Fine Art

Make and study contemporary art in a dynamic, critical and interdisciplinary environment.

Why study BA Fine Art at Goldsmiths

• This degree will equip you with creative, interpretive, critical and analytical skills, so that you can participate in and contribute to the expanding field of contemporary art.

• You'll make and study contemporary art in a dynamic, critical and interdisciplinary environment.

• We'll equip you with the skills that will help you develop independent thought and confidence in your practice, as well as transferable skills suitable for employment in the creative industries.

• You'll have your own studio space from day one, and will have access to excellent facilities including specialist art practice areas.

• All staff on the programme are practising artists, curators and writers, here to respond to the work that you make and to help you understand how it contributes to – and challenges – the critical debates that exist in the study area and beyond.

• Since 1990, former Goldsmiths students have been nominated for the Turner Prize more than 30 times, and have won the prize on 8 occasions.

Please note the BA Fine Art only accepts applications for first year entry.

The programme has two elements:

Studio Practice (75% of the course)
You’ll have your own studio space from day one, and will have access to excellent facilities and technical advice.
Studios are not divided by year or discipline, so you will be studying alongside students from all stages of the programme working in a wide variety of media, including:
Drawing
Painting
Constructed textiles
Printmaking
Sculpture
Stitch
Fabric
Photography
Printed textiles
Video
Installation
Performance.

Studio teaching is supported and complemented by workshop areas, which will introduce you to the techniques and skills relevant to the practical development of your work.

You’ll have regular individual and group tutorials with your own tutor, with other tutors, and with visiting artists. You will also present your work for discussion with a larger group of students each term.

Critical Studies (25% of the course)
The lecture and seminar series in Year 1 offers a space for exploring and examining the historical and critical context in which art is made, seen and understood.

The seminar options from which you can choose in Year 2 engage and extend your critical skills, enabling you to develop your ability to analyse, judge and write about contemporary art.

Tutorials will guide your essay writing in Years 1 and 2, and will support the completion of your dissertation in Year 3.

All staff on the programme will support your development and creativity and help you acquire independent learning skills. This approach requires you to be committed, to thrive on constructive criticism exchanged between staff and students, and to participate in discussing your own work and that of others.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Studio practice coursework is continuously assessed through individual tutorials and group seminars. This is complemented by studio presentations at Year 1, viva voce at Year 2, and a final exhibition at Year 3. Critical Studies is assessed through essays (Years 1 and 2) and a dissertation (Year 3).