Fine Art and Creative Writing (Study Abroad) Lancaster University

Study Fine Art and Creative Writing at Lancaster to enhance and develop your creative and critical practices in an environment that explores new dialogues between creative writing and fine art practices.

Through a deeper understanding of fine art materials, processes and techniques, you will explore the relationships between fine art and creative writing in ways that enrich both disciplines. You will be taught by artists, novelists, and poets with national and international acclaim, realising your full potential in a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment.

Why study Fine Art and Creative Writing at Lancaster?

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

• Work with tutors who are practicing artists, writers and scholars, exhibiting and publishing their work across a range of media

• Enhance your writing through both text-based writing experiments and workshops focusing on your own writing – from novels to flash-fiction, poetry to graphic novels

• Explore the professional dimensions of Creative Writing, such as performing your work, editing, publishing, and marketing

• Get involved with our four student-run literary journals: Cake, Lux, Flash, and Errant and our partners, the city-based LitFest

How will I develop my skills in Fine Art at Lancaster?

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.

You will work with tutors who are practicing artists and scholars, working with video, 3D, machine learning, environment, temporality, new materialism, participation and socially engaged practices.

You will broaden your understanding of contemporary Fine Art via hands-on projects, technical demonstrations and skills-based workshops. Experiment with painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, video, digital art, and their many hybrids.

Gaining experience of working to a brief is important. Recent Fine Art graduates have secured commissions with digital arts organisations such as FACT Liverpool and Future Everything, and rewarding roles at galleries such as Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Art Gene, and Home, and companies such as International Conservation Services, Science Museum National Collections Centre, Holocaust Centre North, ITV, United Colours of Benetton India, and The National Festival of Making.

How will I develop my writing?

Lancaster was one of the very first UK universities to teach Creative Writing. Today we continue to lead the way in the discipline with celebrated authors as tutors and students who go on to publish their work. Follow in the footsteps of writers such as Camille Ralphs, Andrew McMillan, Martha Sprackland, and Daisy Johnson, the youngest-ever author shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

As you progress though the course, you will be able to choose modules from either subject, depending on your own interests.

How can I make professional connections at Lancaster University?

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. They have exhibited at the likes of the Henry Moore Institute, the Foreman Art Gallery Canada and Hong Kong Art Fair.

Exhibition opportunities throughout the course will help you develop the professional skills needed for a career in the arts whilst building lifelong connections with artists, writers, external partners, tutors and other students in the School of Art.

Your year abroad

The study abroad option is an exciting opportunity for anyone who is thinking of working abroad during their career or who simply wants the experience of living and studying overseas as part of their degree.

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.