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Fine Art

Entry requirements


Access to HE Diploma

M:15

Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in an art and design-related programme from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate

GCSE/National 4/National 5

English Language or literature at grade C or 4

UCAS Tariff

112-120

This must include at least 64 points from two A levels, or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject, such as Art and Design). For example: BBC-BBB at A Level. DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma. Merit overall from a T Level Qualification A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.

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About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Fine art

**Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information**

**Course summary**
- Join an interdisciplinary community of practising artists whose work investigates the present and shapes the future

- Grow your confidence to make art in an inclusive environment which encourages diverse perspectives

- Experiment with materials and processes, taking risks, investigating unfamiliar concepts and testing new ideas

- Collaborate in curating exhibitions, events and screenings and grow your networks locally, nationally and internationally

Studying Fine Art develops the imagination, practical and critical skills needed for an ever-changing world. This course will help you develop your individual art practice and build your networks to open up future professional opportunities.

**How you learn**
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Based in our bespoke studios, workshops, and digital spaces, you’ll become part of a dynamic and collaborative learning community. Together, you’ll undertake creative adventures, explore possibilities, and challenge conventions.
Through our teaching, we help you unlock your potential to contribute as a creative thinker and doer and apply your knowledge to art practice, culture and society.
You learn through:
- Studio practice

- Workshops

- Technical demonstrations

- Group and individual tutorials

- Creative reviews

- Lectures

- Guest talks

- External visits and field trips

**Key themes**
Throughout the course, you’ll develop your making and thinking skills using a diverse range of creative processes, media and software – and you’ll explore ideas and practices through workshops led by skilled tutors and technicians.
Activities include painting, print, sculpture, installation, photography, moving image, performance and interaction, art writing, site-specific and socially-engaged/participatory work, and other forms of contemporary art practice.
You’ll learn different methods for research, understanding how artists work and think, and how research supports the development of contemporary practice. By collaborating with others, you’ll build confidence in communicating ideas and sharing your work with audiences.
At every step, we’ll help you position your practice in relation to real-world opportunities and challenges, so you can create work for particular contexts and participants through exhibitions, screenings and other live projects with external partners.

**Course support**
We’re a dedicated, qualified, and highly experienced teaching team, with world-leading research and recognised professional creative reputations, who take the time to get to know you. Throughout your learning journey, you’ll experience a range of dedicated personal, academic and career development support.

**Work placements**
You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements before your final year. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.

**Live projects**
Take part in live projects in creative and critical arts practice where you work with external partners to respond to real-world challenges, projects and opportunities.

**Field trips**
We offer opportunities to go on study trips and visits in the UK and abroad – with free travel and accommodation for all mandatory field trips. Students can also apply for funding through the Turing Scheme to support a study exchange or placement outside of the UK.

Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

**Year 1**

**Compulsory modules**

Developing Fine Art: Progressing Ideas And Expanding Practice

Introducing Fine Art: Ideas, Materials And Processes

**Year 2**

**Compulsory modules**

Contexts For Fine Art: Working With Sites, Communities, Audiences And Participants

Experiments In Fine Art: Curiosity, Testing, Positioning

Future Now: Collaboration In Action

**Year 3**

**Optional modules**

Placement Year

**Final year**

**Compulsory modules**

Challenging Fine Art: Deepening Creative And Critical Investigation

Presenting Fine Art: Resolving Ideas And Making Public

Assessment methods

Coursework
Practical

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£16,655
per year
International
£16,655
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

Extra funding

Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.

The Uni


Course location:

Sheffield Hallam University

Department:

College of Social Sciences and Arts

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

83%
Fine art

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Art

Teaching and learning

93%
Staff make the subject interesting
88%
Staff are good at explaining things
93%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
85%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

73%
Library resources
88%
IT resources
85%
Course specific equipment and facilities
61%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

97%
UK students
3%
International students
14%
Male students
86%
Female students
79%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
D
B

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Art

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£18,000
med
Average annual salary
91%
low
Employed or in further education
16%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

26%
Other elementary services occupations
13%
Customer service occupations
11%
Artistic, literary and media occupations

Quite a few students of fine art have already retired and are taking the degree for the excellent reason that they love art, and they're willing to pay to study it. You should bear this in mind if the stats you see feature particularly low employment rates. If you need to earn a living once you've finished your fine art degree, be aware that freelancing and self-employment is common - about one in six fine arts graduates were working for themselves. Also common are what is termed 'portfolio careers' — having several part-time jobs or commissions at once - and many courses actually help you prepare for freelancing. One in ten of last year’s fine arts graduates had more than one job six months after graduation — over twice the average for graduates from 2015. Graduates from these subjects are often found in arts jobs, as artists, designers, photographers and similar jobs, or as arts and entertainment officers or teachers — although it's perfectly possible to get jobs outside the arts if you wish, with jobs in events management, marketing and community work amongst the most popular options.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Art

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£16k

£16k

£19k

£19k

£23k

£23k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

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Same University
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here