned with contemporary issues in Fine Art.

Contextual Studies

 The Contextual Studies Year 1 programme is in two parts. The first deals with key concepts and practices in Fine Art since 1900. The second part addresses ways in which we construct meanings when looking at visual objects through a consideration of methods of interpretation and analysis.

Year 2 and 3

In Years 2 and 3 the pattern of the week continues much as Year 1 and there are increasing opportunities for a choice of direction and a more concentrated focus on specific topics. In the second half of the year work begins on the selection of a subject for individual study and on its research. This study is completed in Year 3.