BA Fine Art provides broad pathway options in 2D, 3D, 4D and cross-dimensional (XD) practice. These create a focus for sustained critical engagement, enabling both specialisation and interdisciplinary communities of practice.

The degree course:

• Offers the opportunity to take a one year Diploma in Professional Studies between Stages 2 and 3 of the BA programme, involving a 20 week work placement
• Offers study on full-time and part-time basis, providing access to those who want to balance their studies with other aspects of their lives, structured to enable maximum integration of both modes
• Promotes experimental, investigative and historically, theoretically and critically informed approaches to art making
• Emphasises collaborative and socially engaged practice and develops negotiation, management and team skills through external projects, alternative spaces and site-specific opportunities
• Is proactively taught through a wide range of events, led by a highly research-active staff team practising professionally across diverse media, supported by guest speakers and expert technicians
• Develops a wide range of specialist and transferable skills including research, planning, documentation, evaluative writing, visual and verbal presentation
• Offers a richly diverse international and multicultural community of practice, with opportunities for exchanges in Europe and the US
• Connects with numerous galleries, museums and cultural centres in London, providing a wide range of resources and opportunities
• Progressively increases individual responsibility for learning and development of professional identity, offering choices of perspective in final year to support theoretical research and practice-based directions

The BA Fine Art programme runs for 90 weeks full time over three years, or 150 weeks part time over five years. It is divided into three Levels (or Stages).

Full time: Stages 1, 2 and 3 are 30 weeks each. Part time: Stages 1 and 2 are 60 weeks each; Stage 3 is 30 weeks, shared with full time. The whole programme is credit-rated at 360 credits, with 120 credits at each Level (Stage).

Under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications the Levels for a BA are: Level 4 (Stage 1 of the programme), Level 5 (Stage 2) and Level 6 (Stage 3).

There's a progression point at the end of each Level and, in order to progress, all Units of the preceding Level must normally have been passed.

If you're unable to continue on the programme, a Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) will normally be offered following the successful completion of Level 4, or a Diploma in Higher Education following the successful completion of Level 5.

To gain a BA (Honours), students must successfully complete 360 credits. The final award consists of marks from Level 6 units only, weighted according to their credits.

Programme outline

As well as studio practice, the BA Fine Art programme takes the form of lectures, seminars and assignments undertaken in a sequence of distinct Units. Your study of fine art follows one of four broad pathways, described below. All pathways involve studio practice, critical and theoretical studies, and personal and professional development. For all pathways and practice, students develop appropriate levels of research, initiative and responsibility in order to propose and implement their own programme of study.

The BA Fine Art programme is practice based and focuses on making and the development of ideas that constitute your artistic production. 'Production' takes place in many ways and places, including studios, workshops and off-site locations. In participating you benefit not only from the formal input of tutors but also from an informal interaction with peers, and an awareness of their development, within a shared environment. 'Studio practice' can mean site-specific work, film and video, live performance or installation as well as work actually made in 'a studio'.

2D pathway (art practice in two dimensions, for example - painting, printmaking and photography)

This pathway is concerned with representation, narrative, the building of surface and/or illusion, collage, streams of process, production, analogue and digital reprographics, the development of drawing and understanding of the discourses surrounding painting. The development of an extended process of making through several material, technical, critical and reflexive 'moments' is at the centre of teaching and learning. Discussions arising might include those on authorship, authority and aura, perception and phenomena, narrative images and models of time, systems for the production of meaning, disclosure and the politics of semiotics in photography and painting. Intertextuality of appropriation provides a theoretical language for practice that brings it into association with literature and criticism.

3D pathway (art practice in three dimensions, for example - sculpture, installation and performance)

This pathway is concerned with presence and evocation, construction in space with materials and (im)materials (sound and light), fullness, mass and volume, area as surface, glyptic and plastic practices. It deals with the practical and philosophical problems posed by materiality. Discussions arising might include those on ontology and the 'coming into being' of presence, phenomenology of the self revealed, evocation and mnemonic construction, spatial control and the historical problem of monumentality, and the semiotics of scale. Artists' and critics' reflections on both sculpture and its expanded field are considered in a framework of studio and workshop practices, histories of these practices, and museum studies.

4D pathway (art practice in four dimensions, for example - film, video, art writing, performance and sound)

This pathway offers a focus for the use of time, duration, movement and action as central material properties in the making of art. It defines practice as an engagement in which the 'studio' is part of the technology for production and enables art practices and media including still and moving image, drawing, installation, performance and sound. Technologies deployed in the making of art, both analogue and digital, are critically engaged in a reflexive, experimental and discursive process that includes the new technologies of distribution. Discussions arising might include both historical and emerging ideas about the relation between art and technology, the relation between process, the 'open work' and the art object, the politics of collaboration and the relation between 'work' and 'action', as well as theories of time, duration and contemporaneity.

Programme stages

Stage 1 (Level 4) provides an introduction from the perspective of your pathway. From the beginning you are introduced to practical skills and processes, research and study skills, critical and discursive approaches. It is diagnostic and exploratory.

Stage 2 (Level 5) is a pivotal period of development in which you begin to take increased responsibility for your learning and for self-directed work. There's more emphasis on experiment and risk in developing your ideas, conceptual strategies, research and means of production. This stage also sees a honing of technical skills.

Between Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the BA Fine Art programme there's an option to take a Diploma in Professional Studies. This separate qualification (rated at 120 credits) involves researching, undertaking and reflecting on a 20-week (minimum) placement related to your professional interests and aspirations (e.g. in gallery or educational contexts or working as an artist's assistant). The Diploma provides a valuable opportunity to make professional contacts and to develop your personal employability skills.

Stage 3 (Level 6) is a period of realisation that brings together your learning during the degree course as a whole. As well as reflecting your development as a contemporary practitioner it engages you as far as possible with the challenges of personal responsibility and development that a career in the creative professions or further study at Masters level involves.

Critical Studies are embedded into the Units with studio practice and involve investigations into historical and contemporary critical theory through lectures, seminars, tutorials and independent research. You consider the historical and contemporary contexts of art and a broad range of critical debates relating to the form, content, value and meaning of art practices, and produce written assignments, leading to a dissertation in Stage 3. Balanced with your studio practice, your dissertation focuses on an individual chosen topic and field of research that relates to your practice and locates it within a theoretical framework. It involves the development of a piece of documented research.

Personal and Professional Development is also embedded into the Units with studio practice and critical and theoretical studies, helping you focus on generic study skills and orientation and becoming more closely related to your professional direction.

Developing your skills - external activities

Active collaborations involving staff and students embrace key cultural institutions, venues, commercial enterprises and alternative spaces to introduce you to London's varied networks of creative practice. Teaching frequently targets major and specialist galleries and museums in London as research bases.

External projects bring students into collaborative relationships with outside agencies and provide experience and awareness of art practice beyond the college. Recent external projects include work with the Parasol Unit, Shoreditch, Trinity Buoy Wharf, Gunpowder Park, Lea Valley, and The Archway Project in north London. These units help artists and students make sited artworks and temporary interventions.

There are many collaborative exhibition and project opportunities across the Pathways, within the College and the University and a well-established Study Exchange programme in Europe and North America. Erasmus exchange partners include Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Vienna, Prague, Posnan, Bilbao, Dublin, Antwerp, Zurich and Stockholm.

BA Fine Art students leave with a broad and valuable understanding of fine art practice. Skills acquired enable graduates to become versatile practitioners in exciting and diverse contexts.

Many BA Fine Art graduates work as artists, or pursue art-related careers as curators, critics or teachers. Others work in graphics, IT, media, film, fashion and advertising.

BA Fine Art graduates often go on to postgraduate study, progressing to a wide range of Masters subjects that include fine art, philosophy, film, communication, landscape architecture, art history, gallery and museum studies, literature and broadcast journalism.

Recent BA Fine Art alumni activity demonstrates the breadth of student activity within the subject:

• Alex Ball (2007): Winner of Catlin Art Prize 2008
• Joshua Alexander & Siobhan Wanklyn (2007): Film screenings, Camden Arts Centre, London
• Tamarin Norward (2007): MFA Art Writing, Goldsmiths, 2008/09
• David Stearn (2008): Bloomberg New Contemporaries 08, 2008
• Rosanna Manfredi (2008): Installation assistant to Anselm Kiefer
• Richard Milward (2008): Published novel 'Apples'
• Sonny Sanjay Vadgama (2009): Selected to feature in Exposure 2009 at Parasol Unit, London
• Jessica Rinland (2010): Film Nulepsy accepted to London Film Festival 2010

This degree course requires portfolio evidence. Entry to BA Fine Art is highly competitive.

Selection is determined by the quality of the application, indicated primarily in your portfolio of work and written statements. A very high proportion of successful applicants complete a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. The course will only exceptionally consider A Level candidates who can present a portfolio of equivalent standard to those produced by students on Foundation courses.

Applicants are normally expected to have achieved, or be expected to achieve, the course entry requirements detailed below:

• Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
• A pass in 1 GCE A level
• Passes at GCSE level in 3 other subjects (grade C or above)

This educational level may be demonstrated by possession of equivalent qualifications; e.g. International Baccalaureat or High School Diploma.

Applicants will also be considered exceptionally if they present a portfolio of equivalent standard to a one-year Foundation course in art and design and have achieved, or expect to achieve:

• Passes in 2 GCE A Levels (80 UCAS tariff points normally including one single award)
• Passes at GCSE level in 3 other subjects (grade C or above)

English language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability in order to apply for a visa, enrol, and start your course. The standard English language requirement for entry is IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in any one paper, or equivalent. For further information visit the English Language requirementspage.

Applicants who will need a Tier 4 General Student Visa should check the Visa and Immigration page which provides important information about UK Border Agency (UKBA) requirements.

What we look for

We're interested in students who are prepared to question and to take a critical perspective and who show potential to develop as innovative artists.

Student selection criteria

We select applicants according to your potential and current ability to:

Work imaginatively and creatively in visual media

• engage with experimentation and invention
• show imagination and ambition in proposals for your work

Demonstrate a range of skills and technical abilities

• show personal commitment to skill development
• engage with materials and processes

Provide evidence of intellectual enquiry within your work

• demonstrate relevant research
• reflect critically on your learning

Demonstrate cultural awareness and/or contextual framework of your work

• identify historical and contemporary art practices
• identify social and/or cultural influences on your work

Articulate and communicate intentions clearly

• demonstrate appropriate and effective communication skills
• present your work appropriately and effectively

Indicate the relevance of BA Fine Art to your personal development

• develop your own ideas beyond set project briefs
• show willingness to work both collaboratively and independently
• reflect your knowledge of this degree course

Portfolio and interview advice

Your portfolio should demonstrate a range of skills appropriate to the subject area, containing examples of work completed within recent years, whether for a college project or personal work. It's important that the work you include reflects your engagement in creative practice, critical thinking and technical abilities and also that you include evidence of background research (e.g. sketchbooks, preliminary work, written material).

Ideas, visual research and experimentation are more important than finished work and can be shown in the form of two-dimensional work, made objects, photographs or through recorded moving image/live events.

Pathway choices are considered during the admissions process. We therefore advise you to describe any specific interests you have in your personal statement, taking into account the descriptions of the programme pathways we offer (see Structure). These interests or preferences will also inform the selection and presentation of your work.

If you are full time applicant apply to BA Fine Art through the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). From the UCAS home page go to 'Apply', where you’ll be able to register and create a password that gives you unique access as you complete your application form. 

The University UCAS code is UAL. The University code is U65. The course code is W100 BA/FineA

If you are an applicant for part time study apply direct to the College. Download your application pack:

• UK/EU part-time application [PDF, 0.5mb]

The deadline for equal consideration is 15 January 2012.

International applicants

If you are from outside the European Union: You have three options to apply for undergraduate courses.

• Apply through UCAS. The deadline for equal consideration is 15 January 2012
• Apply directly to Central Saint Martins. Choose this option if you are only applying to undergraduate courses at UAL.
• Apply through one of our overseas representatives.

Visit the undergraduate application page for full details of these options.

Study Abroad

For information on applying to Study Abroad please visit the Study Abroad section.

We're here to help

Our website includes all the information you need to successfully apply. However, if you still have unanswered questions about the admissions process, please contact us. Email: international@csm.arts.ac.uk

The University has a dedicated team to help prepare you for your studies. For help on visa requirements, housing, tuition fees and language requirements visit the University's International section.

The Language Centre offers international students quality language training from qualified and experienced teachers. The Pre-sessional Academic English Programme is available to all international (non-EU) students who have been offered a place on a full time course at the University of the Arts. For further information visit the Language Centre website.

We also offer a number of short courses that enable students to improve their portfolios and English skills before applying to their chosen course. For further information visit our Short Course section.

Deferred entry

Entry can only be deferred in exceptional circumstances. Please contact us before submitting your application if you're considering applying for deferred entry.

What happens next?

Home/EU and International applicants applying through UCAS

At the same time that you apply through UCAS you must send in a mini portfolio of your work and an additional 250 word statement about the mini-portfolio, directly to the College.

Mini-portfolio

Your mini-portfolio will be a set of up to 10 photographs printed out on A4 paper (or equivalent size in your country). These should show your current work including research, preparation and development stages of works as well as final pieces. You will also need to attach a short (250 word) statement about your current work in which you may want to refer to artists whose practices you feel have influenced it; you may wish to refer to problems and how you solve them and to the ideas and interests important to the work you are showing us.

Home/EU applicants should send the mini portfolio to: Student Administration, BA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA.

International applicants should send the mini portfolio to The International Office, BA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA.

Please note that due to the high number of applicants mini portfolios are non-returnable.

Following a review of your mini portfolio, you will either be invited to attend with a full portfolio or your application will be rejected.

Full-portfolio review

When you attend with your full portfolio, your application may be successful, you may be invited to interview in order to clarify any aspect of your application or your work, which is not evident from the material submitted, or you may be rejected.

Selection is conducted by two members of staff and offers of places are made on the basis of the selection criteria. Notes are kept in relation to decisions made following the interview process.

Please note that if you are unable to attend the portfolio review the College may not be able to re-schedule, however you could arrange to submit evidence of your work by post.

You should send either a non-returnable A4 portfolio or a non-returnable USB documenting your work, following the guidelines below.

• Your A4 portfolio or USB should consist of a series of images of your work
• The quality of the work is more important than the quantity
• Please supply title, media and dimensions of each piece, bottom left of the image
• Where possible, scan rather than photograph work. Large or 3-dimensional work should be photographed
• Please organise your work by project, with supporting work presented alongside final outcomes
• Make sure you label your A4 portfolio or USB with your name

If presenting your work as an A4 portfolio please ensure the sheets are attached in order to preserve the sequence. Do not send original work.

If presenting your work on USB:

• All portfolio images should be arranged in a single PDF file
• Individual images imported into PDF files should be no larger  than 1024 x 768 pixel

International applicants applying directly to Central Saint Martins

You will be asked to submit a full portfolio for review. This can be in the form of printed photographs or images on USB. If you are in the UK you can bring your portfolio of original work to the College. Selection is usually based on the review of your portfolio of work.

Home/EU Postal Portfolios should be sent to Student Administration, BA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA

International Postal Portfolio should be sent to the International Office, BA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA