Fine Art
Fine Art
4 years (with placement year and/or overseas study)
BA (Hons) Fine Art is a studio-based programme that provides students with the platform to confidently enter the professional world of the artist and arts professional. Students will actively investigate universal approaches and practices in contemporary fine art that will test their knowledge, creativity and understanding. The programme is taught by professional artists that are actively engaged in contemporary practice and will therefore will encourage students to explore the broader social, political and community context to define a personal mode of study that will equip them to continue their development post-degree.
The wide range of teaching approaches, facilities and opportunities will support students to acquire skills and varied methodologies that allow them to either specialise or engage with a pluralistic approach to exploring fine art. The diversity of content creates a distinctive group of students that engage with and question a divergent range of approaches to studio practice and externally engaged projects.
Students also have the opportunity to develop their practice within an international context through the international exchange programme, national and international study trips and the acquisition of foreign language skills. There are opportunities to engage in the contemporary art world through study trips, exhibitions, student exchange programmes, visiting artists' lectures, specialist masterclasses and gallery talks at The Whitworth.
Special Features
- You can choose to specialise in painting/print media and sculpture/time-based art. These areas are not prescriptive and allow students to experiment with broad and expansive approaches to fine art.
- The main focus of the course is on the production of art work within the studios and workshops.
- Study trips include gallery and museum visits to national and international centres. In Year 2 students have access to the international student exchange programme.
- You will have the opportunity to take part in Unit X, an innovative module offered to students across Manchester School of Art that encourages interdisciplinary study and collaboration on an external-facing project.
Course Content
Central to the course are studio critiques, tutorials and practice-led seminars. Additionally, you will select seminars and lectures from the faculty-wide historical and critical framework, the transdisciplinary Unit X and the language department. You will be encouraged to take an open-minded and investigative approach and consider your work in relation to the developments in the subject area.
The programme provides a unique opportunity to engage in a vertical teaching framework that has been developed to offer creative opportunities so students can gain direct experience of working with professionals within fine art and related fields on curatorial projects, cross disciplinary opportunities, specialist masterclasses, skills building and diverse practices, external live projects and research based activity. The programme is also supported by extensive workshop provision, academic and technical expertise and access to the cultural sector in the North West of England and beyond. We provide opportunities to engage in the contemporary art world through study trips, exhibitions, student exchange programmes, visiting artists' lectures and Whitworth Gallery talks.
Year 1
In Year 1, after a period of induction and familiarisation, you will begin to build upon your subject area interests, and develop a body of work that responds to a growing understanding of concerns and debates within visual art. Through an open minded and investigative approach, you will be encouraged to enquire, question and consider your work in relation to the subject area and its relation to the world at large.
Working in a Studio
Students begin to explore their own creative interests, learning to use the studio and workshops, experimenting with different approaches to Fine Art practice, beginning to push boundaries and developing approaches to making. Students will develop a range of skills, generate ideas in the studio, and establish themselves within the learning environment. Production of work is supported by personal tutorials, induction to workshops, peer interaction, briefings, and artist talks.
Intra-actions
The module provides an opportunity to explore collaborative and interdisciplinary art and/or curatorial practice by undertaking work alongside students from other programmes in the Department of Art & Performance.
Contextualising Practice 1: Critical Analysis
Students are allocated to a pathway according to their programme to introduce ideas relevant to their studies. The module introduces some of the broad over-arching themes and concepts – historical, cultural, social, political, and economic – that affect and inform the production of art, design and/or craft.
Year 2
In Year 2 you will develop a sound understanding of artistic concerns, with guidance, support and critical input from both staff and invited visitors. Through an increased scope of research, critical awareness, and development, you will learn how to articulate your work with reference to an engagement with recent and current issues within the field. Your improved skills base will allow you to select and investigate materials in closer accordance with your ideas and their translation into the visual domain.
Talking About Art: Understanding Your Position
This module expands the students’ critical strategies for talking about art allowing them to clearly understand and articulate their position in relation to their particular interests through reflecting on work made in the studio. Students are expected to define their own gallery visits and identify appropriate areas for research with the support of their personal tutor. Teaching includes tutorials, critiques and lectures, the content of artists’ talks, and where applicable engagement in the vertical teaching programme. In doing so it develops the communities of practice and learning in the studio.
Contextualising Practice 2: Critical Analysis A
For ‘Contextualising Practice 2: Critical Analysis A’, students can choose to study up to two thematic sub-units to develop their contextual studies in new directions. The CP2 Critical Analysis modules encourage students to develop their critical analysis skills gained in Level 4 to further investigate the broad over-arching themes and concepts – historical, cultural, social, political, and economic – that affect and inform the production of art, design and/or craft.
Studio Practice: Experimenting and Exploring
By facilitating the broadening of an independent fine art studio practice, the module provides an opportunity to explore materials, processes and issues relating to the field of contemporary Fine Art. Through an experimental approach to making students will begin to develop a body of work that reflects their current concerns and research. Production of work is supported by tutorials, workshops, artists’ talks, briefings, and interaction in the studios.
Optional Units
Unit X
This module explores collaborative and interdisciplinary art and design practice. You will have the opportunity to engage in a range of external-facing learning opportunities which will encourage collaborative, interdisciplinary practice and shared experience; this may take the form of spending time outside of the University and working within the creative community and the public domain.
Art and Audience 2
You will work in groups, and individually, to seek and secure an opportunity to exhibit your artwork at recognized or alternative venues, indoors or outdoors, in a public context outside of the studio.
Year 3
In Year 3 you will begin to demonstrate a heightened understanding of your work within the contemporary visual art landscape, and will be encouraged to sustain an open minded, inventive, and highly creative attitude to your chosen area of enquiry. By introducing a sense of refinement towards both established and new materials, and technological processes, your chosen ideas will begin to be reflected through an understanding of your own artistic voice.
Defining and Refining Contemporary Art Practice
Following initial evaluation of Level 5 work, students are expected to work independently to create a body of work which demonstrates proficiency, intellectual coherence and a deepening understanding of contemporary fine art. Core seminars (group crits), tutorials and research notes facilitate articulation and critical evaluation skills and foster a deepening enquiry into independent studio practice in the specialist fields and broader context. This will be supported by tutorials involving critical discussion of works in progress and finished pieces. Lectures by visiting artists and professionals from specialist fields provide opportunity for elective tutorials. Use of PDT underpins the practice in a wider cultural framework. Students can sign up to masterclasses, conversations in curation, reading groups and for tutorials with any Fine Art member of staff/visiting artist to further critically challenge and contextualise their practice.
Contextualising Practice 3 (Fine Art)
The module forms a programme of research and critical analysis of cultural issues related to a your individual practice interests.
Optional Units
Unit X
On the third year Unit X, there is a student authored final project leading to a showcase of finished work. The module includes a brief generated by the student, which leads to the presentation of a significant body of final work. Collaborative and interdisciplinary work can be incorporated into the project in relation to the professional context and ambition of the student.
Art and Audience 3
The module explores professional fine art practice in relation to its audience. The modules main thrust is the production of art works for exhibition in a public context (degree show) demonstrating interdisciplinary, curatorial and organisational skills.
Assessment Methods
Formal end of unit assessments. Ongoing formative assessment, feedback, advice and discussion.
Assessment Weightings & Contact Hours
10 credits equates to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, and independent study. A three year degree qualification typically comprises 360 credits (120 credits per year). The exact composition of your study time and assessments for the course will vary according to your option choices and style of learning, but it could be—
Study
- Year 1 30% lectures, seminars or similar; 70% independent study
- Year 2 30% lectures, seminars or similar; 70% independent study
- Year 3 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 80% independent study
Assessment
- Year 1 100% coursework
- Year 2 100% coursework
- Year 3 100% coursework
Student Work
Visit our online Degree Show galleries to see examples of work by final year Fine Art students.
Staff
- Chara Lewis
Programme Leader
— - Sophie Benson
Principal Lecturer
Director of Studies & Academic Lead for Education, Department of Art
— - Keith Brown
Professor of Sculpture and Digital Technologies
— - Rick Copsey
Senior Lecturer
— - Jenny Eden
Senior Lecturer in Fine Art (Painting)
— - Dave Evans
Lecturer
— - Brigitte Jurack
Reader and Head of Sculpture/Time Based Arts
— - Andrew Lacon
Senior Lecturer
— - Jo Lansley
Senior Lecturer
— - Brigid McLeer
Senior Lecturer
— - Oran O'Reilly
Senior Lecturer
— - David Osbaldeston
Reader in Fine Art
— - Magnus Quaife
Department Lead for Employability and Placements
— - Emily Speed
Lecturer
— - Chester Tenneson
Lecturer
— - Adam Walker
Lecturer
— - Ben White
Reader
—
Tia Taylor Berry, Rachel Wharton, and Lou Blakeway, will receive mentoring and studio space at a host university and a grant of £24,000.
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Graduates
Graduates of Fine Art have gone on to have successful careers as art professionals, exhibiting their work in the UK, Europe, the USA and beyond in public shows and as part of private collections. You will also be well-equipped to pursue other career paths, including as curators, gallery assistants, technicians, teachers, event organisers and studio managers.
Making an Application
How to Apply
Apply through UCAS.
We will ask you to provide a Digital Portfolio to support your application.
You will be notified of our decision through UCAS.
Entry Requirements
| UCAS Tariff Points/Grades Required | 104-112. GCE A levels - grades BCC or equivalent Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma - grade DMM Access to HE Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum 106 UCAS Tariff points UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma - grade of Merit overall OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - grade DMM T level - We welcome applications from students undertaking T level qualifications. Eligible applicants will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of Merit as a condition of offer IB Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum overall score of 26 or minimum 104 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects Other Level 3 qualifications equivalent to GCE A level are also considered. A maximum of three A level-equivalent qualifications will be accepted towards meeting the UCAS tariff requirement. AS levels, or qualifications equivalent to AS level, are not accepted. The Extended Project qualification (EPQ) may be accepted towards entry, in conjunction with two A-level equivalent qualifications. Please contact the University directly if you are unsure whether you meet the minimum entry requirements for the course. Learn more about MMU's Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. |
|---|---|
| Specific GCSE Requirements | GCSE grade C/4 in English Language or equivalent, e.g. Pass in Level 2 Functional Skills English |
| International Baccalaureate | IB Diploma with minimum 26 points overall or 104 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects. If you plan to meet the Level 2 course requirements through your IB Diploma you will need to achieve Higher Level 4 or Standard Level 5 in English Points |
International Students
A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no individual element below 5.5 is required.
There’s further information for international students on our international website if you’re applying with non-UK qualifications.
Tuition Fees 2025 Entry
UK and Channel Island students
Full-time fee: £9,535 for the 2025/26 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval). Fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% per academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
EU and non-EU international students
Full-time fee: £21,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Additional information
A degree typically comprises 360 credits, a DipHE 240 credits, a CertHE 120 credits, and an integrated masters 480 credits. For courses that offer a placement year option that starts in September 2025, the tuition fee is £1,907 (subject to Parliamentary approval). For courses that offer a study year abroad option that starts in September 2025, the tuition fee is £1,430 (subject to Parliamentary approval). Placement Year fees and study abroad fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% each academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
See Funding your studies for further information and advice.
Additional Costs
Specialist Costs
Optional £600* —The production of artwork requires students to purchase specific materials and/or equipment, though it is impossible to place a precise figure on this as each student’s requirements will differ. Discounted materials are available to buy from the store in the School of Art. Students often choose to buy their own laptops but computers are available on campus and laptops are available for students to borrow. All of the books required for the course are available from the library, though some students choose to buy some of the recommended textbooks. Students may also need to print their assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300+ for a laptop and £50 each year for books and printing. Although the costs of printing can also be covered by the £200 materials bursary.
Other Costs
Optional £1200* —Travel:
There is a study trip to a different European centre during each year, and there are occasional day or overnight trips within the UK. Trips involving additional costs are always optional; if they relate to a unit of study, alternative activities on campus are identified. Estimated costs are £220 each year for the European study trip (based on a three-night stay). £750 for trips outside of Europe (based on a 3night stay), and £20 each year for occasional trips.
* All amounts shown are estimates.