Course Summary

This distinctive degree supports your individual concerns and development and enables you to navigate your way through theory and practice, various fine art media, and thematic strands within the study of art history and visual cultures. **Why study BA Fine Art & History of Art at Goldsmiths?** - You’ll gain the expertise that will help you develop independent thought and confidence in your practice, as well as transferable skills suitable for employment in the creative industries. - Studying both the theory and practice of fine art means you’ll be able to take a critical approach to your work and think about it in the wider context of art history. - We're renowned for our strengths in the creative and visual arts, as well as humanities subjects, so you'll be able to benefit from this wide-ranging expertise. - Staff on the programme are practising artists, curators, academics and writers, here to help you develop your practice, focus your research and respond to the work that you make. - Our teaching takes advantage of the many galleries, art spaces, museums, cultural facilities and specialist libraries in London and on campus you'll have access to a studio space and excellent facilities including specialist art practice areas, as well as the newly opened Goldsmiths Centre of Contemporary Art. - Invited artists, curators, gallerists, administrators and funders will provide you with specialist advice and further information to complement your studies and prepare you for professional life after graduation. Please note the BA Fine Art and History of Art only accepts applications for first year entry.

Course Details - Modules

This programme allows you to integrate fine art practice and the study of history of art in the context of contemporary visual culture. Throughout the programme, you'll be required to participate actively in seminars, discussing your own work and that of other students. The programme is made up of: Fine art studio practice, taught in the Department of Art, develops your work through experimentation, with the aim of achieving a thorough understanding of your chosen media and their relevance within contemporary culture. Three years of intensive studio and workshop practice culminate in the final year exhibition which is assessed and then opened to the public. History of art modules taught through lectures, seminars and tutorials in the Department of Visual Cultures. An interdisciplinary Link Seminar taught across both departments, which explores the dynamic relationships between art history, theory and practice in large seminar and small workshop formats. Year 1 (credit level 4) Studio Practice focuses on the acquisition of fundamental knowledge and gives you the basic practical skills necessary to initiate your research. You will gain experience of making art independently and an awareness of the interaction between the history of art and theory as it relates to your studio practice. Your tutors assess your Studio Practice coursework continuously and your work is also assessed through an end-of-year presentation. In Art History, you will develop an independent critical involvement with works of art and visual culture. Our first-year modules enable you to examine changing conceptions of art and the artist, historically and also in terms of context, ideas, and kinds of practice. Each of our first-year modules is taught by a team of four or five different teachers from the permanent faculty. In this way, first-year students soon get to know many of the Department’s core academic staff. You will therefore begin your second year with both rich insights from and a comprehensive overview of Department life as a whole. All students take a compulsory Art History module Modernities plus either Space and Time or Beyond Boundaries. Your first year will introduce you to history of art as a discipline and engage you in discussion of key aspects of contemporary visual culture – including not just artefacts in museums and art galleries, but also architecture, cityscape and landscape, adverts, TV and film, websites, the body, and street style. You must pass all components to progress to the following year. Year 2 (credit level 5) Studio Practice in Year 2 begins to deal with more complex issues and a selective application of acquired knowledge and practical skills. It is a period of experimentation and synthesis, expanding and deepening your practice. Your tutors assess your Studio Practice coursework continuously and you make a presentation of selected work for a viva voce in the third term, where you will be asked to discuss your work in depth. History of Art in Year 2 will involve two option modules and the compulsory module The Link. Year 3 (credit level 6) Studio Practice at this level reflects an independent, self-motivated practice and your potential to work as an artist. You will demonstrate a high degree of understanding, critical awareness and independent judgement. At this level, you will have consolidated your practical and critical skills in preparation for the Final Exhibition and further independent practice. Your tutors assess your Studio Practice coursework continuously and at the end of the year you mount an exhibition of your Studio Practice for assessment, which is then open to the public. In History of Art you either take 45 credits from a list of Special Subjects and option modules, or 15 credits plus a dissertation of 8,000–10,000 words (30 credits). You will also take the compulsory module The Link. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Course Details – Assessment Method

You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, group work and projects.

Course Details – Professional Bodies

Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.

How to Apply

26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application Codes

Course code: VW31

Institution code: G56

Campus Name: Main Site

Campus code:

Points of Entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

Year 1

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.

International applicants

Standard Qualification Requirements

Successful completion of three A-levels, or an equivalent qualification. PLUS successful completion of an Art and Design Foundation diploma and portfolio of work. OR Successful completion of a Foundation diploma, BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design (completed by the end of the academic year preceding entry). Please note, students applying directly from A-Levels who have not completed an Art and Design Foundation or BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design will not be eligible for this programme. After submitting your application you'll be asked to upload a portfolio and essay online. If selected for interview, you'll be asked to bring along a portfolio of recent work and an essay. Mature students without formal qualifications who have relevant experience are also welcomed.

Successful completion of a Foundation diploma, BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design (completed by the end of the academic year preceding entry). Please note, students applying directly from A-Levels who have not completed an Art and Design Foundation or BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design will not be eligible for this programme. After submitting your application you'll be asked to upload a portfolio and essay online. If selected for interview, you'll be asked to bring along a portfolio of recent work and an essay. Mature students without formal qualifications who have relevant experience are also welcomed.

Please note, students applying directly from A-Levels who have not completed an Art and Design Foundation or BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design will not be eligible for this programme. Mature students without formal qualifications who have relevant experience are also welcomed.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.

English language requirements

Test Grade AdditionalDetails
IELTS (Academic) 6.5 With a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0

Unistats information

Student satisfaction : 0%

Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs): 0%

Go onto work and study: 0%

Fees and funding

Additional Fee Information

To find out more about fees and funding, please check our undergraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office https://www.gold.ac.uk/ug/fees-funding/

Provider information

New Cross
Address2 are not listed for this Course.
Address3 are not listed for this Course.
Lewisham
SE14 6NW

Career tips, advice and guides straight to your inbox.

Join our newsletter today.