Fine ArtBA Honours

UCAS code W1504 Years

www.ncl.ac.uk/ug/W150Printed from the web page above on 29/05/2018

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Fine ArtBA HonoursUCAS code W1504 Years

This is a practice-based course incontemporary visual art aimed at ambitious,motivated, imaginative individuals.

You develop and exhibit an exciting body of studio practiceand acquire the professional, practical, intellectual andtheoretical skills necessary to establish yourself as an artist,for a career in a related field or for postgraduate study.

Our four-year programme allows you the time and space toexperiment, to fully develop ambitious ideas, to deepen yourknowledge of art history and contemporary art, and toundertake a period of study at one of our partner universitiesabroad.

Career development is supported through our LifeWorkArtprogramme, with opportunities to exhibit your work andundertake live projects and placements that will help yougain the professional skills you need to thrive in thecontemporary art world.

Highlights of this degreeQuality and rankingThe quality of the Fine Art study experience at Newcastle isrecognised with an impressive overall studentsatisfaction score of 91% in the National Student Survey2017.

We also rank:

• 1st in the UK – The Times/Sunday Times GoodUniversity Guide 2018 (Art and Design category)

• 2nd in the UK – The Complete University Guide2019 (Art and Design category)

• 91% overall student satisfaction score – NationalStudent Survey 2017

• top 200 – Arts and Humanities category – Times HigherEducation World University Rankings by Subject 2018

Boost your employability with a work placementApply to spend a 9 to 12 months on an optional workplacement between Stages 3 and 4. You can apply tospend your placement year with any organisation and willreceive University support to do so.

You’ll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector,putting your learning into practice and developing yourprofessional expertise.

It will extend your degree by a year and is subject toavailability.

Find out more about Work Placements.

Your study experienceYou will be taught by artists, art historians and artsprofessionals of international standing working at the cuttingedge of contemporary art. We have superb studios andworkshops and an excellent student-staff ratio.

Studio practiceYou will explore, experiment and expand your knowledgeand abilities through both study and practical experience inthe studio.

You'll have the opportunity to develop your work across abroad range of media, encompassing:

• painting• sculpture• print• photography• digital media• film• video• sound• performance• installation

Art history modulesWe offer an inspiring selection of art historical and theoreticalmodules, with a lively programme of lectures, seminars andstudy trips

Workshops and lecturesYou will enjoy a dynamic programme of workshops, weeklylectures and seminars from artists, critics, curators,historians and art professionals, to ensure you develop abroad perspective on art

Local galleriesThe Fine Art Building is housed in the same building as oneof the region’s leading public art galleries, the outstandingHatton Gallery, showing permanent and touring collections.

You will also benefit from the city’s vibrant arts culture,fuelled by the world-class art galleries on your doorstep,including BALTIC, the largest art gallery of its kind in theworld.

Professional development (LifeWorkArt)Research and practice-informed teaching plays animportant role at Newcastle. You will benefit from tuitionfrom a very wide range of experienced practitioners, whoexhibit and publish both nationally and internationally.

Our professional development programme, LifeWorkArt isintegrated at each Stage. This is run in collaboration withmany regional and national arts organisations and galleriesand prepares you for professional art practice throughprojects such as:

• organising exhibitions• attending field trips• undertaking a gallery placement• preparing a public art project

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Study abroadThere are regular study abroad trips, supporting both the arthistory and studio components of the degree. These areoptional and must be self-funded.

Recent trips have been to New York, the Venice Biennale,Madrid, Florence and Berlin. There is a competitive fund tosupport individual research trips abroad and an internationalresidency opportunity.

You may also spend a semester in your third year on astudy exchange in Europe through Erasmus or further afieldthrough our Non-EU Exchange Programme. We currentlyhave exchange partners in:

• Germany• Sweden• Norway• Poland• France• Denmark

Facilities and supportAs a fine art student, you will be based in our School of Artsand Cultures.

FacilitiesYour studio will be in the beautiful Fine Art Building in theUniversity’s historic Quadrangle, which includes the HattonGallery. You'll benefit from access to:

• purpose-built studios• exhibition spaces• fully staffed printmaking, metalwork, woodwork and

digital media workshops• a fully stocked art shop• a student-run café

We highly recommend you take a virtual tour or visit us inperson.

SupportYou'll be supported by a personal tutor throughout yourdegree – an academic member of staff who can help withacademic and personal issues. You'll also have access to apeer mentor in your first year – a fellow student who canhelp you settle in and answer any questions you have.

Social activitiesThe School is home to a great variety of creative practiceincluding music, media and museum and gallery studies.The Schools of Architecture and English are housed nearby,so you'll meet and make friends with students workingacross a range of creative subjects.

Course Details

Modules for 2017 entry

Please noteThe module and/or programme information below isfor 2017 entry. Our teaching is informed by research andmodules change periodically to reflect developments inthe discipline, the requirements of external bodies andpartners, student feedback, or insufficient numbers ofstudents interested (in an optional module). To find outmore read our terms and conditions.Module/programme information for 2018 entry will bepublished here as soon as it is available (end of May2018).Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts foran academic year and you need to complete modulestotalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. Furtherinformation, including the credit value of the module, isavailable in each of the module descriptions below.

Stage 1

Compulsory modulesFIN1011  Studio Practice IFIN1012  Studio Practice IIFIN1013  Art Histories IFIN1014  Art Histories II

Stage 2

Compulsory modulesFIN2013  Studio Practice IFIN2014  Studio Practice IIOptional modulesYou choose one of the following modules:FIN2019  Gender and Contemporary ArtFIN2038  Modern and Postmodern PhotographyFIN2041  Electric Dreams and Nuclear Visions: Art,Science and Medicine in the Twentieth CenturyAnd you take one of the following modules:FIN2017  Art Since 1945FIN2030  Art and ProtestFIN2042  Fleshful Things: The Body and Visual ArtOther optional modules may also be available.

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Stage 3

You may choose to spend one semester of Stage 3 on aninternational exchange at a partner institution. In order toqualify, you must have attained an overall average gradeof 55 or more at your stage 2 assessments.

Compulsory modulesFIN3097  Art History DissertationYou choose one module from the following list:FIN3010  Studio Practice IFIN3011  Studio Practice II with study abroadFIN3012  Studio Practice IIIFIN3013  Studio Practice IV with study abroadOptional modulesYou can select an additional module, if required, fromthose listed below (if not already taken at Stage 2) tobring your total credits for the year to 120:FIN3019  Gender and Contemporary ArtFIN3027  Art Since 1945FIN3038  Modern and Postmodern PhotographyFIN3040  Art and ProtestFIN3041  Electric Dreams and Nuclear Visions: Art,Science and Medicine in the Twentieth CenturyFIN3042  Fleshful Things: The Body and Visual ArtWork Placement (optional)You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optionalwork placement between Stages 3 and 4. You can applyto spend your placement year with any organisation andwill receive University support to do so. It will extend yourdegree by a year and is subject to availability. It isn'tavailable if you're spending a year studying abroad. Findout more on about Work Placements.

Stage 4

Optional modulesYou choose one module from the following list:FIN4012  Studio Practice IIFIN4013  Studio Practice IIIFIN4014  Studio Practice IVFIN4015  Studio Practice VDepending on which module you choose above, you mayalso take modules from the following list to bring yourtotal to 120 credits:FIN4016  LifeWorkArt External ProjectFIN4023  Art WritingNCL3007 Career Development for Final Year Students

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methodsStudio practice modules are taught through regularindividual tutorials, small group studio critiques, seminarsand workshops.

Art history modules have lectures, seminars, and individualtutorials.

Assessment methodsPractice-based modules are assessed largely by thepresentation of practical work. Art history modules areassessed through examinations, essays and seminarpresentations.

You complete a dissertation in Stage 3 that contributes 25%towards your final degree mark. In Stage 4 your studiopractice is assessed through a final degree show at the endof the year.

Find out moreVisit our Teaching & Learning pages to read about theoutstanding learning experience available to all students atNewcastle University.

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis.

If your qualifications are not listed here, please see ouradditional entry requirements web pages to find out whichother qualifications are considered.

The entrance requirements below apply to 2019 entry.

Portfolio submission and Interview (all students)

Portfolio SubmissionA very important part of our selection process for the FineArt degree is our inspection of a portfolio of your work.Portfolios may be submitted from 4 January and must besubmitted no later than Monday 22 January 2018.

We encourage digital portfolios to be sent where possible,but we will also accept physical portfolios. Digital portfoliosmust be submitted preferably on a USB stick. It is anabsolute requirement to bring a physical portfolio to theinterview.

Your portfolio should be submitted direct to the Fine ArtOffice. The procedure for this is explained below.

Guidelines for the submission of your portfolio

What are we looking for?The portfolio should include coursework, for example fromA/A1 Level and/or Foundation but also – very importantly –should include self-initiated work (in any format) that youhave made for yourself or in addition to your coursework.

We are not just looking for ‘finished’ work’. We areinterested in seeing how your ideas are generated and howthey develop. We expect to see work in progress,notebooks, sketchbooks and working drawings and detailsof work alongside more resolved drawings, paintings,sculptures, videos or any other relevant work.

Do not worry too much about presentation or making yourportfolio look ‘professional’. We are only interested in the

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work and seeing what you are interested in; a simple labelbeneath each work showing medium and size is enough.

We are looking for work that demonstrates:

• Creativity, enthusiasm, commitment and excitementabout making art

• Ability to study through looking – eg drawings orpaintings made from observation

• Sustained development and exploration of ideas orthemes using different approaches and media

Digital Portfolios should include 30 - 50 images ofwork. They can be in the form of a Powerpoint, or a Pdf, orindividual files.

How should the work be submitted?Real and Digital portfolios should be posted to:

The Fine Art OfficeSchool of Arts and Cultures NewcastleUniversityNewcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU

Submission of digital portfolioWe accept either ‘real’ portfolios or digital portfolios (on aCD/DVD or memory stick. Please note – we will not acceptdigital portfolios sent to us by e-mail).

If you submit a digital portfolio please ensure that all thework is clearly identified (eg ‘pages from sketchbook’,‘acrylic painting’, ‘screenprint’) with title, materials anddimensions. Please ensure that you write your name andUCAS number on the disc/memory stick as well as on anypackaging. We would prefer digital portfolios to beformatted as MS PowerPoint presentations. These shouldinclude a minimum of 30 slides and a maximum of 50.Please check that your portfolio can be opened and easilyread on a PC. We will not be able to consider applicationswhere the portfolio does not readily open.

If you submit a digital portfolio, please write your name,UCAS number and FINE ART BA APPLICATION on theoutside of the envelope. Padded envelopes arerecommended for posting memory sticks or DVD discs.Digital portfolios will be retained until a final decision hasbeen made. There is no handling fee, but memory stickscan only be returned if you provide a stampedself-addressed envelope.

Submission and return of physical portfolio bypost/courierPhysical portfolios weighing no more than 10kg should besent to the address above. Please include a cheque for£24.00 for return postage and packing made payable to‘Newcastle University’ in an envelope marked ‘Handling Fee’inside the portfolio. Please write the return address on theenvelope.

Write your name and UCAS number clearly on the outsideof your portfolio. Portfolios are normally returned within 10working days.

Include photographic documentation of large scale workand do not send 3D objects, fragile items, or hazardousmaterial. It is advisable to have your name somewhere oneach piece of work. Portfolios should be submitted to us nolater than Monday 22 January 2018.

Submission and collection of portfolio by handPortfolios may be delivered by hand, Monday to Fridaybetween 9am and 5pm, and collected at a later date forwhich it is not necessary to make an appointment and thereis no handling fee.

Same day submission and collectionIt is possible for portfolios to be submitted and collected onthe same day. This arrangement is strictly by appointmentonly. Please email fineart@ncl.ac.uk requesting informationon available dates.

Late submissionWe ask to see all portfolios by 22 January. If for any reasonyou are unable to submit by this date please contact us torequest a late submission.

When will the portfolio be returned?We will return your portfolio to you as soon as possible afterinspection, normally within 10 working days. Digitalportfolios will be retained as long as necessary and onlyreturned when a SAE is provided.

Interviews and notification of resultsSuccessful candidates at the portfolio stage will be asked toattend an interview.

The majority of interviews will be completed by the end ofMarch. Additional later interviews will be added to the onlinebooking system if required.

For overseas candidates we can organise a Skype interview.

If for any reason you would not be available during thesedates please let us know so that we can make alternativearrangements. Candidates who are unsuccessful at theportfolio stage will be notified through UCAS.

The interviewIf from looking at your portfolio, we are interested in yourwork and feel that you would be suited to our programme,we will invite you for an interview. At this stage we will wantto see 'real' examples of your work and we will ask you tobring your portfolio with you.

You should include additional work made after your portfoliowas first submitted. If you have recently been inspired byvisits to galleries or exhibitions you may wish to includematerial that will prompt discussion.

What happens at the interview?• The interview lasts approximately 20 minutes• It offers you the opportunity to discuss your work and

interests with two members of Fine Art staff• We are interested in finding out about your previous

learning experience, your interests, and the work youhave brought to show us

• We may ask you to talk about particular pieces of workor a project which has been very important to you

At the interview we are keen to find out if you are likely tobenefit from the course and whether we offer the kind ofenvironment in which you can thrive.

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You will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions aboutus, the course and about the city. You will also have theopportunity to have a good look around Fine Art and to talkwith the students here, so that you can decide whether thisis the right course for you.

If you have any further application enquiries relating toundergraduate Fine Art at Newcastle please e-mail us atfineart@ncl.ac.uk

A LevelsAAB-BBB. A key feature of our selection process is theinspection of a portfolio of artwork. We may consider loweroffers for candidates where the portfolio is exceptional.

Scottish QualificationsAAABB-BBBBB at Higher Grade. Combinations of Highersand Advanced Highers accepted. A key feature of ourselection process is the inspection of a portfolio of artwork.We may consider lower offers for candidates where theportfolio is exceptional.

Scottish qualifications can be taken in more than one sitting.

International Baccalaureate32-35 points, including three subjects at Higher Level grade5. A key feature of our selection process is the inspection ofa portfolio of artwork. We may consider lower offers forcandidates where the portfolio is exceptional.

Irish Leaving CertificateH1H1H1H2H3-H2H3H3H3H3 at Higher Level. A key featureof our selection process is the inspection of a portfolio ofartwork. We may consider lower offers for candidates wherethe portfolio is exceptional.

Cambridge Pre-UD3,D3,M2-M2,M2,M2 in Principal Subjects. A key feature ofour selection process is the inspection of a portfolio ofartwork. We may consider lower offers for candidates wherethe portfolio is exceptional.

Extended Project QualificationIf you offer the Level 3 Extended Project Qualification, wewill vary our offer to recognise this.  Your project can be inany topic.

Foundation Diplomas and UAL Extended DiplomaUAL Extended Diploma in Art & Design with Distinctionoverall.  A key feature of our selection process is theinspection of a portfolio of artwork.  We may consider loweroffers for candidates where the portfolio is exceptional.

We also welcome applications from candidates offering alevel 3 art based Foundation Diploma in combination withother qualifications, such as an A level.  In these cases, welook for an overall distinction from the Foundation Diploma,backed by a strong portfolio.

Access Qualifications30 level 3 credits at Distinction and 15 level 3 at Merit. Atleast 15 level 3 credits in a geographical-based subject arerequired. GCSE Maths grade C or Pass in level 2 maths inAccess Diploma required.

PARTNERS - A LevelsBBC. A key feature of our selection process is theinspection of a portfolio of artwork. We may consider loweroffers for candidates where the portfolio is exceptional.

The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’ssupported entry route for students from schools andcolleges in England and Northern Ireland. Find out moreabout the PARTNERS Programme.

PARTNERS - Pearson BTEC Level 3 NationalExtended Diploma/OCR Cambridge TechnicalLevel 3 Extended DiplomaIn a relevant subject at overall DDD-DDM. A key feature ofour selection process is the inspection of a portfolio ofartwork. We may consider lower offers for candidates wherethe portfolio is exceptional.

The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’ssupported entry route for students from schools andcolleges in England and Northern Ireland. Find out moreabout the PARTNERS Programme.

English Language RequirementsApplicants whose first language is not English require aminimum score of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

If you need help to meet our English Languagerequirements, we can provide support with extra tuition.

Read more about UK visas and immigration requirements.

Other International QualificationsABB at A level is typically the minimum required for entry toan undergraduate course. You can check the equivalentgrades for qualifications offered in your country.

We will also consider your application if you have lower ornon-standard qualifications.

Undergraduate Admissions Policy

See our 2018 Admissions Policy (PDF: 185 KB).

See further policies related to admission.

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Careers

Fine Art careersA number of related careers are taken up by our graduates:running art galleries; as advisers to local councils; as visualarts officers for arts associations; and as teachers and artsspecialists in the community. Our graduates have also goneon to pursue arts-related postgraduate study in areas suchas design and digital media.

Find out more about the career options for Fine Art fromProspects: The UK's Official Careers Website.

What our graduates go on to do:employment and further studychoicesSee what our recent graduates went on to do and viewgraduate destinations statistics. These statistics are basedon what graduates were doing on a specific date,approximately six months after graduation. Take a look atthe most recent data available for our graduates.

The destination data is available in varying levels, beginningwith the University and moving through Faculty and Schooldown to individual course reports. This final level may giveyou some useful ideas about possible options after yourcourse or a course you are considering.

Careers and employability atNewcastleNewcastle University consistently has one of the bestrecords for graduate employment in the UK.

95% of our 2016 UK-domiciled graduates progressedto employment or further study within six months ofgraduating.

Of our graduates who entered employment more than threequarters (78%) achieved a professional or managerialposition.

We provide an extensive range of opportunities to allstudents through an initiative called ncl+. This enables youto develop personal, employability and enterprise skills andto give you the edge in the employment market after yougraduate.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest andbest in the country, and we have strong links withemployers.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees (UK students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry*:£9,250For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.*Please note:The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for UKstudents is set by the UK government.As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

Tuition Fees (EU students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry*:£9,250 in 2018-19For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.*Please note:As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

Tuition Fees (International students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry*:£18,000 per year*Please note:You will be charged tuition fees for each year of yourdegree programme (unless you are on a shorterexchange programme).

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Tuition Fees (International students)

If you spend a year on placement or studying abroad aspart of your degree you may pay a reduced fee for thatyear.The tuition fee amount you will pay may increase slightlyyear on year as a result of inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

Scholarships and Financial Support (UKstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

Scholarships and Financial Support (EUstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

Scholarships and Financial Support(International students)

We offer our Vice-Chancellor's InternationalScholarships and Vice-Chancellor's ExcellenceScholarships to eligible international students.We also offer International Family Discounts which areavailable for all international students with a close familymember who has graduated from or is now studying atNewcastle University.Some of our subject scholarships and sportsscholarships are also available for international students.

Apply

Applying to Newcastle Universitythrough UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you mustuse the online application system managed by theUniversities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

UCAS codes for Newcastle University

• institution name - NEWC• institution code - N21

UCAS buzzwordAsk your teacher or adviser from your school or college forthe UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when youregister on the Apply system. This makes it clear whichschool or college you are applying from.

All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU andinternational establishments are registered with UCAS.

If you are applying independently, or are applying from aschool or college which is not registered to manageapplications, you will still use the Apply system. You will notneed a buzzword.

Making your applicationOn the UCAS website you can also find out more about:

• application deadlines and other important dates• offers and tracking your application

Application decisions and enquiriesFind out more about our admissions process and who tocontact if you need help with your application.

We welcome students from all over the world.