Pre-Degree & Degree
We offer a unique approach to art education.
We’ve built a reputation for teaching technical skills, encouraging and enabling creative vision, and supporting all who join our vibrant and welcoming community. From short, evening and weekend courses to academic courses for people serious about developing their artistic practice and becoming professionals, we offer the best quality art tuition to support your development.
We believe the best way to learn is from experts, so our classes are taught by highly skilled, practising artists, including prize-winners, members of leading art organisations and artists with work in national collections. Furthermore, we keep our class sizes small, so that everyone gets a hands-on experience. Our specialist academic courses include a three-year BA (Hons) Fine Art, BA (Hons) Contemporary Portraiture, a two-year Certificate Programme and a one year pre-degree Fine Art Foundation.
Look through our 2024 Prospectus
For more information please call our office, +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or complete this Enquiry Form and our dedicated Academic team will be more than happy to talk you through all the options and discuss what might be the best fit for you.
Full Time: 1 year, 3 days per week, plus independent study
Part Time: 2 years, 2 days per week, plus independent study
A pre-degree course for those wanting to study art or design at a higher level. This course develops your skills, creativity, conceptual and critical understanding. Unlike other Foundation courses you will have the opportunity to devise your own individually tailored programme, learning the skills relevant to your goals. You will focus on developing a strong portfolio that will give you a good chance of achieving a place at a sought-after art school or University.
As a full time student you will attend 3 tutored days per week at the Academy and undertake a further day independently developing your individual project work. As a part time student you will attend 2 tutored days per week and on average a half day independently developing your individual project work.
This course offers more contact time with tutors than most other Foundation courses available in the UK. (do we specify how many hours?)
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.
Full Time: 3 years, 2.5 to 4 days per week in taught sessions (depending on stage and term), 10.30am – 4.30pm, plus independent study
Part Time: 6 years, 1 to 2 days per week in taught sessions (depending on stage and term), 10.30am – 4.30pm, plus independent study
Our Fine Art BA is designed for those aiming to establish an artistic practice. It gives you the freedom to pursue your own interests and aptitudes through a bespoke programme of study.
Our teaching approach is unique: we keep our class sizes small (do we include the approximate ratio number), and you’ll benefit from the highest tutor contact hours of any higher education art course in the UK. You’ll learn both traditional and contemporary skills from expert tutors who are all practising artists themselves.
As well as helping you develop the in-depth technical skills needed to take your art practice forward, you’ll be encouraged to think critically about the wider theoretical and historical contexts of your discipline(s), and apply that knowledge to your practical work.
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.
Our BA (Hons) Fine Art is validated by The Open University.
Full Time: 3 years, 2.5 to 4 days per week in taught sessions (depending on stage and term), 10.30am – 4.30pm, plus independent study
Part Time: 6 years, 1 to 2 days per week in taught sessions (depending on stage and term), 10.30am – 4.30pm, plus independent study
As well as helping you develop the in-depth technical skills needed to take your art practice forward, you’ll be encouraged to think critically about the wider theoretical and historical contexts of contemporary portraiture and apply that knowledge to your practical work.
And to further enrich your study, you’ll have access to lectures and talks by eminent visiting artists, open access to our print studio, a session learning to sculpt a portrait head (and access to further sculpture classes) and can drop in to Open Life sessions on weekend mornings. You can also take advantage of free places on our other evening, weekend and short courses (These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability).
Recommended Pathway: 2 years, 1 day a week, 10.30 am – 4.30pm
Fast Track Pathway: 1 year, 2 days a week, 10.30 am – 4.30pm
Our Certificate Course is ideal if you want to start developing your abilities but have limited time. You will specialise in one of four disciplines: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture or Printmaking, or complete a Fine Art Certificate across multiple disciplines. (maybe swap around the routes, the emphasis on specialising could be misleading)
In joining the Academy you will have access to talks by visiting artists and artistic tutorials with a tutor of your choice. Furthermore you will be invited to exhibit in the end of year Graduate Show upon completion of your Certificate.
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.
Recommended Pathway: 2 years, 1 day a week, 10:30 am – 4:30pm
Fast Track Pathway: 1 year, 2 days a week, 10:30 am – 4.30pm
Our Certificate in Portraiture provides a unique introduction to the exacting discipline of portraiture. Here you’ll begin to learn the skills of portrait painting in small classes taught by practising artists, many of them eminent in their field. (the disciplines aren’t limited to just painting, everything is just portraiture oriented isn’t it?)
In joining the Academy you will have access to talks by visiting artists and artistic tutorials with a tutor of your choice. Furthermore you will be invited to exhibit in the end of year Graduate Show upon completion of your Certificate.
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.
If you have less time, we offer an amazing range of short courses, five and 10-week evening courses, intensive weekend courses, masterclasses, young artist courses and taster courses.
For more information see our Short Courses, email [email protected] or call us on +44 (0)207 407 6969
