Course Overview
Taught by academic staff who are themselves practising artists, historians and theorists, you will be able to study the Fine Art disciplines separately or through interdisciplinary practice. Every Lancaster Art student has their own dedicated studio space from day one, accessible 24/7, day and night.
Our aim from the beginning of your course is for you to become an informed art practitioner with clear creative aspirations and ambition. You will achieve this through the integration of studio-based professional practice and the study of both art theory and history. So, the first year of your Fine Art degree begins with modules including Practical Studies and Modernism in the Arts.
In your second year, you will typically take two units of studio work with Studio Practice, one unit of Contemporary Arts Theory and a half unit of Professional Practice. Your third year similarly balances academic and practical study including subjects such as Studio Practice and another half unit of Professional Practice as well as a Dissertation.
Getting seen is crucial for those who want to pursue careers in Fine Art. With this in mind, our degree programme ends with both a solo and group show for each student.
Related Courses
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts department.
Year 1
- Modernism in the Arts
- Fine Art Practice
Year 2
- Studio Practice
- Critical Reflections
Year 3
- Special Subject
- Advanced Studio Practice
- Curatorship and Professional Practice (year 3)
- Advanced Studio Practice (single weighted]
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts department website.
Entry Criteria
A-level: AAB inc. one subject outside Art and Design.
General Studies: Accepted as one of the best 3 grades, if 4 A-levels presented
Key skills: Not included in offer
Scottish Highers: ABBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 593174) for further information
International Bacc: 35 pts overall with 16 pts in HL subjects
BTEC: DDD/DDM.
Foundation Year: Not a formal requirement. About half our entry come straight from A-level courses, the rest have done a foundation year or equivalent.
Mature students: Applications welcome; you should have experience of academic work in a subject other than art, as well as a portfolio of practical work. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 593174) for further information
Practical skills: A portfolio of practical work is essential; it should include imaginative, expressive and analytic as well as objective drawing.
Careers
Fine Art graduates from Lancaster University have found careers as professionals for creative agencies, working in television or for museums and galleries, while some go on to be professional artists.
As well as teaching and arts administration, the multidisciplinary skills our graduates acquire during their Fine Art degree open doors across the creative industries and in many employment sectors.
Some Fine Art graduates enjoy their study at Lancaster so much, they go on to join us for further postgraduate education.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue.
In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2013, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2013 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2012.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page
View details of our current Undergraduate fees.
