Skip navigation

Fine Art

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 13 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Central area campus
More about The University of Edinburgh

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
Apply

Course summary

Our BA (Hons) Fine Art is a four-year, intensive, studio-based programme designed to support you in developing your approach to creative practice and a critical understanding of contemporary culture.

You will work closely with specialist staff to take multiple approaches to your creative work and will develop an understanding of how fine art is produced, experienced and valued in society.

Our programme will help to shape you as an artist while introducing you to the many other creative, critical and cultural possibilities within the diverse and evolving field of contemporary fine art.

We welcome all students who are interested in:

  • the creative process

  • the many practices and contexts of contemporary fine art

  • exploring the process of becoming an artist

We do not expect you to arrive as a fully formed artist, or to display a particular technical aptitude: we want to work with you to develop your confidence in these areas.

Programme benefits

  • Our studio-based programme establishes an inclusive and exciting studio culture which supports communities of peers to co-develop one another’s learning. You will get hands-on experience of how to use a studio space and develop relevant practices using a studio space.

  • Our holistic approach to balancing and integrating practical and contextual studies of contemporary fine art prepares you for work across a range of related creative and cultural sectors.

  • Experience specialist research-led teaching from internationally renowned practitioners who are practising artists, curators, and theorists.

  • Experience a dynamic and evolving curriculum that encourages you to pursue paths of complimentary study and make use of a huge range of world-class facilities and resources across the wider ECA and the University of Edinburgh.

  • Our programme provides a wide variety of event-based learning including visiting artist talks, workshops, exhibitions, screenings, special events, gallery visits, day trips, an overseas trip, projects with external organisations, and graduate shows.

  • In Year 3 of your programme you have the option to study abroad at a range of internationally renowned institutions.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Central area campus

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 13 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
BAFA
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
BAFA
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
ABB

Required subjects: A levels: no specific A level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
ABBB

ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6 (Standard). ABBB by end of S6 (Minimum). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 34

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Direct entry to second year is available; see our website for entry requirements.

Applicants studying Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals in art and design subjects will be considered for entry with the following:

  • Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma with DMM

  • Pearson BTEC Diploma with MM plus one A level at A (or DM plus B at A level)

  • Pearson BTEC Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma with D plus two A levels at B (or M plus AB at A level)

Find out which BTEC subjects we accept for entry to art and design degrees on our website.

Applicants studying the University of the Arts London Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design will be considered with Merit.

Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply. You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference. https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/2027/669-fine-art?utm_source=ucas&utm_medium=programme&utm_campaign=ug_institution_profiles&utm_content=listing

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level ABB

Required subjects: A levels: no specific A level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

Scottish Higher ABBB

ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6 (Standard). ABBB by end of S6 (Minimum). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Offer: 34

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
You need to submit a digital portfolio to show your artistic skill and potential. This portfolio is an important part of the application process for this programme.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
TOEFL (iBT)total 92 with at least 20 in each component (before 21 Jan 2026); total 4.5 with at least 4.0 in each component (from 21 Jan 2026). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Cambridge English Advancedtotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Cambridge English Proficiencytotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISEISE II with distinctions in all four components.

You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies. This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals. You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test. We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher: National 5: English at C; GCSE: English at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate: English at C; International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level: English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements. If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the English language tests, at the specified grade or higher, as detailed above. We also accept other English language tests and qualifications from around the world. Qualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of your programme, regardless of your nationality: IELTS, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, Oxford Test of English Advanced, Trinity ISE. All other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of your programme. If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or region, as defined by UKVI, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language

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.

The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.

Learn more on the The University of Edinburgh website

International entry requirements

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/international-qualifications

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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.

Not available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Scotland£1820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050
EU & International£40900

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

Scotland - Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.

England/Wales/Northern Ireland - The Rest of UK (RUK) students commencing or continuing their studies in September 2027, the tuition fees will be £10,050.

EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.

Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme

Related courses

At The University of Edinburgh

Like this page