Fine Art (Digital Media, Drawing and Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture)
BA
Fine Art at djcad provides a springboard to the world of contemporary practice. Throughout the course you will engage with the world through new conceptual, special, textual and material processes. You will develop the skills needed to function as an informed and successful artist.
Why study Fine Art at Dundee?
You will have the choice of working across a wide range of media that includes drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, printmaking, performance, film, photography, digital and computer based imaging, moving image, sound, artists books and creative writing. Through a combination of live projects, professional placements, workshops, tutorials and independent research you will gain transferable skills that include research, organisation, collaboration and presentation. You will also attend courses which will inform you about the history and theory of art. You will make, experiment, investigate and reflect and will establish your own artistic foundation.
At the end of the course you will be able to:
- produce a work of art to a professional standard
- manage your own projects to reflect your artistic expression and individual philosophy with good time management and self-reflective critique
Who should study Fine Art?
You:
- Artistic
- Creative
- Independent
- Imaginative
- visually stimulated
- experimental
You want to:
- develop your technical ability
- learn professional practices
- develop critical and self-critical understanding
For examples of student work, staff profiles, and news from Fine Art, visit the DJCAD website.
Teaching & Assessment
Our teaching staff also work professionally as artists and fine art researchers, nationally and internationally, instigating projects, exhibitions and events from the Arctic to the Antarctic.
The Honours degree programme is based on a core of studio skills, practical techniques, methods and materials, underpinned by critical understanding of the work. Drawing, painting, sculpture, print, digital and computer-based imaging, photography, video, performance, installation and artists' books are explored by fine art students. Interdisciplinary studies are encouraged for students whose ideas and interests cross the boundaries between media.
Careers
Fine Art encourages independent thinking, imagination and interdisciplinary skills, qualities that equip graduates at all levels for future careers and which potential employers value. Our graduates have found their career paths in many areas of the visual economy and in related professions.
Dundee graduates have developed careers in exhibition curation and gallery management, working in and establishing artists' organisations, in art administration and project management. Our graduates enter all industries that require visual skills and knowledge, including the media and the film and entertainment industries.
The course has a strong record of producing graduates who have gone on to establish successful careers as artists, exhibiting and making work nationally and internationally. Many have also pursued careers in teaching in community, school, further and higher education, while continuing their own practice.
Postgraduate study
Significant numbers of Fine Art graduates progress to taught postgraduate programmes in the UK and abroad. Some continue further on the academic track to undertake practice-led or theoretical research at doctoral (and post-doctoral) level.
Some graduates choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level on our taught Masters degree or PhD programmes.
Enterprise/Freelance
Others have gone on to freelance and establishing their own successful businesses. Extra curriculum activities such as the Enterprise Gym help students cultivate entrepreneurial skills. The Greenhouse Business Pre-Incubator facility provides ambitious students with an office space to explore their business idea.
Entry Requirements
Students applying for Fine Art must successfully complete our 1 year Art and Design (General Foundation) course. In this instance you should apply using the UCAS code WW12.
Alternatively, if you have already completed a recognised foundation course or equivalent elsewhere then apply directly to Fine Art.
The following are the minimum requirements, please note qualifications have to be obtained at the first sitting of examinations.
Selection notes
All applicants must submit a comprehensive portfolio of art and design work. The qualifications listed below may be modified for an applicant presenting an exceptional portfolio.
Students are selected by assessing the contents of a portfolio of work that should convey a measure of creative, practical skill and intellectual/enthusiastic engagement in the practice of art and design.
Courses starting September 2011
BA/BDes Art & Design General Foundation Level 1 Entry
| Qualification | Grade |
| SQA Higher | BBC/CCCC |
| GCE A-Level | BC/DDD |
| ILC Higher | BBC |
| IB Diploma | 24 points |
| Essential Subjects | Art and Design, or related subject (at SQA Higher or GCE A-Level) and English (at SQA Higher, GCE AS Level at B) |
Other Qualifications
| Qualification | Grade |
| SQA | An HNC in a relevant Art discipline, considered on an individual basis (General Foundation - Level 1 entry) A recognised Foundation Course or equivalent (Specialism - Level 2 entry) |
| EDEXCEL | A BTEC ND in a relevant Art discipline plus an acceptable qualification in English, considered on an individual basis (General Foundation - Level 1 entry) A recognised Foundation Course or equivalent (Specialism - Level 2 entry) |
| Other qualifications will be reviewed on an individual basis. | |
| Applicants with alternative overseas qualifications should visit the relevant country page on our International website. | |
Courses starting September 2012
BA/BDes Art & Design General Foundation Level 1 Entry
| Qualification | Grade |
| SQA Higher | BBBC |
| GCE A-Level | CCC |
| ILC Higher | BBBC |
| IB Diploma | 29 points (including 5, 5, 4 at Higher Level) |
| Essential Subjects | Art and Design, or related subject (at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level, ILC H, HL) and English at B (at SQA Higher, GCE AS Level, , ILC H, HL) |
Other Qualifications
| Qualification | Grade |
| SQA | An HNC in a relevant Art discipline, considered on an individual basis (General Foundation - Level 1 entry) A recognised Foundation Course or equivalent (Specialism - Level 2 entry) |
| EDEXCEL | A BTEC ND in a relevant Art discipline plus an acceptable qualification in English, considered on an individual basis (General Foundation - Level 1 entry) A recognised Foundation Course or equivalent (Specialism - Level 2 entry) |
| Other qualifications will be reviewed on an individual basis. | |
| Applicants with alternative overseas qualifications should visit the relevant country page on our International website. | |
Fees and Funding
There have been many changes to the arrangements for funding students entering higher education in recent years, yet a degree from the University of Dundee, with its high rate of employment success, remains a cost-effective option.
The fees you pay will, in most cases, depend on your current country of residence.
| Fee category | Fees for students starting September 2012 | Scholarships & Bursaries applicable |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish students | You can apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government. The 2012 fee will be announced in March 2012, the 2011 fee was £1,820. |
|
| Students from the rest of the UK | £9,000 per year of study. You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of the tuition fees, from the Student Loan Company. |
|
| EU students | You can apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government. The 2012 fee will be announced in March 2012, the 2011 fee was £1,820. |
|
| Overseas students (non-EU) | £11,461 per year. |
The fee shown is annual, and may be subject to an increase each year.
Living Costs
- Dundee is ranked as one of the most affordable places for students to live in the UK, and the cost of living is around 15% cheaper than the UK average.
- Increasing numbers of students are successfully undertaking part-time work to supplement their income. You can get advice from our Careers Service, both about job opportunities and how to find a suitable study/work/life balance. EU and international students are also allowed to work up to 20 hours per week.
- As a student in Scotland, you have free access to the National Health Service. Visits to doctors and hospitals, as well as prescriptions, sight tests and dental checkups, are available free of charge.
Your Application
Students applying for Fine Art must successfully complete our 1 year Art and Design (General Foundation) course. In this instance you should apply using the UCAS code WW12.
Alternatively, if you have already completed a recognised foundation course or equivalent elsewhere then apply directly to Fine Art.
All applications must be made through UCAS
UCAS Codes
Institution Code: D65
| Degree | UCAS Codes |
|---|---|
| BA/BDes Art and Design (General Foundation Level 1 entry) (1 year only) | WW12 |
| BA Fine Art (Digital Media, Drawing and Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture) | W100 |
UCAS Application Process
Admissions procedure
All applicants must submit a comprehensive portfolio of art and design work. The qualifications listed may be modified for an applicant presenting an exceptional portfolio.
Students are selected by assessing the contents of a portfolio of work that should convey a measure of creative, practical skill and intellectual/enthusiastic engagement in the practice of art and design.
What skills, qualities and experience do I need?
The level of achievement required for entry to this programme will normally be demonstrated by a comprehensive, yet edited portfolio which is likely to contain drawing, painting, documentation of 3D works, related studies, collages, photographic material, sketchbooks, notes and other material appropriate to your studies so far, material which should reflect your creative and imaginative interests.
Students who have completed a recognised Foundation course or equivalent may apply for advanced entry to second year.
Tips for your application
Your portfolio should be thoughtfully compiled.
International Applicants
We have information specifically for international applicants on our International website:
- Your Home Country - including information about qualifications from individual countries
- Fees and Funding
- English Language Requirements
- International Student Support
Any questions?
If you have any further questions about the application process, please contact:
Home / EU applicants
Karen Simpson
Admissions & Student Recruitment
University of Dundee
Nethergate
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Scotland
Telephone: 01382 384 028 (from the UK)
Telephone: +44 1382 384 028 (from outside the UK)
Email: ContactUs@dundee.ac.uk
International applicants
International Office
Admissions & Student Recruitment
University of Dundee
Nethergate
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Scotland
Telephone: 01382 388 111 (from the UK)
Telephone: +44 1382 388 111 (from outside the UK)
Email: ContactUs@dundee.ac.uk



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