Fine Art BA (Hons)

A course studied in Leicester for nearly 150 years and one with an established reputation for quality and creativity. You will experiment across disciplines such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, video, photography, digital media and installation art.

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Overview

Jamie Scott our Senior Lecturer in Fine Art BA (Hons) discusses why you should study Fine Art at DMU.

On this course you will have flexibility to explore a wide range of traditional and emerging visual arts practices to develop your individual artistic voice. You can experiment with drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, video, photography, digital media and installation art to produce meaningful work that responds to our complex and changing world.

Around 70 per cent of your time will be spent in the studio where you will hone your skills in making and expression, creative risk-taking, experimentation and development. Each year you will be presented with different creative challenges with a curriculum that includes art history, contemporary practice, engagement with local organisations, as well as talks from visiting artists.

The course responds to the demands of the contemporary global art world and encourages you to engage in current practice by exploring themes such as multiculturalism, identity, and art activism. Skills in employability and professional practice will prepare you for working as a fine artist or to launch a career in the wider creative industries.

Key features

We’ve been teaching art for over 120 years and today’s course continues our ethos of encouraging students to develop their creativity within a collaborative and experimental environment.
We embed employability throughout the course and cover topics that include an introduction to studio practice, art practice and presentation, curating and installing exhibitions, marketing, fundraising and project planning.
You’ll study in our award-winning Vijay Patel Building, where you’ll have access to dedicated Fine Art studio space and experiment with a range of facilities across our 25 industry standard workshops.
Join the list of students who have exhibited at the Handmade Festival, the Two Queens gallery, the Attenborough Arts Centre and a host of other prestigious venues across both the UK and internationally.
Leicester is a city buzzing with creativity, from colourful street art by GraffWerk and the annual Leicester Art Week festival, to the augmented reality art trail and DMU's own Leicester Gallery. Our partnerships in the city create exciting opportunities to showcase your work, including at Leicester's creative hub LCB Depot.

Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Free Creative Essentials At DMU, we believe financial constraints should never limit your ability to explore and express your artistic vision. That's why we offer a range of free materials giving you a unique opportunity to create without limits.

Student looking at and feeling brightly coloured fabrics hanging from the ceiling

Student work gallery

Student brochure

Choosing to study at DMU has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life so far. Learn more.

Jarvis Brookfield, graduate and winner of the Robert Walters Group UK New Artist of the Year Award 2021.

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Photography BA (Hons)

Art and Design Foundation Diploma

News stories

DMU Fine Art grad paints stunning portrait of NHS hero on peak time BBC show

UK
EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W100

Duration: Three years full-time, four years full-time with a placement. Six years part-time.

Fees and funding:

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out more about tuition fees and available funding.

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement.

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £15,750

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

Typical entry requirements

We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds.

Art and Design Foundation or

112 points from at least 2 A ‘levels
BTEC Extended Diploma DMM

International Baccalaureate: 26+ Points or
T Levels Merit

Plus five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.

Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit and GCSE English (Language or Literature) at grade 4 or above

We will normally require students to have had a break from full time education before undertaking the Access course.

We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Interview and portfolio

Interview required: No

Portfolio required: Yes

Please see our portfolio advice page for full details.

Structure and assessment

First year

Block 1: Investigation and Exploration 1
Block 2: Investigation and Exploration 2
Block 3: Development and Consolidation 1
Block 4: Development and Consolidation 2

Second year

Block 1: Studio Practice Development 1
Block 2: Art History and Theory 1
Block 3: Studio Practice Development 2
Block 4: Professional Practice 1

Third year

Block 1: Art Practice 1
Block 2: Art History and Theory 2
Block 3: Art Practice 2
Block 4: Professional Practice 2

See detailed module information

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Structure

Individual studio practice, group projects, workshops, group criticisms, lectures, seminars, study trips and one-to-one tutorials form the basis of this studio-based taught course. You will use a journal to collate your research and as a space for reflection on your professional, creative and intellectual development. Contextual studies and art history lectures will deepen your understanding of the theories and histories of Fine Art.

The first year is designed to develop the key skills that every artist needs as the foundation of their practice. In the second semester the emphasis of teaching changes to enable you to synthesise your learning into a self-directed creative project of your own devising. You will be supported by regular tutorials and studio crits, as well as art history tuition.

In the first semester of the second year you will be able to choose a specialist area. From semester two of the second year until the end of the course, you will work on your own individual creative interests and develop your potential as an artist. The course culminates with an exhibition of your work in DMU's Festival of Creativity – your first engagement as a professional artist.

Our teaching staff are research-active artists, who bring cutting-edge insights drawn from experience of their own practice and professional life into the studio, workshops and lecture theatres. They are supported by a wide range of visiting artists.

Contact hours

In your first year you will normally attend around 13 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 21 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.

Facilities and features

Art and design facilities

The award-winning Vijay Patel Building brings all of our art and design courses together providing inspiring, flexible spaces, studios and facilities which invite creativity and innovation.

The creative industries require imaginative graduates who can develop new ideas and products. Students use our state-of-the-art workshops, labs and studios to experiment and test in the same way they will in industry, while the open and transparent spaces in the building encourage collaboration between disciplines. In doing so, the building supports students to be both ready for industry and future leaders in their respective fields.

Take a look at our stunning showcase of the building at dmu.ac.uk/aad.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Campus centre

The home of  De Montfort Students' Union, (DSU) our Campus Centre offers a welcoming and lively hub for student life. Conveniently located at the heart of campus, it includes a convenience store, a Subway and a Starbucks. Here you can find the DSU-owned charitable accommodation service Sulets and DSU’s shop, SUpplies, selling art supplies, stationery and clothing, and printing and binding services. The building is also home to the DSU officer team.

Opportunities and careers

Placements

This course gives you the option to enhance and build your professional skills to progress within your choose career, through a placement. Our dedicated team offers a range of careers resources and opportunities so you can start planning your future. Students have secured placements at arts organisations such as the Two Queens gallery and the Handmade Festival of Art and Music, while other placement opportunities have taken place in schools, galleries and creative businesses.

DMU Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global you can take advantage of a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Graduate careers

The course is designed to develop the skills that you will need to compete in a professional creative market. Our graduates go on to work in a variety of art and art-related careers including conservation and restoration, art therapy, theatre design, film and television production, illustration, publishing, gallery management and the crafts.

After graduation, the DMU Art Network provides support and resources to ensure our recent graduates achieve professional success in the art industry. The network is supported by influential artists Brendan Neiland and Christian Furr.

Take your next steps

Nine halls of residence and around 2,300 rooms, all of which are within easy walking distance of the campus.

Run by students for students, DSU offers more than 150 societies and almost 40 different sports clubs for you to get involved in.

Fine Art BA (Hons)

Block teaching designed around you