COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA (Hons) Fine Art program at Northumbria University is structured across three years, combining core modules with optional opportunities to develop practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and professional experience. In Year 1, students focus on foundational skills in studio practice, contemporary art, and visual material culture, while exploring strategies for engagement and developing academic language skills for international and EU students. This year establishes a strong base in both practical art-making and critical understanding of art in cultural contexts. Year 2 expands on these foundations, offering students the option to study abroad for immersive international experience, alongside core modules that emphasize thinking through making, research in art practice, public engagement, studio and gallery work, and art discourses and encounters. This year encourages deeper conceptual thinking, experimentation, and connection with wider communities. In Year 3, students consolidate their learning through a final project and an independent research project, supported by modules in professional and self-organizing practice and sites of production and presentation. This final year emphasizes autonomy, critical reflection, and preparation for professional life or further study. Throughout the course, the combination of practical, theoretical, and professional modules ensures that students develop a well-rounded understanding of contemporary art practice, research, and engagement, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed for diverse careers in the arts.