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BA (Hons) Fine Art

  • Placement year available
How to apply Come to an Open Day

Introduction

Watch our 2023 showreel

Studying Fine Art at ARU

Develop your individual practice, explore and experiment with new processes and media, and engage with contemporary practice and theory by studying for our BA (Hons) Fine Art degree at Cambridge School of Art.

Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2023 logo

Study at an award-winning university

We're the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

At ARU, studying Fine Art allows you to experiment with your creativity, explore materials and processes, and discover which media best communicate your ideas.

We encourage creative risk-taking, and you’ll have to the chance to explore many new practices and artistic platforms, including photography, printmaking, performance art, film and video, digital media, installation and site-specific approaches. Take a look at some of our students' work.

Our tutors, who are all professional artists, and expert technicians will be on hand to support you.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

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Entry Requirements

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Fees and Paying for University

Facilities and showcase

Industry-standard equipment

As well as our dedicated fine art studio with your own workspace, you’ll have use of facilities including:

  • Ruskin Gallery, a professional digital art gallery
  • Life drawing studio
  • Dedicated Mac and PC suites with the latest software including Adobe Creative suite
  • Specialist printmaking workshop including etching, screen-printing, and lithography
  • 3D workshops for physical media including wood, plastic, metal, and clay
  • Photography and media facilities including darkrooms; studios; film processing; digital printing suite; video editing; and professional equipment loans
  • Dedicated fashion workshops with industrial sewing, finishing, embroidery and seam sealing machines.

Futures Lab and workshop equipment

Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:

  • 3D printers and scanners - FDM printers; material-specific extruders; SLA Formlabs printers; SLS Formlabs Fuse1; structured light 3D scanners
  • 2D printing and cutting machines - laser cutters; Roland BN20 vinyl printer & cutter; Gerber substrate cutter; Mimaki TX300P sublimation printer.

Take a closer look

Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.

Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.

Alternatively, take a guided tour and meet our students.

Careers

Our BA (Hons) Fine Art degree opens the door to many different creative and professional opportunities.

As a student at ARU, you’ll have opportunities to exhibit your work, and develop professional skills in curating, group work, event management, and marketing and promotion. Our modules cover professional practice and include live briefs, and there’s careers and employability support on offer from day one. You can be sure you’ll develop skills and experience you need to stand out.

As a graduate you might work in fine art practice, community arts projects, prop and set making, art therapy, or museum and gallery administration and education. Or you could pursue creative roles in advertising, art direction, marketing, digital content production, as well as lecturing and teaching.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us. You might also choose continue your studies on our MA Fine Art degree. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can evidence this experience on your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Francesca Gagni

"ARU was my first choice in terms of facilities, equipment, environment, tutoring and I particularly loved the printing room."

Francesca Gagni

BA (Hons) Fine Art student

Francesca's story

Apply now for BA (Hons) Fine Art

Life in Cambridge

Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

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Want to talk to someone?

Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.

We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.

Build your portfolio

Applying for one of our art and design courses? Get expert advice on putting together a portfolio that showcases your skills.

Portfolio tips and advice

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