BA (Hons) Fine Art (Full Time)
Taught by practising artists, this course aims to develop confident and informed fine art graduates with good communication and critical skills.
UCAS codes
2013 Entry
- Three years Standard EntryW100
2012 Entry
- Three years Standard EntryW100
Entry level
Click here for Entry Requirements |
You will normally be invited to a portfolio viewing and briefing and maybe to a formal interview.
In my view
“I genuinely feel that I would not be the artist I am today if I hadn’t done this Fine Art course.”
Chris Savarimuthu graduated in 2010, and is currently working in London as an artist.
Career opportunities
Employment opportunities are very competitive. In addition to fine art other areas of work include illustration, printmaking and graphic design. Some artists will support themselves by taking on more than one type of employment and self employment is a further option. Other career areas drawing on visual creative skills and appreciation include museum and gallery curation, arts administration, art therapy (requiring further training) and advertising.
Graduates successfully pursue a diverse ranFood Management with Promotionge of creative careers and every student is supported on an individual basis to pursue their own career aspirations.
Career paths include:
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practising artists and illustrators
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photographers
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writers and theorists
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arts administrators
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curators
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critics
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filmmakers and performers
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teachers.
For facts, figures and further details of graduate employability, view the career destinations PDF| for this course.
Course overview
The BA (Hons) Fine Art degree at Southampton Solent University supports your creative development and encourages an open yet questioning approach to fine art in order to develop your skills as an independent practitioner.
You will learn how to make art and evaluate different critical approaches to your practice by studying units that integrate studio practice and critical studies. The course's structure will allow you to develop your work by exploring a wide range of media including: drawing, painting, film, video, installation, performance, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
As well as building your unique body of studio work, you will take part in theoretical units and engage in critical argument, debate and research.
Industrial focus
Our staff team of practising artists and theorists, have strong links with local and national art agencies and you will have the opportunity to visit International art centres, galleries and film festivals.
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Course content
Year 1
You will experience a diversity of attitudes and approaches and begin to define your own artistic practice and working methodology, which may include a single or multidisciplinary approach tailored to your own ideas and philosophy.
You will be exposed to a broad range of fine art practices including: drawing, painting, video, sculpture, performance, printmaking, animation, photography, written text, conceptual art, net art, live happenings and events, disparate theoretical and philosophical concerns and many other visual and intellectual pursuits.
Year 2
You will be expected to develop and refine the aims of your practical work based on self-reflection, an understanding of the continuing importance of a theoretical and analytical context to your work and the critical responses of staff and peers.
With staff guidance, you will continue to develop your individual creativity and set of practical skills in order to produce high quality art work.
Year 3
You will produce a 5,000 word dissertation and produce a body of practice-based work reflective of your own individual artistic practice. This will bring together all previously acquired knowledge and culminate in the final year degree show. Students are expected to become fully independent and self-motivated and to gain complete ownership of their own practice.
Why choose this course?
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Links with local art organisations including Millais Offsite Projects, A Space Arts, Artsway, Aspex Gallery Southampton Art Gallery and the John Hansard Gallery.
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Throughout the course critics, curators and visiting artists assist students in the pursuit of their individual goals.
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A friendly and supportive study environment with a wide range of facilities.
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In year two you have the opportunity to spend some time at a European partner university.
Assessment
This takes place twice a year at the end of each semester in the form of a viva presentation and an exhibition of the student’s individual coursework along with the submission of a written assignment. Throughout the year, students are given consistent informal feedback in weekly tutorials and group critiques.
Key career skills
Creative thinking, problem-solving, team work, presentation skills, time management and a diverse range of technical skills including photography, printmaking, publishing, drawing, digital media software, sound and video high definition editing and bookmaking skills.
Projects/work experience
The professional Practice unit in year two allows students a unique opportunity to work alongside professional artists and curators to organise and curate a show for a public space in Southampton city centre.
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Graduate profile
Helen Marland 
Helen Marland graduated in 2010, and has just set up an artist run studio organisation in Southampton along with other recent graduates.
“The course is extremely challenging and hard work but is, above all, very stimulating and provides a solid base from which to start a career in the arts.”