This four-year degree course has been specifically designed to allow you to undertake an additional year of study which will build stronger creative footings to ensure successful progression through your chosen degree.
Working in a lively and energetic environment, you will be given the freedom to expand your knowledge of practical skills, creative exploration and conceptual development, underpinned by broad critical understanding, academic writing and emerging theoretical principles.
There will be a range of opportunities to work on collaborative projects aimed to develop employability partnerships and to identify the role of developing practitioner. Teaching staff from across both schools will work closely with you throughout the course to prepare you for progression.
The course concludes in a public professional exhibition of your practical work supported by individual websites.
After successful completion of the foundation year, you will have the flexibility to change direction onto a related undergraduate degree programme within Birmingham School of Art or the School of Visual Communication.
Our Fine Art degree course gives you the support of professionals to choose your own creative journey and flourish as an artist, curator, teacher or working in other creative fields. Situated in our historic Grade I-listed art school, based in Margaret Street, you'll enjoy the freedom, space and support needed to establish your own artistic voice.
There are no set pathways to learning and this means you’ll have genuine freedom to experiment in any media appropriate to your ideas.
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This course encourages you to experiment in or across painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, installation, film and video.
You'll be supported throughout your studies by our experienced and talented tutors and technical staff - all professional artists in their own right.
As well as learning important skills for your future career development from our practical and professional practice modules, you’ll also be introduced to the context and curation of art.
You will enjoy our close links to the Ikon Gallery, Ort Gallery, New Art Gallery Walsall and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and be inspired by the studios and galleries set up by former students, such as The Lombard Method, Grand Union, Stryx and Ort Gallery.
The course concludes in a public professional exhibition of your practical work supported by individual websites.
Our students have gone on to work in jobs such as:
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
| Essential | ||
|---|---|---|
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80 UCAS tariff points. |
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| Typical Offers | ||
| UK Qualification | Requirements | |
| A level | CDD. Must be offered along with either one A-level or one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma qualification. | |
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma |
MMP | |
| Access to HE Diploma | 60 credits overall - 15 credits at level 2 and 45 credits at level 3. | |
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Scottish Higher |
Achieve a minimum of 80 tariff points achieved from either five Highers or a combination of two Highers offered with two Advanced Highers. | |
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme |
Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall. Students who do not complete the IB Diploma and who achieve the minimum of 11 points from two Higher Level subjects, will be considered on the basis of their IB Certificate. | |
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OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate |
Must be offered along with either two A-levels or two BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diplomas of 80 tariff points. Cannot be offered as a standalone qualification. |
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma |
MM. Can be offered along with either one A-level or one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma qualification to achieve a minimum of 80 tariff points. | |
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Scottish Advanced Higher |
Achieve a minimum of 80 tariff points achieved in either three Advanced Highers or from a combination of two Advanced Highers plus two Highers. | |
| Other qualifications | ||
| If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. |
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| Award | Start | Mode | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) | Sep 2019 | FT | 4 years | £9,250 per year | Apply via UCAS |
| Award | Start | Mode | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) | Sep 2019 | FT | 4 years | £12,300 per year |
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. Fees for 2019/20 will be published as soon as possible. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
UK and EU students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
You are not required to submit a portfolio for this course.
Our courses include activities such as performance, exhibitions, field trips and production of works or artefacts which may require you to purchase specific equipment, instruments, books, materials, hire of venues and accommodation, or other items. Many of these activities are essential and compulsory parts of your learning experience.
The link below gives you an estimate of the possible costs associated with key activities on your course. Please bear in mind that these are only estimates of costs based on past student experience and feedback. The actual costs could vary considerably (either greater or lower than these estimates) depending on your choices as you progress through the course.
All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Working in a lively and energetic environment you will be given the freedom to expand your knowledge in conceptual development, practical skills and creative exploration underpinned by broad critical understanding and emerging theoretical principles. You will work individually and collaboratively to develop a stimulating visual portfolio of work that evidences your enthusiasm for further study within a specific subject area. BA teaching staff from across both Birmingham School of Art and the School of Visual Communication will work with you throughout the course and you will have full access to all of the University facilities. The two first semester modules will run in conjunction with each other to enable understanding of the relationship between developing work and potential contexts. These modules will form the building blocks for future work and will focus on developing confidences with techniques, learning skills and productivity. The two final semester modules will run in conjunction with each other to enable a positive integration between Perspectives on Practice and Creative Realisation. In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits). |
The first year introduces you to practice and context, workshop methods through projects, seminars and field visits. You will begin to develop your own language, interests and understanding to enable you to establish a practice. Your practice is supported by presentations, seminar discussions of historical and contemporary themes and ideas, and collaborative practices with other students in the school or faculty. Students Sebastian van Driel and Samantha Rhodes describe why they chose to study fine art at Birmingham City University and what their first year was like. Our first year studying fine artModules explained:In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits). |
The second year is about further exploration and development, testing out ideas and taking risks. You will strengthen your own fine art identity through experimentation and reflective discussion in the form of individual and group tutorial sessions. You will also engage in a range of live projects, collaborative activities and placements with the additional option of an international exchange. Modules explained:In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits): |
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 60 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules. |
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Please note list of optional modules is indicative only. Students’ choice will not be guaranteed for optional modules but a fair and transparent process will be adopted and shared with students.
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Our Professional Practice modules give you the confidence to consolidate your theory and practice and create a body of work which is a platform for your future career. Our graduates include award-winning professional artists, designers, curators, teachers and professionals within Birmingham's thriving creative industries sector and beyond. Modules explained:In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits). |
On our Fine Art course, you will be encouraged to experiment and investigate ideas which develop your individual creativity.
With no rigid pathways, the course gives you the chance to work in areas such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, film and video.
Contact varies between levels, but as a rough guide students will be engaged in lectures, seminars, studio and other guided activities for approximately three days a week.
Hope applied for the BA (Hons) Fine Art course with a longing to work in the art industry. Attracted by the phenomenal up-and-coming art scene in Birmingham, she knew the Birmingham School of Art would offer the perfect environment for her to develop her passion. She graduated in 2013 and now works for artist Pryce Lee in property development, filming coordination and modern art. More about Hope.
Josephine made the decision to move from Berlin to Birmingham, as the self-directed study seemed to be a much fresher approach to teaching art, compared with local universities. She graduated in 2008 and is now the Director of Ort Gallery, an artist-led gallery space in Birmingham. Read more of Josie's experiences.
These independent reviews show what our students really think:
"Birmingham is good But the university is Better! I have loved my experience here and met so many new people. IT is better than what I expected. My course is amazing and the lectures are inspiring. My only advice would be to choose this university."
Emma
www.whatuni.com
We are currently establishing a collaborative partnership with the Hong Kong Design Institute which will lead to future cultural visits and project opportunities.
If you are interested in undertaking part of your studies abroad, the Erasmus scheme may be of interest to you. It allows higher education students to study for part of their degree in another European country.
It is open to undergraduates in their second year (or above) and offers a unique opportunity to enhance your CV and experience new cultures. If you study with us you will have access to an Erasmus co-ordinator, who can provide information about which institutions we have links with.
You could progress onto a range of postgraduate studies, including an MA or PGCE. You could also potentially go straight to doctoral research study. The MA Fine Art programme at Margaret Street is a popular choice among graduating students.
For further information on courses Tel: +44 (0)121 331 5595 or go direct to the courses section of the website.
Some students recently visited the Venice Biennale at the beginning of their Level Five studies, and this had a profound effect on their personal practices. Other visits/trips include Berlin, New York, London and Barcelona.
Student stories Vicki EggsRunning Own Brand: CMYK London
Having graduated in Fine Art, Vicki Eggs initially used her passion for photography to create her own range of greetings cards. She now runs her own brand, CMYK London, featuring her own eye-catching designs on t-shirts, tea towels, mugs, bags and limited edition screen prints, which are already proving a hit with the buying public.
After graduating in 2005 I travelled around the world for eight months, taking literally thousands of photographs, and on my return decided to do something with them. I started making greetings cards and selling them to local shops and galleries in and around my home town of, Royston, Herts, leading me to set up my own greeting card company Ve Gallery in 2006. I then began working for a greetings card company with worldwide distribution. By the time I left two years later, to live in Sydney, I had designed over 200 cards and had developed a photographic style of working.
You will learn of range of skills which will be key to enhancing your future employability.
Specifically you will learn to:
You will also learn skills in a range of workshop practices in relation to individual development, including photography, casting, woodwork, metalwork, silk screen, etching, 3D printing, laser cutting, and printed and constructed textiles.
Professional practice guidance will teach you a range of skills such as CV writing; the use of social media and other platforms for self-promotion, presenting yourself and your work in a professional framework using a range of appropriate communication skills, such as video and various types of presentation software.
You will have the option of an international exchange, and the opportunity to get involved in a range of projects and placements.
Our students have recently been on placements with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, working with and alongside sculptor Rob Olins on a recent production of ‘The BFG’.
Students have also worked with the sound artist, Justin Wiggan, exploring the university archives in relation to the School of Art to create site-specific work.
The Fierce Festival and the Flatpack Festival regularly work with our Fine Art students.
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Birmingham School of Art has a wide array of links with partner organisations regionally, nationally and internationally. These partnerships will provide work experience opportunities for you and contribute to your learning and teaching activities. Our overseas partnerships often result in opportunities for you to mix with students from different countries and gain different perspectives, as well as opportunities to undertake a period of study overseas.
Regional - Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Ikon Gallery, Eastside Projects, Midlands Art Centre, New Walsall Gallery, The Mead Gallery, VIVID, Capsule, Grand Union, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Library of Birmingham, and primary and secondary schools across the region.
National - Arts Council England, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool.
International - Established links with other significant institutions both in Europe and the USA, as well as in Canada, Russia and Japan.
These include: The Sorbonne, the Metz/Pompidou (France); Studio for Electronic Instrumental Music, The Hague (Netherland); Ars Electronica (Austria); University of Cologne, Free University of Berlin, Leipzig Academy of Art (Germany); University of Ljubljana (Slovenia); MIT List Visual Arts Center, Massachusetts College of Art, California Institute of the Arts, University of California (USA); Pacific Centre for Technology and Culture (Canada); Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences (Japan); The Laboratorium (Russia).
With a passion for art and engineering, Luke uses his expertise in both fields to design and build large-scale sculptures that celebrate the Midlands' industrial heritage. He is founder and director of Industrial Heritage Stronghold, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to "build public artworks which celebrate our industrial heritage in a very real way".
Matthew graduated last year and is currently studying on an MA Fine Art course. His work was selected at the Fine Art degree show for a £10,000 commission at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. Working in collaboration with another student, this work has carefully evolved through consultation with staff and patients and is now complete.
Fine Art students like this course because the opportunities for them on graduation are immensely broad, and typically students will have multiple roles and jobs.
For example, graduates continue to work as a practitioner while curating and also go on to further study.
To be able to do this requires confidence, resourcefulness, flexibility and the ability to respond to, and create, opportunity.
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
Our School is particularly popular with students from China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The school has a Visual Art and Culture top-up course at the Hong Kong Design Institute for BA (Hons) Fine Art students, which began in September 2015.
Our International Office in Shanghai was established in 2007 and we work hard to develop strong working relationships with countries in Asia.
We provide prospective students with a professional and efficient application and student service, and maintain close relationships with former students living in China.
We are the UK’s most successful recruiter for art and design in China and Malaysia, and we run courses in Hong Kong and Thailand.
The course provides the ability to study in one of the UK’s oldest art schools. You will learn to develop your own creative practice in a thriving creative community in the heart of the UK’s second city on a course which mixes traditional surroundings with current international debates.
The ability to develop your own individual practices alongside a range of local institutions and industries will give a unique insight into the culture and markets of the UK.
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £260 million on new learning facilities.
Birmingham School of Art (an impressive purpose built Grade 1 listed example of Venetian Gothic architecture) was the first major renovation project undertaken by the university (£5.5m refurbishment). The School provides an incredible resource for the production of art and its associated fields of study. The building has a range of facilities available including studios, workshops, specialist art and design library, bookable spaces and lecture/seminar rooms.
All of our staff are practising artists, designers and writers, ensuring you will receive access to the latest thinking, activity and professional networks.
Franziska Schenk is an artist and researcher with an MA in Fine Art (with Distinction) and First Class Honours degrees in Fine Art (Birmingham City University), and in Art Education (Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt). A well-qualified, experienced Lecturer in Fine Art at Birmingham City University and Honorary Research Associate at the University of Birmingham.
She is initiator of, and principal investigator on, funded art and science projects focusing on the conversion of nature’s iridescent colour to the painter’s palette – thereby introducing flow, dynamism, transience and an evolutionary element into painting.
Born in France, based in London and a permanent UK Resident, Françoise Dupré trained in London at City University (MA in Museum & Gallery Management), Chelsea College of Art and Design (MA History and Theory of Modern Art) and Camberwell College of Arts (BA (Hons) Fine Art-Sculpture).
Françoise is a self-employed artist-curator and a part-time senior lecturer in Fine Art at Birmingham City University, School of Art where she contributes to the Centre for Fine Art Research (CFAR) strand: Art in the Public Sphere.
John Wigley is a graduate of the Sculpture School of the Royal College of Art and scholar of the British School of Rome, with interests in film and object making, exploring temporality and ‘still lives’. He has exhibited in the UK, Europe and USA.
He is a working artist, a maker and assembler of objects. He is interested in both the role of an artist and the intellectual and physical space required to develop and sustain a practice.
He teaches into the undergraduate BA (Hons) Fine Art course on the first and second year Establishing and Developing Practice modules, as well as the final year Professional Portfolio module. He is also module leader for two new modules: Collaborative Project and Collaborative Practice. They introduce interdisciplinary practice, where the cross-course sharing of knowledge and skills ensure that students have the experience of working effectively in ‘mixed’ teams. It involves some innovative learning and teaching, including the use of online teaching platforms.
