Fine Art BA (Hons)

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

Fine Art BA (Hons) 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

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

W100

Start date

September 2025


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 prestigious venues across the world (staff may be subject to change).
A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

  • Fine Art BA (Hons) 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 is now located in the newly re-configured Delia Derbyshire building. It benefits from a vibrant array of advanced facilities, including modern 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 and Roberta Smith, Thomson & Craighead, (guest lectures are subject to availability).  
  • The course offers you lots of different career paths in fine art, and 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. 

School of Art and Design Showcase

Engage with and explore the talents and achievements of our art and design Foundation Year course and final-year students.

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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 your 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 your second year, 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 your second year, 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

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 years 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 £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or participating institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement. 

Modules

Your final year aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from your first and second years.

Modules

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's teaching and learning mirrors the needs of the creative industries. We aim to ensure that our graduates are equipped with the skills and attributes needed 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.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


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 may 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.

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.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.

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 entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
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.

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.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

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Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


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.

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

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year
Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

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 UK (home) students, if Parliament permits 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.

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.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip
  • any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

The Delia Derbyshire building lies at the heart of our Coventry city campus. This multi-million pound investment in the arts is home to the Schools of Art and Design, Media and Performing Arts, Humanities, and Psychological, Social and Behavioural Sciences. First opened to students in 2023, the spaces enable you to mix with like-minded students, getting hands-on with cross-disciplinary projects or immersing yourself in the studios with cutting-edge virtual reality and mixed-reality technologies. Our aim is to bring you sector-leading facilities helping you explore your way to your future career.

  • 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

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.


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 engage with curators, arts and cultural administrators, publishers, agents, media organisations, and for applications to competitions, residencies, exhibition opportunities and potential employers, as examples2.

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. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

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, University of Warwick and the Slade School of Fine Art.

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)
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