Harness your curiosity, imagination and inventiveness to explore the ideas and possibilities of Fine Art – developing your own creative approach to contemporary art practice with an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.
Join an interdisciplinary community of practising artists whose work investigates the present and shapes the future
Grow your confidence to make art in an inclusive environment which encourages diverse perspectives
Experiment with materials and processes, taking risks, investigating unfamiliar concepts and testing new ideas
Collaborate in curating exhibitions, events and screenings and grow your networks locally, nationally and internationally

If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Fine Art, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.

Studying Fine Art develops the imagination, practical and critical skills needed for an ever-changing world. This course will help you develop your individual art practice and build your networks to open up future professional opportunities.

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a single or multiple work placement/s in between your second and third years of the full course. Placements give you real-world experience to prepare you for your future career. Previous students have worked in galleries with practising artists and in schools, while others have set up their own artist residency in Greece. You may also be able to work or study abroad with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing scheme.

Live projects

You'll have many opportunities to take part in live projects, including exhibitions and events in the public domain. In the second and third year of the full course, you’ll exhibit your work in a gallery, open to the public.

Field trips

We offer opportunities to go on study trips and visits in the UK and abroad – with free travel and accommodation for all mandatory field trips. These could include workshops, conferences or visits to practitioners’ studios, museums and special collections. You may further enhance your studies with optional field trips, though these will incur additional costs. Recently the course has visited the Venice Biennale and Berlin. These trips are valuable for the experience of seeing work first-hand and understanding the professional world of contemporary fine art.

Networking opportunities

As our academic staff actively work in the professional art world, you can benefit from their connections and networks. You'll be able to attend regular guest lectures with leading artists, curators and thinkers. We have strong links with many local venues including the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Site Gallery and artist-run studios and galleries such as Bloc Projects and S1, (some of which were set up by our graduates). These connections will help you gain experience by forging relationships and attending private views and events.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This interdisciplinary course is based on your individual art practice in studios and workshops. Your work will be supported by the development of a theoretical and historical understanding of art. You'll also learn how to exhibit your work and develop relationships with industry professionals – preparing you for a fulfilling career in the arts. In the first ‘induction’ module you’ll learn to work confidently and creatively with a wide range of different materials. In the second ‘project’ module you’ll be taught by tutors from the BA (Hons) course supported by foundation tutors.

You’ll learn through

• practical workshops
• lectures and seminars
• group and individual tutorials
• exhibitions and presentations
• study trips
• independent study
• demonstrations
• applied industry (live) projects
• Blackboard online learning portal 
• presentations and feedback sessions
• peer group activities

Take a look at the department's Instagram and TikTok to see what innovations and creations our students have been working on. For content directly from our BA Fine Art sudents please visit the course Instagram.

This course prepares you for future study and careers in

• art
• curation
• film direction
• production
• editing
• set design
• prop-making
• novel writing
• scriptwriting
• art direction
• animation
• art therapy

Previous graduates who have become successful in their field includ

• Martin Clark, director of Camden Arts Centre
• Kid Acne, internationally renowned artist and illustrator
• George Shaw, Turner Prize nominee 2011
• Rosalind Nashashibi, Turner Prize nominee 2017
• Nick Park, Oscar-winning creator of Wallace and Gromit
• Hannah Duraid, The Great Escape Game entrepreneur
• Dawn Shadforth, British music video and documentary director

 

UCAS points

• 80

This must include at least 32 points from at least one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject, such as Art, Design and Technology, Textiles or Graphics). For example:

• CDD at A Level with a grade C in a relevant subject.
• MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
• A combination of qualifications which must include an A level grade C or BTEC grade M in a relevant subject and may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies
• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

• English Language or Literature at grade C or 4

We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Art and Design.

We treat the foundation year as part of the Art and Design degree programme. Offers made to students will be for four years of study (or five years of study including a placement). This is made up of the foundation year plus one of our Art and Design degrees.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider either the International Foundation Programme: Art, Design and Media or Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Portfolio review

If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend a portfolio review, this is where you can showcase your relevant work and highlight any pieces you are particularly proud of.

In light of the updated advice from the Government about the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we are not currently offering face to face portfolio reviews but are instead accepting portfolios through digital submission. Find out about what happens at a portfolio review and how you can prepare to produce a strong portfolio.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Foundation Projects — Developing Creative Practice	60	Coursework
Foundation Skills & Methods	60	Coursework

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Developing Fine Art: Progressing Ideas And Expanding Practice	60	Coursework
Introducing Fine Art: Ideas, Materials And Processes	60	Coursework

 

 

Year 3 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Contexts For Fine Art: Working With Sites, Communities, Audiences And Participants	40	Coursework
Experiments In Fine Art: Curiosity, Testing, Positioning	60	Coursework
Future Now: Collaboration In Action	20	Coursework

 

Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Art Exchange	60	Coursework

 

Year 4 Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Challenging Fine Art: Deepening Creative And Critical Investigation	60	Coursework
Presenting Fine Art: Resolving Ideas And Making Public	60	Coursework

 

Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Ordinary Fine Art Studio	20	Coursework