You’ll study Stage 1 for one year full time, or take the modular version, where you’ll study individual modules building up the number you need to complete the Stage.  All teaching takes place at our Bankside campus.

In this Stage, you’ll focus on exploring and investigating. You will study: 

Studio Practice: Experimental Studio Practice modules 1, 2 and 3

You will undertake three Studio Practice modules designed to assist you in uncovering the motivations behind your artistic creations. These modules are structured to guide you through different ways of initiating your artistic experimentation, allowing you to explore, develop, and refine your comprehension and application of artistic language and craftspersonship. Assessment for these modules will be based on your preparatory work, studio diaries, final pieces, and presentations of your work.

Elective Skills Workshop Courses

If you choose the full-time mode, you will take one to two Elective Skills Workshop (ESW) courses each term. For modular study, you will choose up to two each term.  (You’ll need to complete nine Elective Skills Workshop courses in total to gain your Diploma). These courses are not assessed, giving you the flexibility to develop skills without the pressure of evaluation. Students on the Contemporary Fine Art Diploma choose ESW courses in any discipline.  

To build your core skills in drawing, three of your Elective selections over Stages 1 and 2 of the Diploma should be drawing courses. Additionally, in Stage 1, you will be required to complete the Digital Development Elective to equip you with digital skills for Professional Practice, which forms part of your study during Stage 2.

Critical and Contextual Studies: Critical and Contextual Studies 1

Over one term, you’ll attend sessions considering the histories and debates that inform contemporary art. This module will include lectures, seminars and object-based study, together with independent learning.  Your assessment for this module can take a variety of forms, which might include an essay, a presentation or a short video.

You’ll study Stage 2 for one year full time, or take the modular version, where you’ll study individual modules building up the number you need to complete the Stage.  All teaching takes place at our Bankside campus.

In Stage 2, you’ll focus on developing your creative practice,  self-reflection and analysis. 

Within Stage 2 you will study: 

Studio Practice: Live Commission, Thinking Through Studio Practice 1, Thinking Through Studio Practice 2 (Exhibition) 

These modules run for two full days each week across all three terms (full time) or two days per week across the terms when you’re taking Studio Practice, in the modular version of the programme.

Your fourth Studio Practice project (the first module in Stage 2) is an exciting live commission, where you’ll source a client, negotiate a brief and complete an artwork. The other two Studio Practice modules in Stage 2 focus on further developing your own artistic practice; in the third term you’ll work towards the final group exhibition.

Elective Skills Workshop Courses

You’ll pick Elective Skills Workshop (ESW) courses across Stage 2 to help refine your techniques within your chosen discipline(s).  These courses are not assessed, giving  you the flexibility to develop skills without the pressure of evaluation.  You’ll complete ESW courses to bring your total to nine across the programme.

Critical and Contextual Studies: Critical and Contextual Studies 2

This module scrutinises the frameworks which construct meaning around and within contemporary art. It will develop your skills through a mixture of taught sessions and independent study, over one term, with a greater focus on critical thinking and theory.  Your assessment for this module can take a variety of forms, which might include an essay, a presentation or a short video.

Professional Practice

To help prepare you for life as a practising artist, in Stage 2 you will complete a professional practice module through which you’ll begin to develop some of the tools you need to operate as a practising artist, such as writing an artist’s statement and an artist’s biography.  (These are developed more fully during the optional Creative and Professional Practice Year).  

For this part of the programme, you’ll study for one year full time or two years part time.

The Creative and Professional Practice year is for students wanting to become professional artists but we encourage all students who complete the Diploma to continue their studies by taking this year.  This is where you’ll really come into your own as an artist. You’ll focus on creating one major body of work that is entirely self-initiated and self-directed.

For the Creative and Professional Practice year you will study:

Studio Practice: Extended Personal Studio Practice

At this level,  you’re expected to be increasingly independent in the studio, but you’ll still be supported through regular group critiques and one-to-one tutorials as you hone your own practice and prepare to exhibit at the Graduate Show in the Academy’s Artists’ Gallery.

As a full-time student, you will typically spend a minimum of two days a week per term working on your Studio Practice project, and undertake independent study on your self-initiated brief. If you choose to study part-time, you’ll typically spend a minimum of one day a week per term on Studio Practice throughout the two years.

This module is assessed at the Graduate Show. You’ll also submit a supporting portfolio of developmental work and take part in a viva voce with a team of tutors and an external assessor, where you’ll answer questions about your project development, curatorial choices and contextual knowledge.

You will complete this module at our Bankside campus.

Elective Skills Workshop Courses

You’ll pick Elective Skills Workshop courses across the Creative and Professional Practice Year to continue to refine your skills in your chosen discipline(s). If you are a full time student you will choose a maximum of one Elective Skills Workshop Course each term, if you are part time you will undertake a maximum of three Elective Skills Workshop courses spread throughout your two years of study. 

Professional Practice

The Creative and Professional Practice year is designed to help to prepare you for life as a professional artist and you’ll benefit from the Academy’s unique Professional Practice teaching.  You’ll learn how to present yourself as an artist, through a website, social media and marketing skills.  You’ll undertake an art world experience (which might be mounting an exhibition or doing a residency, for example) and research a part of the art world relevant to your practice, as well as making a plan for your life as an artist after the Academy.

Critical and Contextual Studies

You’ll research an area of art history (including contemporary art practice) or art theory relevant to your emerging practice and present your findings either in an extended essay or in another form (which might include a video or a series of images with accompanying narrative).

We offer bursaries for students from households with a low annual income or other exceptional circumstances, for an amount up to the value of 30% of our annual tuition fees*.  You can apply for a bursary once you’ve been offered a place to study with us.  You will need to provide evidence of income to support your application.  Bursaries are awarded at the discretion of the Principal and the Director of Programmes.  See Bursaries.

*Please note, the Bursary is awarded as a reduction in tuition fees, rather than a monetary award.

Any financial support is awarded subject to students complying with our Terms and Conditions and the Student Handbook. For further information about bursaries, including how to apply, please contact our academic team at admissions@artacademy.ac.uk or see our Bursaries page for more information.  We also support the Black Heart Scholars Programme. 

Material fees

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £300 and £700*, depending on materials and chosen disciplines. The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and tutors can also advise you. * Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance only (based on survey results from previous students) and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Trips and Visits

It is expected that students studying at this level will visit galleries and exhibitions independently, as part of the development of the contextual knowledge and practice. Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries.  Where there is an entry fee, we will not require you to take part in the visit.  If you are not able to participate, where possible the tutor will prepare an alternative itinerary of free museum and gallery visits that you can follow.

All applicants are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language competence to study with us. This can be through previous study in English (evidencing an approved English language qualification at Level 2, GCSE or equivalent). If you are unable to provide evidence of a relevant, formal English qualification, we will require specific performance in written English tests at interview. Appropriate level of spoken English is assessed at the interview.

We do not sponsor international students through the Tier 4 visa system and therefore cannot accept international students unless they are able to prove their right of residency in the UK. We operate a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people can benefit from the fine art education we provide; find out more in our Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

When studying with us, it’s important that you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure you understand both the expectations and support available to you. To find out more information please see our  Long Course Regulations and Policies page.