BA(Hons) Fine Art

at Glasgow School of Art

YEAR 1

The First Year Fine Art programme is the first of the four years of the undergraduate course in Fine Art at the Glasgow School of Art. The First Year of Fine Art differs from traditional diagnostic foundation programmes in that students are recruited on a subject-specific basis to one of the four specialism’s: Painting & Printmaking, Sculpture, Environmental Art or Photography that are structured into the three academic departments of Fine Art Photography, Painting & Printmaking, and Sculpture & Environmental Art. The First Year programme deals with the generic creative processes of fine art practice and with medium specific studies of the three academic subject areas is designed to develop confidence and understanding in the management, manipulation and resourcing of ideas from both observation and concept. A wide variety of learning and teaching methods are used to enhance, support and facilitate learning through practice both at a group and individual level.

YEAR 2

Year 2 is spent exploring discipline specific concepts and methodologies in photography in depth, through projects that encourage students to articulate their own particular interests within the context of contemporary photographic practice. A programme of lectures, practical workshops, seminars, tutorials and critical reviews (critiques) challenge and support students in their learning. Students examine how photographs work in photographic sequences, and this is developed in an artists’ book project and a public class exhibition in one of the school’s gallery spaces or studios.

YEAR 3

Third year students are encouraged to broaden and challenge their practices as visual artists, perhaps utilising a wider range of media beyond the purely photographic, and are asked to explore time-based media (primarily video) in semester 1. By taking risks, trying things beyond their comfort zone, this is a time where students begin to articulate and form their practices as artists. By the end of third year, students are expected to have a greater sense of autonomy, and to gain confidence in the development of practical and critical skills. The studio environment becomes an increasingly important location for the testing out of ideas and the production of work. Year 3 students organise a group exhibition in a venue outwith the school. Additionally, students can opt to attend one of our partner institutions across the globe for a period of exchange in term 1.

YEAR 4

The 4th year is a year of independent study supported through an ongoing, intensive series of critiques/viewings and tutorials with a range of staff. Over the course of the year, students produce a substantial body of work in preparation for the end of year degree show, upon which the degree examination is primarily based. Students are encouraged to exhibit their work publicly as much as possible, to both try out their work in a public context, and to gain important professional practice skills. As with third year, each student’s individual studio space becomes an increasingly important place for the testing, development, creation and manufacture of their artworks, The curriculum of the Fine Art Photography programme is centred on studio practice and is augmented by lectures, seminars, group discussions, critiques and other academic events.

All students will have to provide evidence of English language proficiency when applying.

International Students Students who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK must meet one of the following requirements in order to gain entry:

• IELTS for UKVI Academic with an overall score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all components;
• complete an acceptable Pre-sessional English Language Programme taught from within the UK with an outcome that equates to the IELTS scores as stated above. Students who have a degree from an English speaking country, or are a national of an English speaking country as listed in the UKVI Guidance, may use this as proof of English language ability.

Full-degree/ International Foundation students £19,440 per year. This fee will be fixed for the duration of the programme.