Art and Design (Fine Art) Top-up

Our BA (Hons) in Art and Design (Fine Art) Level 6 top-up degree is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of contemporary art practices, theories, and critical analysis. The programme aims to foster creativity, innovation, and critical thinking skills; enabling students to become proficient artists, curators, art educators, or pursue further research in the field of contemporary art.

If you already have (or expect to achieve) a full Level 5 qualification - such as a Higher National Diploma (HND), Foundation Degree (FdA) or Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) - in an art and design-related subject, this popular course allows you to top-up to a full Level 6 BA (Honours) degree with just one more year of study. You will be able to develop your career in your chosen field.

The BA (Hons) in Art and Design (Fine Art) is awarded by Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

It is currently planned to replace this course with a new BA (Hons) in Fine Art Practice, to be launched in September 2026. Please contact the college for more information. We are accepting applications for both courses pending approval of the new degree.

It combines practical studio work in your specialist area with contextual and theoretical studies. Studio areas and specialist workshops are available for you to explore your ideas.

You will be guided through group seminars, individual tutorials and studio conversations with tutors and visitors.

The programme promotes an enquiring, creative and challenging approach towards your work. It encourages the belief that designers have independent thoughts, feelings, reactions, and attitudes which they need to externalise and visualise within theoretical work and practical design practice.

modules are likely to include

-specialist studio practice
-core issues in contemporary Art Practice
-practice-led research
-advanced studio practice

Students are encouraged to secure work placement experience throughout the year.

Assessment

You'll be assessed through individual and group assignments and presentations, research tasks, and individual studio project work. Your work will be displayed in an end-of-year professional portfolio and public exhibition. There are no examinations.

Bursaries

We want our courses to be accessible to students from any background, so we’ve put together a cash support package in the form of non-repayable bursaries to provide financial help where it’s really needed. Details for 2025-26 will be advertised once approved by the university regulator – the Office for Students (OfS). Please check our website - www.nottinghamcollege.ac.uk - for more information.

The Qualification

Level 6 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Art and Design (Fine Art) - awarded by Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

Your career and progression

A significant number of students each year progress to postgraduate education at both local and national institutions. Previous graduates have found positions with companies and organisations such as: Nottingham Contemporary, Brown Dog; National Justice Museum, Neon Ink Studios and Defacto .

There is a wide range of career opportunities within the creative industries and an increasing proportion of our graduates now freelance and set up their own small businesses, both locally and online. Whilst some choose to venture into other sectors and are equally successful in gaining employment due to the transferable skills gained on the programme.

Other graduates continue with their studies with higher degrees or teacher training, with more than 40% progressing to postgraduate MA courses.