Course details

Summary

Initial studies in Painting proceed from modernist practices. Students are encouraged to develop a sound grasp of the rationale belonging to such practices and a practical knowledge of the basic formal issues which guide them.

Advanced studies are designed to encourage students to deal with more recent practices in depth so that, by the time their studies have been completed, they are able to maintain a high level of personally-directed activity which is consistent with established practice in their field.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a prestigious qualification that will give you a broad knowledge in visual arts, multimedia and design before you specialise in your studio subject of choice. The four-year degree makes use of purpose-built facilities and students enjoy being part of a supportive community of practitioners.

Qualification structure and duration

The Bachelor of Fine Arts requires a total of 480 points:

• Fine Arts Intermediate Year (120 points)
• your specialist studio subject (270 points)
• courses from the Bachelor of Arts or other degrees (including some compulsory Art History and Theory or Cinema Studies courses) (75 points).

Further study

• Postgraduate options include:
• Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours
• Master of Fine Arts
• Postgraduate Diploma in Art Curatorship

A UC Fine Arts degree is accepted as an entry qualification to postgraduate studies in other tertiary institutions in New Zealand and overseas. UC graduates have been accepted into the best graduate programmes in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, the United States and Australia.

Career opportunities

Graduates in Painting will find careers as professional artists, art gallery directors, consultants, art conservators, art critics, art historians, lecturers and art teachers.

Entry criteria

Admission to UC with University Entrance, or equivalent, is required to enrol for a Bachelor's degree.

Specific entry requirements

To apply for admission to the Intermediate Year (first year) of the BFA directly from school, you need to:

• achieve NCEA Level 3 Visual Arts in one or more subjects; and
• have at least 14 credits in each of two other NCEA Level 3 subjects (that are not practical art subjects) is also strongly recommended; or
• the equivalent standards in other qualification frameworks.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade; CAE or CPE minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 57 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.