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Fine Art BA (Hons) is an exciting course that enables you to develop your creative voice, by exploring both, traditional and innovative approaches to contemporary art, reflecting the ever-evolving creative industries.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Course code
W100
Start date
September 2025
We recognise a breadth of qualifications and relevant experience and may be able to consider your portfolio or other examples of your practice-based work even if you do not have the required points. Speak to one of our advisers today for more information. Your portfolio and/or practice-based work will be reviewed by the Course Director who will make a final decision.*
*Applicant offer decisions are final and there is no right of appeal.
From day one of this practice-based course, the programme team will encourage you to develop your creativity, by challenging and inspiring you to cultivate your technical, critical, reflective and enterprising skills to support you in forging a successful and sustainable career in contemporary art.
On this studio-based course, you:
Check out what our School of Arts and Creative Industries students produced for their final projects to showcase at our Dot dot dot….Graduate Festival at Coventry University.
This course has a common first year.
The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.
If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).
Common first year courses
In your first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.
In this module, you will investigate the ideas and inspirations that underpin creative practice. Introducing you to a range of approaches to visual research, you will explore themes, concepts and readings connected to image making, which will help you to shape your own creative outcomes. Over the course of this module, you should learn to develop your own creative investigations and collate research material to underpin your own areas of interest.
Compulsory
The focus of this module will encourage you to take an experimental approach to gaining skills, shaped through an ongoing evaluative process, that enables you to reflect, evaluate and develop your own experimentation. In particular, you should develop a broad set of skills in a range of specialist fields, exploring different processes, which will become the fundamental tools and techniques that help you to shape your creative practice.
Compulsory
Within this module, you will make creative outputs that respond to briefs, ideas or themes. You will be encouraged to identify the contexts in which your creative practice is situated, creating an informed body of research that will help drive your creative responses. Supported by staff, you will learn to make independent investigations that respond to theoretical and contextual ideas, before going on to produce a range of experiments and outputs that help you to develop your own creative voice.
Compulsory
Within this module, you are encouraged to experiment and develop innovative approaches to your creative practice. You will have access to a wide range of workshops and technical spaces, from which you can shape and develop a unique set of skills4. The focus of this module will be on trialling, testing and developing your own creative skills, with a creative freedom that helps you to build up a stronger understanding of the processes and techniques that underpin your creative work.
Compulsory
This module explores key ideas and themes of narrative as a theme to help you develop creative outcomes. To support you in this investigation, you will be introduced to personal development planning, which will support you to become a reflective practitioner, who uses the ongoing reflective process, to continuously develop your communication skills, to talk actively about your ideas and intentions throughout the creative process.
Compulsory
Within this module you will consider the importance of audiences in the production of creative work. You will explore the different contexts in which work is seen, learning to shape work to maximise engagement and communicate your ideas effectively. Over the course of the module, you will be encouraged to continually reflect upon the appropriate contexts and environments in which you are producing your creative work to ensure it has maximum impact.
Compulsory
In your second year, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:
In your second year, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: considering the role of an artist in a contemporary society, engaging with global audiences, and environments, amongst others.
This short intensive module, encourages you to explore, experiment and take chances with a variety of media and technologies. You should continue to build on the knowledge developed in the previous year, allowing you to develop a more in-depth investigation into the materials and processes that you are interested in. This module will be a space for experimentation with skills and techniques, that will underpin this second year of the programme.
Compulsory
Within this module you will learn to cultivate a resourceful and creative approach to the development of your work. You will consider the role of the artist in a contemporary society, which in turn will be a starting point for your self-directed practice. This module allows you to explore an area or topic that is particularly important to you, giving you an opportunity to establish your creative voice and share these ideas with different communities.
Compulsory
This module encourages you to consider the larger themes, histories and ideas that contextualise the production and reception of your work in a global context. Within the module you will consider how to engage with a range of audiences beyond the local, thinking about the international potential of the work you produce. In particular you will be supported in presenting yourself on a global stage.
Compulsory
In this module you will develop your ability to discover, generate and question ideas through creative practice. You will be encouraged to use a range of approaches to research that will underpin your investigation and practical work. Throughout this module you will be supported to establish, deepen, and broaden your practical enquiry through directed research into contemporary, cultural, and historical perspectives.
Compulsory
This module focuses on the environments in which art happens, encouraging you to make a response that engages with the various contexts in which art can be found. Through this exploration, you will be able to reflect on these varied environments and develop your own art practice in response. The aim of this exploratory practice is to expand your awareness of the variety of environments, both art and non-art, physical and virtual and to consider the way art operates as a performance or intervention within a space, context or site.
Compulsory
This module will consider the power of interruptions, as a way of engaging, or even surprising audiences. More specifically the module explores a wide range of methods and locations in which to share and present your artwork, both in physical and virtual spaces. Over the duration of the module, you will be supported in extending the reach of your work, aiming to reach diverse audiences.
Compulsory
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement can often be beneficial. Work placements2 usually occur between your second and final years of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.
This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement2 undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.
Optional
This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement2 undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.
Optional
Your final year aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from your first and second years.
This research led module will enable you to contextualise the themes that play out in your practical work. It encourages you to draw connections between key ideas that interest you within a broader critical and historical framework. It provides an opportunity to produce a ‘critical journal’ in which you will explore multiple ways of writing about art too, including critical, reflective, analytical and creative.
Compulsory
During this module you will develop your individual, self-initiated art practice, generating an energetic and experimental practical investigation that utilises the array of workshop facilities and technical resources available. Through your practical investigations you will explore dialogues across materials and media, concepts and contexts, processes and practices. You should also develop your creativity ‘in dialogue’ with others, exploring interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches and working collaboratively with groups locally, nationally and internationally.
Compulsory
This module makes space for a sustained period of independent study, honing your creative identity and extending your ideas through practical development and production. The module is attentive to the network of communities and environments within which artists operate. Working with communities in a range of external environments you will gain insight into co-authorship, co-production and participation. You will explore the way that audiences engage with art and how art is disseminated. During the module you will create a body of work that reflects a focused application of ideas brought together into a coherent output such as an exhibition, performance, publication, event, or series of artefacts.
Compulsory
This culminating module is your key opportunity to produce and showcase your creative artwork. You will have an opportunity to work intensely on your creative practice, through a sustained and uninterrupted period of time in the studio, allowing you to produce a critical, coherent and fully realised body of work. Supported through tutorials and critiques, the focus of this module is all about honing and establishing your creative practice, ready for your future career and aspirations.
Compulsory
Delivered in conjunction with the Consolidations module, this module prepares you for launching your creative practice after graduation. You will work with the programme team to identify and devise a strategy for your own future professional aspirations, helping you chart your own course and establish your own creative career.
Compulsory
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
The School of Art and Design's teaching and learning mirrors the needs of the creative industries. We aim to ensure that our graduates are equipped with the skills and attributes needed to become industry specialists, leaders and innovators to drive social responsibility and design global change.
The creative industries’ ability to be entrepreneurial, innovative and embrace change underpins our art and design courses. Our studio and workshop culture aims to ensure you are socially responsible in our creative community and develop critical thinking in research and ‘make’ processes. Our global initiatives should give you skills to become collaborative communicators and make you culturally competent in the ever-changing world of art or design.
The course provides you with the opportunity to learn how to recognise your strengths and learning needs, how to self-reflect and grow. You will look to identify your personal development and drive your projects for ambitious career aspirations.
As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.
Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.
Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.
As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.
This course is assessed using a variety of methods that recognise module-specific skills and learning. You are predominantly assessed by coursework and assessment methods prepare you for diverse contexts.
Assessment methods may include:
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Our teaching is underpinned by a contemporary view of art practice; this is reflected strongly in the course curriculum which includes taught sessions on Globalism, Travel and Migration and therefore aims to provide opportunities to engage with students, staff and artists from a culturally and geographically diverse range of backgrounds.
Each year, when possible, we also offer study trips abroad2. Previous trips have been taken to Berlin to visit galleries such as Hamburger Bahnhof and the KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Amsterdam to visit the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Foam Gallery and Venice to view artworks and attend events at the Venice Biennale.
Students may also get the opportunity to engage in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects with participating institutions and other international universities around the world.
Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.
Fine art is dynamic. Artists respond to change and contemporary experience, frequently through collaboration with others. It is always a pleasure, therefore, to see students thriving in our vibrant, shared, studio environment, using the facilities to develop skills, explore ideas and establish a visual language.
Jane Ball, Course Director Fine Art (2022)
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Additional requirements may apply
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With those grades, we may be able to make you an offer to study at Coventry University.
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Course name: Fine Art BA (Hons)
Course code: W100
Course location: Coventry University (Coventry)
If you didn’t get your expected grades or don’t have the traditional qualifications, don’t worry. Foundation level study offers an accessible route into undergraduate study search our degree with foundation year courses.
Search our coursesTypical entry requirements:
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £9,535 per year | Not available |
EU | £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary** £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary** |
Not available |
International | £19,850 per year | Not available |
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
The Delia Derbyshire building lies at the heart of our Coventry city campus. This multi-million pound investment in the arts is home to the Schools of Art and Design, Media and Performing Arts, Humanities, and Psychological, Social and Behavioural Sciences. First opened to students in 2023, the spaces enable you to mix with like-minded students, getting hands-on with cross-disciplinary projects or immersing yourself in the studios with cutting-edge virtual reality and mixed-reality technologies. Our aim is to bring you sector-leading facilities helping you explore your way to your future career.
Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.
Professional experience is embedded into our course and as such, throughout this course you will produce professional outputs which can be exhibited in public and used to engage with curators, arts and cultural administrators, publishers, agents, media organisations, and for applications to competitions, residencies, exhibition opportunities and potential employers, as examples2.
The university's Talent Team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise support if you wish to gain employment or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course specific industries. It aims to provide specialist careers information, advice and guidance to all our students from their first year through to final year and beyond graduation, helping them receive the opportunities to reach their desired career outcome (subject to availability)
Many of our past students pursue careers as exhibiting artists or utilise transferrable skills towards creative futures in arts administration, museum and gallery curating, careers within the media, photography, art therapy, design and teaching.
Some of our past graduates have progressed to postgraduate study here on our suite of MA courses, doing Design Management, Fine Art Painting, Animation, and Illustration. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.
Others have gone on to undertake further study at both international universities and British institutions including the Royal College of Art, Chelsea College of Arts, University of Edinburgh, Central Saint Martins, University of Warwick and the Slade School of Fine Art.
Taking a year out of my degree to do a placement with Jaguar Land Rover Group was honestly one of the best things I've ever done for my practice. Working in industry gives you a new perspective, both on your practice, and the way you use your time. I've come back more focused, and the professional working environment has taught me to use my time more effectively. Taking the time away from my degree gave me the space to really think about, and contextualise my work, resulting in development that I don't think would have been achieved without that time in industry.
Tasmin Morgan, Level 6 Fine Art student (2021)
Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.
Learn more about Phoenix+Full-time students can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
If this course has a part-time option you will need to apply directly to the university.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
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International codes:
AHU093
For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Complete our contact form
Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2025/2026 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
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