BA (Hons) Fine Art
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
BA (Hons) Fine Art
Imagine. Learn. Create.
Art isn’t just in galleries - it’s all around us, in our cities, landscapes, and buildings, and even in our digital spaces. Art shapes how we see the world, reflect on our past, and express the present. At Northumbria, studying the BA (Hons) Fine Art will help you become a thoughtful, skilled artist who understands the power of art and can connect with communities locally and globally.
This course blends theory with hands-on practice to prepare you for many career paths, from community arts and teaching to curating, arts management, and more. You’ll explore the many forms of art with guidance from Northumbria’s experienced art practitioners, historians, and industry partners like The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Each module is built on active research that brings fresh insights to your learning experience.
The course is dynamic and flexible, allowing you to tailor your studies to fit your goals and giving you a strong foundation for further study or a successful career in the arts.
Why choose Northumbria to study Fine Art?
Top 15 – Art & Design at Northumbria is ranked joint 15th in the UK by the Times Good University Guide, 2026.
Taking on Tomorrow – This course is contemporary, future-facing, and critically rigorous, preparing you to make a positive impact in the world.
Research Powerhouse – Art and Design at Northumbria is ranked 4th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021).
Student Rated – Over 96% of students studying Fine Art at Northumbria believed they had chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth (NSS, 2025).
Partnered with Industry – The fantastic opportunity to work with the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, where you will develop the skills and confidence needed for your future.
What is a ‘cultural partnership’ and how will it support my learning?
Cultural partnerships are when groups or institutions work together to share or promote art, traditions, or values. At Northumbria, this includes museums, charities, and education partners teaming up to create an enhanced curriculum designed to support your learning experience and employability. These partnerships help you:
For example, there is the chance to work with The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art on developing an exhibition proposal. Here, you will work in teams, as artists with different skill sets and backgrounds. In doing so, you will develop skills in project management and arts business that are important to employers within the creative and cultural industries.
How does this course enhance my employability?
From the start, this course helps you develop essential skills like critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and confidence. As you progress, you’ll gain industry-specific abilities, from using digital editing software to understanding art criticism, research, design, and project management.
As well as working on projects with the BALTIC Centre, you may also wish to organise an external work placement, gaining hands-on industry experience and confidence. Many course modules are designed to boost your employability, helping you gain relevant skills and explore future career paths in the arts.
Imagine. Learn. Create.
Art isn’t just in galleries - it’s all around us, in our cities, landscapes, and buildings, and even in our digital spaces. Art shapes how we see the world, reflect on our past, and express the present. At Northumbria, studying the BA (Hons) Fine Art will help you become a thoughtful, skilled artist who understands the power of art and can connect with communities locally and globally.
This course blends theory with hands-on practice to prepare you for many career paths, from community arts and teaching to curating, arts management, and more. You’ll explore the many forms of art with guidance from Northumbria’s experienced art practitioners, historians, and industry partners like The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Each module is built on active research that brings fresh insights to your learning experience.
The course is dynamic and flexible, allowing you to tailor your studies to fit your goals and giving you a strong foundation for further study or a successful career in the arts.
Why choose Northumbria to study Fine Art?
Top 15 – Art & Design at Northumbria is ranked joint 15th in the UK by the Times Good University Guide, 2026.
Taking on Tomorrow – This course is contemporary, future-facing, and critically rigorous, preparing you to make a positive impact in the world.
Research Powerhouse – Art and Design at Northumbria is ranked 4th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021).
Student Rated – Over 96% of students studying Fine Art at Northumbria believed they had chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth (NSS, 2025).
Partnered with Industry – The fantastic opportunity to work with the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, where you will develop the skills and confidence needed for your future.
What is a ‘cultural partnership’ and how will it support my learning?
Cultural partnerships are when groups or institutions work together to share or promote art, traditions, or values. At Northumbria, this includes museums, charities, and education partners teaming up to create an enhanced curriculum designed to support your learning experience and employability. These partnerships help you:
For example, there is the chance to work with The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art on developing an exhibition proposal. Here, you will work in teams, as artists with different skill sets and backgrounds. In doing so, you will develop skills in project management and arts business that are important to employers within the creative and cultural industries.
How does this course enhance my employability?
From the start, this course helps you develop essential skills like critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and confidence. As you progress, you’ll gain industry-specific abilities, from using digital editing software to understanding art criticism, research, design, and project management.
As well as working on projects with the BALTIC Centre, you may also wish to organise an external work placement, gaining hands-on industry experience and confidence. Many course modules are designed to boost your employability, helping you gain relevant skills and explore future career paths in the arts.
Course Information
UCAS Code
W105
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
School
Design Arts and Creative Industries
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2026 or September 2027
Fees
Fee Information
Delve Deeper / Discover more about life at Northumbria
Hot Topics / Module Spotlight
Find out more about what you will be studying on your course.
Portfolio Guidelines
We are interested in you as an artist and how we can support your learning and ambitions for the future. At Northumbria we take a look at each applicant's portfolio.
Experiential Learning / Kagawa - Northumbria Summer School
Recently, Northumbria Fine Art students facilitated online workshops and activities for Japanese peers. It was exciting to exchange practice and see the work created.
University Library
At the heart of each Northumbria campus, our libraries provide a range of study space and technology to suit every learning style.
Research / Events
Spittal Community School visit.
Fine Art / Alumni
Find out what our graduates are involved in.
I question anyone who thinks that a fine art degree is about painting. It’s about changing your mindset.
Annalisa
Project Manager Assistant/Administrator at GemArts and freelance Project Coordinator at Skimstone Arts.
More about Annalisa
Sophie Crocker
New Writing North Programme Officer in the Participation and Young People team.
More about Sophie
Careers and Employment / Develop
From first year through to final year and beyond graduation, we are here to help.
The School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries is a leading centre for supporting and energising creative practice and academic study. Our inter-disciplinary research and experiential education is committed to the betterment of people, place, cultures, and societies. Our programmes are defined by the way we collaborate with communities, industry, and external partners to inform curriculum, your learning and contribute to wider society. Discover more.
Entry Requirements 2026/27
Standard Entry
96 to 112 Tariff Points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions and we understand that every applicant’s circumstances can be different, which is why we take a flexible approach when making offers for this course. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our university regardless of personal circumstances or background. Typically, offers range from 96 to 112 UCAS tariff points, but we’ll assess your individual circumstances and potential when reviewing your application
To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
Subject Requirements:
There are no specific subject requirements for this course.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.
Additional Requirements:
A portfolio of creative design work is required. Get advice on preparing your portfolio here:https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/coming-to-northumbria/portfolios/
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
For further admissions guidance and requirements, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/admissionsguidance Please review this information before submitting your application.
Fees and Funding 2026/27 Entry
UK Fee in Year 1: £9,790
* In relation to fees for UK students: £9,790 is the tuition fee. The remaining fees relate to the International Soccer Academy, and accommodation fees. Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap. *if your course is longer than one year
* Fees subject to annual increases over the course of the period of study. Students will be liable for payment of any/all tuition fees which are not sponsored by their employer or other third party.
International Fee in Year 1:
This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.
Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap.
Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options available for UK and International applicants for 26/27 entry.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
MATERIALS This is a studio-based programme and we expect students to require additional art materials to support their project work. The department will be able to provide some generic art materials such as paper, printing inks, clay and plaster, but there will be instances where specialist materials are needed based on individual requirements. In those instances, students will have to bear the additional costs. We anticipate the cost to be approximately £100 on average. PRINTING Students are likely to be producing printed work and as such, will incur additional printing costs. Again this very much depends on an individual basis based on the type of project chosen by the student but we approximate the additional printing cost to be £50.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
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To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
BA (Hons) Fine Art
Any Questions?
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
Accessibility and Student Inclusion
Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.
We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.
You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need.
We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:
