Megan Georgia Smith
Graduate
Graduated: 2020
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
20222023
Got a passion for creative design? Not quite ready to undertake a full honours degree? Solent University’s Design Foundation Programme is perfectly suited to students who may not be from an art-related background or whose qualifications do not meet the admissions requirements for BA (Hons) Fine Art.
To help get you up to speed, the one-year foundation course provides all the creative, technical and study skills needed for entry onto BA (Hons) Fine Art here at Solent.
The foundation year begins with a five-week group project. This enables students to mix with like-minded peers and helps them to settle in quickly. This project also helps students to decide which area they might like to follow at a later stage.
This course embraces all possible ways of making and thinking about fine art practice. You will be taught new skills and techniques and will learn how to use a variety of mediums in order to produce art to a very high standard. You will have the opportunity to pursue the mediums, ideas and processes that you are most passionate about.
We will nurture what is particular about you and your practice to support you to cultivate your artistic talent and grow into confident and original thinkers and makers.
Our dedicated fine art studios are equipped to enable you to reach your full potential. You will be allocated your own studio space and will have full access to a range of dedicated technical workshops, including a sculpture workshop with metalwork, welding, woodworking and casting equipment; a print-making workshop with intaglio, dry point, etching, silkscreen, woodcut and letterpress facilities; a digital print workshop with high-quality large-scale print facilities, high-end scanners and the latest software; and photography darkrooms and studios.
You will also have the opportunity to use our media academy facilities, boasting Mac suites with the latest design software, as well as a media store containing high-definition cameras, video cameras and sound equipment.
The course has strong industry and community links and you will be given the opportunity to engage in an ambitious programme of professional development alongside your own individual artistic practice. You will create an online profile and curate and show your work in group exhibitions at professional galleries within the city.
This video 'Why study BA (Hons) Fine Art' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.
Why choose this course?
Course features
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Foundation year available
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Who is this course for?
The Fine Art course at Solent University is ideally suited to students who want to become strong and independent creative practitioners. It is an excellent choice for those who want to acquire and develop the practical and professional skills needed to succeed within the creative industries.
Applicants should demonstrate a basic level skill set in artistic mediums, and some level of contextual understanding of art practice.
What does this course lead to?
The course prepares you for a wide range of exciting career paths including, professional artist, painter, sculptor, printmaker, photographer, film maker, illustrator, art lecturer, school teacher, art therapist, curator, art critic, art journalist, art director and art entrepreneur.
Meet the team
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
You will be allocated personal studio space within our specially designed and recently refurbished artists’ studios, and have access to a range of dedicated specialist workshops. Facilities include: our sculpture workshop, with metalwork, welding, woodworking and casting equipment; our print-making workshop, with intaglio, dry point, etching, silkscreen, woodcut and letterpress facilities; a digital print workshop with high-quality, large-scale print facilities, high-end scanners and the latest software; as well as photography darkrooms and studios.
You will also have access to our media academy, featuring Mac suites outfitted with the latest design software, and a media store containing high-definition cameras and video cameras, sound equipment and more.
Come to an open day
Fancy a sneak peek? Take a look around!
Core modules
Creative Applications
This module is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge to communicate your art and design skills creatively.
Contextual Practice
In this module you will explore the aspects of art and design history and theory expressed through visual images.
Materials and Methods
This module introduces you to a range of technical skills appropriate to your future learning. You will learn, experiment and research other practitioners’ works to help you develop your own ideas.
Research and Ideas Development
This module places importance on both independent study and communication between students and is designed to establish strong and supportive peer networks.
Personal Development Planning
This module provides a programme of Personal Development Planning (PDP) tools. The three concepts of personal development, improving learning and performance, and forward planning to achieve goals are brought together in this module.
Degree-related Project
In other modules you have had the opportunity to develop research, design and communication skills. This module is designed to help you now apply these skills to your own project.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
Practical activities 
Essays
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
Historically art has occupied a crucial role in driving knowledge, technology and ideas forward. Art takes up an even more significant role in communicating progressive ideas to envision and shape societies to come. Through expressive and communicative means, artists contribute to the social bodies such as museums, galleries, schools and communities. The course will equip students with technical and practical skills, as well as intellectual and artistic thinking to fulfil their responsibilities as artists, curators and educators.
We have strong partnerships with regional and national arts agencies. You will have opportunities to exhibit your work in professional art galleries, run curatorial projects, deliver educational workshops and provide arts-based therapeutic workshops within the local community.
The University’s Showcase Gallery also offers an opportunity to work at the gallery whilst studying, which offers invaluable insight into how a gallery operates and the role of an arts administrator. We also run a graduating student residency at Showcase, where selected artists from our third year graduates receive professional exhibition space.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2022/23 academic year are:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £14,250 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2022/23 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, previous other costs have been:
Foundation year:
Portfolios, A4 ringbinders, and basic drawing materials will be required, approximately £150.
Year one:
Optional study trip and materials: £300
Year two:
Optional materials: £200
Year three:
Compulsory printing and binding a dissertation: £400
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Financial information videos
Student finance in under three minutes Student funding - the essentials This video 'Student funding essentials' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
48 UCAS tariff points
- from A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at PPP or BTEC Diploma at MP or equivalent.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please refer to our course entry requirement statement.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please refer to our course entry requirement statement.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about international qualifications, please refer to our course entry requirement statement.
Note to all international students requiring a visa:
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at this PDF document which outlines both Solent University and Home Office requirements for a number of language tests.
48UCAS Points
Any questions?
Contact our admissions team!Call: 023 8201 5066Email: admissions@solent.ac.uk
How to apply
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 26 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Alternative entry options
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
-
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
-
or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
We will prepare you for your future
Suitable roles for graduates include:
- Curator
- Gallery assistant
- Art Co-ordinator
- Art Therapist
- Art Critic
- Writer
- Film-maker
- Video editor
- Art studio technician
- Community art project manager
We will help you start your career
The Solent Futures team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
Find out more
Support at Solent
All students at Solent University have access to a range of specialist support services. Whether you are having financial difficulty, need additional help with academic skills or want advice on setting up your own business you'll find that help is always on hand.
Most of our specialist support services are based around the Student Hub, a central space where you can access all the information and support you may need during your time at University. The Student Hub is the first point of contact if you have any queries relating to your course, including questions about your timetable, options, and assessments and extenuating circumstances.
We work in partnership with the University to build a sense of pride and confidence in your Union, University and student experience.
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Make your application
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year