29Apr
Undergraduate This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.
Goldsmiths, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Open days
Course summary
Why study BA Fine Art & History of Art at Goldsmiths Study the theory and practice of fine art and learn how to think about it in the wider context of art history and contemporary visual culture.
- Goldsmiths has a worldwide reputation for excellence in art and history of art. In the Guardian University Guide League Tables 2024 we are ranked in the top 10 in the UK for both.
- BA Fine Art and History of Art is a joint honours degree that is taught by specialist staff in both areas, Art and Visual Cultures. It is a highly distinctive programme that will support your individual interests and development. You'll be encouraged to think critically about your art making, seeing it in the context of shifting socio-political and cultural forces.
- You'll have your own studio space from day one and access to excellent facilities including a wide range of specialist art practice areas.
- You will explore theory and practice through various fine art media, and thematic strands within art history and visual cultures.
- You will be taught by staff who are artists, curators, academics and writers, here to help you develop your practice, focus your research, and respond to the work that you make.
- Teaching takes advantage of the many galleries, art spaces, museums, cultural facilities and specialist libraries in London, including the Goldsmiths Centre of Contemporary Art on campus.
- Visiting artists, curators, gallerists and arts professionals will provide you with advice to complement your studies and prepare you for professional life after graduation.
Modules
The programme has two elements: Fine Art Studio Practice (50% of the course) History of Art (50% of the course) In Fine Art Studio Practice, students learn through intensive, self-directed studio and workshop practice, tutorials and group crits, with a dedicated studio practice team and a programme of visiting artists, talks and speakers. Three years of intensive studio and workshop practice culminate in the final year Degree Show. In History of Art, modules are taught through lectures, seminars and tutorials by the Visual Cultures team. Modules are chosen from a list of set and optional modules. Students may choose to take a dissertation in final year. An interdisciplinary Link Seminar is taught across both departments. This explores the dynamic relationships between art history, theory and practice in large seminar and small workshop formats. Year 1 Studio Practice Students lead the curriculum in studio – we want you to explore and experiment. You will have access to specialist art practice areas where you develop your technical skills. With guidance from studio practice staff, you will start to acquire the practical and conceptual skills necessary to initiate and develop your ideas. History of Art You will develop an independent critical involvement with works of art and visual culture. The 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 tutors 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 You also choose one of the following modules: Space and Time 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 Studio Practice In second year, you will build on your awareness of the interaction between the history of art and theory as it relates to your studio practice. It is a period of experimentation and synthesis, expanding and deepening your practice. History of Art You will take the following compulsory module: The Link You also choose 3 option modules to the value of 45 credits. These currently include the following history of art modules: Feminist and Queer Technoscience Emancipating Images and Sounds Popular Modernism Inhabitations Patterns of Perception Animating Architecture You could also choose from the following elective modules: Acts of Surveillance Cohabitations Curating, Institutions, Research Year 3 Studio Practice Work in the third year reflects an independent, self-motivated practice and your potential to work as an artist. You will have consolidated your practical and critical skills in preparation for the final year Degree Show exhibition. The whole cohort works together to install the Degree Show. History of Art You will take the following compulsory module: The Link You also choose option modules. This can be made up of: 3 option modules (45 credits) OR 1 option module plus the 30-credit History of Art Dissertation Option modules currently include: Fashion as Dream Image After the Internet Counter Forensics Curating and the Curatorial Visual Cultures as Public Practice Occulture: From Magic and Myth-Work to Care and Repair Utopias and Urban Revolutions Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment method
Studio Practice Studio Practice coursework is continuously assessed through individual tutorials and group seminars. This is complemented by studio presentations at Year 1, viva voce at Year 2, and a final exhibition at Year 3. History of Art You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These may include coursework, group work and projects.
How to apply
29Jan
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
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - EEE - BBB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM - PPP
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.
Additional entry requirements
Interview
Portfolio
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.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 |
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
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
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW