COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA (Hons) Fine Art program at Northumbria University is designed to develop students’ practical, theoretical, and professional skills over four years, offering flexibility and opportunities for international experience. In Year 1, students build a foundation in studio practice, contemporary art, visual material culture, and engagement strategies, while international and EU students can develop academic language skills. Year 2 allows for deeper exploration through core modules on thinking through making, research in art practice, public engagement, studio and gallery work, and art discourses, with an optional study abroad experience providing global exposure. Year 3 offers further flexibility with optional full-year opportunities for work placements or international study, giving students professional experience and insight into global art contexts. In Year 4, students consolidate their learning through a final project and an independent research project, alongside modules focused on professional and self-organizing practice and sites of production and presentation. This structure combines hands-on art-making, critical research, and professional preparation, ensuring students develop autonomy, creative confidence, and the ability to engage with communities, galleries, and wider audiences. Across all four years, the course balances practical studio work, theoretical understanding, and professional development, preparing graduates for careers in the arts, further study, and creative industries locally and internationally.