Our BA (Hons) Fine Art course at Chelsea is one of the best-known, highest regarded courses in the UK.

Our aim is to remove the barriers between specialist areas across Fine Art by bringing together a range of art practices. We cover everything from painting, drawing, sculpture and print to film, video, photography, digital media, sound and performance.

You’ll be free to explore any or many of these areas throughout your time with us, and work within an open framework that will both challenge and create new possibilities for you. What’s more, you’ll be able to use the course as a forum to share ideas and opinions, and engage in peer-group learning.

Teaching is through a programme of tutorials, seminars and lectures. Our approach is to integrate practice and theory, leading to your appreciation of the external contexts and conditions which shape and frame contemporary art practice.

It’s possible to study the course part-time over four years.

Key Facts

We’re keen to enable and encourage you to ‘self manage’ from early on in the programme. While a curriculum framework naturally applies to all students, your studies will be individual and determined by ongoing discourse between you, your tutor and your fellow students. Your work will reflect your interests and learning needs as they develop.

We have a large number of visiting teachers on the course, many of them international practitioners in art and design. Examples include Dexter Dalwood, Roger Ackling, Georgina Starr, Graham Gussin, Karen Ruggaber, Monika Oeschler and Chantal Joffe.

The course is studio-based, student-centred and practice-led, with both part-time and full-time modes. It brings together a wide range of specialised areas which include painting, sculpture, film and video, digital media, sound, print, performance and drawing. The course puts great importance on the integration of theory and practice.The course attracts, and suits, students who are self-motivated, ambitious, intellectually creative and visually curious and who have developed a certain confidence in their direction and art practice. The vocational emphasis and professional focus of the course is aimed at equipping graduates with the practical means and intellectual skills necessary for their independent professional practice as artists.

In each year you will be allocated to a Tutor Group with whom you will meet on a regular basis to discuss your work as well as that of the other members of the group. You will receive regular one-to-one tutorials and take part in exhibitions both in the College exhibition spaces and off-site as well as attend the Lecture and Option seminar programmes.

Year One is made up of four units:

• An induction unit which introduces you to the workshops, college resources and teaching methods
• Two Studio practice units
• A theory unit of two essay assignments; attendance at Lectures and Theory seminars

Year Two is made up of four units:

• Two Studio practice units
• A theory unit of two essay assignments; attendance at Lectures and Theory seminars
• In addition, during this stage, you may opt for a three-month study period abroad

Year Three is made up of three units:

• A Studio practice unit in which you work towards your Degree Exhibition
• Completion of your dissertation
• If you want to apply for postgraduate study or go into professional practice, this is the time to attend the relevant talks and lectures

Graduates from BA Fine Art at Cheslea are well placed to enter straight into the international art scene as independent practitioners, joining a community of alumni that include numerous Turner Prize winners and nominees. Many have achieved notable success and awards for their work in galleries, museums, the media and the wider creative environment, while others have progressed onto postgraduate level study both in the UK and overseas.

Alumni:

• Jonny Briggs
• Lucy Beech
• Alice Evans
• Tomas Downes
• James Capper
• Amy Gee

Entry Requirements

Foundation Diploma in Art & Design plus 1 GCE A-level plus 3 GCSEs grade C or above
Or
BTEC National Diploma or NVQ Level 3 plus 3 GCSEs grade C or above

The College also takes into consideration prior learning or alternative forms of education.

Applicants whose first language is not English must show proof of IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills. All information regarding acceptable tests, scores and exemptions from testing can be found here: http://www.arts.ac.uk/international/apply/englishlanguagerequirements/

International Applicants

We welcome applications from international students and will be pleased to help with the application process. To receive advice and help with your application you are invited to contact one of the University's local representatives in your own country or one of our International Student Advisors in London.
www.chelsea.arts.ac.uk/international

Study Abroad Applicants

This course accepts a limited number of Study Abroad students (international students who would like to spend one, two or three terms studying alongside our undergraduates, as part of their course at their home university). To find out further information about Study Abroad fees and the application process please visit the CCW Study Abroad pages. 

What we are looking for

At Chelsea we are not looking for any particular ‘kind’ of student. The most important thing for applicants is to identify why you feel BA Fine Art at Chelsea is the best course for you. In addition we are looking for students who can demonstrate a willingness to explore ideas through making work and have an appetite to discuss work and test their ideas. We are looking for students who have the potential to make the most of the opportunities on offer at Chelsea.

Attributes that successful applicants for Chelsea share could include:

• ambition
• ability to work with others
• ability explore ideas and initiate projects independently,
• a willingness to experiment and explore ideas through making work
• a developing ability for articulating ideas verbally and through writing

Although these attributes are the kinds of things that make up the profiles of many of our successful applicants we understand that you may be just starting to develop these skills as part of your working method. The fine art course aims to develop these attributes in all its graduates.

Portfolio guidance

When you are preparing your portfolio the most important consideration is that it should show evidence of how you develop ideas. As such it is important that you do not over-edit your portfolio. As well as finished work, sketchbooks and developmental work can be very useful in helping to describe how you develop ideas through practical and conceptual experimentation. However, it is also important that you show evidence of your awareness of what work is the strongest. This means that it is important that you make a selection of work that you feel demonstrates your strengths. Please make sure your work is clearly presented, with labels and titles where appropriate.

Portfolios should include:

• A range of recent work which might include drawings, paintings, sculpture, photographic work etc.
• Clear Documentation of work that is too large to bring or otherwise unavailable.
• Self-initiated as well as project or course work.
• Evidence of research, interests and inspirations.

 Moving image work:

• Because of the large number of portfolios that we review it is not always possible to view moving image work. If your work includes animations, film etc. please present the work through printed screen shots, like a storyboard.

UK/EU Applicants

Full-time applicants: You need to apply through the UCAS online application system. You can complete your UCAS application from anywhere that has internet access.

You will be able to find Chelsea courses listed under University of the Arts London on the UCAS website. All Chelsea College of Art and Design UCAS Course Codes can be found on the course 'At a Glance' tab or on the UCAS website.

Our University code is UAL
Our College Code is U65
There is no 'Campus Code' for Chelsea College of Art and Design.

The Application deadline for the BA Fine Art (full-time) is 15 January 2012.

Part-time applicants: You apply direct to the college using a part-time application form which uam download at the link below

BA Fine Art Part-time Application Form for 2012/13

Equal Opportunities form

The Application deadline is the BA Fine Art (part-time) is 15 April 2012 .

What hapens next
All application forms, personal statements and references will be read. Following this and subject to meeting the entry requirements, candidates will be invited to submit an initial non returnable mini-portfolio consisting of 10 x A4 sheets.

Candidates should scan, photograph or photocopy examples of their work; but not send original work.

This should comprise documentation of finished artworks/projects (with a brief written description e.g. title, size, materials etc on the back). Following examination of the mini-portfolio, selected candidates will be invited to attend for interview on a specified day where they will be asked to bring their portfolio of original work

For further information about UCAS, or their application procedure, please contact them directly.

T: +44 (0)870 1122211
E: enq@ucas.ac.uk

For any other information please contact Chelsea College of Art and Design

T: +44 (0)20 7514 7751
E: info@chelsea.arts.ac.uk

International Applicants

Please visit the CCW International apply page for details.
or contact the CCW International Office.

T: +44 (0) 207 514 1852
E: ccwinternational@arts.ac.uk

There is no deadline for International applicants but you are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Study Abroad Applicants

International undergraduate students can apply to join this BA course for a period of up to three terms as a Study Abroad student. Please visit the CCW Study Abroad pages for details on how to apply or contact the Study Abroad office:

T: +44 (0) 207 514 2249
E: studyabroad@chelsea.arts.ac.uk