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Fine Art BA (Hons)
This is a part-time, full-time single honours programme within the Fine Art subject area.
Key facts
- Subject area: Fine Art
- Award: BA (Hons)
- Code: W100:K
- Location: Medway
- Honours: Single
- Mode of study: Part-time, Full-time
- Duration: 3 years
- Start: 2013
- Year in industry: Yes
- Year abroad: Yes
- Institution(s): University of Kent
Overview
Our Fine Art programme offers you the option of working with many different media and arts practices. This may include painting, sculpture, installation, critical writing and curation, to name a few examples.
In addition, the multidisciplinary environment of the School of Arts at Medway means that Fine Art students have access to the resources and expertise of our other creative arts disciplines, including Music and Audio Arts, and Creative Events. This allows us to provide a unique learning experience where you are free to work in a diverse range of media and develop your creative ideas without artificial restrictions. You will have opportunities to collaborate on projects with students from the other creative arts disciplines and produce public events, publications and exhibitions. You also have the opportunity to extend your skills outside the creative arts with Business Studies and English Language options.
The degree integrates practice-based work with critical debate and art theory. Supported by your tutors, you are encouraged to realise your creative and intellectual potential by developing independent work through practice, and to take advantage of the rich culture of events, symposia and exhibitions that are a regular feature of University life. Students in the School of Arts at Medway are engaged and enthusiastic, and contribute to the energy that creates such a dynamic and challenging cultural environment.
Modules
Stage 1
Stage 1 introduces you to the core topics in the field. Movements and ideas from Realism to Relational Aesthetics, from the Bauhaus to Lady Gaga, and from the art academy to art in the streets are discussed. Studio projects are selfdirected, but it is expected that they will respond to the wider discussions and debates in the programme.
The following modules are offered:
- Creative and Critical Practice 1
- Creative and Critical Practice 2
- Methods and Materials
- Contemporary Art and Themes
Fine Art students may follow an interdisciplinary route for their degree by choosing modules from Music and Audio Arts or Creative Events programmes. At the end of Stage One students choose Mentorship Pathways in the subject specialisms of painting, sculpture or time/lens based media.
Stage 2
In Stage 2, you develop your practice, looking specifically at the contexts of your work and the work of others, and taking account of historical and contemporary practice. The Mentorship Pathways provide developmental workshops and content unique to each subject specialism within the framework of the core Practice in Context modules that are delivered across the programme. You can also choose to collaborate with other students to create an event, exhibition or publication project, or collaborate with music students in the audio visual module: Found Sound – Found Image.
The following modules are offered:
- Practice in Context 1 (core)
- Practice in Context 2 (core)
- Practice and its Publics
- Place and Site
- Found Image - Found Sound
Again, Fine Art students may follow an interdisciplinary route for their degree by choosing one module from Music and Audio Arts or Creative Events programmes.
Stage 3
Stage 3 encourages specialist study of increasing intensity and application.Developing Practice and Critical Resolution consolidate advanced understanding that is further developed in Resolution. Here, you produce an independent body of work, which culminates in your Degree Show.
The choice of modules is:
- Critical Essay and Seminar
- Developing Ideas through Practice
- Studio Project
- Resolution.
Year abroad
You have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner institutions in Europe or further afield either in the autumn term of Stage 2, or for a year between your second and final year. Please see the goabroad website for more information.
Please see the Go abroad webpages for further details.
Year in industry
The School of Arts Year in Industry gives you an opportunity to gain relevant workplace experience as part of your programme of study. We have long recognised the benefits of taking a year abroad and the increased awareness and confidence the experience brings, and now want to offer these benefits to students within the workplace.
The year in industry also gives you an opportunity to increase your contacts and network so that you can hit the ground running when you graduate.
The year in industry is in addition to your standard undergraduate programme and normally falls between your second and final year. The year itself is assessed on a pass/fail basis through employer feedback and a written report that you submit.
Teaching and assessment
Staff at the School of Arts have a close working relationship with students. All our staff are engaged with the practice of fine art and bring with them a broad range of experiences that cross the disciplines of practice and criticism. Lectures and seminars are complemented by other teaching scenarios such as group critiques, one-to-one tutorials, practice-based seminars and visits to galleries and museums.
You are given your own studio space so you have the freedom to develop as an artist, curator or writer, and you have access to fully equipped workshops, printmaking studios and IT facilities.
Careers
The programme develops your skills and gives you the confidence to work within all areas of the cultural industries and enterprise. It prepares you to work in a range of areas in the arts, both within large institutions and with independent practitioners. You can also work as a freelance artist, establish independent collectives and groups, or decide to continue your academic studies by taking a postgraduate degree.
Throughout your studies, you gain key transferable skills considered an essential part of our employability agenda. These include excellent communication skills, the ability to work as part of a team and independently, to analyse complex ideas and the confidence to suggest your own innovative solutions.
For more information on the services Kent provides to improve your employment prospects, visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability
Entry requirements
Offer levels
ABB-BBB at A level, IB Diploma 33 points inc 5 in HL Visual Arts or 6 in SL Visual Arts where taken, or IB Diploma with 14 points at Higher inc 5 in HL Visual Arts or 6 in SL Visual Arts where taken.
Required subjects
A level Fine Art, Art and Design or History of Art grade B if taken. Candidates are interviewed and you should bring a portfolio of your practical work to the interview.
Further information
School
Enquiries:
T: +44 (0)1227 827272
Key Information Sets
The Key Information Set (KIS) data (right) is compiled by UNISTATS and draws from a variety of sources which includes the National Student Survey and the Higher Education Statistical Agency. The data for assessment and contact hours is compiled from the most populous modules (to the total of 120 credits for an academic session) for this particular degree programme. Depending on module selection, there may be some variation between the KIS data and an individual's experience. For further information on how the KIS data is compiled please see the UNISTATS website.
If you have any queries about a particular programme, please contact information@kent.ac.uk