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Contemporary Art BA(Hons)

2023-24 (also available for 2024-25)

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It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

18 September 2023

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years inc. placement year

Entry requirements

A Level - BBC-BCC

BTEC - DMM-MMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

70 across the suite of Contemporary Art and Illustration courses

Chat with our students  

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. You could gain valuable professional experience by undertaking a work placement or applying for the Enterprise Placement Year to start your own small business.
  2. You'll have the chance to gain the Adobe Certified Associate Accreditation at no extra cost, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.
  3. Our graduates have won awards and prizes such as the Northern Graduates Prize, The Alternative Turner Prize and New Sensations.

From painting and sculpture through to performance and the moving image, there are lots of ways you can express yourself creatively. Our Contemporary Art BA(Hons) course gives you the opportunity to learn about current fine art techniques and practices in a stimulating environment and encourages you to see your work in a wider context.

Why study Contemporary Art?

  • The course is flexible so there’s plenty of scope to find the best route for you.
  • We’ll give you the support to translate your ideas, however complex or ambitious, onto paper, film or whatever other media you’re using.
  • You’ll have the chance to work collaboratively or independently in our studios, and use facilities across disciplines in the iconic new Barbara Hepworth Building.
  • Be introduced to the current debates and issues in contemporary art.

The course is part of a suite of three courses that also includes Illustration BA(Hons) and the combined Contemporary Art and Illustration BA(Hons). Art is an adventure. Your initial choice should excite you but can be adapted throughout your time on the course.

Course detail

Core modules:

Studio Practice 1

The module will concentrate on promoting an in-depth and disciplined approach to the breadth of contemporary practices in contemporary art and/or illustration. The focus is on exploration and experimentation, in both ideas and materials, as a broad introduction to approaches to practice. You’ll be encouraged to draw upon existing knowledge to establish the frameworks within which to operate as a creative practitioner. You’ll be encouraged to engage in processes such as drawing, painting, printmaking, lens-based media and 3D work, and examine these processes in relation to your personal conceptual and critical development.

Studio Practice 2

Building on your experience during the first term, this module continues to promote research and experimentation in the production of practical work. You’ll be asked to draw upon knowledge and progress gained in Studio Practice 1 in order to extend the range of your visual practice. Debates and issues within contemporary practice will continue to inform your thinking and development, and you’ll begin to recognise a range of contexts in which you might work. You’ll continue to evaluate your approach in relation to your studio work.

Contemporary Practice in Context 1

This module introduces you to vital discussion and debates surrounding the influences, production and critical reception of contemporary art and/or illustration. We will explore the culture of the subject with reference to a wide range of images, artefacts, selected texts, film excerpts, reviews and exhibitions. We will help you to learn to recognise and appraise key conventions and contexts and apply that knowledge in the studio, in discussion, and in a series of written formats which recognise the breadth of creative and critical styles deployed by today’s practitioners. This will help to develop your confidence and ability to demonstrate your understanding of and engagement with contemporary art and/or illustration.

Entry requirements

BBC-BCCat A Level or equivalent.

112-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

Merit at T Level.

DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
  • 112-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.
  • Pass in Diploma Foundation Studies in Art and Design combined with A Level or BTEC qualifications, to total an equivalent of 112-104 UCAS tariff points.

As a centre of creative excellence, we look forward to hearing about your own creative experiments and ambitions through a discussion of your portfolio at interview.

Read our guidance on developing your portfolio and what to expect from your interview.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Placements

The course offers an optional one-year (36 weeks minimum) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects. Our Placement Unit and academic staff have excellent industry links and can support you in applying for and finding your placement(s), as well as during your placement year.

Students within the area of Contemporary Art and Illustration have previously taken up placement opportunities with companies including: House of Illustration - London; Venture Arts - Manchester; Mini Me Card Company - Skipton and Plum Pudding Publishing - Surrey.

Alternatively, if you are a student from within the UK, you could consider starting your own small business by applying for the Enterprise Placement Year in conjunction with the University’s Enterprise Team. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from business advice, mentoring and networking sessions. You can find out more information on the Enterprise Placement Year here.

You can find out more information on placements here.

During my time at Surface Gallery I learnt invaluable skills which allowed me to curate and co-ordinate a solo exhibition for an award winning photographer!

Megan Bonser

Megan Bonser, Contemporary Art BA(Hons), placement with Surface Gallery, Nottingham

Student Work

A selection of work from Contemporary Art students.

Your career

Following the course you may opt for further study, or could consider a career as an artist, curator, or a role in community arts, the media or design for example. Our graduates have won awards and prizes such as the Northern Graduates Prize, The Alternative Turner Prize, and New Sensations (a joint venture between the Saatchi Gallery and Channel 4). They've also gone on to work for companies such as East Street Arts, Leicestershire Craft Centre, Pyramid of Arts, Studio 116 Design, The Whitechapel Gallery in London, Tate Liverpool, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth Wakefield.**

*Percentage of our undergraduate students from this course go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20, UK domiciled, other activities excluded).

Source: **GEMS

70% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

Equal opportunities

The University of Huddersfield is an equal opportunities institution. We aim to create conditions where staff and students are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, age, race, caste, class, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, family responsibility, trade union activity, political or religious belief, or age. Please visit our website to see our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

Data protection

The University holds personal data on all enquirers, applicants and enrolled students. All such data is kept and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Legislation. The University’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices are available on the University website.

Students’ Union membership

Under the 1994 Education Act, students at all UK universities have the right to join, or not to join, the Students’ Union. There is no membership fee. If you choose not to join you have the right not to be disadvantaged; however, you are not entitled to vote, take part in elections, or hold any office. The following arrangements apply in order that non-Union members are not disadvantaged: Non-members are welcome to take part in the activities of Affiliated Clubs and Societies on payment of the appropriate subscription. However, they may not vote or hold office in the society or club. Union members may be offered a discounted subscription. Non-members are free to use Union facilities on the same basis as members. Welfare, catering and shops are available to non-members as well as members. Union members may be offered a discounted price.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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