Fine Art (Placement Year) Lancaster University

Unleash your ideas and develop your artistic expression through Fine Art at Lancaster. You will develop a unique contemporary art practice that engages with current ideas and issues to make valuable contributions to environment, culture and community. Through hands-on workshops and technical demonstrations, you’ll deepen your understanding of materials and techniques, ready to turn your ideas into impactful contemporary art.

Why Lancaster?

• Take a highly distinctive programme that combines fine art practice with the study of contemporary ideas and art movements

• Take advantage of your own dedicated studio space available 24/7 from day one, with expert technical support on hand

• Work with tutors who are practicing artists and scholars, exhibiting and publishing their work across a range of fine art ideas and mediums

• Join a supportive community of staff and students committed to making art relevant today, helping you build connections that will shape your future in the art industry

• Study in Lancaster, a vibrant and inspiring hub of award-winning arts festivals, events and places of cultural significance

Bring your vision to life

Fine Art at Lancaster is about finding your voice and deciding what matters to you in today’s art landscape. With engaging seminars in art history and theory, we’ll support you in shaping your values and understanding the evolving role of art. As you develop these ideas in your own studio practice, discover how contemporary art can be bold, disruptive, and meaningful.

You will be challenged to broaden your understanding of contemporary Fine Art, via a wide range of hands-on projects and skills-based workshops. Previously, students have worked on live briefs in partnership with arts organisations such as Deco Publique, Good Things Collective, Maritime Museum, FACT Liverpool and Lancaster Arts.

Discover how experimenting with painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, video, digital art, and their many hybrids, can drive your creative impulse. Work with diverse mediums in our purpose-built studios that include high tech seminar facilities, a digital art lab, installation spaces, and fully equipped workshops. Tailor your learning experience by picking how you want to specialise, focusing on one or two art mediums or continuing to explore different mediums.

A thriving creative community

Your tutors are professional artists who are exhibiting, curating and writing across a range of art and ideas, including high profile residencies and commissions in museums, galleries and cultural industries worldwide.

Your tutors have exhibited at the likes of the Henry Moore Institute, the Foreman Art Gallery Canada and Hong Kong Art Fair. Some have won awards such as The Royal Scottish Academy William Littlejohn Award 2024 and the John Muir Trust Creative Freedom Award for 3d work 2024, as well as commissioned work for organisations such as The National Trust, FutureEverything and the Dumfries House Royal Drawing School.

Lancaster is a hub of art and cultural activity, home to award-winning festivals such as, Lancaster Words and Litfest literary festivals and the stunning Light Up Lancaster festival of art and light. Many art events take place on Lancaster’s inspiring campus, and the University regularly partners with independent theatre The Dukes and The Storey arts centre to host exhibitions.

Creative futures

Exhibition opportunities throughout the course will help you develop the professional skills needed for a career in the arts whilst building your confidence in your work. As well as refining your practical studio skills, you’ll also become a critical reader, able to examine how contemporary art is constantly evolving to create new and exciting ways of looking at the world.

With sustainability and accessibility at the core of this course, you’ll be equipped to make valuable and creative contributions in your future career.

Your Placement Year

Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

A levels

ABB. Art and Design or a humanities subject would be considered desirable but not essential.

Access to HE Diploma

30 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 15 Level 3 credits at Merit. Art and Design or a humanities subject would be considered desirable but not essential.

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM. Ideally this would be in a relevant subject, although this is not essential.

BTEC in combination with A levels

A level at grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade BB plus BTEC at D. Art and Design or a humanities subject would be considered desirable but not essential.

International Baccalaureate

32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

Distinction overall. Ideally this would be in a relevant subject, although this is not essential.

GCSE requirements

English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

Additional requirements

You will typically be asked to submit a portfolio.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.