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Fine Art

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about University of Derby

Course options

2026-2027
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Course summary

An exciting new artist is about to emerge – you. Discover your distinctive creative voice on this fine art degree by experimenting with a range of media and materials. You will be mentored by some of the best fine art teachers in the country.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
The wide-ranging facilities here encourage you to explore and experiment with painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and installation, sound, film and video, digital media and performance. We only accept around 30 students each year so there is a close-knit community and our teachers have time to fully support you.

IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU?
If you enjoy experimenting with different working methods, materials and processes, Fine Art could be for you. Also, are you brave and inventive? Do you love possibility? If so, you belong at Derby School of Arts.

HOW YOU WILL LEARN
You’ll learn through studio workshops, group and individual tutorials, seminars, lectures and visiting artists. Each year, you can choose to visit a cultural centre in Europe or the USA, as well as national galleries and museums. A series of projects for real clients take you out of the studio – we’ve created sculptures and installations for the National Trust and Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust.

OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES
You and your work will be highly visible because we enter national competitions and exhibitions. Our students are regularly offered artist residencies at home and abroad and have gained coveted places at events such as the Students’ International Biennale.

CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY
Many of our students go on to become long-term practising artists – undertaking residencies, opening studios, exhibiting nationally and internationally, and lecturing. However, you could also pursue careers in areas like curatorship, art therapy, community arts or teaching. One graduate, Paul Cummins, curated one of the most memorable WWI exhibitions, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
W100
Institution code:
D39
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Derby has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W100
Institution code:
D39
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 112 points

A level - BBC

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

Access to HE Diploma - D: 15 credits M: 24 credits P: 6 credits

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification

T Level - M

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio

English language requirements

IELTS overall score at a minimum of 6.0; with at least IELTS 5.5 in each band (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing) or another Secure English Language Test(SELT)at CEFR level B2 or above

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We have excluded the Grades on Entry data for this course. We may operate some flexibility with entry grades to support widening participation, though most of the students that enrol on this course achieve the published entry tariff or above. Applicants who achieve grades below the published tariff may be offered an alternative course or a 4-year route if there is one available. For further information please contact askadmissions@derby.ac.uk.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course and 9 other creative arts and design courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Grades held by accepted students

For University of Derby, the top and bottom 5% of student grades have been removed from these calculations. This change helps to remove any extraordinary circumstances that could impact the data. Learn more here .
CCC Most common
  1. AAA
  2. Highest grades
  3. DDD
  4. Lowest grades

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

99% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

55 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

100 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
EU£16900*Year 1
International£16900*Year 1
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

The quoted fee is an indicative fee based on last year’s fees, as the fees for the 2026 term not yet been confirmed.

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