4 years with the foundation
This year will prepare you for the rest of your course. We’ll focus on general skills such as researching and referencing, numeracy and ICT, and communication. But we’ll also start to look at topics such as art history, and develop our practical design skills using both traditional and digital media.
Introduction
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.
developing her creative practice at Cambridge School of Art.
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. It’s one of the reasons our course is ranked 7th in the UK for 'Satisfaction with Teaching' (The Guardian University Guide 2020).
Read more
Here at Cambridge School of Art you’ll be hands-on in your own studio space from the very start of your course. Our studios are based around our digital and traditional exhibition space, the Ruskin Gallery, and you’ll work closely with fine artists in other years and with students from across our creative community. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll get time, guidance and support from our team of practicing artists, dedicated to your creative development. We’ll support you to experiment with materials and across a range of different media, processes and techniques as you develop confidence and build a substantial portfolio of work.
We learn outside the studio too, with visits to local exhibitions, galleries in London and international trips to centres of contemporary art such as Berlin, Madrid, Amsterdam and the Venice Bienniale.
Throughout the course there are opportunities to collaborate and exhibit your work and it’s a great way to develop professional skills in curating, event management, marketing and promotion.
Our students have recently held exhibitions at Cambridge ArtSpace and created site-specific installations at the Institute of Astronomy, the Botanic Gardens and the Museum of Technology. You’ll also showcase your work in our graduating degree show and, as a (Hons) Fine Art student, you’ll also be considered for our annual Supanee Gazeley Prize, a £3,000 award for the best Degree Show exhibition.
All our students are invited to attend the lecture series run by our Fine Art Research Unit, exposing you to contemporary debates in fine art practice. You’ll also study the history and theory of fine art, giving you a solid grounding for careers in the creative and cultural sector, such as curation, arts administration, or arts publishing and journalism – as well as teaching and education.
With an eye on your future career, you’ll receive ongoing support to find placements and work experience and you can also take an optional placement year.
Specialist facilities
As well as our dedicated fine art studio, you’ll have use of facilities including:
- a specialist printmaking studio
- sculpture workshops, including a laser cutter and 3D printing
- a life drawing studio
- photography dark rooms
- computer suites for video production and digital imaging.
Industry-standard equipment
All our Fine Art students have access to:
- the full Adobe Creative suite
- Apple iMacs
- wide-format printers and scanners
- specialist equipment for 3D construction and photographic media.
Our team of technical officers will be on hand to offer training and support.
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.
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 or MA Printmaking degrees. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.