Study Art & Design, why & how to study

CONTENTS

1. What’s Art & Design?

2. What Art & Design degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto an Art & Design degree?

4. What topics does an Art & Design degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Art & Design?

7. What do Art & Design graduates earn?

8. What jobs can you get as an Art & Design graduate?

9. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

10. Similar subjects to Art & Design

11. Have any questions?

What’s Art & Design?

Any creative human activity can arguably be defined as art. The most well-known art forms are the visual arts, such as painting and sculpture.

This subject area also includes design disciplines. This covers a wide range of fields, such as graphic design, fashion, craft and industrial design.

A lot of the processes in Art & Design include planning and testing different styles and techniques. Thinking up ideas is just as important as the creation of the art itself.

Take a look at the university league table for Art & Design.

What Art & Design degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degree options in Art & Design include:

Fine Art BFA/BA

This degree lets you study and practice different aspects of the visual arts. You’ll learn a variety of disciplines and build on your creative and technical skills. BA is a Bachelor of Arts degree, and BFA is a specialised Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Find Fine Art courses.

Design BA

Design degrees cover a range of fields, including graphic, interior and fashion design. It’s a versatile area; you could find future work in an industry like advertising, product design or marketing.

Search for Design courses.

Other options

Specialised degrees include:

• Creative Technology BSc – a mixture of technology and creative design
• Graphic Design BA – technical and creative aspects of visual communication
• Curating BA – contextual theory and practice of curating galleries and museums
• Product and Industrial Design BA – the design and development of products

There are also lots of joint honours degrees, where you can combine two subject areas. For example, Art with Creative Writing, or Illustration with Visual Effects.

Some degrees will offer an integrated foundation course (Year 0). A foundation year is often a prerequisite for undergraduate study in art.

Universities also provide opportunities to study abroad or take part in professional placements.

What do you need to get onto an Art & Design degree?

Entry requirements for an Art & Design degree at university range from 64–165 UCAS points.

This could include from:

• A Levels: AAA–C
• BTECs: DDD–MPP
• Scottish Highers: AAAAA–BBC (Advanced Highers: AAB–B)
• International Baccalaureate: 38–24

Good subjects to have studied include:

• Art, design and essay-based subjects at A Level (or equivalent)
• General studies and critical thinking A Levels may be excluded from offers
• GCSE grades may also be considered
• Some courses will ask for a foundation diploma in the subject area; others will include a foundation year as part of a longer undergraduate course

Experience that would look good on your application:

• Gain work experience or shadow related occupations, such as in a gallery, design agency, print workshop or photography studio
• Volunteer with an arts organisation, or get involved in workshops or clubs for children or families
• Enter exhibitions or take part in competitions
• Develop your artistic skills and knowledge through extra courses or online learning – you may be able to find free online courses/MOOCs
• Read books or arts journals, go to galleries and exhibitions. Or use Google Arts & Culture or national gallery websites to find influential practitioners that inspire you
• Find out about careers through the websites of professional bodies, the Crafts Council, Artquest or the Artist's Information Company (a-n)
• If eligible, attend an art summer school run by the Sutton Trust

Other requirements for this subject include:

• Portfolio
• A Pass in the practical element of science if taken at A Level
• An interview may be required by some universities

What topics does an Art & Design degree cover?

Some courses – such as Fine Art – may have few specified modules. They primarily focus on studio practice, art history and contemporary practice, and can cover areas like:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Printmaking
• Photography
• Ceramics
• Textiles
• Digital media

Typical modules for design courses may include:

• Communication design
• Core ideas and concepts of graphic design practice
• Design culture
• Design methods: the lab, the studio and the workshop
• Digital competencies and production skills
• History and influence of graphic design
• Idea generation and communication
• Industry briefs
• Typography and writing systems

How will you be assessed?

Study an Art & Design course and you'll mainly be assessed through coursework. Assessments may include:

• Continuous coursework assessment
• Essays
• Exams
• In-class reviews
• Observed practical work
• Presentations
• A final-year dissertation or project

Why study Art & Design?

If you are self-motivated and passionate about visual art, or love the challenge of working creatively to a design brief, an Art & Design course might be for you.

Career-specific skills:

• Practical skills in your area of expertise, whether in the use of art materials and methods or design software and techniques
• Knowledge of historic and contemporary practice that influence creative directions

Transferable skills:

• Adaptability
• Communication
• Creative problem solving
• Critical thinking and analysis
• Digital skills
• Entrepreneurial skills
• Presentations

Professional accreditation:

Design degrees may be accredited by a related professional body. For example, a product design course may be accredited by the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Some degrees may include accreditation in the use of software, such as Adobe Certified Associate (ACA).

What do Art & Design graduates earn?

Art & Design graduates can expect an entry-level salary of around £17,000–£21,000.

Artists generally need income from sources aside from their practice, particularly when starting out. Work in arts administration and you could earn £20,000–£30,000 with experience. You may opt for part-time employment to allow time for your artistic work.

Train to become an art therapist working in the NHS, and you'll start on £32,000 (Band 6), rising to £45,800 for a lead therapist with over five years’ experience.

For a graphic designer, a starting salary might be £15,000–£25,000, depending on your location in the UK and the company you work for. A senior designer may earn an average of £37,500, while a move to creative director could boost your income to £60,000 or more.

What jobs can you get as an Art & Design graduate?

If you have the skills and talent, an Art & Design degree can lead to an exciting career. Artists commonly supplement their income with jobs in a related area. Design graduates are likely to work in their specific fields. Your adaptability and skills will suit a wide variety of career paths, such as:

• Advertising art director
• Art therapist
• Arts administrator or officer
• Community arts worker
• Digital marketer
• Editorial assistant
• Film set designer
• Graphic designer
• Illustrator
• Model maker
• Multimedia worker
• Product designer
• Teacher
• Web designer

Read more about the careers you can get with an Art & Design degree.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Postgraduate study in Art & Design provides the chance to specialise. To become a teacher, Art & Design graduates will need to complete postgraduate teacher training, which may include a PGCE. Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

• Arts, Enterprise and Development MA
• Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects MA
• Ergonomics and Human Factors PGCert/PGDip/MSc
• Fine Art DPhil/MFA
• Graphic Design and Visualisation MA

Similar subjects to Art & Design

If you appreciate the arts or enjoy the creative process, you could also consider:

• Animation
• Architecture
• Communication & Media Studies
• Creative Writing
• Drama, Dance & Cinematics
• English
• Fashion
• Film Making
• History of Art, Architecture & Design
• Interior Design
• Photography

Search for undergraduate Art & Design courses now!

Have any questions?

If you have questions about studying Art & Design, you can email our experts at ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk. We’ll be happy to hear from you!