Fine Art with History of Art BA

This course combines studio practice with art historical study, enabling you to become an academically strong, thoughtful artist who understands how your practice relates to the art of the past.

You’ll split your time equally between studio practice and art history and theory, exploring what has been understood as ‘art’ in different cultures and societies over time. Working across a range of media, you’ll develop your own body of work under the guidance of artist-lecturers and visiting practitioners, and study alongside artists and cultural theorists in a stimulating research environment.

Optional modules will give you the chance to focus on topics that interest you, from African art to contemporary cinema and the contemporary art market. You’ll gain professional skills as you develop and exhibit your own artistic work in every year, preparing you for a career in the arts and cultural sectors.

Specialist resources

The University has a variety of resources to support your learning and practice.

Housed within a single central campus location, the School has been designed to best meet the needs of our students. You'll work in professionally laid-out, well lit studios with 24 hour access and will benefit from versatile exhibition spaces and social areas.

Resources include dedicated Mac and PC computer suites for video editing, animation and image manipulation, printmaking workshops for etching, relief and screen printing, and a photography darkroom for film developing and printing. A woodworking and casting area are also housed within the School, with additional facilities for digital and 3D printing available at the University.

The University has a variety of resources to support your learning and research. We have a wide range of museum collections and galleries on campus such as The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery and the Brotherton Library Treasures Gallery. ULITA – An Archive of International Textiles – is housed on campus to collect, preserve and document textiles and related areas from around the world. Project Space, a multi-purpose space designed for the development of curatorial practice and visiting exhibitions, sits at the core of the School’s building.

The University also houses a wealth of modern and contemporary art that make up the Art on Campus displays of sculpture, in addition to the Yorkshire Fashion Archive and the Marks & Spencer Company Archive and exhibition displays. These resources all offer exciting opportunities for our students to engage with art and culture.

You’ll have the chance to work across all fine art media and you’ll be encouraged to find your own direction as an artist. Half of the degree is devoted to studio work, giving you the time and space to develop your ideas. You’ll take field trips to exhibitions, galleries and fine art fairs and combine lectures with group seminar sessions to discuss contemporary art practice, which you can use to inform your own creative work.

To support these studies you’ll take core modules that introduce you to contested ideas about the artist, art and the history of art as well as the relationship between art and society. You’ll gain research and analytical skills that provide a foundation for your degree.

In year 1, you will gain the fundamental skills and knowledge for the study of art and culture and explore your own direction as an artist by developing a creative portfolio across a range of media. Compulsory and optional modules will introduce key themes and interpretive methods, examine different cultures and materials, and consider the intentions and identities of artists.

In year 2, you will build upon and critically apply the knowledge and skills learned in year 1 and further pursue your own individual interests. Compulsory modules will examine contested ideas about art and the artist and how the theory and history of art relate to practice. You will also continue to develop your portfolio.

In your final year, you will apply your research and critical skills to an independent piece of research on a topic of your choice, which can either complement your studio practice or focus on a topic of your choice within art history. You will complement and support these projects with a choice of optional modules.

Towards the end of the year you’ll display your studio work in a final exhibition, applying your artistic and professional skills to interact with external agencies, the media and sponsors.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Fine Art with History of Art BA in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Broadening your academic horizons

At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. This course gives you the opportunity to broaden your learning by studying discovery modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

Studio tutors are practising artists, writers and curators who are contributing to national and international exhibitions and publications. Read our staff biographies on the School website for more details.

This course combines studio, exhibition and curatorial work, screenings and visits with traditional teaching and learning methods such as lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops. You’ll also have the chance to enhance your learning by attending talks by visiting artists and speakers, as well as attending exhibitions and conferences among others.

Independent study is a vital element of this degree, allowing you to develop your creativity and build important skills in areas such as research, analysis and interpretation.

Assessment

We usually use a combination of assessment methods that allows you to develop diverse skills. These include your studio work, exhibition crits, module presentations, essays and exams, depending on the modules you choose.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAB not including General Studies or Critical Thinking.

Other course specific tests:

Where an applicant is undertaking an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), the School may make an alternative offer that is one A level grade below that of our standard offer – on the condition that the applicant achieves a grade A in their EPQ (e.g. AAB at A level / alternative offer ABB plus grade A in EPQ).

NB: An EPQ is optional and not a requirement of application.

All applicants will also be required to submit a satisfactory portfolio of work.

• Access to HE Diploma

  Pass with 60 credits overall including 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 must be at Merit level.

• BTEC

  Extended Diploma: DDD-DDM.

• Cambridge Pre-U

  D3, D3, M1 – D3, M1, M1 in three principle subjects.

• International Baccalaureate

  34-35 overall (with at least 4 in English Language).

• Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate)

  AAAABB-AAABBB.

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  AABBB (AB at advanced level) OR AAABB (A at advanced level). For applicants just undertaking the higher level, grades of AAAABB will be required.

• Other Qualifications

  Art Foundation Diploma: Merit/Distinction with an A level at grade A (excluding General Studies or Critical Thinking).

  European Baccalaureate: 77-80% overall and at least 60% in English.

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For information contact the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies Undergraduate Admissions Team.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
 

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK/EU students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Next steps

Qualified applicants are invited to interview in groups. You’ll be expected to bring your portfolio to the interview, and we will inspect this while you take part in activities run by our current students in our fine art studios to get a sense of what it is like to study with us. You will then have a short interview where you can discuss your portfolio and demonstrate your awareness of both the course and your own practice.

Admissions policy

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Undergraduate Admissions Policy 2019

Fees

UK/EU: See fees section below

International: £18,500 (per year)

For UK and non-UK EU full-time students starting in 2018, the fee for 2018/19 will be £9,250. 

For UK and non-UK EU full-time students starting in 2019, the fee for 2019/20 will be £9,250. 

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. For example, the increase of 2.8% in 2017/18 was based on the government’s forecast for the RPI-X measure of inflation.

The UK government has confirmed that non-UK EU students starting in the 2019/20 academic year will have home fee status and be eligible for UK government student loans. The UK government has not confirmed the situation for future years, so keep checking our website for updates.

If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

This degree will allow you to develop into a thoughtful artist with strong critical, interpretative and communication skills, as well as strong visual and critical awareness and an understanding of the ways in which your practice responds to and questions the art of the past. This will prepare you for a career in the arts and culture sectors, where you could join our alumni working in diverse careers as artists, curators, academics, writers and teachers among many others.

Graduates from our School have gone on to work at the Guggenheim Museum in Venice, the Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The Saatchi Gallery, The Henry Moore Institute, National Trust, Bonham’s, Leeds City Museums, The Hepworth Gallery, The Geffrye Museum London, The Heritage Lottery Fund and the Rydale Folk Museum.

Careers Support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has over 300 partnerships with universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

Work placements

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.

Some recent examples include placements at Harewood House, the Cultural Institute, Urban Outfitters, Tigerprint, Leeds Museums and Galleries, Pyramid of Arts and Hang-Up Gallery.