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Fine Art BFA

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

3 academic years

UK tuition fees (2023/24)

£9,250

Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)

£35,000

Programme starts

September 2023

Application deadline

25 Jan 2023

UCAS course code

W101

Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

Grades: ABB
Subjects: No specific subjects, but a portfolio of work is required. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
GCSEs: English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5.

Contextual offer information

Grades: CCC more about contextual offers
Subjects: No specific subjects, but a portfolio of work is required. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
GCSEs: English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5.

Points: 34
Subjects: A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5, plus a portfolio.

Contextual offer

Points: 30 more about contextual offers
Subjects: A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5, plus a portfolio.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass, all from Level 3 units.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades ABB. A portfolio of work is required.

ABB at Advanced Highers (or AB at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher). A portfolio of work is required.

D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. A portfolio of work is required.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Distinction

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.

Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview

The programme comprises three practice areas: Painting, Fine Art Media and Sculpture. The programme is practice-based and you are expected to develop your own work with tutorial and technical assistance from a specialist team of academic and technical staff. Cross-area seminars and tutorial groups ensure that the three areas have a forum for the exchange of ideas. You will also benefit from a programme of visiting artists, gallery visits (when possible) and other events that aim to develop exciting and rigorous debate. Areas/Years are mixed together in the studio spaces (subject to COVID-19 regulations) providing a lively cross-fertilisation of ideas and practice.

The BFA includes a critical studies component in each year of study, designed to provide you with the ability to reference your work within a broad cultural context and enable you to develop verbal and writing skills to articulate the development of your work within a critical context.

What this course will give you

Each student is allocated their own studio space each year. This can be accessed in line with the current COVID-19 guidelines. First-year students explore each area on rotation during the first year.

All undergraduates may apply for international exchanges. The Slade has exchange agreements with art schools in China, Europe and the USA, which are offered on a competitive basis. Please note that exchanges may be limited by COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The Slade's location, close to many of London's galleries, museums, libraries and theatres, allows students to access a range of learning resources and research opportunities.

Distinguished former students include Jenkin van Zyl, Marianna Simnett, Zeinab Saleh, Sofia Mitsola, Emma Hart, Jadé Fadojutimi, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley and Phoebe Boswell.

Teaching and learning

The BFA Fine Art is a non-modular, integrated course.

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BFA (Hons) in Fine Art.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

The programme is structured around three subject areas: Painting, Fine Art Media and Sculpture. The programme is practice -based and you are expected to develop your own artwork with tutorial and technical assistance from a specialist team of academic and technical staff. Cross-area seminars and tutorial groups ensure that the three studio areas have a forum for the exchange of ideas. You will also benefit from a programme of visiting artists, gallery visits and other events that aim to develop exciting and rigorous debate. Year groups are mixed together in the studio spaces (subject to COVID-19 regulations) providing a lively cross-fertilisation of ideas and practice.

The BFA includes a critical studies component, designed to provide you with the ability to reference your artwork within a broad cultural context and enable you to develop verbal and writing skills to articulate the development of your artwork within a critical context.

In your second year, you may take part in the Slade's exchange programme, studying at an institution abroad. Exchanges are optional and offered on a competitive basis.

Your learning

The BFA is practice-based, with an emphasis on a self-initiated programme of work. This is supported by one-to-one and group tutorials, and cross-school events, critiques, contemporary art lectures and the critical studies programme. Technical inductions, workshops and one-to-one technical instruction are provided according to each student's academic needs.

The BFA programme is full time (40 hours per week during term time) and made up of formal learning and teaching events, such as lectures, seminars and tutorials, as well as self-directed independent study.

Students will have regular contact with their personal tutor and can request any number of tutorials with any member of staff across the Slade, subject to availability.

Assessment

You will be assessed through tutorial reports, annual assessment of your practice-based artwork, and critical studies component. Your final assessment will be based on a final exam when you present your work.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

The foundation of your career

Most Slade graduates become professional artists but you will leave UCL with a range of skills to branch out into a variety of careers in the creative professions and beyond. You will have built up practical, transferable and academic skills and these, alongside any experience you may have gained during your studies, will widen your career options.

Employability

The programme aims to: develop the individual visual intelligence you bring with you to the school; develop your critical awareness and understanding of fine art and its contexts; and provide the intellectual and practical resources to enable you to realise your creative potential as a professional artist.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£9,250
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£35,000

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2023/24 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2023/24 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/funding-your-studies.

Additional costs

The Slade has a media store where media equipment can be borrowed. You will need to supply your own materials, including for the final exam. You will also need to pay for entry to any galleries/shows, and any travel and maintenance associated with any study abroad.

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

The Slade School has a few scholarships, prizes, awards and bursaries which are awarded by nomination annually. All incoming students are considered for any awards for which they are eligible.

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

Once you have submitted the UCAS application, you will be sent a link to an online portal to submit your portfolio (this may take a few days, whilst UCAS transfers the application). Applicants should submit up to twenty images with each image no larger than 500MB. Titles should be included for each image including the date the work was made, size and materials. Applicants with time-based or performance elements to their work may include a showreel with a maximum duration time of five minutes, no larger than 500MB. We also encourage applicants to upload a short video featuring pages from sketchbooks. After submitting your UCAS application, follow the instructions sent by email from UCL's student administration system, Portico. (You may need to check your junk folder.) Portfolios should comprise a selection of current and recent work including self-initiated work. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview in late February or March.