Fine Art BA (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Fine art student painting at an easel with completed works behind her on the wall.

Fine Art is an exciting course that enables you to develop your creative voice, by exploring both, traditional and innovative approaches to contemporary art, reflecting the ever-evolving creative industries.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Flexible part-time

Course code

W100

Start date

September 2023

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
Register for updates

Course overview

From day one of this practice-based course, the programme team will encourage you to develop your creativity, by challenging and inspiring you to cultivate your technical, critical, reflective and enterprising skills to support you in forging a successful and sustainable career in contemporary art.

On this studio-based course you:

  • Have the opportunity to experiment with digital, intermedia and traditional art forms, within our new spacious studios4.
  • Have access to a range of professional workshops, industry-standard software, photographic and media resources4.
  • Will be taught by practising artists and creatives who have exhibited at several prestigious venues across the world. (Staff is subject to change). 
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Global Ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
human silhouette teaching in front of a blackdoard

Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
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Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

  • Fine Art is a leading-edge undergraduate programme that is distinctive and innovative in its approach. It critically positions art practice as a catalyst within society, and artists as ‘activators and activists’ in global, social, cultural, political, economic, and civic contemporary and future contexts. 
  • This practice-based course will challenge and inspire you to develop your creative, technical, critical, and reflective skills through 2D, 3D and 4D art practice. You will aim to gain valuable employability attributes to help support you in forging a successful and sustainable career and you will learn how, as a graduate, you can contribute to and expand traditional roles assigned to artists to initiate cultural change.
  • Following the university’s recent major investment in art and design, Fine Art will be located in the newly re-configured, state of the art, city centre development, planned to fully open in 2023/24. It benefits from a vibrant array of advanced facilities, including state-of the art teaching spaces and technical workshops, innovative technology, multi-use, lens-based, immersive technology, and hyper studios as well as a public gallery space4.
  • You will become part of a community of artist practitioners, who are taught by practising artists, art historians, and writers who have exhibited and published their work internationally (staff subject to change). You may have the opportunity to attend expert guest lectures. In the past we have hosted Simon Pope, Jane and Louise Wilson, John Stezaker, Peta Murphy Burke, Terry Atkinson, Merlin James, Harry Pye, Zineb Sedira, Bob & Roberta Smith, Thompson & Craighead, (guest lectures are subject to availability).  
  • The course offers you lots of different career paths both in fine art, but also across the creative industries. Past graduates have won the prestigious John Moore’s Painting prize and the ‘Independent Vision Award for Curatorial Achievement; secured positions such as curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp, editor of ‘Madame Wang’ an international journal for collaborative arts practice, and Cultural Events Organiser for Coventry Cathedral; and had artwork selected for the International Neu/Now Festival in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Many graduates have progressed on to post-graduate study inhouse or at other internationally respected institutions. 

In response to being awarded City of Culture funding to develop a collaborative project with some of her peers and local community in the city: “The project has evolved really well with getting local community groups in Foleshill on board.  It ties in with Lucy Tomlins City of Culture project too so she’s keen to help.  Thank you to the Fine Art staff for supporting us through the process."

Zoe Petrie, Level 5 Fine Art student (2020)
Lecturer with students in art room.

What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn. 

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements). 

Common first year courses

  • Fine Art BA (Hons)
  • Illustration BA (Hons)
  • Photography BA (Hons)

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field. 

Modules

  • In this module you will investigate the ideas and inspirations that underpin creative practice. Introducing you to a range of approaches to visual research, you will explore themes, concepts and readings connected to image making, which will help you to shape your own creative outcomes.  Over the course of this module, you should learn to develop your own creative investigations and collate research material to underpin your own areas of interest.  

    Compulsory

  • The focus of this module will encourage you to take an experimental approach to gaining skills, shaped through an ongoing evaluative process, that enables you to reflect, evaluate and develop your own experimentation. In particular, you should develop a broad set of skills in a range of specialist fields, exploring different processes, which will become the fundamental tools and techniques that help you to shape your creative practice. 

    Compulsory

  • Within this module you will make creative outputs that respond to briefs, ideas or themes. You will be encouraged to identify the contexts in which your creative practice is situated, creating an informed body of research that will help drive your creative responses. Supported by staff, you will learn to make independent investigations that respond to theoretical and contextual ideas, before going on to produce a range of experiments and outputs that help you to develop your own creative voice.  

    Compulsory

  • Within this module you are encouraged to experiment and develop innovative approaches to your creative practice. You will have access to a wide range of workshops and technical spaces, from which you can shape and develop a unique set of skills4. The focus of this module will be on trialling, testing and developing your own creative skills, with a creative freedom that helps you to build up a stronger understanding of the processes and techniques that underpin your creative work.  

    Compulsory

  • This module explores key ideas and themes of narrative as a theme to help you develop creative outcomes. To support you in this investigation, you will be introduced to personal development planning, which will support you to become a reflective practitioner, who uses the ongoing reflective process, to continuously develop your communication skills, to talk actively about your ideas and intentions throughout the creative process. 

    Compulsory

  • Within this module you will consider the importance of audiences in the production of creative work. You will explore the different contexts in which work is seen, learning to shape work to maximise engagement and communicate your ideas effectively. Over the course of the module, you will be encouraged to continually reflect upon the appropriate contexts and environments in which you are producing your creative work to ensure it has maximum impact. 

    Compulsory

In year two, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your: 

  • Technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge
  • Study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner
  • Professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career
  • Global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen

In year two, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: considering the role of an artist in a contemporary society, engaging with global audiences, and environments, amongst others. 

Modules

  • This short intensive module, encourages you to explore, experiment and take chances with a variety of media and technologies. You should continue to build on the knowledge developed in the previous year, allowing you to develop a more in-depth investigation into the materials and processes that you are interested in. This module will be a space for experimentation with skills and techniques, that will underpin this second year of the programme.  

    Compulsory

  • Within this module you will learn to cultivate a resourceful and creative approach to the development of your work. You will consider the role of the artist in a contemporary society, which in turn will be a starting point for your self-directed practice. This module allows you to explore an area or topic that in particularly important to you, giving you an opportunity to establish your creative voice and share these ideas with different communities.  

    Compulsory

  • This module encourages you to consider the larger themes, histories and ideas that contextualise the production and reception of your work in a global context. Within the module you will consider how to engage with a range of audiences beyond the local, thinking about the international potential of the work you produce. In particular you will be supported in presenting yourself on a global stage. 

    Compulsory

  • In this module you will develop your ability to discover, generate and question ideas through creative practice. You will be encouraged to use a range approach to research that will underpin your investigation and practical work. Throughout this module you will be supported to establish, deepen, and broaden your practical enquiry through directed research into contemporary, cultural, and historical perspectives.  
      

    Compulsory

  • This module focuses on the environments in which art happens, encouraging you to make a response that engages with the various contexts in which art can be found. Through this exploration, you will be able to reflect on these varied environments and develop your own art practice in response. The aim of this exploratory practice is to expand your awareness of the variety of environments, both art and non-art, physical and virtual and to consider the way art operates within a space, such as, context, site, performance and interventions. 

    Compulsory

  • This module will consider the power of interruptions, as a way of engaging, or even surprising audiences. More specifically the module explores a wide range of methods and locations in which to share and present your artwork, both in physical and virtual spaces. Over the duration of the module, you will be supported in extending the reach of your work, aiming to reach diverse audiences. 

    Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement can often be beneficial. Work placements2 usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future. 

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement. 
For more information please go to the fees and funding section. 

Modules

  • This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement2 undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes. 

    Optional

  • This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement2 undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes. 

    Optional

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from year one and two.  

Modules

  • This research led module will enable you to contextualise the themes that play out in your practical work. It encourages you to draw connections between key ideas that interest you within a broader critical and historical framework. It provides an opportunity to produce a ‘critical journal’ in which you will explore multiple ways of writing about art too, including critical, reflective, analytical and creative. 

    Compulsory

  • During this module you will develop your individual, self-initiated art practice, generating an energetic and experimental practical investigation that utilises the array of workshop facilities and technical resources available. Through your practical investigations you will explore dialogues across materials and media, concepts and contexts, processes and practices. You should also develop your creativity ‘in dialogue’ with others, exploring interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches and working collaboratively with groups locally, nationally and internationally. 

    Compulsory

  • This module makes space for a sustained period of independent study, honing your creative identity and extending your ideas through practical development and production. The module is attentive to the network of communities and environments within which artists operate. Working with communities in a range of external environments you will gain insight into co-authorship, co-production and participation. You will explore the way that audiences engage with art and how art is disseminated. During the module you will create a body of work that reflects a focused application of ideas brought together into a coherent output such as an exhibition, performance, publication, event, or series of artefacts. 

    Compulsory

  • This culminating module is your key opportunity to produce and showcase your creative artwork. You will have an opportunity to work intensely on your creative practice, through a sustained and uninterrupted period of time in the studio, allowing you to produce a critical, coherent and fully realised body of work. Supported through tutorials and critiques, the focus of this module is all about honing and establishing your creative practice, ready for your future career and aspirations. 

    Compulsory

  • Delivered in conjunction with the Consolidations, this module prepares you for launching your creative practice after graduation. You will work with the programme team to identify and devise a strategy for your own future professional aspirations, helping you chart your own course and establish your own creative career. 

    Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

The School of Art and Design teaching and learning mirrors the needs of the Creative Industries with the aim of ensuring that our graduates are equipped with the skills and attributes to become Industry specialists, leaders and innovators to drive social responsibility and design global change.

The Creative Industries’ ability to be entrepreneurial, innovative and embrace change underpins our Art and Design courses. Our studio and workshop culture aims to ensure you are socially responsible in our creative community and develop critical thinking in research and ‘make’ processes. Our global initiatives should give you skills to become collaborative communicators and make you culturally competent in the ever-changing world of Art or Design.

The course provides you with the opportunity to learn how to recognise your strengths and learning needs, how to self-reflect and grow. You will look to identify your personal development and drive your projects for ambitious career aspirations.

This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study. 

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include: 

  • On campus lectures, seminars and workshops 
  • Group work 
  • Self-directed learning 
  • Work placement opportunities2.

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week in the first and second year dropping to around 10-12 contact hours per week in the third and final year as you become a more independent learner. 

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 15 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules. 

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs.  This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work. 

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms.  The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance.  Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety. 

Assessment

This course is assessed using a variety of methods that recognise module-specific skills and learning. You are predominantly assessed by coursework and assessment methods prepare you for diverse contexts.

Assessment methods can include: 

  • Practical coursework  
  • Digital coursework 
  • Individual work   
  • Group work  
  • Live presentations   
  • Video presentations   
  • Video essays 
  • Academic essays   

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes. 

International experience opportunities

Our teaching is underpinned by a contemporary view of art practice; this is reflected strongly in the course curriculum which includes taught sessions on Globalism, Travel and Migration and therefore aims to provide opportunities to engage with students, staff and artists from a culturally and geographically diverse range of backgrounds.

Each year, when possible, we also offer study trips abroad2. Previous trips have been taken to Berlin to visit galleries such as Hamburger Bahnhof and the KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Amsterdam to visit the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Foam Gallery and Venice to view artworks and attend events at the Venice Biennale which currently represents artwork from 86 different countries in national pavilions, and also includes a Diaspora Pavilion.

Students may also get the opportunity to engage in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects with participating institutions and other international universities around the world. 

Fine Art is dynamic. Artists respond to change and contemporary experience, frequently through collaboration with others. It is always a pleasure, therefore, to see students thriving in our vibrant, shared, studio environment, using the facilities to develop skills, explore ideas and establish a visual language.

Jane Ball, Course Director Fine Art  (2022)
Various sized paint brushes in a paint brush holder

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
A level BBC
GCSE 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above to include English 
BTEC DMM
IB Diploma 29 points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma. Plus GCSE English at grade 4 / C or above.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background. Find out more about our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation year. Upon successful completion our International Foundation Year - Art, Design and Media will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Portfolio

You will be required to submit a portfolio via email or alternatively attend a showcase activity session or audition (as is appropriate for your course) which can be virtual or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites to send in your portfolio or attend these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £9,250 per year Request fee information
International £19,850 per year Not available

If you choose to do a work placement, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

The Faculty of Arts & Humanities is joining two of our School’s completely refurbished Art and Design buildings and adding a range of new facilities4. Planned to fully open in 2023, these include a hyper-studio designed for cross-disciplinary projects and immersive studios with cutting-edge virtual reality and mixed-reality technologies. Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities in a unique environment. 

  • Ceramics, Glass and Casting Workshops - allow you to produce a range of forms from a variety of materials including resin, glass, ceramics, plaster and cement.
  • Printmaking Workshops - allow you to explore a range of printing processes from screen printing to etching; cyanotypes to lino cutting.
  • Sublimation and Vacuum Forming Studios - allow you to print onto a multitude of surfaces and then form them into the sculptural shapes.

Careers and opportunities

Professional experience is embedded into our course and as such, throughout this course you will produce professional outputs which can be exhibited in public and used to target curators, arts and cultural administrators, publishers, agents, media organisations, competitions, residency and exhibition opportunities and potential employers as examples. 

The university's Talent Team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise support if you wish to gain employment or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course specific industries. It aims to provide specialist careers information, advice and guidance to all our students from their first year through to final year and beyond graduation, helping them receive the opportunities to reach their desired career outcome (subject to availability)

Many of our past students pursue careers as exhibiting artists or utilise transferrable skills towards creative futures in arts administration, museum and gallery curating, careers within the media, photography, art therapy, design and teaching. 

Further study

Some of our past graduates have progressed to postgraduate study here on our suite of MA courses, doing Design Management, Fine Art Painting, Animation, and Illustration. While others have gone on to undertake further study at both International Universities and British institutions including the Royal College of Art, Chelsea College of Arts, University of Edinburgh, Central Saint Martins, Warwick University and the Slade School of Fine Art to name just a few.

Taking a year out of my degree to do a placement with Jaguar Land Rover Group was honestly one of the best things I've ever done for my practice. Working in industry gives you a new perspective, both on your practice, and the way you use your time. I've come back more focused, and the professional working environment has taught me to use my time more effectively. Taking the time away from my degree gave me the space to really think about, and contextualise my work, resulting in development that I don't think would have been achieved without that time in industry.

Tasmin Morgan, Level 6 Fine Art student (2021)
Students sat around a table in the Courtyard

How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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