BA (Hons) Fine Art

Year One – After a short settling-in period, the course focusses on drawing skills - an approach for which the University is renowned. Following induction and familiarisation, you will get to know our expert staff, the University, and your peers before joining one of the specialist studio communities. You will work in exceptional facilities and shared community studios where you can make the space your own.

Year Two – You’ll develop your work within your studio community, where tutorials and critiques will extend your practice. You will enhance your professionalism by implementing artists’ strategies and exhibition practice. As one of the UK’s only independent arts universities in the heart of a culturally vibrant city, we have links with artist-led spaces (many run by alumni) and prestigious arts foundations and awards.

Year Three – Consolidate your informed and positioned practice by working within your studio community. You will undertake further tutorials and critiques to mentor you through your final year. You will position yourself as an emerging professional artist, attend networks, private views and deliver commissions. The course concludes with an agreed project in the form of a public facing exhibition and an extensive research project. Employability in a global context is central to this course.

Work experience covers a broad range of activities and students are encouraged to undertake work placements during their time at university. As well as guidance from the course team our Careers, Employability and Enterprise team offer support that enhances employability skills and underpins engagement with industry.

Work experience that our alumni have negotiated has included ‘Think Out of The Box’ supported work experience with East Street Arts, Leeds; bronze foundry work experience at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Aberdeenshire; work experience with the British Art Show 8 external project at Leeds Art Gallery; mentored awards by AON, a national project organised by Work Place Consultancy; and undertaking volunteer positions in the Learning Department at The Hepworth Wakefield and at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Our students win many prestigious awards and prizes. Recently, these have included:

• Associate Artists for Yorkshire Sculpture International

• Winner Ingram Collection Purchase Prize

• The Kenneth Armitage Student Sculpture Award

• The British Art Medal Project Award

• Aon Community Art Awards

• Winner of The Northern Art Show Award Bursary

• Winner of The Drawing Year at Royal Drawing School

Our students have also been shortlisted for the Royal British Society of Artists Rome Scholarship, John  Moores Painting Prize, The Lynn Painters and Stainers and the Royal Academy Summer Show. 

Click here to view the course specification

Undergraduate degree courses at Leeds Arts University are delivered and supported through a range of teaching and learning strategies. Courses are made up of modules, these are elements of study that are taught and assessed separately. Each module carries a clearly identified credit value, the accumulation of which will allow you to progress to the next level of the course. Around 100 hours of learning are expected for every ten credits of the course. Each level (year) of the course is made up of 120 credits and therefore requires 1200 hours of learning. Teaching is split over 2 semesters; each semester has 13 weeks of teaching and 2 weeks of assessment. 

For further information visit Undergraduate teaching & learning at Leeds Arts University.

Graduates go into a wide variety of careers including independent art practice, community arts, curating and teaching. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study.

We’re looking for students with the best potential to succeed - irrespective of their background. That’s why we welcome a wide range of qualifications and experience.

Click here to view our entry requirements

Tuition Fees

Our current fees are listed here

Other Costs

Further costs of study are related largely to the costs of materials and depend very much on how individual students choose to respond to University briefs.

The costs below are the result of asking our students to state how much they spend during the year and creating an average, as such they are indicative only.

Equipment and Materials

• Level 4 (First Year)
  Materials - Approximately £10-£150
• Level 5 (Second Year)
  Materials - Approximately £10-£200
• Level 6 (Third Year)
  Materials - Approximately £20-£300

It is advisable that you possess a portfolio for carrying your work to and from the University in order to keep it in good condition.

Computers and Digital Equipment

Teaching and learning are supported through access to some online events and learning materials. This might include visiting speakers or the chance to review lectures that have been recorded. The University also uses a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to support learning. There are a range of computer facilities across the University available to access Monday to Saturday including weekday evenings. If you are intending to buy a computer we suggest you wait until you start your course. You will quickly find out what you do and don’t need. The Course Team will be able to offer you advice on what to buy and where to purchase it from, based on your creative needs and budget.

Educational Visits and Off-Site Activities

Educational visits to enhance your experience may take place throughout the course and can range from a visit to a UK conference, exhibition or gallery, to a European or international study trip. All trips requiring a student financial contribution are optional and costs will always be kept as affordable as possible. We do not guarantee that we will run international visits. The decision is made annually based on availability, cost and the number of students required to make the trip viable.

We provide support for undergraduate students dependent upon their financial circumstances. Visit Undergraduate Finance for further information.

Click here to view our Terms & Conditions

Click here to view the Key Information for this course

We are delighted to welcome undergraduate visiting and exchange students from Europe and around the world who would like to spend a semester or a full academic year taking credits from our exciting range of courses. You will be fully integrated into the academic and social life of the University during a period of full-time supervised study and your credits transferred back to your home institution.

You can join us through programmes such as Erasmus+, individual university partnerships or as an independent applicant. Please see here for more information and how to apply.

Leeds Arts University students interested in spending some time overseas can find information on the international opportunities available during your course here.

Questions? Contact international@leeds-art.ac.uk