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Fine Art at University of East London - UCAS

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2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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University of East London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

The BA Fine Art course at the University of East London offers  a dynamic, critical and interdisciplinary learning  creative  environment for students wishing to specialise in making  contemporary  art that will lead to broad career paths in the cultural and creative industries.  As part of the unique Visual Arts subject area, we understand how contemporary art can engage with many disciplines. Our course  is taught by practising  artists, curators, cultural directors and writers;  many of whom have international exhibition or publication profiles, experience working with public and private organisations, who share their practice and expertise with the  students. The programme provides opportunities to engage with external organisations and practising creatives in our Detour Ahead, Cultural Manoeuvres, Guest Lecture series and visits.  Our students work across a range of disciplines including painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography, printmaking, film, new media involving 3D scanning, virtual reality, augmented reality and robotics.  We're proud of our reputation for igniting the talents of brilliant fine artists with the help and support of some of the biggest names in British art. The foundation year is perfect if you want a degree in fine art but you don't meet the standard entry requirements. First we prepare you for your degree during the foundation year, bringing you up to speed with academic skills and a firm grounding in the subject, then you can go on to do the full undergraduate degree. Our fine art students work across a range of disciplines, including drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, film, photography and performance. What exactly distinguishes fine artists? Well, they usually work independently, without a client. Their work may stand out for its beauty or meaningfulness thanks to innovative practice or a high level of craft or conceptual skills. Experimentation and risk-taking are an essential part of their individualism, too. The emergence of such singular talents has long marked out UEL's fine art course as exceptional. We've been well known for nurturing ground breaking artists since the Chapman brothers started making their dramatic impression back in the 1980s. It's the diversity of our students and staff, with their wide, vastly differing backgrounds and experiences, which helps make this a uniquely rich and fascinating course.

Modules

Year 1: Design Investigation 1 (Core), Design Integration 1 (Core), Contextual Studies (Creative Writing) (Core), Research into Practice 1 (Core), Experimentation and Application 1A (Core), Experimentation and Application 1B (Animation) (Core) Year 2: Professional Life 2 (Mental Wealth) (Core), Design Investigation 2 (Core), Design Integration 2 (Core), Contextual Studies 2 (Core), Advanced Experimentation and Application (Core), Advanced Practice (Core), Optional placement (Optional) Year 3: Mental Wealth: Professional Life 3 (Rising East) (Core), Integrated Technology (Core), Independent Major Project Part A (Core), Design Investigation 3 (Core), Research into Practice 3 – Contemporary Practice in Fine Art (Core), Research into Practice 3 – Extended Research Project (Core) For more information about individual modules, please visit our course pages via the link below.

Assessment method

At the end of the first term in your first year you'll deliver a presentation of your work to a panel of two staff members. No mark is given at this stage you'll receive oral and written feedback. You'll repeat this at end of the second term in your first year, but this time you'll be awarded a mark. In your second year you'll participate in the second-year show and discuss your work with two tutors. A mark is then awarded. In your third year you'll present the best of your work in the degree show and a panel of all the academic team members agree your mark. The marks at each level are moderated by a team of external examiners. Feedback is provided within 15 working days in line with UEL's assessment and feedback policy.

How to apply

31Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W100
Institution code:
E28
Campus name:
Docklands Campus
Campus code:
A

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

For detailed information on entry requirements for our courses, please see the individual course pages. We consider a range of UK and worldwide qualifications at the appropriate level and also take relevant work experience into account when considering an application. Many courses have a Foundation Year option for those students whose qualifications do not meet the BA or BSc entry requirements. Applicants should have, or be working towards, grade C in GCSE English and Mathematics (or equivalent Level 2 qualification such as Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Mathematics or Key Skills Level 2 in Application of Number and Communication) Entry requirements are intended only as a guide for applicants. They are not a guarantee of an offer, nor of the conditions that may apply. When making a decision on your academic suitability, we will make an assessment of you as an individual and will use information other than qualifications; which may include predicted grades, performance at Level 2, relevant work experience, previous study at degree level, personal statement, references and any portfolio, written test or interview, to make our decision. If you have any questions, please contact a member of our Applicant Relations Team from Monday to Friday (9am–5pm) on +44 (0) 20 8223 3333 or https://uel.ac.uk/about/contact-us

Additional entry requirements

Interview

Applicants are required to attend an interview for discussion of their portfolio of work.

Portfolio

Your portfolio should contain between ten and fifteen works in any medium, e.g. drawing, painting, video, sculpture, installation, etc – that demonstrate your interest in developing as an artist. Large or site-specific works should be represented photographically. You should include some preparatory work, e.g. drawings or sketchbooks, as well as completed pieces. In addition to questions about your portfolio you will be asked about artists who interest you and exhibitions you have visited.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
40%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
65%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £14580 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
International £14580 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Fine Art at University of East London - UCAS