The Sculpture Diploma has been carefully designed to ensure students are introduced to the wide variety of subjects and issues specific to developing a sculptural practice.

Led by Academy tutor Julian Wilde, the programme mainly takes place at Mermaid Court (165A Borough High Street, London, SE1 1HR) with some time spent at our Newington site (155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS). The course is 2 years full time or 4 years part time.

The programme comprises 4 main components:

• Studio Practice modules
• The Contextual Research module
• Professional Development modules
• Elective Skills Workshop courses

Final grade and classification is calculated on results from both stage 1 and 2. Further details can be found in the programme handbook.

Course Dates 2018-2019

Autumn term – Monday 17th September to Friday 30th November (Half term – 22nd to 28th October)

Spring term – Monday 14th January to Friday 29th March (Half term – 18th to 24th February)

Summer term – Tuesday 23rd April to Monday 1st July

Studio Practice

The Studio Practice modules form the core of the course. You will develop work and critical skills in response to a series of practical briefs that encourage increasingly independent learning. These modules run throughout the entire programme with 1 each term in stage 1, and 2 in stage 2 (the final module runs across 2 terms) Studio Practice modules are taught through a mixture of 1-2-1 tutorials, group critiques, workshops and lectures, with students undertaking mostly practical work in a studio.

The Contextual Studies programme, which forms part of the Studio Practice modules, ensures you gain knowledge and understanding of the wider contexts and critical discourses relating to your own fine art practice. For each Studio Practice module throughout the programme you will be expected to collate a portfolio of contextual evidence, which includes evidence of preparatory work, research work and pieces of reflective and discursive writing. Studio practice modules are assessed through a portfolio of practical work. In students present their work to tutors and peers for assessment.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

These 1 day per week, term-long courses underpin the Studio Practice modules and are where you will receive intensive training in the technical skills necessary for your chosen discipline(s).

The Elective Skills Workshop courses run over a 2 year cycle, following a planned curriculum designed to ensure you gradually build the necessary techniques as you progress through the programme. Taking a mix of recommended and optional courses, you choose from a vast array of different approaches to sculpture, including essential techniques, structural skills and health and safety issues.

We consider drawing essential for all artists and creative practitioners, so you will take 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses in drawing in stage 1 and can choose to continue these in stage 2.

As a sculpture student you are able to take advantage of the free places on public courses and increase your skill set by attending classes in specialist techniques such as stone carving and kiln formed glass, that don’t form part of the main curriculum. Sculpture students will be allocated a space on courses should they want to attend, rather than being subject to the usual rules for attendance on public courses. (The usual rules for attendance on public courses states that free places are only available on those courses which have not achieved full enrolment. Places are allocated on a first come first serve basis and the Academy cannot guarantee any place.)

The Elective Skills Workshop courses are not subject to summative assessment. They are intended to give you the freedom and space to experiment with skills and approaches which will inform the development of your studio practice projects. The days you attend the Academy will vary from term to term, depending on which Elective Skills Workshop course you choose.*

*Please note, however, the days you attend the Studio Practice module will remain fixed throughout the year. You may also at times be required to come in for sessions and events in addition to these days.

Professional Development

Professional Development modules explore different creative vocations and practices, giving you a greater understanding of the possible ways of supporting your practice. The stage 2 module focuses specifically on the development of skills and knowledge necessary for future employment within the art world and wider creative industries.

Stage 1 

1 year full time, 2 years part time

Studio Practice Modules

You will learn to experiment with the processes, materials and techniques relating to portraiture that will provide the foundation for your developing art practice and inform the work you undertake in subsequent years.

Throughout these modules, you are encouraged to take risks and experiment widely in and across disciplines. You will start to identify areas of interest and to analyse your choices of materials and techniques through the expression of your ideas. The final module of stage 1 requires you to work with your peers, the Contemporary Sculpture Diploma (FD) and an external curator in creating work for and mounting a group public exhibition.

As a full time student you will attend 1 full day per week across all 3 terms. As a part time student you will attend 1 full day per week across 3 of the 6 terms available.

Stage 1 students are not allocated dedicated, personal studio space. Studio practice modules are taught in studios throughout the Academy’s buildings. In addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to work a minimum of another full day (6 hours) per week on your project independently.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

To support your Studio Practice work you will undertake Elective Skills Workshop courses. Each course runs for 1 full day per week per term. A wide variety of courses are available each term across all disciplines and you are free to choose from amongst them, alongside the compulsory elements of the programme.

These Elective Skills Workshop courses take you through a structured, bespoke programme of sculpture along with an exploration of the language of form and sculptural techniques. Further classes extend your sculptural skills and language, covering a wider range of issues including; armature making, measurement and anatomy in technical figure and portrait sculpture, expressive and dynamic work, language of form and materials, waste moulding and reusable mould making, plaster and resin casting, pigments, colouring and patination, large scale site specific projects, ceramics and mixed media figurative sculpture.

As a full time student you will undertake 2 to 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (1 in each term in stage 1) since we consider drawing an essential tool for all artists. You must also complete the Digital Development course in stage 1. This course teaches the digital skills you will require for the Professional Development course in stage 2. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

As a part time student you will undertake 1 to 2 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (to be taken across 3 of the 6 terms available). You must also complete the Digital Development course in the first term of either year of stage 1. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

Professional Development Module

The Professional Development module will provide you with first-hand knowledge of the vocational opportunities available to you within the art world, creative industries and wider cultural environment. You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, and complete a report on an area of professional practice that is of interest to you. This module runs throughout the year. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Stage 2

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During year 2 there is a shift in emphasis towards self reflection and analysis.

Studio Practice Modules

In the first Studio Practice module, you will take on a live commission, sourcing your own client and negotiating the relationship with them, through to the completion of the commissioned artwork. Supported by your tutor and peers, you will learn to balance the client’s needs with your own creative process.

The final Studio Practice module runs over 2 terms in stage 2 and will provide you with the opportunity to make further connections between your embryonic sculpture practice and art theory, identifying your core interests and intentions and increasing your knowledge, understanding and analysis of wider contexts and critical discourses. This project leads to you undertaking a self identified and directed brief and creating a body of work for public exhibition at the Graduate Show and is supported by the contextual studies module. Elective skills workshop courses support the further refinement of your technique.

This final studio practice module is assessed at the Graduate show.  Alongside the work you mount for exhibition, you will submit a supporting portfolio of developmental work and take part in a Viva Voce with a team of tutors and an external assessor, during which they will question you about your project development, curatorial choices and contextual knowledge.

At the beginning of stage 2 full time students are allocated dedicated, personal studio space to work in. Part time students are allocated studio space during the 3 terms they are taking part in the Studio Practice module. Students are able to use their studio space to continue to work independently on Studio Practice modules, outside of taught sessions. Again, in addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to contribute a minimum of 1 full day (6 hours) per week to your project independently.

Contextual Research module

This module runs alongside the final studio practice module and is intended to support the development of your project.  You will be encouraged to explore aspects of art theory and other discourses relevant to your emerging practice and interests and supported in the development of academic research and writing skills during this module. This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module.

Professional Development Module

You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, explore opportunities and approaches available to establish and support an artistic practice, develop exhibition and curatorial experience and marketing and business planning tools to help prepare you for life after the Academy. This module runs throughout the year and is assessed through a portfolio of evidence including the creation of a website, marketing plans and evidence of the use of marketing and business tools. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Among the most distinctive features of the Academy’s approach is the exceptionally high level of personal contact time with teaching staff. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Diplomas which boasts one of the highest levels of contact hours of any higher education Fine Art programme in the UK. In stages 1 and 2, full-time Diploma students receive 3-4 full days per week of tutored time in different disciplines.

The emphasis of our teaching and learning strategy is quality – quality consultation and quality time. Our teaching body is second to none. All our teachers – permanent staff or visiting lecturers – are practising artists in their own right. They include prize-winning practitioners and members of leading arts organisations. As well as 1-2-1 contact with tutors in classes, students have individual artistic tutorials with tutors of their choice throughout the year.

The lead tutors on the Sculpture Diploma are:

Briony Marshall

David Hodge

Julian Wild

Julian Wild is our Sculpture Diploma Pathway Leader and our Studio Practice tutor, Briony Marshall is our Professional Development Programme Leader and David Hodge is our Art History & Theory Programme Leader.

The tutors you are taught by within the Elective Skills Workshop courses will depend upon the modules you undertake. You can view all our tutors here.

The Academy is a true artistic community; an environment of vibrant exchange where you learn from expert practising artists and wide-ranging creative stimuli.

We’ll stretch your thinking at the same time as build your skills across multiple dimensions. We don’t subscribe to the view that there is one way to train an artist. We start with the individual and invest time, supporting you through the provision of tailored, hands on tuition. We believe in opening the mind every bit as much as we believe in training the eye and the hand.

For more information please view our Teaching Approach page.

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies.

The small scale of the institution is advantageous to the provision of student support. It fosters a close community of staff and students where students feel safe and able to seek advice and guidance from a variety of staff.

More information detailing the main areas of support please see our Student Support page.

“The whole experience feels very special. The Academy is to me a priceless rare gem of an art school.”

For several years I searched and struggled to find a sculpture course that taught both traditional skills and contemporary practice. I couldn’t quite believe it when I found the Art Academy  Sculpture Diploma online. I was incredibly excited and relieved. I read through the entire course and academy documentation in one sitting, barely taking a breath of air, overwhelmed with emotion. I signed up to go to the open day straight away and never looked back.

The Art Academy is a unique environment. There is a vast amount of support and constructive criticism all around every day……READ MORE

Jo Holt, Sculpture Diploma Student

Every student has had work in an exhibition before they leave, with many having held a number of exhibitions themselves. Almost all graduates will have done at least one commission. All graduates will have websites, social media profiles, contact databases and online and offline portfolios.

Academy students have gone on to win large commissions, have exhibitions and undertake residency opportunities. These have included the following:

• Public art piece for the Ministry of Tourism in Malta celebrating 100 Years of Aviation
• A £15000 sculpture commission for the Honourable Artillery Company in Old Street, London
• A £5000 commission for painting for a large building development in Romford
• KPMG exhibitions in their international headquarters at 1 Canada Square
• Art exhibitions and demonstration at Lincoln Cathedral
• Exhibiting at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition
• Working with Old Vic Theatre to create an advertising campaign for King Lear
• Residency at Cil Railaig Ireland through the National Open

Fees 2019/2020

Fees must be paid in advance and can be paid yearly or termly (the latter incurring a 5% surcharge).

Please note, these are our 2019-2020 fees. Fees are subject to annual review and are likely to increase by due to inflation in the following academic years. (such increases will not exceed 5% annually).

Materials

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop Courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the final year Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £500 and £1500* per year, depending on materials, chosen disciplines and stage of the programme.

The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and tutors can also advise you.

* Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance only (based on survey results from previous students) and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Extra Courses & Workshops

There are some courses which are intended to further develop sculpture students moulding and casting skills that do no form part of the main programme. They are not compulsory but students can opt to take. These courses typically run over weekends (to allow the competition of a process), outside of term time and are offered to sculpture students at a reduced rate:

• Plaster Waste moulding* (Friday, Saturday, Sunday in December) typically costs £100** (depending on the size of the mould) plus materials
• Plaster casting from a waste mould* (Friday, Saturday, Sunday in December) typically costs  £100** (depending on the size of the cast) plus materials
• Silicon reusable rubber moulding (Friday, Saturday, Sunday in June) typically costs £80** (depending on the size of the mould) plus materials
• Jesmonite casting (Friday, Saturday, Sunday in June) typically costs £80** (depending on the size of the mould) plus materials

* students do have an opportunity to do a smaller Plaster Waste mould and cast as part of the main selection of Elective Skills Workshop Courses.
** please be aware these costs are for guidance only and are subject to change. Actual prices will be issued at the start of the relevant term.

Trips and Visits 

It is expected that students studying at this level will visit galleries and exhibitions independently, as part of the development of the contextual knowledge and practice. Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries. Where there is an entry fee, whilst we encourage you to take these trips, we understand it is not always possible, so they are not compulsory nor essential. If you are not able to participate, the tutor will prepare an alternative itinerary of free museum and gallery visits that you can follow.

Deposit

As a small independent art school we are unable to hold places offered indefinitely. If your application is successful you will need to pay the deposit of £500 and return your signed contract to secure your place. The Deposit is in addition to the fees. Your deposit is returned after successful completion of the programme and removal of your Graduate Show installation.  Should you withdraw from the programme without successfully completing it we will retain your deposit. Should you fail to satisfactorily remove your Graduate Show installation, and the Academy incur costs to do so, we will retain your deposit.

Bursaries

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their Diploma in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Funding 

As an independent institution our courses are not subject to public funding and as a result there is no exemption from fees for under 19 year olds or access to student loans.

Refunds 

Once you have returned the signed contract and deposit to secure your place you have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel, at which point your full deposit will be refunded. Fees are due prior to the start of the programme. If you decide to cancel after the 14 day period and before the fees are due, you will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you begin the course and decide to withdraw you will be liable for the tuition fees for the first term and will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you decide to cancel your contract or withdraw at any point, you should do so in writing using the form provided.

Once enrolled or re-enrolled as a student, should you decide to withdraw from your programme, you are required to give the Academy a full term’s notice, informing us by the last teaching day of the previous term: the notice period cannot commence part way through a term. If it does, you will be liable to pay full fees for the term’s notice period.  Should you need to, you are able to suspend study for up to 12 months (please see our withdrawal and interruption of study policy).

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information on Fees.

Applications will be considered on an individual basis and are welcomed from individuals with non-standard qualifications, patterns of prior study and experience from a variety of backgrounds.

All applicants are required to undertake an interview and portfolio review for assessment of key skills and level of ability and enthusiasm for the programme they are applying for. Although no formal qualifications are required, applicants will need to demonstrate work at least of Level 3 (A Level) equivalent. In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria:

●  The ability to demonstrate a range of fine art experience including an awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art and key artistic skills through an interview and portfolio review.

●  Satisfactory academic reference, if applicable.

●  Personal statement

Intake is only in term one (September). Entry is normally at Level 4 (stage 1), but is possible at subsequent levels subject to appropriate qualifications and experience. For direct entry to Level 5 or 6 (stage 2 or 3) the applicant’s prior experience will be taken into account at the application stage. Where students have prior higher education or equivalent work experience, it may be possible for this to be taken into account, to enable advanced entry to their chosen programme.

Portfolio

On receiving an application, we will offer successful candidates an interview. If possible please bring to the interview a portfolio containing the following:

• 10 to 15 pieces of original finished work, which show your technical ability in a range of media. Please bring photographs of 3D installation work or if some of your work is digital bring this on a device to show it.
• 1 or 2 sketch books showing your own areas of interest, individual thought process or development process of finished work.
• 1 example of writing, critical study work or exploration of other artists, that you have done

If you do not have all of the above, please do not worry, just contact the office and we can speak to you about alternatives.

English Language Requirements

All applicants are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English Language competence to gain entry to the Academy. This can be through previous study in English (evidencing an approved English language qualification at Level 2, GCSE or equivalent). Where an applicant is unable to provide evidence of a relevant, formal English qualification, the Academy will require specific performance in written English tests at interview. Appropriate level of spoken English is assessed at interview.

Admission Policy 

The Art Academy does not sponsor international students through the Tier 4 visa system and therefore cannot accept international students unless they are able to prove right of residency in the UK.

The Academy operates a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people (with the motivation and ability to study at the correct level) have an opportunity to benefit from the Fine Art education we provide. To find out more information please see the Academy’s Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

Academic Regulations and Policies

As a student of the Academy it is very important you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These apply to any of our students studying on any of our Diploma and Pre-Degree programmes and outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure all students understand both expectations and support available to them. To find out more information please see our Academic Regulations and Policies page.

If you are interested in studying at the Academy and would like to attend one of our Open Days, please fill in our Open Day form on our Open Day page.

Our Open Days offer an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth information on our courses, learn about our dedicated and talented tutors and experience our vibrant and welcoming community.

We welcome all enthusiastic candidates to apply. If you are interested in studying at the Academy please register to attend an Open day, above, or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 to discuss courses further or arrange a visit.

What to expect

Before you apply to the Academy you will want to understand what to expect from the application process and how best to prepare. Be assured that we assess you on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen programme of study with us.

It’s an individually tailored but consistent approach; all applicants are required to attend an interview and portfolio review. You will receive an invitation by email with an interview date and time, should you need to change this date, please speak to the Admissions Team. This will be a 30 – 45 minute conversation with one or two tutors, exploring your application and interview portfolio. Should your individual situation necessitate, we can conduct an interview via Skype. We encourage you to ask questions and see the interview as a 2 way process.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria, through the interview and portfolio review:

• The ability to demonstrate a range of Fine Art experience, ability and understanding, including evidence of:

1. Technical ability in one or more Fine Art medium
2. Conceptual ideas and understanding
3. Awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art

• Independence of thought
• Evidence of curiosity, inquisitiveness and being open to new ideas and thinking
• The potential and ambition to develop their Fine Art work and ideas further, and ideas about how they might do that
• A willingness to explore alternative ways of thinking and working
• Satisfactory academic reference
• Personal statement
• Academic attainment at a pre degree foundation course, within general education at GCSE & Level 3 (where the applicant has a traditional educational background) or alternative experience within art and design or appropriate subject areas

If you are at all concerned that a disability might interfere or inhibit your interview, please let us know in your application: we will make any reasonable adjustment we can, so that you can fully participate in an interview. Please see the below section “applicants with special educational needs and disabilities”.

In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

All applicants are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language competence to gain entry to the Academy. More information about this can be found in ‘Entry Requirements’ above.

Application Deadline

If you would like to apply for the Sculpture Diploma please note the following deadlines:

Deadline 1: Applicants who apply by 15th February will be interviewed by 8th March and will be informed of the outcome by 29th March. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 26th April.

Deadline 2: Applicants who apply by 3rd May will be interviewed by 24th May and will be informed of the outcome by 14th June. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 12th July.

Deadline 3: After 3rd May applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Please note, applications deadlines after Deadline 1 are subject to availability and will not be open for applications if the programme has reached capacity.

Applications for 2019/2020 will not be processed before 15th February.

More information on the admissions process can be found on the Academy’s Admissions Policy.

Apply

You can apply for the Sculpture Diploma starting September 2019 online or by post. To apply online you must fill in our online application form. Please note, the application form must be downloaded and cannot currently be completed online. To prevent problems when completing the form, please ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader. If you are applying via post you can download an application form here. This must be posted, along with at least 5 images of your work, to:

Admissions Team, The Art Academy, Mermaid Court, 165A Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR

The application form is your first opportunity to tell us about yourself, as well as being a vital source of the information we need to make a decision. Please take your time to complete the form accurately. When you have completed the application form remember to check you have provided all the information required, including the link to your digital portfolio. We only accept applications on the form provided and reserve the right to reject incomplete or alternative applications.

Should you have any questions about the application process or completing the form, please speak to a member of the Admissions Team.

The Result

Decisions will normally be communicated to applicants within three weeks. There are 3 possible outcomes:

Conditional Offer: A conditional offer means that the Academy will offer an applicant a place providing certain conditions are met before registration on the programme. Usually conditions are based on the completion of outstanding qualifications. Each offer is specific to the applicant’s individual circumstances.

Unconditional Offer: An unconditional offer means that an applicant has met the (academic and non-academic) entry requirements and has been accepted onto their chosen programme at the Academy.

Unsuccessful Application: Applicants will receive an unsuccessful response if the Academy has decided not to offer them a place on the programme. Applicants can be unsuccessful for many reasons and should be aware that many of the programmes at the Academy receive far more applications than number of places available.

Feedback on the decision will be given to any applicant who requests it.

We will always ensure that the interviews and portfolio reviews are carried out fairly and equally. All those conducting interviews are trained to do so and fully conversant in our Admissions Policy. Although decisions to admit or reject applicants are academic judgements and therefore cannot be appealed, if an applicant feels that the interview and selection process was not conducted fairly and equitably or as described in our Admissions Policy, the process for making a complaint in this regard can be found within the policy document.

Next Steps

You will be notified of the outcome by email. With this email you will receive an offer letter, the Terms and Conditions (contract) which you will need to sign and return along with the deposit (see Fees & Funding section above), a copy of the student handbook, programme handbook and Academic Regulations.

By accepting an offer you agree to abide by the Academy’s Regulations.

All successful applicants will be invited to our Graduate shows, to get a sense of the community and see what they could achieve by studying with us.

Prior to starting you will be sent the course documents for the Elective Skills Workshop courses and have a meeting or phone conversation with a member of the Academics Team to discuss and agree your choices for the first term. Part-time students will also need to decide on individual routes through the first stage of the programme.

Application Process

The Academy is committed to supporting accessible learning and welcomes students with disabilities and special educational needs subject to being able to support their individual needs; good accessibility practices and the needs of disabled students in academic provision are reviewed on a case by case basis, with all reasonable adjustments, such as the re-timetabling of studios and alternative assessment arrangements considered in order to provide services and equal educational opportunities to the individual student or applicant.

Disclosure

Applicants are invited and encouraged to disclose any disabilities or special needs at the point of application so that the Academy can begin to plan any support it may need to provide at the earliest opportunity, including during the admissions process itself. Admissions decisions are always made on the basis of the candidate’s ability and/or potential to complete the programme for which they are being considered.

Accessibility of the Academy’s estate and reasonable adjustments 

Provided that the candidate is suitable for the programme applied for, the Academy will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with a physical or mobility impairment in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

The Academy’s premises are old buildings which inevitably means that access to some areas can be problematic for people with a physical disability. This will continue to be an issue for the immediate future and all our premises are currently unaccessible to wheelchair users. Therefore, whilst this is the case, we undertake to mitigate problems for applicants and students with mobility difficulties as far as possible by ensuring that where possible, appropriate arrangements are made to hold interviews, classes, workshops, tutorials, exhibitions and other events in accessible spaces.

We are currently completing a number of works to our main building in Mermaid Court, London Bridge, which will provide improved access and facilities to wheelchair users, including a wheelchair accessible toilet. These works are intended to be completed in the new year. These works, along with appropriate arrangements made for individuals within accessible spaces, means that from September 2019 we will be able to accommodate most students with physical disabilities on academic programmes. Appropriate arrangements may include the rescheduling of classes, workshops, tutorials, lectures and other events to spaces within the main building of Mermaid Court and the ground floor of our Newington building. It may also include the provision of facilities to undertake classes and workshops in techniques and processes outside of the dedicated space in which they normally occur (i.e. printmaking) and individual provision of facilities such as storage spaces, where these are normally in unaccessible areas. Our library is located on the ground floor and fully accessible.

Some of our buildings will remain inaccessible for the foreseeable future (our second building at Mermaid Court and the 2nd floor areas of our Newington building). Further improvements are planned to ensure we have appropriate buildings and facilities in the future; we are committed to improving access to all our buildings and are working towards making all areas of our campus fully accessible to all.

Applicants and potential applicants who have mobility difficulties or any other special needs should speak to us and/or arrange to visit the Academy, before completing the application process, to discuss their needs so that they can make an informed decision as to whether the Academy is able to provide an appropriate environment for their studies.

Hearing Technology for hard of hearing/deaf applicants 

Portable induction loops can be provided during open days, interview and in teaching spaces for those who require them.

Other disabilities and conditions

If you have another disability, specific learning difficulty, health, or mental health difficulty, we strongly encourage you to contact us to talk about options for support.

Student Support

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies. For more information on the Student Support available please see our Student Support page.

If you don’t find the answer to your question here please contact the Academic team on +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk:

Can I do the Sculpture Diploma part-time?

Yes, there is a part time Sculpture Diploma. Part time students attend 2 days a week over 4 years. The part time Sculpture Diploma takes 2 years to complete stage 1 and a further 2 years to complete stage 2.

Are bursaries or student loans available for the Sculpture Diploma?

The Sculpture Diploma is currently not eligible for student loans. The Academy can offer advice on possible sources of funding for students. See the ‘Fees and Funding’ section on the Sculpture Diploma webpage for more details or contact us to discuss your options.

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their Diploma in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Do you take mature students for the Sculpture Diploma?

Yes, applications from mature students are welcomed.

Do I need to have done formal art training before applying for the Sculpture Diploma?

No, but the Sculpture Diploma is for those intending to make art their full-time occupation. Selection is made during interview where we will consider your level of ability and commitment through discussion and portfolio review.

What is the structure for paying fees for the Sculpture Diploma?

Fees can be paid yearly or termly – full details can be found on the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Sculpture Diploma webpage. The first term of stage 1 must be paid for prior to the start the course. Furthermore there is a deposit required from all students enrolling on the course.

Is the Sculpture Diploma recognised or accredited?

The Contemporary Portrait Diploma is an in-house awarded Diploma and is not validated by a university or exam board. It is not part of QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) or FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications). Our Diploma programmes are subject to external moderation to ensure that our standards are comparable to national undergraduate benchmarks.

Many students from the Academy’s Diploma course have gone on to do an MA at another institution and some have entered the third year of a Fine Art BA course. The Academy is currently in the process of launching validated Undergarduate Degree programmes in the near future.

Do I need to supply my own materials?

Yes, materials are not included in your tuition fee costs. For more information on material costs see the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Sculpture Diploma webpage. We do have an art supplies shop in the Academy which offers materials at a heavily discounted price.

The Contemporary Portrait Diploma has been carefully designed to ensure students are exposed to a wide variety of approaches to portraiture and portrait painting techniques.

Led by Academy tutor Roxana Halls, the programme mainly takes place at Mermaid Court (165A Borough High Street, London, SE1 1HR) with some time spent at our Newington site (155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS). The course is 2 years full time or 4 years part time.

The programme comprises 4 main components:

• Studio Practice modules
• The Contextual Research module
• Professional Development modules
• Elective Skills Workshop courses

Final grade and classification is calculated on results from both stage 1 and 2. Further details can be found in the programme handbook.

Course Dates 2018-2019

Autumn term – Monday 17th September to Friday 30th November (Half term – 22nd to 28th October)

Spring term – Monday 14th January to Friday 29th March (Half term – 18th to 24th February)

Summer term – Tuesday 23rd April to Monday 1st July

Studio Practice

The Studio Practice modules form the core of the course. You will develop work and critical skills in response to a series of practical briefs that encourage increasingly independent learning. These modules run throughout the entire programme with 1 each term in stage 1, and 2 in stage 2 (the final module runs across 2 terms) Studio Practice modules are taught through a mixture of 1-2-1 tutorials, group critiques, workshops and lectures, with students undertaking mostly practical work in a studio.

The Contextual Studies programme, which forms part of the Studio Practice modules, ensures you gain knowledge and understanding of the wider contexts and critical discourses relating to your own fine art practice. For each Studio Practice module throughout the programme you will be expected to collate a portfolio of contextual evidence, which includes evidence of preparatory work, research work and pieces of reflective and discursive writing. Studio practice modules are assessed through a portfolio of practical work. In students present their work to tutors and peers for assessment.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

These 1 day per week, term-long courses underpin the Studio Practice modules and are where you will receive intensive training in the technical skills necessary for your chosen discipline(s).

The Elective Skills Workshop courses run over a 2 year cycle, following a planned curriculum designed to ensure you gradually build the necessary techniques as you progress through the programme. Taking a mix of recommended and optional courses, you choose from a vast array of different approaches to portrait and figure painting, including essential techniques such as a series of drawing classes.

We consider drawing essential for all artists and creative practitioners, so you will take 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses in drawing in stage 1 and can choose to continue these in stage 2.

The Elective Skills Workshop courses are not subject to summative assessment. They are intended to give you the freedom and space to experiment with skills and approaches which will inform the development of your studio practice projects. The days you attend the Academy will vary from term to term, depending on which Elective Skills Workshop course you choose.*

*Please note, however, the days you attend the Studio Practice module will remain fixed throughout the year. You may also at times be required to come in for sessions and events in addition to these days.

Professional Development

Professional Development modules explore different creative vocations and practices, giving you a greater understanding of the possible ways of supporting your practice. The stage 2 module focuses specifically on the development of skills and knowledge necessary for future employment within the art world and wider creative industries.

Stage 1

1 year full time, 2 years part time

Studio Practice Modules

You will learn to experiment with the processes, materials and techniques relating to portraiture that will provide the foundation for your developing art practice and inform the work you undertake in subsequent years.

Throughout these modules, you are encouraged to take risks and experiment widely in and across disciplines. You will start to identify areas of interest and to analyse your choices of materials and techniques through the expression of your ideas. The final module of stage 1 requires you to work with your peers, the Sculpture Diploma (FD) and an external curator in creating work for and mounting a group public exhibition.

As a full time student you will attend 1 full day per week across all 3 terms. As a part time student you will attend 1 full day per week across 3 of the 6 terms available.

Stage 1 students are not allocated dedicated, personal studio space. Studio practice modules are taught in studios throughout the Academy’s buildings. In addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to work a minimum of another full day (6 hours) per week on your project independently.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

To support your Studio Practice work you will undertake Elective Skills Workshop courses. Each course runs for 1 full day per week per term. A wide variety of courses are available each term across all disciplines and you are free to choose from amongst them, alongside the compulsory elements of the programme.

These Elective Skills Workshop course focus on building upon essential portrait and figure painting skills whilst extending your vocabulary with experimental classes exploring self-portraiture, working with models, different approaches to paint application or a close examination of how to work from photographs. A session in portrait sculpture is also offered, with optional further sessions, to enable students to develop an understanding of the 3-dimensionality of a portrait head.

As a full time student you will undertake 2 to 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (1 in each term in stage 1) since we consider drawing an essential tool for all artists. You must also complete the Digital Development course in stage 1. This course teaches the digital skills you will require for the Professional Development course in stage 2. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

As a part time student you will undertake 1 to 2 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (to be taken across 3 of the 6 terms available). You must also complete the Digital Development course in the first term of either year of stage 1. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

Professional Development Module

The Professional Development module will provide you with first-hand knowledge of the vocational opportunities available to you within the art world, creative industries and wider cultural environment. You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, and complete a report on an area of professional practice that is of interest to you. This module runs throughout the year. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Stage 2

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During year 2 there is a shift in emphasis towards self reflection and analysis.

Studio Practice Modules

In the first Studio Practice module, you will take on a live commission, sourcing your own client and negotiating the relationship with them, through to the completion of the commissioned artwork. Supported by your tutor and peers, you will learn to balance the client’s needs with your own creative process.

The final Studio Practice module runs over 2 terms in stage 2 and will provide you with the opportunity to make further connections between your embryonic portraiture practice and art theory, identifying your core interests and intentions and increasing your knowledge, understanding and analysis of wider contexts and critical discourses. This project leads to you undertaking a self identified and directed brief and creating a body of work for public exhibition at the Graduate Show and is supported by the contextual studies module. Elective skills workshop courses support the further refinement of your technique.

This final studio practice module is assessed at the Graduate show.  Alongside the work you mount for exhibition, you will submit a supporting portfolio of developmental work and take part in a Viva Voce with a team of tutors and an external assessor, during which they will question you about your project development, curatorial choices and contextual knowledge.

At the beginning of stage 2 full time students are allocated dedicated, personal studio space to work in. Part time students are allocated studio space during the 3 terms they are taking part in the Studio Practice module. Students are able to use their studio space to continue to work independently on Studio Practice modules, outside of taught sessions. Again, in addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to contribute a minimum of 1 full day (6 hours) per week to your project independently.

Contextual Research module

This module runs alongside the final studio practice module and is intended to support the development of your project.  You will be encouraged to explore aspects of art theory and other discourses relevant to your emerging practice and interests and supported in the development of academic research and writing skills during this module.

This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module.

Professional Development Module

You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, explore opportunities and approaches available to establish and support an artistic practice, develop exhibition and curatorial experience and marketing and business planning tools to help prepare you for life after the Academy. This module runs throughout the year and is assessed through a portfolio of evidence including the creation of a website, marketing plans and evidence of the use of marketing and business tools. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Among the most distinctive features of the Academy’s approach is the exceptionally high level of personal contact time with teaching staff. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Diplomasf which boasts one of the highest levels of contact hours of any higher education Fine Art programme in the UK. In stages 1 and 2, full-time Diploma students receive 3-4 full days per week of tutored time in different disciplines.

The emphasis of our teaching and learning strategy is quality – quality consultation and quality time. Our teaching body is second to none. All our teachers – permanent staff or visiting lecturers – are practising artists in their own right. They include prize-winning practitioners and members of leading arts organisations. As well as 1-2-1 contact with tutors in classes, students have individual artistic tutorials with tutors of their choice throughout the year.

The lead tutors on the Contemporary Portrait Diploma are:

Briony Marshall

David Hodge

Roxana Halls

Roxana Halls is our Contemporary Portrait Diploma Pathway Leader, Briony Marshall is our Professional Development Programme Leader and David Hodge is our Art History & Theory Programme Leader.

Our Studio Practice tutors are Roxana Halls, Sadie Lee, Robin-Lee Hall and Sue Spaull.

The tutors you are taught by within the Elective Skills Workshop courses will depend upon the modules you undertake. You can view all our tutors here.

The Academy is a true artistic community; an environment of vibrant exchange where you learn from expert practising artists and wide-ranging creative stimuli.

We’ll stretch your thinking at the same time as build your skills across multiple dimensions. We don’t subscribe to the view that there is one way to train an artist. We start with the individual and invest time, supporting you through the provision of tailored, hands on tuition. We believe in opening the mind every bit as much as we believe in training the eye and the hand.

For more information please view our Teaching Approach page.

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies.

The small scale of the institution is advantageous to the provision of student support. It fosters a close community of staff and students where students feel safe and able to seek advice and guidance from a variety of staff.

More information detailing the main areas of support please see our Student Support page.

“I was delighted to have my work accepted for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition and felt honoured to be exhibiting alongside no less than seven of my Art Academy tutors.”

“In his book “ Outliers”, Malcolm Gladwell  wrote that “Ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness”.  If this is the case, then my time at the Art Academy studying for the Contemporary Portrait Diploma should have gone some way towards totting up those hours. I embarked on this journey two years ago and in that time the Art Academy has become my second home, spending four days a week dashing along the back roads from London Bridge station, carrying canvasses and my ubiquitous painting trolley up several flights of stairs daily, with the camaraderie of painting friends, tutors, models and the office staff becoming a huge part of my daily life.

I came to the Art Academy because of the calibre of its tutors….READ MORE

Jane Masojada, Contemporary Portrait Diploma Student

Every student has had work in an exhibition before they leave, with many having held a number of exhibitions themselves. Almost all graduates will have done at least one commission. All graduates will have websites, social media profiles, contact databases and online and offline portfolios.

Academy students have gone on to win large commissions, have exhibitions and undertake residency opportunities. These have included the following:

• Public art piece for the Ministry of Tourism in Malta celebrating 100 Years of Aviation
• A £15000 sculpture commission for the Honourable Artillery Company in Old Street, London
• A £5000 commission for painting for a large building development in Romford
• KPMG exhibitions in their international headquarters at 1 Canada Square
• Art exhibitions and demonstration at Lincoln Cathedral
• Exhibiting at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition
• Working with Old Vic Theatre to create an advertising campaign for King Lear
• Residency at Cil Railaig Ireland through the National Open

Fees 2019/2020

Fees must be paid in advance and can be paid yearly or termly (the latter incurring a 5% surcharge).

Please note, these are our 2019-2020 fees. Fees are subject to annual review and are likely to increase by due to inflation in the following academic years. (such increases will not exceed 5% annually).

Materials

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop Courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the final year Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £500 and £1500* per year, depending on materials, chosen disciplines and stage of the programme.

The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and tutors can also advise you.

* Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance only (based on survey results from previous students) and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Trips and Visits 

It is expected that students studying at this level will visit galleries and exhibitions independently, as part of the development of the contextual knowledge and practice. Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries. Where there is an entry fee, whilst we encourage you to take these trips, we understand it is not always possible, so they are not compulsory nor essential. If you are not able to participate, the tutor will prepare an alternative itinerary of free museum and gallery visits that you can follow.

Deposit

As a small independent art school we are unable to hold places offered indefinitely. If your application is successful you will need to pay the deposit of £500 and return your signed contract to secure your place. The Deposit is in addition to the fees. Your deposit is returned after successful completion of the programme and removal of your Graduate Show installation.  Should you withdraw from the programme without successfully completing it we will retain your deposit. Should you fail to satisfactorily remove your Graduate Show installation, and the Academy incur costs to do so, we will retain your deposit.

Bursaries

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their Diploma in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Funding 

As an independent institution our courses are not subject to public funding and as a result there is no exemption from fees for under 19 year olds or access to student loans.

Refunds 

Once you have returned the signed contract and deposit to secure your place you have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel, at which point your full deposit will be refunded. Fees are due prior to the start of the programme. If you decide to cancel after the 14 day period and before the fees are due, you will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you begin the course and decide to withdraw you will be liable for the tuition fees for the first term and will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you decide to cancel your contract or withdraw at any point, you should do so in writing using the form provided.

Once enrolled or re-enrolled as a student, should you decide to withdraw from your programme, you are required to give the Academy a full term’s notice, informing us by the last teaching day of the previous term: the notice period cannot commence part way through a term. If it does, you will be liable to pay full fees for the term’s notice period.  Should you need to, you are able to suspend study for up to 12 months (please see our withdrawal and interruption of study policy).

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information on Fees.

Applications will be considered on an individual basis and are welcomed from individuals with non-standard qualifications, patterns of prior study and experience from a variety of backgrounds.

All applicants are required to undertake an interview and portfolio review for assessment of key skills and level of ability and enthusiasm for the programme they are applying for. Although no formal qualifications are required, applicants will need to demonstrate work at least of Level 3 (A Level) equivalent. In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria:

●  The ability to demonstrate a range of fine art experience including an awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art and key artistic skills through an interview and portfolio review.

●  Satisfactory academic reference, if applicable.

●  Personal statement

Intake is only in term one (September). Entry is normally at Level 4 (stage 1), but is possible at subsequent levels subject to appropriate qualifications and experience. For direct entry to Level 5 or 6 (stage 2 or 3) the applicant’s prior experience will be taken into account at the application stage. Where students have prior higher education or equivalent work experience, it may be possible for this to be taken into account, to enable advanced entry to their chosen programme.

Portfolio

On receiving an application, we will offer successful candidates an interview. If possible please bring to the interview a portfolio containing the following:

• 10 to 15 pieces of original finished work, which show your technical ability in a range of media. Please bring photographs of 3D installation work or if some of your work is digital bring this on a device to show it.
• 1 or 2 sketch books showing your own areas of interest, individual thought process or development process of finished work.
• 1 example of writing, critical study work or exploration of other artists, that you have done

If you do not have all of the above, please do not worry, just contact the office and we can speak to you about alternatives.

English Language Requirements

All applicants are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English Language competence to gain entry to the Academy. This can be through previous study in English (evidencing an approved English language qualification at Level 2, GCSE or equivalent). Where an applicant is unable to provide evidence of a relevant, formal English qualification, the Academy will require specific performance in written English tests at interview. Appropriate level of spoken English is assessed at interview.

Admission Policy 

The Art Academy does not sponsor international students through the Tier 4 visa system and therefore cannot accept international students unless they are able to prove right of residency in the UK.

The Academy operates a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people (with the motivation and ability to study at the correct level) have an opportunity to benefit from the Fine Art education we provide. To find out more information please see the Academy’s Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

Academic Regulations and Policies

As a student of the Academy it is very important you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These apply to any of our students studying on any of our Diploma and Pre-Degree programmes and outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure all students understand both expectations and support available to them. To find out more information please see our Academic Regulations and Policies page.

If you are interested in studying at the Academy and would like to attend one of our Open Days, please fill in our Open Day form on our Open Day page.

Our Open Days offer an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth information on our courses, learn about our dedicated and talented tutors and experience our vibrant and welcoming community.

We welcome all enthusiastic candidates to apply. If you are interested in studying at the Academy please register to attend an Open day, above, or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 to discuss courses further or arrange a visit.

What to expect

Before you apply to the Academy you will want to understand what to expect from the application process and how best to prepare. Be assured that we assess you on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen programme of study with us.

It’s an individually tailored but consistent approach; all applicants are required to attend an interview and portfolio review. You will receive an invitation by email with an interview date and time, should you need to change this date, please speak to the Admissions Team. This will be a 30 – 45 minute conversation with one or two tutors, exploring your application and interview portfolio. Should your individual situation necessitate, we can conduct an interview via Skype. We encourage you to ask questions and see the interview as a 2 way process.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria, through the interview and portfolio review:

• The ability to demonstrate a range of Fine Art experience, ability and understanding, including evidence of:

1. Technical ability in one or more Fine Art medium
2. Conceptual ideas and understanding
3. Awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art

• Independence of thought
• Evidence of curiosity, inquisitiveness and being open to new ideas and thinking
• The potential and ambition to develop their Fine Art work and ideas further, and ideas about how they might do that
• A willingness to explore alternative ways of thinking and working
• Satisfactory academic reference
• Personal statement
• Academic attainment at a pre degree foundation course, within general education at GCSE & Level 3 (where the applicant has a traditional educational background) or alternative experience within art and design or appropriate subject areas

If you are at all concerned that a disability might interfere or inhibit your interview, please let us know in your application: we will make any reasonable adjustment we can, so that you can fully participate in an interview. Please see the below section “applicants with special educational needs and disabilities”.

In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

All applicants are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language competence to gain entry to the Academy. More information about this can be found in ‘Entry Requirements’ above.

Application Deadline

If you would like to apply for the Contemporary Diploma please note the following deadlines:

Deadline 1: Applicants who apply by 15th February will be interviewed by 8th March and will be informed of the outcome by 29th March. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 26th April.

Deadline 2: Applicants who apply by 3rd May will be interviewed by 24th May and will be informed of the outcome by 14th June. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 12th July.

Deadline 3: After 3rd May applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Please note, applications deadlines after Deadline 1 are subject to availability and will not be open for applications if the programme has reached capacity.

Applications for 2019/2020 will not be processed before 15th February.

More information on the admissions process can be found on the Academy’s Admissions Policy.

Apply

You can apply for the Contemporary Portrait Diploma starting September 2019 online or by post. To apply online you must fill in our online application form. Please note, the application form must be downloaded and cannot currently be completed online. To prevent problems when completing the form, please ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader. If you are applying via post you can download an application form here. This must be posted, along with at least 5 images of your work, to:

Admissions Team, The Art Academy, Mermaid Court, 165A Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR

The application form is your first opportunity to tell us about yourself, as well as being a vital source of the information we need to make a decision. Please take your time to complete the form accurately. When you have completed the application form remember to check you have provided all the information required, including the link to your digital portfolio. We only accept applications on the form provided and reserve the right to reject incomplete or alternative applications.

Should you have any questions about the application process or completing the form, please speak to a member of the Admissions Team.

The Result

Decisions will normally be communicated to applicants within three weeks. There are 3 possible outcomes:

Conditional Offer: A conditional offer means that the Academy will offer an applicant a place providing certain conditions are met before registration on the programme. Usually conditions are based on the completion of outstanding qualifications. Each offer is specific to the applicant’s individual circumstances.

Unconditional Offer: An unconditional offer means that an applicant has met the (academic and non-academic) entry requirements and has been accepted onto their chosen programme at the Academy.

Unsuccessful Application: Applicants will receive an unsuccessful response if the Academy has decided not to offer them a place on the programme. Applicants can be unsuccessful for many reasons and should be aware that many of the programmes at the Academy receive far more applications than number of places available.

Feedback on the decision will be given to any applicant who requests it.

We will always ensure that the interviews and portfolio reviews are carried out fairly and equally. All those conducting interviews are trained to do so and fully conversant in our Admissions Policy. Although decisions to admit or reject applicants are academic judgements and therefore cannot be appealed, if an applicant feels that the interview and selection process was not conducted fairly and equitably or as described in our Admissions Policy, the process for making a complaint in this regard can be found within the policy document.

Next Steps

You will be notified of the outcome by email. With this email you will receive an offer letter, the Terms and Conditions (contract) which you will need to sign and return along with the deposit (see Fees & Funding section above), a copy of the student handbook, programme handbook and Academic Regulations.

By accepting an offer you agree to abide by the Academy’s Regulations.

All successful applicants will be invited to our Graduate shows, to get a sense of the community and see what they could achieve by studying with us.

Prior to starting you will be sent the course documents for the Elective Skills Workshop courses and have a meeting or phone conversation with a member of the Academics Team to discuss and agree your choices for the first term. Part-time students will also need to decide on individual routes through the first stage of the programme.

Application Process

The Academy is committed to supporting accessible learning and welcomes students with disabilities and special educational needs subject to being able to support their individual needs; good accessibility practices and the needs of disabled students in academic provision are reviewed on a case by case basis, with all reasonable adjustments, such as the re-timetabling of studios and alternative assessment arrangements considered in order to provide services and equal educational opportunities to the individual student or applicant.

Disclosure

Applicants are invited and encouraged to disclose any disabilities or special needs at the point of application so that the Academy can begin to plan any support it may need to provide at the earliest opportunity, including during the admissions process itself. Admissions decisions are always made on the basis of the candidate’s ability and/or potential to complete the programme for which they are being considered.

Accessibility of the Academy’s estate and reasonable adjustments 

Provided that the candidate is suitable for the programme applied for, the Academy will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with a physical or mobility impairment in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

The Academy’s premises are old buildings which inevitably means that access to some areas can be problematic for people with a physical disability. This will continue to be an issue for the immediate future and all our premises are currently unaccessible to wheelchair users. Therefore, whilst this is the case, we undertake to mitigate problems for applicants and students with mobility difficulties as far as possible by ensuring that where possible, appropriate arrangements are made to hold interviews, classes, workshops, tutorials, exhibitions and other events in accessible spaces.

We are currently completing a number of works to our main building in Mermaid Court, London Bridge, which will provide improved access and facilities to wheelchair users, including a wheelchair accessible toilet. These works are intended to be completed in the new year. These works, along with appropriate arrangements made for individuals within accessible spaces, means that from September 2019 we will be able to accommodate most students with physical disabilities on academic programmes. Appropriate arrangements may include the rescheduling of classes, workshops, tutorials, lectures and other events to spaces within the main building of Mermaid Court and the ground floor of our Newington building. It may also include the provision of facilities to undertake classes and workshops in techniques and processes outside of the dedicated space in which they normally occur (i.e. printmaking) and individual provision of facilities such as storage spaces, where these are normally in unaccessible areas. Our library is located on the ground floor and fully accessible.

Some of our buildings will remain inaccessible for the foreseeable future (our second building at Mermaid Court and the 2nd floor areas of our Newington building). Further improvements are planned to ensure we have appropriate buildings and facilities in the future; we are committed to improving access to all our buildings and are working towards making all areas of our campus fully accessible to all.

Applicants and potential applicants who have mobility difficulties or any other special needs should speak to us and/or arrange to visit the Academy, before completing the application process, to discuss their needs so that they can make an informed decision as to whether the Academy is able to provide an appropriate environment for their studies.

Hearing Technology for hard of hearing/deaf applicants 

Portable induction loops can be provided during open days, interview and in teaching spaces for those who require them.

Other disabilities and conditions

If you have another disability, specific learning difficulty, health, or mental health difficulty, we strongly encourage you to contact us to talk about options for support.

Student Support

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies. For more information on the Student Support available please see our Student Support page.

If you don’t find the answer to your question here please contact the Academic team on +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk:

Can I do the Contemporary Portrait Diploma part-time?

Yes, there is a part time Contemporary Portrait Diploma. Part time students attend 2 days a week over 4 years. The part time Contemporary Portrait Diploma takes 2 years to complete stage 1 and a further 2 years to complete stage 2.

Are bursaries or student loans available for the Contemporary Portrait Diploma?

The Contemporary Portrait Diploma is currently not eligible for student loans. The Academy can offer advice on possible sources of funding for students. See the ‘Fees and Funding’ section on the Contemporary Portrait Diploma webpage for more details or contact us to discuss your options.

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their Diploma in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Do you take mature students for the Contemporary Portrait Diploma?

Yes, applications from mature students are welcomed.

Do I need to have done formal art training before applying for the Contemporary Portrait Diploma ?

No, but the Contemporary Portrait Diploma is for those intending to make art their full-time occupation. Selection is made during interview where we will consider your level of ability and commitment through discussion and portfolio review.

What is the structure for paying fees for the Contemporary Portrait Diploma?

Fees can be paid yearly or termly – full details can be found on the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Contemporary Portrait Diploma webpage. The first term of stage 1 must be paid for prior to the start the course. Furthermore there is a deposit required from all students enrolling on the course.

Is the Contemporary Portrait Diploma recognised or accredited?

The Contemporary Portrait Diploma is an in-house awarded Diploma and is not validated by a university or exam board. It is not part of QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) or FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications). Our Diploma programmes are subject to external moderation to ensure that our standards are comparable to national undergraduate benchmarks.

Many students from the Academy’s Diploma course have gone on to do an MA at another institution and some have entered the third year of a Fine Art BA course. The Academy is currently in the process of launching validated Undergarduate Degree programmes in the near future.

Do I need to supply my own materials?

Yes, materials are not included in your tuition fee costs. For more information on material costs see the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Contemporary Portrait Diploma webpage. We do have an art supplies shop in the Academy which offers materials at a heavily discounted price.

The Fine Art Diploma programme has been carefully designed to support and challenge you and help you develop your own approach to your art practice based upon your interests and ideas, with a different focus for each stage.

The programme mainly takes place at Mermaid Court (165A Borough High Street, London, SE1 1HR) with some time in stages 2 and 3 spent at our Newington site (155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS). The course is 3 years full time or 5 years part time.

The programme comprises 4 main components:

• Studio Practice modules
• Art History and Theory modules
• Professional Development modules
• Elective Skills Workshop courses

Course Dates 2018-2019

Autumn term – Monday 17th September to Friday 30th November (Half term – 22nd to 28th October)

Spring term – Monday 14th January to Friday 29th March (Half term – 18th to 24th February)

Summer term – Tuesday 23rd April to Monday 1st July

Studio Practice Modules

The Studio Practice modules form the core of the course. You will develop work and critical skills in response to a series of practical briefs that encourage increasingly independent learning. These modules run throughout the entire programme with 1 each term in stages 1 and 2 and an extended personal project that spans all 3 terms in stage 3. Studio Practice modules are taught through a mixture of 1-2-1 tutorials, group critiques, workshops and lectures, with students undertaking mostly practical work in a studio.

The Contextual Studies programme, which forms part of the Studio Practice modules, ensures you gain knowledge and understanding of the wider contexts and critical discourses relating to your own fine art practice. For each Studio Practice module throughout the programme you will be expected to collate a portfolio of contextual evidence, which includes evidence of preparatory work, research work and pieces of reflective and discursive writing. Studio practice modules are assessed through a portfolio of practical work. In stages 1 and 2 students present their work to tutors and peers for assessment.

Elective Skills Workshop Courses

These 1 day per week, term-long courses underpin the Studio Practice modules and are where you will receive intensive training in the technical skills necessary for your chosen discipline(s).

These courses cover a wide range of disciplines with technical progress developed in whatever discipline you choose to pursue.

You can work across multiple disciplines or follow a path focusing on a single discipline, such as painting, sculpture, digital media, installation or printmaking, allowing you to tailor your learning to your specific interests.

We consider drawing essential for all artists and creative practitioners, so you will take 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses in drawing in stage 1 and can choose to continue these in stages 2 and 3.

The Elective Skills Workshop courses are not subject to summative assessment. They are intended to give you the freedom and space to experiment with skills and approaches which will inform the development of your studio practice projects. The days you attend the Academy will vary from term to term, depending on which Elective Skills Workshop course you choose.*

*Please note, however, the days you attend the Studio Practice module will remain fixed throughout the year. You may also at times be required to come in for sessions and events in addition to these days.

Art History and Theory Modules

These modules allow you to study and analyse wider artistic discourses and theories. The programme of study within these modules is linked to the practical work undertaken within the Studio Practice modules. The Art History and Theory modules are designed to prepare you for the extended contextual research project in stage 3. In stages 1 and 2, the modules consist of 1 day a week during the 2nd term and incorporate lectures, seminars, group activities and gallery visits. You will be supported in the development of academic research and writing skills during these modules.

In stage 3 the relationship between scholarship and practice is paramount. You are required to write a dissertation or undertake an extended contextual research project on a topic that relates to the extended personal project you complete in your stage 3 Studio Practice module. This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module.

Professional Development Modules

In stages 2 and 3, you take part in Professional Development modules that focus specifically on the development of skills and knowledge necessary for future employment within the art world and wider creative industries.

Stage 1

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During stage 1 the focus is on investigation. Stage 1 does not contribute to your final Diploma grade and classification, but students must successfully complete the stage, including meeting attendance requirements (as detailed in our attendance policy) in order to progress to stage 2.

Studio Practice Modules

You will learn to experiment with the processes, materials and techniques that will provide the foundation for your developing art practice and inform the work you undertake in subsequent years.

Throughout these modules, you are encouraged to take risks and experiment widely in and across disciplines. You will start to identify areas of interest and to analyse your choices of materials and techniques through the expression of your ideas.

As a full time student you will attend 1 full day per week across all 3 terms. As a part time student you will attend 1 full day per week across 3 of the 6 terms available.

Stage 1 students are not allocated dedicated, personal studio space. Studio practice modules are taught in studios throughout the Academy’s buildings. In addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to work a minimum of another full day (6 hours) per week on your project independently.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

To support your Studio Practice work you will undertake Elective Skills Workshop courses. Each course runs for 1 full day per week per term. A wide variety of courses are available each term across all disciplines and you are free to choose from amongst them, alongside the compulsory elements of the programme.

As a full time student you will undertake 2 to 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. Drawing is compulsory in stage 1, since we consider drawing an essential tool for all artists. You must take 3 courses in drawing (1 in each term in stage 1 for full time students). There are a range of different drawing courses that explore both technical and more expressive approaches. You must also complete the Digital Development course in term 1 or 2 in stage 1. This course equips you with the basic digital skills you will require for the Professional Development module in stage 2. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

As a part time student you will undertake 1 to 2 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (to be taken across 3 of the 6 terms available). You must also complete the Digital Development course in the first term of either year of stage 1. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

Art Theory Module

The Art Theory module, ‘Theories of Spectatorship’, provides your with the basic skills associated with the critical evaluation of art and academic research, and introduces you to art theory and other relevant discourses. You will learn to interrogate your ideas through an understanding of wider critical, philosophical and theoretical approaches.

The Art Theory module runs for 1 full day a week across 1 term in stage 1 for full time and part time students, and requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions. The module is assessed through the completion of an essay.

Stage 2

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During stage 2 there is a shift in emphasis towards self-reflection and analysis. Stage 2 equates for 33% of your final Diploma grade and classification. Again, students must successfully complete the stage, including meeting attendance requirements (as detailed in our attendance policy) in order to progress to stage 3.

Studio Practice Modules

In the first Studio Practice module, you will take on a live commission, sourcing your own client and negotiating the relationship with them, through to the completion of the commissioned artwork. Supported by your tutor and peers, you will learn to balance the client’s needs with your own creative process.

The second and third Studio Practice modules focus on the development of your individual artistic practice. This is achieved through the exploration for your core intentions and your increasing knowledge, understanding and analysis of wider contexts and critical discourses.

Studio Practice sessions in stage 2 are supplemented with visits from guest lecturers and speakers, artist talks, workshops and gallery visits.

Studio Practice modules in stage 2 run for 2 full days per week across three terms for both full time students and part time students.

At the beginning of stage 2 full time students are allocated dedicated, personal studio space to work in. Part time students are allocated studio space during the 3 terms they are taking part in the Studio Practice module. Students are able to use their studio space to continue to work independently on Studio Practice modules, outside of taught sessions. Again, in addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to contribute a minimum of 1 full day (6 hours) per week to your project independently.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

As a full time or part time student you study a minimum of 5 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice across stage 2. Each course runs for 1 full day per week per term. The courses chosen should support the refinement of your technique within the discipline (or disciplines) of your choice. Although drawing is no longer compulsory in stage 2, you may still take drawing courses if they are relevant to your practice and development. 

Art History Module

The Art History module ‘Modern Contemporary Art History’, explores the history of modern and contemporary art, helping to develop your understanding of key artists and thinkers from 1900 to the present day, and their influences on contemporary practice.

The Art History module runs 1 full day per week for 1 term in stage 2 for both full time and part time students. The Art History module runs 1 full day per week for 1 term in stage 2 for both full time and part time students, and requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions. The module is assessed through the completion of an essay.

Professional Development Module

You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, explore opportunities and approaches available to establish and support an artistic practice, develop exhibition and curatorial experience and marketing and business planning tools to help prepare you for life after the Academy. This module runs throughout the year and is assessed through a portfolio of evidence including the creation of a website, marketing plans and evidence of the use of marketing and business tools. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Stage 3

1 year full time, 1 year part time

Studio Practice Modules

In the third and final stage there is a further shift, this time towards self directed Studio Practice.

Stage 3 represents the culmination of knowledge, skills and understanding acquired throughout your journey through the creation of a major body of practical work in a project that is entirely self-initiated and directed. Stage 3 equates for 67% of your final Diploma grade and classification.

You will receive continued support in the form of regular group critiques guided by a stage 3 tutor and 1-2-1 tutorials as you further explore your own practice, research your artist’s statement and prepare work towards the Graduate Show. You will typically spend 1 day per week per term working with your Studio Practice tutor. In addition to this all students (full time and part time) are expected to work a minimum of 1 full day (6 hours) per week independently on their studio practice. As in stage 2, students are allocated, personal, dedicated studio space to work in. In stage 3 this is all year for both full and part time students.

This final studio practice module is assessed at the Graduate show.  Alongside the work you mount for exhibition, you will submit a supporting portfolio of developmental work and take part in a Viva Voce with a team of tutors and an external assessor, during which they will question you about your project development, curatorial choices and contextual knowledge.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

As a full time or part time student you will take a maximum of 1 Elective Skills Workshop course each term, which you choose with a view to honing further the skills needed for your developing work.

Art Theory/History Module

You will either write a dissertation – a piece of independent, in-depth critical research on a subject of your choice but related to your practice – or undertake an alternative extended research project focused on the practical and theoretical considerations in the development of an idea for an Exhibition. This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module.

The Art Theory/History module runs 1 full day per week for 1 term in stage 3 for both full time and part time students, and requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Professional Development Module

In this module, you build upon skills learnt in stage 2 in preparation for future employment, focusing on marketing, business planning and career management. focusing on an area of professional development relevant to you. You undertake a real art-world experience, together with a research project exploring an area of professional creative practice through which you critically analyse the experience. This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module, but also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Among the most distinctive features of the Academy’s approach is the exceptionally high level of personal contact time with teaching staff. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Fine Art Diploma which boasts one of the highest levels of contact hours of any higher education Fine Art programme in the UK. In stages 1 and 2, full-time Fine Art Diploma students receive 3-4 full days per week of tutored time in different disciplines. In stage 3, the focus switches to project work and preparing for the Graduate Show but, even here, students still receive up to 14 hours contact time a week plus 1-2-1 tutorials covering Professional Development and preparation for their extended contextual research project.

The emphasis of our teaching and learning strategy is quality – quality consultation and quality time. Our teaching body is second to none. All our teachers – permanent staff or visiting lecturers – are practising artists in their own right. They include prize-winning practitioners and members of leading arts organisations. As well as 1-2-1 contact with tutors in classes, students have individual artistic tutorials with tutors of their choice throughout the year.

The lead tutors for the Fine Art Diploma are:

Alison Hand

Alison Hand graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Painting, and has exhibited across London, the UK, Germany and Hong Kong. Hand’s practice explores the representation of landscape and architecture, particularly narratives of regeneration and improvement. She approaches painting with a language of fragmentation and hard materiality interacting with illusory depth. Hand’s work has won numerous awards including the Basil Alkazzi Scholarship Award; the Painters’ and Stainers’ Gordon Luton Award; and the Stevenson Harwood Award. Hand is a published art writer, with commissions ranging from Blueprint to Abstract Critical. From 2008-2012 she was a Board Director for Artgene in Cumbria, and also undertook doctoral research into art and architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. Hand also works with architecture teams on building projects. Hand teaches studio practice, painting and drawing modules, and is Head of Level 3 Diploma.

Briony Marshall

David Hodge

Sue Spaull

Sue Spaull is our Fine Art Diploma Leader. Alison Hand is Deputy Fine Art Diploma Leader, Briony Marshall is our Professional Development Programme Leader and David Hodge is our Art History & Theory Programme Leader.

Our Studio Practice tutors are Julian Wild, Sarah Gillham, Alison Hand, Sue Spaull and Lynne Abrahamson.

The tutors you are taught by within the Elective Skills Workshop courses will depend upon the courses you undertake. You can view all our tutors here.

The Academy is a true artistic community; an environment of vibrant exchange where you learn from expert practising artists and wide-ranging creative stimuli.

We’ll stretch your thinking at the same time as build your skills across multiple dimensions. We don’t subscribe to the view that there is one way to train an artist. We start with the individual and invest time, supporting you through the provision of tailored, hands on tuition. We believe in opening the mind every bit as much as we believe in training the eye and the hand.

For more information please view our Teaching Approach page.

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies.

The small scale of the institution is advantageous to the provision of student support. It fosters a close community of staff and students where students feel safe and able to seek advice and guidance from a variety of staff.

More information detailing the main areas of support please see our Student Support page.

“There was so much art being made everywhere, but real, tangible living art and artists of all ages and disciplines”.

I have a distinct memory of the first time I walked into the Art Academy. I felt like a child who had just walked into Willy Wonker’s Chocolate Factory. It was a completely new world to me, but one I immediately wanted to be a part of. I saw fabulous, large sculptures being built from various models, life drawing, painting and much more. There was so much art being made everywhere, but real, tangible living art and artists of all ages and disciplines heavily involved in their work. I was enthralled straight away.

I had been to many art schools in London before but had never entered a space quite like this with such a practical, hands-on approach. I was mesmerised by the quality of the work and the intensity of its production. It was like a living dream to see huge sculptures and awe-inspiring paintings being created in such an immediate, physical way. Waiting to find out if… READ MORE

Rhiannon Rebecca Salisbury, Fine Art Diploma Student

Every student has had work in an exhibition before they leave, with many having held a number of exhibitions themselves. Almost all graduates will have done at least one commission. All graduates will have websites, social media profiles, contact databases and online and offline portfolios.

Academy students have gone on to win large commissions, have exhibitions and undertake residency opportunities. These have included the following:

• Public art piece for the Ministry of Tourism in Malta celebrating 100 Years of Aviation
• A £15000 sculpture commission for the Honourable Artillery Company in Old Street, London
• A £5000 commission for painting for a large building development in Romford
• KPMG exhibitions in their international headquarters at 1 Canada Square
• Art exhibitions and demonstration at Lincoln Cathedral
• Exhibiting at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition
• Working with Old Vic Theatre to create an advertising campaign for King Lear
• Residency at Cil Railaig Ireland through the National Open

Fees 2019/2020

Fees must be paid in advance and can be paid yearly or termly (the latter incurring a 5% surcharge).

Please note, these are our 2019-2020 fees. Fees are subject to annual review and are likely to increase by due to inflation in the following academic years. (such increases will not exceed 5% annually).

Materials

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop Courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the final year Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £500 and £1500* per year, depending on materials, chosen disciplines and stage of the programme.

The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and tutors can also advise you.

* Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance only (based on survey results from previous students) and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Trips and Visits 

It is expected that students studying at this level will visit galleries and exhibitions independently, as part of the development of the contextual knowledge and practice. Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries. Where there is an entry fee, whilst we encourage you to take these trips, we understand it is not always possible, so they are not compulsory nor essential. If you are not able to participate, the tutor will prepare an alternative itinerary of free museum and gallery visits that you can follow.

Deposit

As a small independent art school we are unable to hold places offered indefinitely. If your application is successful you will need to pay the deposit of £500 and return your signed contract to secure your place. The Deposit is in addition to the fees. Your deposit is returned after successful completion of the programme and removal of your Graduate Show installation.  Should you withdraw from the programme without successfully completing it we will retain your deposit. Should you fail to satisfactorily remove your Graduate Show installation, and the Academy incur costs to do so, we will retain your deposit.

Bursaries

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their Diploma in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Funding 

As an independent institution our courses are not subject to public funding and as a result there is no exemption from fees for under 19 year olds or access to student loans.

Refunds 

Once you have returned the signed contract and deposit to secure your place you have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel, at which point your full deposit will be refunded. Fees are due prior to the start of the programme. If you decide to cancel after the 14 day period and before the fees are due, you will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you begin the course and decide to withdraw you will be liable for the tuition fees for the first term and will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you decide to cancel your contract or withdraw at any point, you should do so in writing using the form provided.

Once enrolled or re-enrolled as a student, should you decide to withdraw from your programme, you are required to give the Academy a full term’s notice, informing us by the last teaching day of the previous term: the notice period cannot commence part way through a term. If it does, you will be liable to pay full fees for the term’s notice period.  Should you need to, you are able to suspend study for up to 12 months (please see our withdrawal and interruption of study policy).

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information on Fees.

Applications will be considered on an individual basis and are welcomed from individuals with non-standard qualifications, patterns of prior study and experience from a variety of backgrounds.

All applicants are required to undertake an interview and portfolio review for assessment of key skills and level of ability and enthusiasm for the programme they are applying for. Although no formal qualifications are required, applicants will need to demonstrate work at least of Level 3 (A Level) equivalent. In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• The ability to demonstrate a range of fine art experience including an awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art and key artistic skills through an interview and portfolio review.
• Satisfactory academic reference, if applicable.
• Personal statement

Intake is only in term one (September). Entry is normally at stage 1, but is possible at subsequent levels subject to appropriate qualifications and experience. For direct entry to stage 2 or 3 the applicant’s prior experience and qualifications will be taken into account at the application stage. Where students have prior higher education or equivalent work experience, it may be possible for this to be taken into account, to enable advanced entry to their chosen programme.

Portfolio

On receiving an application, we will offer successful candidates an interview. If possible please bring to the interview a portfolio containing the following:

• 10 to 15 pieces of original finished work, which show your technical ability in a range of media. Please bring photographs of 3D installation work or if some of your work is digital bring this on a device to show it.
• 1 or 2 sketch books showing your own areas of interest, individual thought process or development process of finished work.
• 1 example of writing, critical study work or exploration of other artists, that you have done

If you do not have all of the above, please do not worry, just contact the office and we can speak to you about alternatives.

English Language Requirements

All applicants are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English Language competence to gain entry to the Academy. This can be through previous study in English (evidencing an approved English language qualification at Level 2, GCSE or equivalent). Where an applicant is unable to provide evidence of a relevant, formal English qualification, the Academy will require specific performance in written English tests at interview. Appropriate level of spoken English is assessed at interview.

Admission Policy 

The Academy does not sponsor international students through the Tier 4 visa system and therefore cannot accept international students unless they are able to prove right of residency in the UK.

The Academy operates a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people (with the motivation and ability to study at the correct level) have an opportunity to benefit from the Fine Art education we provide. To find out more information please see the Academy’s Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

Academic Regulations and Policies

As a student of the Academy it is very important you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These apply to any of our students studying on any of our Diploma and Pre-Degree programmes and outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure all students understand both expectations and support available to them. To find out more information please see our Academic Regulations and Policies page.

If you are interested in studying at the Academy and would like to attend one of our Open Days, please fill in our Open Day form on our Open Day page.

Our Open Days offer an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth information on our courses, learn about our dedicated and talented tutors and experience our vibrant and welcoming community.

We welcome all enthusiastic candidates to apply. If you are interested in studying at the Academy please register to attend an Open day, above, or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 to discuss courses further or arrange a visit.

What to expect

Before you apply to the Academy you will want to understand what to expect from the application process and how best to prepare. Be assured that we assess you on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen programme of study with us.

It’s an individually tailored but consistent approach; all applicants are required to attend an interview and portfolio review. You will receive an invitation by email with an interview date and time, should you need to change this date, please speak to the Admissions Team. This will be a 30 – 45 minute conversation with one or two tutors, exploring your application and interview portfolio. Should your individual situation necessitate, we can conduct an interview via Skype. We encourage you to ask questions and see the interview as a 2 way process.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria, through the interview and portfolio review:

• The ability to demonstrate a range of Fine Art experience, ability and understanding, including evidence of:

1. Technical ability in one or more Fine Art medium
2. Conceptual ideas and understanding
3. Awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art

• Independence of thought
• Evidence of curiosity, inquisitiveness and being open to new ideas and thinking
• The potential and ambition to develop their Fine Art work and ideas further, and ideas about how they might do that
• A willingness to explore alternative ways of thinking and working
• Satisfactory academic reference
• Personal statement
• Academic attainment at a pre degree foundation course, within general education at GCSE & Level 3 (where the applicant has a traditional educational background) or alternative experience within art and design or appropriate subject areas

If you are at all concerned that a disability might interfere or inhibit your interview, please let us know in your application: we will make any reasonable adjustment we can, so that you can fully participate in an interview. Please see the below section “applicants with special educational needs and disabilities”.

In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

All applicants are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language competence to gain entry to the Academy. More information about this can be found in ‘Entry Requirements’ above.

Application Deadline

If you would like to apply for the Fine Art Diploma please note the following deadlines:

Deadline 1: Applicants who apply by 15th February will be interviewed by 8th March and will be informed of the outcome by 29th March. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 26th April.

Deadline 2: Applicants who apply by 3rd May will be interviewed by 24th May and will be informed of the outcome by 14th June. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 12th July.

Deadline 3: After 3rd May applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Please note, applications deadlines after Deadline 1 are subject to availability and will not be open for applications if the programme has reached capacity.

Applications for 2019/2020 will not be processed before 15th February.

More information on the admissions process can be found on the Academy’s Admissions Policy.

Apply

You can apply for the Fine Art Diploma starting September 2019 online or by post. To apply online you must fill in our online application form. Please note, the application form must be downloaded and cannot currently be completed online. To prevent problems when completing the form, please ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader. If you are applying via post you can download an application form here. This must be posted, along with at least 5 images of your work, to:

Admissions Team, The Art Academy, Mermaid Court, 165A Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR

The application form is your first opportunity to tell us about yourself, as well as being a vital source of the information we need to make a decision. Please take your time to complete the form accurately. When you have completed the application form remember to check you have provided all the information required, including the link to your digital portfolio. We only accept applications on the form provided and reserve the right to reject incomplete or alternative applications.

Should you have any questions about the application process or completing the form, please speak to a member of the Admissions Team.

The Result

Decisions will normally be communicated to applicants within three weeks. There are 3 possible outcomes:

Conditional Offer: A conditional offer means that the Academy will offer an applicant a place providing certain conditions are met before registration on the programme. Usually conditions are based on the completion of outstanding qualifications. Each offer is specific to the applicant’s individual circumstances.

Unconditional Offer: An unconditional offer means that an applicant has met the (academic and non-academic) entry requirements and has been accepted onto their chosen programme at the Academy.

Unsuccessful Application: Applicants will receive an unsuccessful response if the Academy has decided not to offer them a place on the programme. Applicants can be unsuccessful for many reasons and should be aware that many of the programmes at the Academy receive far more applications than number of places available.

Feedback on the decision will be given to any applicant who requests it.

We will always ensure that the interviews and portfolio reviews are carried out fairly and equally. All those conducting interviews are trained to do so and fully conversant in our Admissions Policy. Although decisions to admit or reject applicants are academic judgements and therefore cannot be appealed, if an applicant feels that the interview and selection process was not conducted fairly and equitably or as described in our Admissions Policy, the process for making a complaint in this regard can be found within the policy document.

Next Steps

You will be notified of the outcome by email. With this email you will receive an offer letter, the Terms and Conditions (contract) which you will need to sign and return along with the deposit (see Fees & Funding section above), a copy of the student handbook, programme handbook and Academic Regulations.

By accepting an offer you agree to abide by the Academy’s Regulations.

All successful applicants will be invited to our Graduate shows, to get a sense of the community and see what they could achieve by studying with us.

Prior to starting you will be sent the course documents for the Elective Skills Workshop courses and have a meeting or phone conversation with a member of the Academics Team to discuss and agree your choices for the first term. Part-time students will also need to decide on individual routes through the first stage of the programme.

Application Process

The Academy is committed to supporting accessible learning and welcomes students with disabilities and special educational needs subject to being able to support their individual needs; good accessibility practices and the needs of disabled students in academic provision are reviewed on a case by case basis, with all reasonable adjustments, such as the re-timetabling of studios and alternative assessment arrangements considered in order to provide services and equal educational opportunities to the individual student or applicant.

Disclosure

Applicants are invited and encouraged to disclose any disabilities or special needs at the point of application so that the Academy can begin to plan any support it may need to provide at the earliest opportunity, including during the admissions process itself. Admissions decisions are always made on the basis of the candidate’s ability and/or potential to complete the programme for which they are being considered.

Accessibility of the Academy’s estate and reasonable adjustments 

Provided that the candidate is suitable for the programme applied for, the Academy will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with a physical or mobility impairment in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

The Academy’s premises are old buildings which inevitably means that access to some areas can be problematic for people with a physical disability. This will continue to be an issue for the immediate future and all our premises are currently unaccessible to wheelchair users. Therefore, whilst this is the case, we undertake to mitigate problems for applicants and students with mobility difficulties as far as possible by ensuring that where possible, appropriate arrangements are made to hold interviews, classes, workshops, tutorials, exhibitions and other events in accessible spaces.

We are currently completing a number of works to our main building in Mermaid Court, London Bridge, which will provide improved access and facilities to wheelchair users, including a wheelchair accessible toilet. These works are intended to be completed in the new year. These works, along with appropriate arrangements made for individuals within accessible spaces, means that from September 2019 we will be able to accommodate most students with physical disabilities on academic programmes. Appropriate arrangements may include the rescheduling of classes, workshops, tutorials, lectures and other events to spaces within the main building of Mermaid Court and the ground floor of our Newington building. It may also include the provision of facilities to undertake classes and workshops in techniques and processes outside of the dedicated space in which they normally occur (i.e. printmaking) and individual provision of facilities such as storage spaces, where these are normally in unaccessible areas. Our library is located on the ground floor and fully accessible.

Some of our buildings will remain inaccessible for the foreseeable future (our second building at Mermaid Court and the 2nd floor areas of our Newington building). Further improvements are planned to ensure we have appropriate buildings and facilities in the future; we are committed to improving access to all our buildings and are working towards making all areas of our campus fully accessible to all.

Applicants and potential applicants who have mobility difficulties or any other special needs should speak to us and/or arrange to visit the Academy, before completing the application process, to discuss their needs so that they can make an informed decision as to whether the Academy is able to provide an appropriate environment for their studies.

Hearing Technology for hard of hearing/deaf applicants 

Portable induction loops can be provided during open days, interview and in teaching spaces for those who require them.

Other disabilities and conditions

If you have another disability, specific learning difficulty, health, or mental health difficulty, we strongly encourage you to contact us to talk about options for support.

Student Support

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies. For more information on the Student Support available please see our Student Support page.

If you don’t find the answer to your question here please contact the Academic team on +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk:

Can I do the Fine Art Diploma course part-time?

Yes, there is a Part-time Fine Art Diploma programme. Part time students attend 2 days a week over 5 years. The part time Fine Art Diploma takes 4 years to complete stage 1 and 2 and a further 1 year to complete stage 3.

Do you take mature students for the Fine Art Diploma?

Yes, applications from mature students are welcomed.

Do I need to have done formal art training before applying for the Fine Art Diploma?

No, but the Fine Art Diploma is for those intending to make art their full-time occupation. Selection is made during interview where we will consider your level of ability and commitment through discussion and portfolio review.

What is the structure for paying fees for the Fine Art Diploma?

Fees can be paid yearly or termly – full details can be found on the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Fine Art Diploma webpage. The first term of stage 1 must be paid for prior to the start the course. Furthermore there is a deposit required from all students enrolling on the course.

Is the Fine Art Diploma recognised or accredited?

The Fine Art Diploma is an in-house awarded Diploma and is not validated by a university or exam board. It is not part of QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) or FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications). Our Diploma programmes are subject to external moderation to ensure that our standards are comparable to national undergraduate benchmarks.

Many students from the Academy’s Diploma course have gone on to do an MA at another institution and some have entered the third year of a Fine Art BA course. The Academy is currently in the process of launching validated Undergarduate Degree programmes in the near future.

Do I need to supply my own materials?

Yes, materials are not included in your tuition fee costs. For more information on material costs see the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Fine Art Diploma webpage. We do have an art supplies shop in the Academy which offers materials at a heavily discounted price.

The BA (Hons) Fine Art programme has been carefully designed to support and challenge you and help you develop your own approach to your art practice based upon your interests and ideas, with a different focus for each stage.

The programme mainly takes place at Mermaid Court (165A Borough High Street, London, SE1 1HR) with some time in stages 2 and 3 spent at our Newington site (155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS). The course is 3 years full time or 5 years part time.

The programme comprises 4 main components:

• Studio Practice modules
• Art History and Theory modules
• Professional Development modules
• Elective Skills Workshop courses

Course Dates 2018-2019

Autumn term – Monday 17th September to Friday 30th November (Half term – 22nd to 28th October)

Spring term – Monday 14th January to Friday 29th March (Half term – 18th to 24th February)

Summer term – Tuesday 23rd April to Monday 1st July

Studio Practice Modules

The Studio Practice modules form the core of the course. You will develop work and critical skills in response to a series of practical briefs that encourage increasingly independent learning. These modules run throughout the entire programme with 1 each term in stages 1 and 2 and an extended personal project that spans all 3 terms in stage 3. Studio Practice modules are taught through a mixture of 1-2-1 tutorials, group critiques, workshops and lectures, with students undertaking mostly practical work in a studio.

The Contextual Studies programme, which forms part of the Studio Practice modules, ensures you gain knowledge and understanding of the wider contexts and critical discourses relating to your own fine art practice. For each Studio Practice module throughout the programme you will be expected to collate a portfolio of contextual evidence, which includes evidence of preparatory work, research work and pieces of reflective and discursive writing. Studio practice modules are assessed through a portfolio of practical work. In stages 1 and 2 students present their work to tutors and peers for assessment.

Elective Skills Workshop Courses

These 1 day per week, term-long courses underpin the Studio Practice modules and are where you will receive intensive training in the technical skills necessary for your chosen discipline(s).

These courses cover a wide range of disciplines with technical progress developed in whatever discipline you choose to pursue.

You can work across multiple disciplines or follow a path focusing on a single discipline, such as painting, sculpture, digital media, installation or printmaking, allowing you to tailor your learning to your specific interests.

We consider drawing essential for all artists and creative practitioners, so you will take 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses in drawing in stage 1 and can choose to continue these in stages 2 and 3.

The Elective Skills Workshop courses are not subject to summative assessment. They are intended to give you the freedom and space to experiment with skills and approaches which will inform the development of your studio practice projects. The days you attend the Academy will vary from term to term, depending on which Elective Skills Workshop course you choose.*

*Please note, however, the days you attend the Studio Practice module will remain fixed throughout the year. You may also at times be required to come in for sessions and events in addition to these days.

Art History and Theory Modules

These modules allow you to study and analyse wider artistic discourses and theories. The programme of study within these modules is linked to the practical work undertaken within the Studio Practice modules. The Art History and Theory modules are designed to prepare you for the extended contextual research project in stage 3. In stages 1 and 2, the modules consist of 1 day a week during the 2nd term and incorporate lectures, seminars, group activities and gallery visits. You will be supported in the development of academic research and writing skills during these modules.

In stage 3 the relationship between scholarship and practice is paramount. You are required to write a dissertation or undertake an extended contextual research project on a topic that relates to the extended personal project you complete in your stage 3 Studio Practice module. This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module.

Professional Development Modules

In stages 2 and 3, you take part in Professional Development modules that focus specifically on the development of skills and knowledge necessary for future employment within the art world and wider creative industries.

Stage 1 (level 4)

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During stage 1 the focus is on investigation. Stage 1 does not contribute to your final BA (Hons) Fine Art grade or classification, but you must successfully complete the stage, including meeting attendance requirements (as detailed in our attendance policy) in order to progress to stage 2.

Studio Practice Modules

You will learn to experiment with the processes, materials and techniques that will provide the foundation for your developing art practice and inform the work you undertake in subsequent years.

Throughout these modules, you are encouraged to take risks and experiment widely in and across disciplines. You will start to identify areas of interest and to analyse your choices of materials and techniques through the expression of your ideas.

As a full time student you will attend 1 full day per week across all 3 terms. As a part time student you will attend 1 full day per week across 3 of the 6 terms available.

Stage 1 students are not allocated dedicated, personal studio space. Studio practice modules are taught in studios throughout the Academy’s buildings. In addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to work a minimum of another full day (6 hours) per week on your project independently.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

To support your Studio Practice work you will undertake Elective Skills Workshop courses. Each course runs for 1 full day per week per term. A wide variety of courses are available each term across all disciplines and you are free to choose from amongst them, alongside the compulsory elements of the programme.

As a full time student you will undertake 2 to 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. Drawing is compulsory in stage 1, since we consider drawing an essential tool for all artists. You must take 3 courses in drawing (1 in each term in stage 1 for full time students). There are a range of different drawing courses that explore both technical and more expressive approaches. You must also complete the Digital Development course in term 1 or 2 in stage 1. This course equips you with the basic digital skills you will require for the Professional Development module in stage 2. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

As a part time student you will undertake 1 to 2 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (to be taken across 3 of the 6 terms available). You must also complete the Digital Development course in the first term of either year of stage 1. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

Art Theory Module

The Art Theory module, ‘Theories of Spectatorship’, provides your with the basic skills associated with the critical evaluation of art and academic research, and introduces you to art theory and other relevant discourses. You will learn to interrogate your ideas through an understanding of wider critical, philosophical and theoretical approaches.

The Art Theory module runs for 1 full day a week across 1 term in stage 1 for full time and part time students, and requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions. The module is assessed through the completion of an essay.

Stage 2 (level 5)

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During stage 2 there is a shift in emphasis towards self-reflection and analysis. Stage 2 equates for 33% of your final BA (Hons) Fine Art grade and classification. Again, students must successfully complete the stage, including meeting attendance requirements (as detailed in our attendance policy) in order to progress to stage 3.

Studio Practice Modules

In the first Studio Practice module, you will take on a live commission, sourcing your own client and negotiating the relationship with them, through to the completion of the commissioned artwork. Supported by your tutor and peers, you will learn to balance the client’s needs with your own creative process.

The second and third Studio Practice modules focus on the development of your individual artistic practice. This is achieved through the exploration for your core intentions and your increasing knowledge, understanding and analysis of wider contexts and critical discourses.

Studio Practice sessions in stage 2 are supplemented with visits from guest lecturers and speakers, artist talks, workshops and gallery visits.

Studio Practice modules in stage 2 run for 2 full days per week across three terms for both full time students and part time students.

At the beginning of stage 2 full time students are allocated dedicated, personal studio space to work in. Part time students are allocated studio space during the 3 terms they are taking part in the Studio Practice module. Students are able to use their studio space to continue to work independently on Studio Practice modules, outside of taught sessions. Again, in addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to contribute a minimum of 1 full day (6 hours) per week to your project independently.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

As a full time or part time student you study a minimum of 5 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice across stage 2. Each course runs for 1 full day per week per term. The courses chosen should support the refinement of your technique within the discipline (or disciplines) of your choice. Although drawing is no longer compulsory in stage 2, you may still take drawing courses if they are relevant to your practice and development. 

Art History Module

The Art History module ‘Modern Contemporary Art History’, explores the history of modern and contemporary art, helping to develop your understanding of key artists and thinkers from 1900 to the present day, and their influences on contemporary practice.

The Art History module runs 1 full day per week for 1 term in stage 2 for both full time and part time students, and requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions. The module is assessed through the completion of an essay.

Professional Development Module

You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, explore opportunities and approaches available to establish and support an artistic practice, develop exhibition and curatorial experience and marketing and business planning tools to help prepare you for life after the Academy. This module runs throughout the year and is assessed through a portfolio of evidence including the creation of a website, marketing plans and evidence of the use of marketing and business tools. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Stage 3 (level 6)

1 year full time, 1 year part time

Studio Practice Modules

In the third and final stage there is a further shift, this time towards self directed Studio Practice.

Stage 3 represents the culmination of knowledge, skills and understanding acquired throughout your journey through the creation of a major body of practical work in a project that is entirely self-initiated and directed. Stage 3 equated for 67% of your final BA (Hons) Fine Art grade and classification.

You will receive continued support in the form of regular group critiques guided by a stage 3 tutor and 1-2-1 tutorials as you further explore your own practice, research your artist’s statement and prepare work towards the Graduate Show. You will typically spend 1 day per week per term working with your Studio Practice tutor. In addition to this all students (full time and part time) are expected to work a minimum of 1 full day (6 hours) per week independently on their studio practice. As in stage 2, students are allocated, personal, dedicated studio space to work in. In stage 3 this is all year for both full and part time students.

This final studio practice module is assessed at the Graduate show.  Alongside the work you mount for exhibition, you will submit a supporting portfolio of developmental work and take part in a Viva Voce with a team of tutors and an external assessor, during which they will question you about your project development, curatorial choices and contextual knowledge.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

As a full time or part time student you will take a maximum of 1 Elective Skills Workshop course each term, which you choose with a view to honing further the skills needed for your developing work.

Art Theory/History Module

You will either write a dissertation – a piece of independent, in-depth critical research on a subject of your choice but related to your practice – or undertake an alternative extended research project focused on the practical and theoretical considerations in the development of an idea for an Exhibition. This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module.

The Art Theory/History module runs 1 full day per week for 1 term in stage 3 for both full time and part time students, and requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Professional Development Module

In this module, you build upon skills learnt in stage 2 in preparation for future employment, focusing on marketing, business planning and career management. focusing on an area of professional development relevant to you. You undertake a real art-world experience, together with a research project exploring an area of professional creative practice through which you critically analyse the experience. This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module, but also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Among the most distinctive features of the Academy’s approach is the exceptionally high level of personal contact time with teaching staff. Nowhere is this more evident than on the BA (Hons) Fine Art which boasts one of the highest levels of contact hours of any higher education Fine Art programme in the UK. In stages 1 and 2, full-time BA (Hons) Fine Art students receive 3-4 full days per week of tutored time in different disciplines. In stage 3, the focus switches to project work and preparing for the Graduate Show but, even here, students still receive up to 14 hours contact time a week plus 1-2-1 tutorials covering Professional Development and preparation for their extended contextual research project.

The emphasis of our teaching and learning strategy is quality – quality consultation and quality time. Our teaching body is second to none. All our teachers – permanent staff or visiting lecturers – are practising artists in their own right. They include prize-winning practitioners and members of leading arts organisations. As well as 1-2-1 contact with tutors in classes, students have individual artistic tutorials with tutors of their choice throughout the year.

The lead tutors for the BA (Hons) Fine Art are:

Alison Hand

Alison Hand graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Painting, and has exhibited across London, the UK, Germany and Hong Kong. Hand’s practice explores the representation of landscape and architecture, particularly narratives of regeneration and improvement. She approaches painting with a language of fragmentation and hard materiality interacting with illusory depth. Hand’s work has won numerous awards including the Basil Alkazzi Scholarship Award; the Painters’ and Stainers’ Gordon Luton Award; and the Stevenson Harwood Award. Hand is a published art writer, with commissions ranging from Blueprint to Abstract Critical. From 2008-2012 she was a Board Director for Artgene in Cumbria, and also undertook doctoral research into art and architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. Hand also works with architecture teams on building projects. Hand teaches studio practice, painting and drawing modules, and is Head of Level 3 Diploma.

Briony Marshall

David Hodge

Sue Spaull

Sue Spaull is our BA Programme Leader. Alison Hand is Deputy BA Pathway Leader, Briony Marshall is our Professional Development Programme Leader and David Hodge is our Art History & Theory Programme Leader.

Our Studio Practice tutors are Julian Wild, Sarah Gillham, Alison Hand, Sue Spaull and Lynne Abrahamson.

The tutors you are taught by within the Elective Skills Workshop courses will depend upon the courses you undertake. You can view all our tutors here.

The Academy is a true artistic community; an environment of vibrant exchange where you learn from expert practising artists and wide-ranging creative stimuli.

We’ll stretch your thinking at the same time as build your skills across multiple dimensions. We don’t subscribe to the view that there is one way to train an artist. We start with the individual and invest time, supporting you through the provision of tailored, hands on tuition. We believe in opening the mind every bit as much as we believe in training the eye and the hand.

For more information please view our Teaching Approach page.

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies.

The small scale of the institution is advantageous to the provision of student support. It fosters a close community of staff and students where students feel safe and able to seek advice and guidance from a variety of staff.

More information detailing the main areas of support please see our Student Support page.

“There was so much art being made everywhere, but real, tangible living art and artists of all ages and disciplines”.

I have a distinct memory of the first time I walked into the Art Academy. I felt like a child who had just walked into Willy Wonker’s Chocolate Factory. It was a completely new world to me, but one I immediately wanted to be a part of. I saw fabulous, large sculptures being built from various models, life drawing, painting and much more. There was so much art being made everywhere, but real, tangible living art and artists of all ages and disciplines heavily involved in their work. I was enthralled straight away.

I had been to many art schools in London before but had never entered a space quite like this with such a practical, hands-on approach. I was mesmerised by the quality of the work and the intensity of its production. It was like a living dream to see huge sculptures and awe-inspiring paintings being created in such an immediate, physical way. Waiting to find out if… READ MORE

Rhiannon Rebecca Salisbury, Fine Art Diploma Student

Every student has had work in an exhibition before they leave, with many having held a number of exhibitions themselves. Almost all graduates will have done at least one commission. All graduates will have websites, social media profiles, contact databases and online and offline portfolios.

Academy students have gone on to win large commissions, have exhibitions and undertake residency opportunities. These have included the following:

• Public art piece for the Ministry of Tourism in Malta celebrating 100 Years of Aviation
• A £15000 sculpture commission for the Honourable Artillery Company in Old Street, London
• A £5000 commission for painting for a large building development in Romford
• KPMG exhibitions in their international headquarters at 1 Canada Square
• Art exhibitions and demonstration at Lincoln Cathedral
• Exhibiting at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition
• Working with Old Vic Theatre to create an advertising campaign for King Lear
• Residency at Cil Railaig Ireland through the National Open

Fees 2019/2020

Fees must be paid in advance and can be paid yearly or termly (the latter incurring a 5% surcharge).

Please note, these are our 2019-2020 fees. Fees are subject to annual review and are likely to increase by due to inflation in the following academic years. (such increases will not exceed 5% annually).

Materials

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop Courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the final year Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £500 and £1500* per year, depending on materials, chosen disciplines and stage of the programme.

The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and tutors can also advise you.

* Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance only (based on survey results from previous students) and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Trips and Visits 

It is expected that students studying at this level will visit galleries and exhibitions independently, as part of the development of the contextual knowledge and practice. Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries. Where there is an entry fee, whilst we encourage you to take these trips, we understand it is not always possible, so they are not compulsory nor essential. If you are not able to participate, the tutor will prepare an alternative itinerary of free museum and gallery visits that you can follow.

Deposit

As a small independent art school we are unable to hold places offered indefinitely. If your application is successful you will need to pay the deposit of £500 and return your signed contract to secure your place. The Deposit is in addition to the fees. Your deposit is returned after successful completion of the programme and removal of your Graduate Show installation.  Should you withdraw from the programme without successfully completing it we will retain your deposit. Should you fail to satisfactorily remove your Graduate Show installation, and the Academy incur costs to do so, we will retain your deposit.

Bursaries

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their BA (Hons) Fine Art in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Funding 

As an independent institution our courses are not subject to public funding and as a result there is no exemption from fees for under 19 year olds or access to student loans.

Refunds 

Once you have returned the signed contract and deposit to secure your place you have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel, at which point your full deposit will be refunded. Fees are due prior to the start of the programme. If you decide to cancel after the 14 day period and before the fees are due, you will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you begin the course and decide to withdraw you will be liable for the tuition fees for the first term and will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you decide to cancel your contract or withdraw at any point, you should do so in writing using the form provided.

Once enrolled or re-enrolled as a student, should you decide to withdraw from your programme, you are required to give the Academy a full term’s notice, informing us by the last teaching day of the previous term: the notice period cannot commence part way through a term. If it does, you will be liable to pay full fees for the term’s notice period.  Should you need to, you are able to suspend study for up to 12 months (please see our withdrawal and interruption of study policy).

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information on Fees.

Applications will be considered on an individual basis and are welcomed from individuals with non-standard qualifications, patterns of prior study and experience from a variety of backgrounds.

All applicants are required to undertake an interview and portfolio review for assessment of key skills and level of ability and enthusiasm for the programme they are applying for. Although no formal qualifications are required, applicants will need to demonstrate work at least of Level 3 (A Level) equivalent. In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• The ability to demonstrate a range of fine art experience including an awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art and key artistic skills through an interview and portfolio review.
• Satisfactory academic reference, if applicable.
• Personal statement

Intake is only in term one (September). Entry is normally at Level 4 (stage 1), but is possible at subsequent levels subject to appropriate qualifications and experience. For direct entry to Level 5 or 6 (stage 2 or 3) the applicant’s prior experience and qualifications will be taken into account at the application stage. Where students have prior higher education or equivalent work experience, it may be possible for this to be taken into account, to enable advanced entry to their chosen programme.

The deadline for September 2019 applications is 8th June 2019.

Portfolio

On receiving an application, we will offer successful candidates an interview. If possible please bring to the interview a portfolio containing the following:

• 10 to 15 pieces of original finished work, which show your technical ability in a range of media. Please bring photographs of 3D installation work or if some of your work is digital bring this on a device to show it.
• 1 or 2 sketch books showing your own areas of interest, individual thought process or development process of finished work.
• 1 example of writing, critical study work or exploration of other artists, that you have done

If you do not have all of the above, please do not worry, just contact the office and we can speak to you about alternatives.

English Language Requirements

All applicants are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English Language competence to gain entry to the Academy. This can be through previous study in English (evidencing an approved English language qualification at Level 2, GCSE or equivalent). Where an applicant is unable to provide evidence of a relevant, formal English qualification, the Academy will require specific performance in written English tests at interview. Appropriate level of spoken English is assessed at interview.

Admission Policy 

The Art Academy does not sponsor international students through the Tier 4 visa system and therefore cannot accept international students unless they are able to prove right of residency in the UK.

The Academy operates a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people (with the motivation and ability to study at the correct level) have an opportunity to benefit from the Fine Art education we provide. To find out more information please see the Academy’s Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

Academic Regulations and Policies

As a student of the Academy it is very important you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These apply to any of our students studying on any of our Degree and Pre-Degree programmes and outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure all students understand both expectations and support available to them. To find out more information please see our Academic Regulations and Policies page.

If you are interested in studying at the Academy and would like to attend one of our Open Days, please fill in our Open Day form on our Open Day page.

Our Open Days offer an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth information on our courses, learn about our dedicated and talented tutors and experience our vibrant and welcoming community.

We welcome all enthusiastic candidates to apply. If you are interested in studying at the Academy please register to attend an Open day, above, or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 to discuss courses further or arrange a visit.

What to expect

Before you apply to the Academy you will want to understand what to expect from the application process and how best to prepare. Be assured that we assess you on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen programme of study with us.

It’s an individually tailored but consistent approach; all applicants are required to attend an interview and portfolio review. You will receive an invitation by email with an interview date and time, should you need to change this date, please speak to the Admissions Team. This will be a 30 – 45 minute conversation with one or two tutors, exploring your application and interview portfolio. Should your individual situation necessitate, we can conduct an interview via Skype. We encourage you to ask questions and see the interview as a 2 way process.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria, through the interview and portfolio review:

• The ability to demonstrate a range of Fine Art experience, ability and understanding, including evidence of:

1. Technical ability in one or more Fine Art medium
2. Conceptual ideas and understanding
3. Awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art

• Independence of thought
• Evidence of curiosity, inquisitiveness and being open to new ideas and thinking
• The potential and ambition to develop their Fine Art work and ideas further, and ideas about how they might do that
• A willingness to explore alternative ways of thinking and working
• Satisfactory academic reference
• Personal statement
• Academic attainment at a pre degree foundation course, within general education at GCSE & Level 3 (where the applicant has a traditional educational background) or alternative experience within art and design or appropriate subject areas

If you are at all concerned that a disability might interfere or inhibit your interview, please let us know in your application: we will make any reasonable adjustment we can, so that you can fully participate in an interview. Please see the below section “applicants with special educational needs and disabilities”.

In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

All applicants are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language competence to gain entry to the Academy. More information about this can be found in ‘Entry Requirements’ above.

Application Deadline

If you would like to apply for the BA (Hons) Fine Art please note the following deadlines:

Deadline 1: Applicants who apply by 15th February will be interviewed by 8th March and will be informed of the outcome by 29th March. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 26th April.

Deadline 2: Applicants who apply by 3rd May will be interviewed by 24th May and will be informed of the outcome by 14th June. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 12th July.

Deadline 3: After 3rd May applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Please note, applications deadlines after Deadline 1 are subject to availability and will not be open for applications if the programme has reached capacity.

Applications for 2019/2020 will not be processed before 15th February.

More information on the admissions process can be found on the Academy’s Admissions Policy.

Apply

You can apply for the BA (Hons) Fine Art starting September 2019 online or by post. To apply online you must fill in our online application form. Please note, the application form must be downloaded and cannot currently be completed online. To prevent problems when completing the form, please ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader. If you are applying via post you can download an application form here. This must be posted, along with at least 5 images of your work, to:

Admissions Team, The Art Academy, Mermaid Court, 165A Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR

The application form is your first opportunity to tell us about yourself, as well as being a vital source of the information we need to make a decision. Please take your time to complete the form accurately. When you have completed the application form remember to check you have provided all the information required, including the link to your digital portfolio. We only accept applications on the form provided and reserve the right to reject incomplete or alternative applications.

Should you have any questions about the application process or completing the form, please speak to a member of the Admissions Team.

The Result

Decisions will normally be communicated to applicants within three weeks. There are 3 possible outcomes:

Conditional Offer: A conditional offer means that the Academy will offer an applicant a place providing certain conditions are met before registration on the programme. Usually conditions are based on the completion of outstanding qualifications. Each offer is specific to the applicant’s individual circumstances.

Unconditional Offer: An unconditional offer means that an applicant has met the (academic and non-academic) entry requirements and has been accepted onto their chosen programme at the Academy.

Unsuccessful Application: Applicants will receive an unsuccessful response if the Academy has decided not to offer them a place on the programme. Applicants can be unsuccessful for many reasons and should be aware that many of the programmes at the Academy receive far more applications than number of places available.

Feedback on the decision will be given to any applicant who requests it.

We will always ensure that the interviews and portfolio reviews are carried out fairly and equally. All those conducting interviews are trained to do so and fully conversant in our Admissions Policy. Although decisions to admit or reject applicants are academic judgements and therefore cannot be appealed, if an applicant feels that the interview and selection process was not conducted fairly and equitably or as described in our Admissions Policy, the process for making a complaint in this regard can be found within the policy document.

Next Steps

You will be notified of the outcome by email. With this email you will receive an offer letter, the Terms and Conditions (contract) which you will need to sign and return along with the deposit (see Fees & Funding section above), a copy of the student handbook, programme handbook and Academic Regulations.

By accepting an offer you agree to abide by the Academy’s Regulations.

All successful applicants will be invited to our Graduate shows, to get a sense of the community and see what they could achieve by studying with us.

Prior to starting you will be sent the course documents for the Elective Skills Workshop courses and have a meeting or phone conversation with a member of the Academics Team to discuss and agree your choices for the first term. Part-time students will also need to decide on individual routes through the first stage of the programme.

Application Process

The Academy is committed to supporting accessible learning and welcomes students with disabilities and special educational needs subject to being able to support their individual needs; good accessibility practices and the needs of disabled students in academic provision are reviewed on a case by case basis, with all reasonable adjustments, such as the re-timetabling of studios and alternative assessment arrangements considered in order to provide services and equal educational opportunities to the individual student or applicant.

Disclosure

Applicants are invited and encouraged to disclose any disabilities or special needs at the point of application so that the Academy can begin to plan any support it may need to provide at the earliest opportunity, including during the admissions process itself. Admissions decisions are always made on the basis of the candidate’s ability and/or potential to complete the programme for which they are being considered.

Accessibility of the Academy’s estate and reasonable adjustments 

Provided that the candidate is suitable for the programme applied for, the Academy will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with a physical or mobility impairment in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

The Academy’s premises are old buildings which inevitably means that access to some areas can be problematic for people with a physical disability. This will continue to be an issue for the immediate future and all our premises are currently unaccessible to wheelchair users. Therefore, whilst this is the case, we undertake to mitigate problems for applicants and students with mobility difficulties as far as possible by ensuring that where possible, appropriate arrangements are made to hold interviews, classes, workshops, tutorials, exhibitions and other events in accessible spaces.

We are currently completing a number of works to our main building in Mermaid Court, London Bridge, which will provide improved access and facilities to wheelchair users, including a wheelchair accessible toilet. These works are intended to be completed in the new year. These works, along with appropriate arrangements made for individuals within accessible spaces, means that from September 2019 we will be able to accommodate most students with physical disabilities on academic programmes. Appropriate arrangements may include the rescheduling of classes, workshops, tutorials, lectures and other events to spaces within the main building of Mermaid Court and the ground floor of our Newington building. It may also include the provision of facilities to undertake classes and workshops in techniques and processes outside of the dedicated space in which they normally occur (i.e. printmaking) and individual provision of facilities such as storage spaces, where these are normally in unaccessible areas. Our library is located on the ground floor and fully accessible.

Some of our buildings will remain inaccessible for the foreseeable future (our second building at Mermaid Court and the 2nd floor areas of our Newington building). Further improvements are planned to ensure we have appropriate buildings and facilities in the future; we are committed to improving access to all our buildings and are working towards making all areas of our campus fully accessible to all.

Applicants and potential applicants who have mobility difficulties or any other special needs should speak to us and/or arrange to visit the Academy, before completing the application process, to discuss their needs so that they can make an informed decision as to whether the Academy is able to provide an appropriate environment for their studies.

Hearing Technology for hard of hearing/deaf applicants 

Portable induction loops can be provided during open days, interview and in teaching spaces for those who require them.

Other disabilities and conditions

If you have another disability, specific learning difficulty, health, or mental health difficulty, we strongly encourage you to contact us to talk about options for support.

Student Support

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies. For more information on the Student Support available please see our Student Support page.

If you don’t find the answer to your question here please contact the Academic team on +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk:

Can I do the BA (Hons) Fine Art course part-time?

Yes, there is a Part-time BA (Hons) Fine Art programme. Part time students attend 2 days a week over 5 years. The part time BA (Hons) Fine Art takes 4 years to complete stage 1 and 2 and a further 1 year to complete stage 3.

Are bursaries or student loans available for the BA (Hons) Fine Art?

The BA (Hons) Fine Art is superseding our successful Fine Art Diploma, but as a new course in its first few years, is currently not eligible for student loans. The Academy can offer advice on possible sources of funding for students. See the ‘Fees and Funding’ section on the BA (Hons) Fine Art webpage for more details or contact us to discuss your options.

Do you take mature students for the BA (Hons) Fine Art?

Yes, applications from mature students are welcomed.

Do I need to have done formal art training before applying for the BA (Hons) Fine Art?

No, but the BA (Hons) Fine Art is for those intending to make art their full-time occupation. Selection is made during interview where we will consider your level of ability and commitment through discussion and portfolio review.

What is the structure for paying fees for the BA (Hons) Fine Art?

Fees can be paid yearly or termly – full details can be found on the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the BA (Hons) Fine Art webpage. The first term of stage 1 must be paid for prior to the start the course. Furthermore there is a deposit required from all students enrolling on the course.

Is the BA (Hons) Fine Art recognised or accredited?

The Academy is a fully accredited partner institution of The Open University (OU). Our BA (Hons) Fine Art, Sculpture Foundation Degree and Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree are validated by The Open University, a hallmark of academic quality.

Do I need to supply my own materials?

Yes, materials are not included in your tuition fee costs. For more information on material costs see the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the BA (Hons) Fine Art webpage. We do have an art supplies shop in the Academy which offers materials at a heavily discounted price.

Fine Art Foundation

Full Time: 1 year, 3 days per week, 10am – 5pm

Part Time: 2 years, 2 days per week, 10am – 5pm

A pre-degree course for those wanting to study art or design at a higher level. This course develops your skills, creativity and conceptual and critical understanding. Unlike other Foundation courses you will have the opportunity to devise your own individually tailored programme, learning the skills relevant to your goals. You will focus on developing a strong portfolio that will give you a good chance of achieving a place at a sought-after art school or University.

As a full time student you will attend 3 tutored days per week at the Academy and undertake a further day independently developing your individual project work. As a part time student you will attend 2 tutored days per week and on average a half day independently developing your individual project work.

This course offers more contact time with tutors than most other Foundation courses available in the UK.

All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*

BA (Hons) Fine Art

Full Time: 3 years, 3-4 days per week, 10am – 5pm

Part Time: 5 years, 2 days per week, 10am – 5pm

The BA (Hons) Fine Art is our flagship programme. Choose this course if you want to make Fine Art your career or a large part of your life. Our BA (Hons) Fine Art is devised to offer an individual programme of study. You can gain skills in a range of specialist areas across 5 disciplines; painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and digital media. The course includes modules in art theory and history, contextual and critical study, personal and creative practice and professional development.

As a full time student you will attend 3 to 4 tutored days per week at the Academy and undertake a further day independently developing your individual project work. As a part time student you will attend 2 tutored days per week and a further day independently developing your individual project work when completing the Studio Practice modules.

All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*

Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree

Full Time: 2 years, 3-4 days per week, 10am – 5pm

Part Time: 4 years, 2 days per week, 10am – 5pm

Choose the Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree if you want to advance your skills in Portrait and Figure Painting and develop a career in this field.

This programme is the only course of its kind in the UK specialising in portraiture. Taught by some of Britain’s top practising portrait artists, including members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, you will enrol on courses designed specifically for the Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree as well as choose from options across 5 disciplines; painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and digital media.

The course includes critique sessions in art theory and history and modules in professional development needed to springboard your career in Portraiture.

All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*

Sculpture Foundation Degree

Full Time: 2 years, 3-4 days per week, 10am – 5pm

Part Time: 4 years, 2 days per week, 10am – 5pm

Choose the Sculpture Foundation Degree if you want to focus on a wide range of technical and creative skills needed for a successful sculptural practice and to develop a career in this field.

You will have the opportunity to devise an individual programme of study, working with a variety of materials and approaches, developing skills according to personal preference. Taught by some of Britain’s top practising artists, including members of the Royal Society of Sculptors, the programme will enable you to acquire traditional, figurative and contemporary sculpture skills, whilst encouraging you to develop your own sculptural language.

The course includes critique sessions in art theory and history and modules in professional development needed to springboard your career in Sculpture.

All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*

Certificate

Recommended Pathway: 2 years, 1 day a week, 10am – 5pm

Fast Track Pathway: 1 year, 2 days a week, 10am – 5pm

Our Certificate Course is ideal if you want to start developing your abilities but have limited time. You will specialise in one of four disciplines: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture or Printmaking, or complete a Fine Art Certificate across multiple disciplines.

In joining the Academy  you will have access to talks by visiting artists and artistic tutorials with a tutor of your choice. Furthermore you will be invited to exhibit in the end of year Graduate Show upon completion of your Certificate.

All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*

If you have less time, we offer an amazing range of short courses, 5 and 10 week evening courses, intensive weekend courses, masterclasses, young artist courses and taster courses.

For more information see our Short Courses, email shortcourses@artacademy.org.uk or call us on +44 (0)207 701 2880.

The Certificate is a flexible programme and can be customised to your needs. Should you want to take a course in more than one discipline at the same time (painting and drawing, for instance), this can be arranged since the courses take place on different days. We can tailor your programme to your needs, all the way to the culmination of the Graduate Show.

The programme is made up of 6 individual Elective Skills Workshop Courses. These courses are common components to all our academic programmes at the Academy, so you will be working alongside a diverse group of students. You will choose your Electives from a range available each term. The day you attend will be dependent on the course you choose each term.

The Award: Certificate in Painting

The programme focuses on a wide range of painting disciplines. It includes plenty of specific skills development but also explores other interesting and diverse methods. Within programme components there is ample scope for creative development and expression while learning the comprehensive skill set.

Programme Structure

Each year comprises 3 terms, each consisting of 10 teaching weeks.

There are three possible study days for the Certificate in Painting: Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. While the curriculum is slightly different on each of these days they are potentially interchangeable on a term basis.

You are also able to attend the following in addition to your regular study days:

• Guest lectures and talks by visiting artists.
• Tutorials – students have 1 artistic tutorial each term with a tutor of their choice.

The Award: Certificate in Sculpture

The Academy has its roots in championing and training sculptors. This programme focuses on a wide range of sculpture disciplines. It includes plenty of specific skills development but also explores other interesting and diverse methods. Within programme components there is ample scope for creative development and expression while learning the comprehensive skill set.

Programme Structure

Each year comprises 3 terms, each consisting of 10 teaching weeks.

Within this programme you have the option to concentrate studies in the following areas:

• Experimentation with a variety of techniques and mediums (Tuesdays)
• A focus on figure modelling (Thursdays)
• focus on creative sculpture (Mondays)

You are also able to attend the following in addition to your regular study days:

• Guest lectures and talks by visiting artists.
• Tutorials – students have 1 artistic tutorial each term with a tutor of their choice.

The Award: Certificate in Drawing

Drawing is the foundational tool of the artist and the Certificate at the Academy will help you hone this tool. This course is a fantastic springboard for all sorts of possibilities, whether you want to take further steps as an artist or you want to re-ignite this skill as part of your professional practice. The Certificate in Drawing is a practice-based course for those who wish to pursue their artistic practice but have limited time.

Programme Structure

Each year comprises 3 terms, each consisting of 10 teaching weeks.

Drawing courses usually run on Friday only.

You are also able to attend the following in addition to your regular study days:

• Guest lectures and talks by visiting artists.
• Tutorials – students have 1 artistic tutorial each term with a tutor of their choice.

The Award: Certificate in Printmaking

The Certificate in Printmaking is a practice-based study programme, covering a broad range of intaglio and relief printmaking techniques; etching, linoleum, woodcut, drypoint, collagraph, photopolymer and photo etching. Classes are designed to help you hone your printmaking skills, enabling ample scope for creative expression and specialisation. You will develop ideas through self-led projects to achieve a portfolio of contemporary prints, culminating in the participation of the Academy’s Print Show. The programme develops a broad range of professional skills, informed by regular visits to print exhibitions and end of term group crits directed by visiting artists, gallerists, editioners and curators.

Programme Structure

Each year comprises 3 terms, each consisting of 10 teaching weeks.

There are three possible study days for the Certificate in Printmaking: Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. While the curriculum is slightly different on each of these days they are potentially interchangeable on a term basis.

You are also able to attend the following in addition to your regular study days:

• Guest lectures and talks by visiting artists.
• Tutorials – students have 1 artistic tutorial each term with a tutor of their choice.

“The whole experience at the Academy has very much been a transformative journey not only in terms of my are but also within myself.”

Having attended an open day at the Academy, I was inspired by the method of teaching as well as their ethos, so was very keen to enrol to enhance with the aim of enhancing my work. Speaking with the Principal, I explained that I felt stuck in my practice and would welcome further guidance. I was selling my art, but was not really content with the body of work I was showing. Tanya had suggested the ‘Painting in Practice’ course would help me develop as an artist.

Since then I havn’t looked back – the time has flown by, my work has improved and I am so pleased that I made the decision and am so grateful….READ MORE

Iaysha Salih, Certificate Student

Fees 2019/2020

Fees must be paid in advance and can be paid yearly or termly (the latter incurring a 5% surcharge).

Please note, these are our 2019-2020 fees. Fees are subject to annual review and are likely to increase by due to inflation in the following academic years. (such increases will not exceed 5% annually).

Materials

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop Courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the final year Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £200 and £600* per year, depending on materials, chosen disciplines and stage of the programme.

The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and Tutors can also advise you.

*Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance (based on survey results from previous students) only and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Trips and Visits 

Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries. Where there is an entry fee, whilst we encourage you to take these trips, we understand it is not always possible, so they are not compulsory nor essential.

Deposit

As a small independent art school we are unable to hold places offered indefinitely. If your application is successful you will need to pay the deposit of £300 and return your signed contract to secure your place. The Deposit is in addition to the fees. Your deposit is returned after successful completion of the programme and removal of your Graduate Show installation.  Should you withdraw from the programme without successfully completing it we will retain your deposit. Should you fail to satisfactorily remove your Graduate Show installation, and the Academy incur costs to do so, we will retain your deposit.

Funding 

As an independent institution our courses are not subject to public funding and as a result there is no exemption from fees for under 19 year olds or access to student loans.

Refunds 

Once you have returned the signed contract and deposit to secure your place you have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel, at which point your full deposit will be refunded. Fees are due prior to the start of the programme. If you decide to cancel after the 14 day period and before the fees are due, you will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you begin the course and decide to withdraw you will be liable for the tuition fees for the first term and will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you decide to cancel your contract or withdraw at any point, you should do so in writing using the form provided.

Once enrolled or re-enrolled as a student, should you decide to withdraw from your programme, you are required to give the Academy a full term’s notice, informing us by the last teaching day of the previous term: the notice period cannot commence part way through a term. If it does, you will be liable to pay full fees for the term’s notice period.  Should you need to, you are able to suspend study for up to 12 months (please see our withdrawal and interruption of study policy).

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information on Fees.

There are no pre-requisite qualifications to making an application to the Certificate Programme. During the application process we will try to access a candidates  ability and enthusiasm for their subject. Entrants must be over 18 at the time of entry and must demonstrate competency in spoken and written English, which will be judged through the applicants Personal Statement and interview.

On receiving an application, we will offer candidates an interview. Interviews are based on the content and quality of the applicants portfolio, CV and application.

Portfolio

Students are asked to bring to the interview a portfolio containing the following:

• 5 pieces of original finished work, which show your technical ability in a range of media. Please bring photographs of 3d installation work or if some of your work is digital bring this on a device to show it.
• 1 sketch book showing your own areas of interest, individual thought process or development process of finished work.
• 1 example of writing, critical study work or exploration of other artists, that you have done

If you do not have all of the above, please do not worry, just contact the office and we can speak to you about alternatives.

Admission Policy 

The Academy operates a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people (with the motivation and ability to study at the correct level) have an opportunity to benefit from the Fine Art education we provide. To find out more information please see the Art Academy’s Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

Academic Regulations and Policies

As a student of the Academy it is very important you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These apply to any of our students studying on any of our Pre-Degree and Degree programmes and outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure all students understand both expectations and support available to them. To find out more information please see our Academic Regulations and Policies page.

If you are interested in studying at the Academy and would like to attend one of our Open Days, please fill in our Open Day form on our Open Day page.

Our Open Days offer an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth information on our courses, learn about our dedicated and talented tutors and experience our vibrant and welcoming community.

We welcome applications from all enthusiastic candidates. Please email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk  or call +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 to discuss courses further or arrange a visit.

You can apply for the Certificate Programme online or by post during any time of the year. To apply online you must fill in our online application form. If you are applying via post you can download an application form here. This must be posted, along with at least 5 images of your work, to:

Admissions Team, The Art Academy, Mermaid Court, 165A Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR

If you don’t find the answer to your question here please contact the Academic team on +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk:

Do you take mature students for the Certificate?

Yes, applications from mature students are welcomed.

Do I need to have done formal art training before applying for the Certificate?

No. Selection is made during the interview we will consider your ability, commitment and prior experience.

What is the structure for paying fees for the Certificate?

Fees can be paid yearly or termly – full details can be found on the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Certificate webpage. The first term must be paid for prior to the start the course. Furthermore there is a deposit required from all students enrolling on the course.

Is the Certificate recognised or accredited?

The Certificate is not accredited. It is not part of the QCF (Qualifications Credit Framework). It acts as a bridge between our Short Courses and our Academic Programmes and is an excellent way to build up your portfolio, or simply improve your skills. Many students from the Academy’s Certificate programme have gone on to further or higher education and accredited courses within the Academy and at other art schools and universities.

The Sculpture Foundation Degree has been carefully designed to ensure students are introduced to the wide variety of subjects and issues specific to developing a sculptural practice.

Led by Academy tutor Julian Wilde, the programme mainly takes place at Mermaid Court (165A Borough High Street, London, SE1 1HR) with some time spent at our Newington site (155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS). The course is 2 years full time or 4 years part time.

The programme comprises 4 main components:

• Studio Practice modules
• The Contextual Research module
• Professional Development modules
• Elective Skills Workshop courses

Final grade and classification is calculated on results from both stage 1 and 2. Further details can be found in the programme handbook.

Course Dates 2018-2019

Autumn term – Monday 17th September to Friday 30th November (Half term – 22nd to 28th October)

Spring term – Monday 14th January to Friday 29th March (Half term – 18th to 24th February)

Summer term – Tuesday 23rd April to Monday 1st July

Studio Practice

The Studio Practice modules form the core of the course. You will develop work and critical skills in response to a series of practical briefs that encourage increasingly independent learning. These modules run throughout the entire programme with 1 each term in stage 1, and 2 in stage 2 (the final module runs across 2 terms) Studio Practice modules are taught through a mixture of 1-2-1 tutorials, group critiques, workshops and lectures, with students undertaking mostly practical work in a studio.

The Contextual Studies programme, which forms part of the Studio Practice modules, ensures you gain knowledge and understanding of the wider contexts and critical discourses relating to your own fine art practice. For each Studio Practice module throughout the programme you will be expected to collate a portfolio of contextual evidence, which includes evidence of preparatory work, research work and pieces of reflective and discursive writing. Studio practice modules are assessed through a portfolio of practical work. In students present their work to tutors and peers for assessment.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

These 1 day per week, term-long courses underpin the Studio Practice modules and are where you will receive intensive training in the technical skills necessary for your chosen discipline(s).

The Elective Skills Workshop courses run over a 2 year cycle, following a planned curriculum designed to ensure you gradually build the necessary techniques as you progress through the programme. Taking a mix of recommended and optional courses, you choose from a vast array of different approaches to sculpture, including essential techniques, structural skills and health and safety issues.

We consider drawing essential for all artists and creative practitioners, so you will take 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses in drawing in stage 1 and can choose to continue these in stage 2.

As a sculpture student you are able to take advantage of the free places on public courses and increase your skill set by attending classes in specialist techniques such as stone carving and kiln formed glass, that don’t form part of the main curriculum. Sculpture students will be allocated a space on courses should they want to attend, rather than being subject to the usual rules for attendance on public courses. (The usual rules for attendance on public courses states that free places are only available on those courses which have not achieved full enrolment. Places are allocated on a first come first serve basis and the Academy cannot guarantee any place.)

The Elective Skills Workshop courses are not subject to summative assessment. They are intended to give you the freedom and space to experiment with skills and approaches which will inform the development of your studio practice projects. The days you attend the Academy will vary from term to term, depending on which Elective Skills Workshop course you choose.*

*Please note, however, the days you attend the Studio Practice module will remain fixed throughout the year. You may also at times be required to come in for sessions and events in addition to these days.

Professional Development

Professional Development modules explore different creative vocations and practices, giving you a greater understanding of the possible ways of supporting your practice. The stage 2 module focuses specifically on the development of skills and knowledge necessary for future employment within the art world and wider creative industries.

Stage 1 (level 4)

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During stage 1 the focus is on investigation.

Studio Practice Modules

You will learn to experiment with the processes, materials and techniques relating to portraiture that will provide the foundation for your developing art practice and inform the work you undertake in subsequent years.

Throughout these modules, you are encouraged to take risks and experiment widely in and across disciplines. You will start to identify areas of interest and to analyse your choices of materials and techniques through the expression of your ideas. The final module of stage 1 requires you to work with your peers, the Contemporary Sculpture Diploma (FD) and an external curator in creating work for and mounting a group public exhibition.

As a full time student you will attend 1 full day per week across all 3 terms. As a part time student you will attend 1 full day per week across 3 of the 6 terms available.

Stage 1 students are not allocated dedicated, personal studio space. Studio practice modules are taught in studios throughout the Academy’s buildings. In addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to work a minimum of another full day (6 hours) per week on your project independently.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

To support your Studio Practice work you will undertake Elective Skills Workshop courses. Each course runs for 1 full day per week per term. A wide variety of courses are available each term across all disciplines and you are free to choose from amongst them, alongside the compulsory elements of the programme.

These Elective Skills Workshop courses take you through a structured, bespoke programme of sculpture along with an exploration of the language of form and sculptural techniques. Further classes extend your sculptural skills and language, covering a wider range of issues including; armature making, measurement and anatomy in technical figure and portrait sculpture, expressive and dynamic work, language of form and materials, waste moulding and reusable mould making, plaster and resin casting, pigments, colouring and patination, large scale site specific projects, ceramics and mixed media figurative sculpture.

As a full time student you will undertake 2 to 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (1 in each term in stage 1) since we consider drawing an essential tool for all artists. You must also complete the Digital Development course in stage 1. This course teaches the digital skills you will require for the Professional Development course in stage 2. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

As a part time student you will undertake 1 to 2 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (to be taken across 3 of the 6 terms available). You must also complete the Digital Development course in the first term of either year of stage 1. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

Professional Development Module

The Professional Development module will provide you with first-hand knowledge of the vocational opportunities available to you within the art world, creative industries and wider cultural environment. You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, and complete a report on an area of professional practice that is of interest to you. This module runs throughout the year. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Stage 2 (level 5)

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During year 2 there is a shift in emphasis towards self reflection and analysis.

Studio Practice Modules

In the first Studio Practice module, you will take on a live commission, sourcing your own client and negotiating the relationship with them, through to the completion of the commissioned artwork. Supported by your tutor and peers, you will learn to balance the client’s needs with your own creative process.

The final Studio Practice module runs over 2 terms in stage 2 and will provide you with the opportunity to make further connections between your embryonic sculpture practice and art theory, identifying your core interests and intentions and increasing your knowledge, understanding and analysis of wider contexts and critical discourses. This project leads to you undertaking a self identified and directed brief and creating a body of work for public exhibition at the Graduate Show and is supported by the contextual studies module. Elective skills workshop courses support the further refinement of your technique.

This final studio practice module is assessed at the Graduate show.  Alongside the work you mount for exhibition, you will submit a supporting portfolio of developmental work and take part in a Viva Voce with a team of tutors and an external assessor, during which they will question you about your project development, curatorial choices and contextual knowledge.

At the beginning of stage 2 full time students are allocated dedicated, personal studio space to work in. Part time students are allocated studio space during the 3 terms they are taking part in the Studio Practice module. Students are able to use their studio space to continue to work independently on Studio Practice modules, outside of taught sessions. Again, in addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to contribute a minimum of 1 full day (6 hours) per week to your project independently.

Contextual Research module

This module runs alongside the final studio practice module and is intended to support the development of your project.  You will be encouraged to explore aspects of art theory and other discourses relevant to your emerging practice and interests and supported in the development of academic research and writing skills during this module. This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module.

Professional Development Module

You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, explore opportunities and approaches available to establish and support an artistic practice, develop exhibition and curatorial experience and marketing and business planning tools to help prepare you for life after the Academy. This module runs throughout the year and is assessed through a portfolio of evidence including the creation of a website, marketing plans and evidence of the use of marketing and business tools. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Among the most distinctive features of the Academy’s approach is the exceptionally high level of personal contact time with teaching staff. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Foundation Degree which boasts one of the highest levels of contact hours of any higher education Fine Art programme in the UK. In stages 1 and 2, full-time Foundation Degree students receive 3-4 full days per week of tutored time in different disciplines.

The emphasis of our teaching and learning strategy is quality – quality consultation and quality time. Our teaching body is second to none. All our teachers – permanent staff or visiting lecturers – are practising artists in their own right. They include prize-winning practitioners and members of leading arts organisations. As well as 1-2-1 contact with tutors in classes, students have individual artistic tutorials with tutors of their choice throughout the year.

The lead tutors on the SculptureFoundation Degree are:

Briony Marshall

David Hodge

Julian Wild

Julian Wild is our FD Sculpture Pathway Leader and our Studio Practice tutor, Briony Marshall is our Professional Development Programme Leader and David Hodge is our Art History & Theory Programme Leader.

The tutors you are taught by within the Elective Skills Workshop courses will depend upon the modules you undertake. You can view all our tutors here.

The Academy is a true artistic community; an environment of vibrant exchange where you learn from expert practising artists and wide-ranging creative stimuli.

We’ll stretch your thinking at the same time as build your skills across multiple dimensions. We don’t subscribe to the view that there is one way to train an artist. We start with the individual and invest time, supporting you through the provision of tailored, hands on tuition. We believe in opening the mind every bit as much as we believe in training the eye and the hand.

For more information please view our Teaching Approach page.

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies.

The small scale of the institution is advantageous to the provision of student support. It fosters a close community of staff and students where students feel safe and able to seek advice and guidance from a variety of staff.

More information detailing the main areas of support please see our Student Support page.

“The whole experience feels very special. The Academy is to me a priceless rare gem of an art school.”

For several years I searched and struggled to find a sculpture course that taught both traditional skills and contemporary practice. I couldn’t quite believe it when I found the Art Academy  Sculpture Diploma online. I was incredibly excited and relieved. I read through the entire course and academy documentation in one sitting, barely taking a breath of air, overwhelmed with emotion. I signed up to go to the open day straight away and never looked back.

The Art Academy is a unique environment. There is a vast amount of support and constructive criticism all around every day……READ MORE

Jo Holt, Sculpture Diploma Student

Every student has had work in an exhibition before they leave, with many having held a number of exhibitions themselves. Almost all graduates will have done at least one commission. All graduates will have websites, social media profiles, contact databases and online and offline portfolios.

Academy students have gone on to win large commissions, have exhibitions and undertake residency opportunities. These have included the following:

• Public art piece for the Ministry of Tourism in Malta celebrating 100 Years of Aviation
• A £15000 sculpture commission for the Honourable Artillery Company in Old Street, London
• A £5000 commission for painting for a large building development in Romford
• KPMG exhibitions in their international headquarters at 1 Canada Square
• Art exhibitions and demonstration at Lincoln Cathedral
• Exhibiting at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition
• Working with Old Vic Theatre to create an advertising campaign for King Lear
• Residency at Cil Railaig Ireland through the National Open

Fees 2019/2020

Fees must be paid in advance and can be paid yearly or termly (the latter incurring a 5% surcharge).

Please note, these are our 2019-2020 fees. Fees are subject to annual review and are likely to increase by due to inflation in the following academic years. (such increases will not exceed 5% annually).

Materials

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop Courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the final year Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £500 and £1500* per year, depending on materials, chosen disciplines and stage of the programme.

The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and tutors can also advise you.

* Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance (based on survey results from previous students) only and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Extra Courses & Workshops

There are some courses which are intended to further develop sculpture students moulding and casting skills that do no form part of the main programme. They are not compulsory but students can opt to take. These courses typically run over weekends (to allow the competition of a process), outside of term time and are offered to sculpture students at a reduced rate:

• Plaster Waste moulding* (Friday, Saturday, Sunday in December) typically costs £100** (depending on the size of the mould) plus materials
• Plaster casting from a waste mould* (Friday, Saturday, Sunday in December) typically costs  £100** (depending on the size of the cast) plus materials
• Silicon reusable rubber moulding (Friday, Saturday, Sunday in June) typically costs £80** (depending on the size of the mould) plus materials
• Jesmonite casting (Friday, Saturday, Sunday in June) typically costs £80** (depending on the size of the mould) plus materials

* students do have an opportunity to do a smaller Plaster Waste mould and cast as part of the main selection of Elective Skills Workshop Courses.
** please be aware these costs are for guidance only and are subject to change. Actual prices will be issued at the start of the relevant term.

Trips and Visits 

It is expected that students studying at this level will visit galleries and exhibitions independently, as part of the development of the contextual knowledge and practice. Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries. Where there is an entry fee, whilst we encourage you to take these trips, we understand it is not always possible, so they are not compulsory nor essential. If you are not able to participate, the tutor will prepare an alternative itinerary of free museum and gallery visits that you can follow.

Deposit

As a small independent art school we are unable to hold places offered indefinitely. If your application is successful you will need to pay the deposit of £500 and return your signed contract to secure your place. The Deposit is in addition to the fees. Your deposit is returned after successful completion of the programme and removal of your Graduate Show installation.  Should you withdraw from the programme without successfully completing it we will retain your deposit. Should you fail to satisfactorily remove your Graduate Show installation, and the Academy incur costs to do so, we will retain your deposit.

Bursaries

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their Foundation Degree in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Funding 

As an independent institution our courses are not subject to public funding and as a result there is no exemption from fees for under 19 year olds or access to student loans.

Refunds 

Once you have returned the signed contract and deposit to secure your place you have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel, at which point your full deposit will be refunded. Fees are due prior to the start of the programme. If you decide to cancel after the 14 day period and before the fees are due, you will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you begin the course and decide to withdraw you will be liable for the tuition fees for the first term and will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you decide to cancel your contract or withdraw at any point, you should do so in writing using the form provided.

Once enrolled or re-enrolled as a student, should you decide to withdraw from your programme, you are required to give the Academy a full term’s notice, informing us by the last teaching day of the previous term: the notice period cannot commence part way through a term. If it does, you will be liable to pay full fees for the term’s notice period.  Should you need to, you are able to suspend study for up to 12 months (please see our withdrawal and interruption of study policy).

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information on Fees.

Applications will be considered on an individual basis and are welcomed from individuals with non-standard qualifications, patterns of prior study and experience from a variety of backgrounds.

All applicants are required to undertake an interview and portfolio review for assessment of key skills and level of ability and enthusiasm for the programme they are applying for. Although no formal qualifications are required, applicants will need to demonstrate work at least of Level 3 (A Level) equivalent. In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria:

●  The ability to demonstrate a range of fine art experience including an awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art and key artistic skills through an interview and portfolio review.

●  Satisfactory academic reference, if applicable.

●  Personal statement

Intake is only in term one (September). Entry is normally at Level 4 (stage 1), but is possible at subsequent levels subject to appropriate qualifications and experience. For direct entry to Level 5 or 6 (stage 2 or 3) the applicant’s prior experience will be taken into account at the application stage. Where students have prior higher education or equivalent work experience, it may be possible for this to be taken into account, to enable advanced entry to their chosen programme.

Portfolio

On receiving an application, we will offer successful candidates an interview. If possible please bring to the interview a portfolio containing the following:

• 10 to 15 pieces of original finished work, which show your technical ability in a range of media. Please bring photographs of 3D installation work or if some of your work is digital bring this on a device to show it.
• 1 or 2 sketch books showing your own areas of interest, individual thought process or development process of finished work.
• 1 example of writing, critical study work or exploration of other artists, that you have done

If you do not have all of the above, please do not worry, just contact the office and we can speak to you about alternatives.

English Language Requirements

All applicants are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English Language competence to gain entry to the Academy. This can be through previous study in English (evidencing an approved English language qualification at Level 2, GCSE or equivalent). Where an applicant is unable to provide evidence of a relevant, formal English qualification, the Academy will require specific performance in written English tests at interview. Appropriate level of spoken English is assessed at interview.

Admission Policy 

The Art Academy does not sponsor international students through the Tier 4 visa system and therefore cannot accept international students unless they are able to prove right of residency in the UK.

The Academy operates a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people (with the motivation and ability to study at the correct level) have an opportunity to benefit from the Fine Art education we provide. To find out more information please see the Academy’s Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

Academic Regulations and Policies

As a student of the Academy it is very important you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These apply to any of our students studying on any of our Degree and Pre-Degree programmes and outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure all students understand both expectations and support available to them. To find out more information please see our Academic Regulations and Policies page.

If you are interested in studying at the Academy and would like to attend one of our Open Days, please fill in our Open Day form on our Open Day page.

Our Open Days offer an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth information on our courses, learn about our dedicated and talented tutors and experience our vibrant and welcoming community.

We welcome all enthusiastic candidates to apply. If you are interested in studying at the Academy please register to attend an Open day, above, or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 to discuss courses further or arrange a visit.

What to expect

Before you apply to the Academy you will want to understand what to expect from the application process and how best to prepare. Be assured that we assess you on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen programme of study with us.

It’s an individually tailored but consistent approach; all applicants are required to attend an interview and portfolio review. You will receive an invitation by email with an interview date and time, should you need to change this date, please speak to the Admissions Team. This will be a 30 – 45 minute conversation with one or two tutors, exploring your application and interview portfolio. Should your individual situation necessitate, we can conduct an interview via Skype. We encourage you to ask questions and see the interview as a 2 way process.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria, through the interview and portfolio review:

• The ability to demonstrate a range of Fine Art experience, ability and understanding, including evidence of:

1. Technical ability in one or more Fine Art medium
2. Conceptual ideas and understanding
3. Awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art

• Independence of thought
• Evidence of curiosity, inquisitiveness and being open to new ideas and thinking
• The potential and ambition to develop their Fine Art work and ideas further, and ideas about how they might do that
• A willingness to explore alternative ways of thinking and working
• Satisfactory academic reference
• Personal statement
• Academic attainment at a pre degree foundation course, within general education at GCSE & Level 3 (where the applicant has a traditional educational background) or alternative experience within art and design or appropriate subject areas

If you are at all concerned that a disability might interfere or inhibit your interview, please let us know in your application: we will make any reasonable adjustment we can, so that you can fully participate in an interview. Please see the below section “applicants with special educational needs and disabilities”.

In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

All applicants are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language competence to gain entry to the Academy. More information about this can be found in ‘Entry Requirements’ above.

Application Deadline

If you would like to apply for the Sculpture Foundation Degree please note the following deadlines:

Deadline 1: Applicants who apply by 15th February will be interviewed by 8th March and will be informed of the outcome by 29th March. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 26th April.

Deadline 2: Applicants who apply by 3rd May will be interviewed by 24th May and will be informed of the outcome by 14th June. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 12th July.

Deadline 3: After 3rd May applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Please note, applications deadlines after Deadline 1 are subject to availability and will not be open for applications if the programme has reached capacity.

Applications for 2019/2020 will not be processed before 15th February.

More information on the admissions process can be found on the Academy’s Admissions Policy.

Apply

You can apply for the Sculpture Foundation Degree starting September 2019 online or by post. To apply online you must fill in our online application form. Please note, the application form must be downloaded and cannot currently be completed online. To prevent problems when completing the form, please ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader. If you are applying via post you can download an application form here. This must be posted, along with at least 5 images of your work, to:

Admissions Team, The Art Academy, Mermaid Court, 165A Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR

The application form is your first opportunity to tell us about yourself, as well as being a vital source of the information we need to make a decision. Please take your time to complete the form accurately. When you have completed the application form remember to check you have provided all the information required, including the link to your digital portfolio. We only accept applications on the form provided and reserve the right to reject incomplete or alternative applications.

Should you have any questions about the application process or completing the form, please speak to a member of the Admissions Team.

The Result

Decisions will normally be communicated to applicants within three weeks. There are 3 possible outcomes:

Conditional Offer: A conditional offer means that the Academy will offer an applicant a place providing certain conditions are met before registration on the programme. Usually conditions are based on the completion of outstanding qualifications. Each offer is specific to the applicant’s individual circumstances.

Unconditional Offer: An unconditional offer means that an applicant has met the (academic and non-academic) entry requirements and has been accepted onto their chosen programme at the Academy.

Unsuccessful Application: Applicants will receive an unsuccessful response if the Academy has decided not to offer them a place on the programme. Applicants can be unsuccessful for many reasons and should be aware that many of the programmes at the Academy receive far more applications than number of places available.

Feedback on the decision will be given to any applicant who requests it.

We will always ensure that the interviews and portfolio reviews are carried out fairly and equally. All those conducting interviews are trained to do so and fully conversant in our Admissions Policy. Although decisions to admit or reject applicants are academic judgements and therefore cannot be appealed, if an applicant feels that the interview and selection process was not conducted fairly and equitably or as described in our Admissions Policy, the process for making a complaint in this regard can be found within the policy document.

Next Steps

You will be notified of the outcome by email. With this email you will receive an offer letter, the Terms and Conditions (contract) which you will need to sign and return along with the deposit (see Fees & Funding section above), a copy of the student handbook, programme handbook and Academic Regulations.

By accepting an offer you agree to abide by the Academy’s Regulations.

All successful applicants will be invited to our Graduate shows, to get a sense of the community and see what they could achieve by studying with us.

Prior to starting you will be sent the course documents for the Elective Skills Workshop courses and have a meeting or phone conversation with a member of the Academics Team to discuss and agree your choices for the first term. Part-time students will also need to decide on individual routes through the first stage of the programme.

Application Process

The Academy is committed to supporting accessible learning and welcomes students with disabilities and special educational needs subject to being able to support their individual needs; good accessibility practices and the needs of disabled students in academic provision are reviewed on a case by case basis, with all reasonable adjustments, such as the re-timetabling of studios and alternative assessment arrangements considered in order to provide services and equal educational opportunities to the individual student or applicant.

Disclosure

Applicants are invited and encouraged to disclose any disabilities or special needs at the point of application so that the Academy can begin to plan any support it may need to provide at the earliest opportunity, including during the admissions process itself. Admissions decisions are always made on the basis of the candidate’s ability and/or potential to complete the programme for which they are being considered.

Accessibility of the Academy’s estate and reasonable adjustments 

Provided that the candidate is suitable for the programme applied for, the Academy will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with a physical or mobility impairment in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

The Academy’s premises are old buildings which inevitably means that access to some areas can be problematic for people with a physical disability. This will continue to be an issue for the immediate future and all our premises are currently unaccessible to wheelchair users. Therefore, whilst this is the case, we undertake to mitigate problems for applicants and students with mobility difficulties as far as possible by ensuring that where possible, appropriate arrangements are made to hold interviews, classes, workshops, tutorials, exhibitions and other events in accessible spaces.

We are currently completing a number of works to our main building in Mermaid Court, London Bridge, which will provide improved access and facilities to wheelchair users, including a wheelchair accessible toilet. These works are intended to be completed in the new year. These works, along with appropriate arrangements made for individuals within accessible spaces, means that from September 2019 we will be able to accommodate most students with physical disabilities on academic programmes. Appropriate arrangements may include the rescheduling of classes, workshops, tutorials, lectures and other events to spaces within the main building of Mermaid Court and the ground floor of our Newington building. It may also include the provision of facilities to undertake classes and workshops in techniques and processes outside of the dedicated space in which they normally occur (i.e. printmaking) and individual provision of facilities such as storage spaces, where these are normally in unaccessible areas. Our library is located on the ground floor and fully accessible.

Some of our buildings will remain inaccessible for the foreseeable future (our second building at Mermaid Court and the 2nd floor areas of our Newington building). Further improvements are planned to ensure we have appropriate buildings and facilities in the future; we are committed to improving access to all our buildings and are working towards making all areas of our campus fully accessible to all.

Applicants and potential applicants who have mobility difficulties or any other special needs should speak to us and/or arrange to visit the Academy, before completing the application process, to discuss their needs so that they can make an informed decision as to whether the Academy is able to provide an appropriate environment for their studies.

Hearing Technology for hard of hearing/deaf applicants 

Portable induction loops can be provided during open days, interview and in teaching spaces for those who require them.

Other disabilities and conditions

If you have another disability, specific learning difficulty, health, or mental health difficulty, we strongly encourage you to contact us to talk about options for support.

Student Support

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies. For more information on the Student Support available please see our Student Support page.

If you don’t find the answer to your question here please contact the Academic team on +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk:

Can I do the Sculpture FD part-time?

Yes, there is a part time Sculpture FD programme. Part time students attend 2 days a week over 4 years. The part time Sculpture FD takes 2 years to complete stage 1 and a further 2 years to complete stage 2.

Are bursaries or student loans available for the Sculpture FD?

The Sculpture FD is superseding our successful Sculpture Diploma, but as a new course in its first few years, is currently not eligible for student loans. The Academy can offer advice on possible sources of funding for students. See the ‘Fees and Funding’ section on the Sculpture FD webpage for more details or contact us to discuss your options.

Do you take mature students for the Sculpture FD?

Yes, applications from mature students are welcomed.

Do I need to have done formal art training before applying for the Sculpture FD?

No, but the Sculpture FD is for those intending to make art their full-time occupation. Selection is made during interview where we will consider your level of ability and commitment through discussion and portfolio review.

What is the structure for paying fees for the Sculpture FD?

Fees can be paid yearly or termly – full details can be found on the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Sculpture FD webpage. The first term of stage 1 must be paid for prior to the start the course. Furthermore there is a deposit required from all students enrolling on the course.

Is the Sculpture FD recognised or accredited?

The Academy is a fully accredited partner institution of The Open University (OU). Our BA (Hons) Fine Art, Sculpture Foundation Degree and Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree are validated by The Open University, a hallmark of academic quality.

Do I need to supply my own materials?

Yes, materials are not included in your tuition fee costs. For more information on material costs see the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Sculpture FD webpage. We do have an art supplies shop in the Academy which offers materials at a heavily discounted price.

The Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree has been carefully designed to ensure students are exposed to a wide variety of approaches to portraiture and portrait painting techniques.

Led by Academy tutor Roxana Halls, the programme mainly takes place at Mermaid Court (165A Borough High Street, London, SE1 1HR) with some time spent at our Newington site (155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS). The course is 2 years full time or 4 years part time.

The programme comprises 4 main components:

• Studio Practice modules
• The Contextual Research module
• Professional Development modules
• Elective Skills Workshop courses

Final grade and classification is calculated on results from both stage 1 and 2. Further details can be found in the programme handbook.

Course Dates 2018-2019

Autumn term – Monday 17th September to Friday 30th November (Half term – 22nd to 28th October)

Spring term – Monday 14th January to Friday 29th March (Half term – 18th to 24th February)

Summer term – Tuesday 23rd April to Monday 1st July

Studio Practice

The Studio Practice modules form the core of the course. You will develop work and critical skills in response to a series of practical briefs that encourage increasingly independent learning. These modules run throughout the entire programme with 1 each term in stage 1, and 2 in stage 2 (the final module runs across 2 terms) Studio Practice modules are taught through a mixture of 1-2-1 tutorials, group critiques, workshops and lectures, with students undertaking mostly practical work in a studio.

The Contextual Studies programme, which forms part of the Studio Practice modules, ensures you gain knowledge and understanding of the wider contexts and critical discourses relating to your own fine art practice. For each Studio Practice module throughout the programme you will be expected to collate a portfolio of contextual evidence, which includes evidence of preparatory work, research work and pieces of reflective and discursive writing. Studio practice modules are assessed through a portfolio of practical work. In students present their work to tutors and peers for assessment.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

These 1 day per week, term-long courses underpin the Studio Practice modules and are where you will receive intensive training in the technical skills necessary for your chosen discipline(s).

The Elective Skills Workshop courses run over a 2 year cycle, following a planned curriculum designed to ensure you gradually build the necessary techniques as you progress through the programme. Taking a mix of recommended and optional courses, you choose from a vast array of different approaches to portrait and figure painting, including essential techniques such as a series of drawing classes.

We consider drawing essential for all artists and creative practitioners, so you will take 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses in drawing in stage 1 and can choose to continue these in stage 2.

The Elective Skills Workshop courses are not subject to summative assessment. They are intended to give you the freedom and space to experiment with skills and approaches which will inform the development of your studio practice projects. The days you attend the Academy will vary from term to term, depending on which Elective Skills Workshop course you choose.*

*Please note, however, the days you attend the Studio Practice module will remain fixed throughout the year. You may also at times be required to come in for sessions and events in addition to these days.

Professional Development

Professional Development modules explore different creative vocations and practices, giving you a greater understanding of the possible ways of supporting your practice. The stage 2 module focuses specifically on the development of skills and knowledge necessary for future employment within the art world and wider creative industries.

Stage 1 (level 4)

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During stage 1 the focus is on investigation.

Studio Practice Modules

You will learn to experiment with the processes, materials and techniques relating to portraiture that will provide the foundation for your developing art practice and inform the work you undertake in subsequent years.

Throughout these modules, you are encouraged to take risks and experiment widely in and across disciplines. You will start to identify areas of interest and to analyse your choices of materials and techniques through the expression of your ideas. The final module of stage 1 requires you to work with your peers, the Sculpture Diploma (FD) and an external curator in creating work for and mounting a group public exhibition.

As a full time student you will attend 1 full day per week across all 3 terms. As a part time student you will attend 1 full day per week across 3 of the 6 terms available.

Stage 1 students are not allocated dedicated, personal studio space. Studio practice modules are taught in studios throughout the Academy’s buildings. In addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to work a minimum of another full day (6 hours) per week on your project independently.

Elective Skills Workshop courses

To support your Studio Practice work you will undertake Elective Skills Workshop courses. Each course runs for 1 full day per week per term. A wide variety of courses are available each term across all disciplines and you are free to choose from amongst them, alongside the compulsory elements of the programme.

These Elective Skills Workshop course focus on building upon essential portrait and figure painting skills whilst extending your vocabulary with experimental classes exploring self-portraiture, working with models, different approaches to paint application or a close examination of how to work from photographs. A session in portrait sculpture is also offered, with optional further sessions, to enable students to develop an understanding of the 3-dimensionality of a portrait head.

As a full time student you will undertake 2 to 3 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (1 in each term in stage 1) since we consider drawing an essential tool for all artists. You must also complete the Digital Development course in stage 1. This course teaches the digital skills you will require for the Professional Development course in stage 2. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

As a part time student you will undertake 1 to 2 Elective Skills Workshop courses per term. There are 3 compulsory courses in drawing (to be taken across 3 of the 6 terms available). You must also complete the Digital Development course in the first term of either year of stage 1. This leaves a maximum of 4 Elective Skills Workshop courses of your choice to be studied at stage 1.

Professional Development Module

The Professional Development module will provide you with first-hand knowledge of the vocational opportunities available to you within the art world, creative industries and wider cultural environment. You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, and complete a report on an area of professional practice that is of interest to you. This module runs throughout the year. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Stage 2 (level 5)

1 year full time, 2 years part time

During year 2 there is a shift in emphasis towards self reflection and analysis.

Studio Practice Modules

In the first Studio Practice module, you will take on a live commission, sourcing your own client and negotiating the relationship with them, through to the completion of the commissioned artwork. Supported by your tutor and peers, you will learn to balance the client’s needs with your own creative process.

The final Studio Practice module runs over 2 terms in stage 2 and will provide you with the opportunity to make further connections between your embryonic portraiture practice and art theory, identifying your core interests and intentions and increasing your knowledge, understanding and analysis of wider contexts and critical discourses. This project leads to you undertaking a self identified and directed brief and creating a body of work for public exhibition at the Graduate Show and is supported by the contextual studies module. Elective skills workshop courses support the further refinement of your technique.

This final studio practice module is assessed at the Graduate show.  Alongside the work you mount for exhibition, you will submit a supporting portfolio of developmental work and take part in a Viva Voce with a team of tutors and an external assessor, during which they will question you about your project development, curatorial choices and contextual knowledge.

At the beginning of stage 2 full time students are allocated dedicated, personal studio space to work in. Part time students are allocated studio space during the 3 terms they are taking part in the Studio Practice module. Students are able to use their studio space to continue to work independently on Studio Practice modules, outside of taught sessions. Again, in addition to the tutored Studio Practice you are expected to contribute a minimum of 1 full day (6 hours) per week to your project independently.

Contextual Research module

This module runs alongside the final studio practice module and is intended to support the development of your project.  You will be encouraged to explore aspects of art theory and other discourses relevant to your emerging practice and interests and supported in the development of academic research and writing skills during this module.

This is mainly facilitated through 1-2-1 sessions with a tutor, who will support you throughout the module.

Professional Development Module

You will attend a series of workshops and lectures from relevant art-world professionals and practising artists, explore opportunities and approaches available to establish and support an artistic practice, develop exhibition and curatorial experience and marketing and business planning tools to help prepare you for life after the Academy. This module runs throughout the year and is assessed through a portfolio of evidence including the creation of a website, marketing plans and evidence of the use of marketing and business tools. This module also requires you to undertake independent study in addition to taught sessions.

Among the most distinctive features of the Academy’s approach is the exceptionally high level of personal contact time with teaching staff. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Foundation Degree which boasts one of the highest levels of contact hours of any higher education Fine Art programme in the UK. In stages 1 and 2, full-time Foundation Degree students receive 3-4 full days per week of tutored time in different disciplines.

The emphasis of our teaching and learning strategy is quality – quality consultation and quality time. Our teaching body is second to none. All our teachers – permanent staff or visiting lecturers – are practising artists in their own right. They include prize-winning practitioners and members of leading arts organisations. As well as 1-2-1 contact with tutors in classes, students have individual artistic tutorials with tutors of their choice throughout the year.

The lead tutors on the Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree are:

Briony Marshall

David Hodge

Roxana Halls

Roxana Halls is our FD Portraiture Pathway Leader, Briony Marshall is our Professional Development Programme Leader and David Hodge is our Art History & Theory Programme Leader.

Our Studio Practice tutors are Roxana Halls, Sadie Lee, Robin-Lee Hall and Sue Spaull.

The tutors you are taught by within the Elective Skills Workshop courses will depend upon the modules you undertake. You can view all our tutors here.

The Academy is a true artistic community; an environment of vibrant exchange where you learn from expert practising artists and wide-ranging creative stimuli.

We’ll stretch your thinking at the same time as build your skills across multiple dimensions. We don’t subscribe to the view that there is one way to train an artist. We start with the individual and invest time, supporting you through the provision of tailored, hands on tuition. We believe in opening the mind every bit as much as we believe in training the eye and the hand.

For more information please view our Teaching Approach page.

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies.

The small scale of the institution is advantageous to the provision of student support. It fosters a close community of staff and students where students feel safe and able to seek advice and guidance from a variety of staff.

More information detailing the main areas of support please see our Student Support page.

“I was delighted to have my work accepted for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition and felt honoured to be exhibiting alongside no less than seven of my Art Academy tutors.”

“In his book “ Outliers”, Malcolm Gladwell  wrote that “Ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness”.  If this is the case, then my time at the Art Academy studying for the Contemporary Portrait Diploma should have gone some way towards totting up those hours. I embarked on this journey two years ago and in that time the Art Academy has become my second home, spending four days a week dashing along the back roads from London Bridge station, carrying canvasses and my ubiquitous painting trolley up several flights of stairs daily, with the camaraderie of painting friends, tutors, models and the office staff becoming a huge part of my daily life.

I came to the Art Academy because of the calibre of its tutors….READ MORE

Jane Masojada, Contemporary Portrait Diploma Student

Every student has had work in an exhibition before they leave, with many having held a number of exhibitions themselves. Almost all graduates will have done at least one commission. All graduates will have websites, social media profiles, contact databases and online and offline portfolios.

Academy students have gone on to win large commissions, have exhibitions and undertake residency opportunities. These have included the following:

• Public art piece for the Ministry of Tourism in Malta celebrating 100 Years of Aviation
• A £15000 sculpture commission for the Honourable Artillery Company in Old Street, London
• A £5000 commission for painting for a large building development in Romford
• KPMG exhibitions in their international headquarters at 1 Canada Square
• Art exhibitions and demonstration at Lincoln Cathedral
• Exhibiting at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition
• Working with Old Vic Theatre to create an advertising campaign for King Lear
• Residency at Cil Railaig Ireland through the National Open

Fees 2019/2020

Fees must be paid in advance and can be paid yearly or termly (the latter incurring a 5% surcharge).

Please note, these are our 2019-2020 fees. Fees are subject to annual review and are likely to increase by due to inflation in the following academic years. (such increases will not exceed 5% annually).

Materials

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop Courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the final year Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £500 and £1500* per year, depending on materials, chosen disciplines and stage of the programme.

The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and tutors can also advise you.

* Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance (based on survey results from previous students) only and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Trips and Visits 

It is expected that students studying at this level will visit galleries and exhibitions independently, as part of the development of the contextual knowledge and practice. Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries. Where there is an entry fee, whilst we encourage you to take these trips, we understand it is not always possible, so they are not compulsory nor essential. If you are not able to participate, the tutor will prepare an alternative itinerary of free museum and gallery visits that you can follow.

Deposit

As a small independent art school we are unable to hold places offered indefinitely. If your application is successful you will need to pay the deposit of £500 and return your signed contract to secure your place. The Deposit is in addition to the fees. Your deposit is returned after successful completion of the programme and removal of your Graduate Show installation.  Should you withdraw from the programme without successfully completing it we will retain your deposit. Should you fail to satisfactorily remove your Graduate Show installation, and the Academy incur costs to do so, we will retain your deposit.

Bursaries

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their Foundation Degree in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Funding 

As an independent institution our courses are not subject to public funding and as a result there is no exemption from fees for under 19 year olds or access to student loans.

Refunds 

Once you have returned the signed contract and deposit to secure your place you have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel, at which point your full deposit will be refunded. Fees are due prior to the start of the programme. If you decide to cancel after the 14 day period and before the fees are due, you will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you begin the course and decide to withdraw you will be liable for the tuition fees for the first term and will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you decide to cancel your contract or withdraw at any point, you should do so in writing using the form provided.

Once enrolled or re-enrolled as a student, should you decide to withdraw from your programme, you are required to give the Academy a full term’s notice, informing us by the last teaching day of the previous term: the notice period cannot commence part way through a term. If it does, you will be liable to pay full fees for the term’s notice period.  Should you need to, you are able to suspend study for up to 12 months (please see our withdrawal and interruption of study policy).

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information on Fees.

Applications will be considered on an individual basis and are welcomed from individuals with non-standard qualifications, patterns of prior study and experience from a variety of backgrounds.

All applicants are required to undertake an interview and portfolio review for assessment of key skills and level of ability and enthusiasm for the programme they are applying for. Although no formal qualifications are required, applicants will need to demonstrate work at least of Level 3 (A Level) equivalent. In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria:

●  The ability to demonstrate a range of fine art experience including an awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art and key artistic skills through an interview and portfolio review.

●  Satisfactory academic reference, if applicable.

●  Personal statement

Intake is only in term one (September). Entry is normally at Level 4 (stage 1), but is possible at subsequent levels subject to appropriate qualifications and experience. For direct entry to Level 5 or 6 (stage 2 or 3) the applicant’s prior experience will be taken into account at the application stage. Where students have prior higher education or equivalent work experience, it may be possible for this to be taken into account, to enable advanced entry to their chosen programme.

Portfolio

On receiving an application, we will offer successful candidates an interview. If possible please bring to the interview a portfolio containing the following:

• 10 to 15 pieces of original finished work, which show your technical ability in a range of media. Please bring photographs of 3D installation work or if some of your work is digital bring this on a device to show it.
• 1 or 2 sketch books showing your own areas of interest, individual thought process or development process of finished work.
• 1 example of writing, critical study work or exploration of other artists, that you have done

If you do not have all of the above, please do not worry, just contact the office and we can speak to you about alternatives.

English Language Requirements

All applicants are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English Language competence to gain entry to the Academy. This can be through previous study in English (evidencing an approved English language qualification at Level 2, GCSE or equivalent). Where an applicant is unable to provide evidence of a relevant, formal English qualification, the Academy will require specific performance in written English tests at interview. Appropriate level of spoken English is assessed at interview.

Admission Policy 

The Art Academy does not sponsor international students through the Tier 4 visa system and therefore cannot accept international students unless they are able to prove right of residency in the UK.

The Academy operates a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people (with the motivation and ability to study at the correct level) have an opportunity to benefit from the Fine Art education we provide. To find out more information please see the Academy’s Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

Academic Regulations and Policies

As a student of the Academy it is very important you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These apply to any of our students studying on any of our Degree and Pre-Degree programmes and outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure all students understand both expectations and support available to them. To find out more information please see our Academic Regulations and Policies page.

If you are interested in studying at the Academy and would like to attend one of our Open Days, please fill in our Open Day form on our Open Day page.

Our Open Days offer an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth information on our courses, learn about our dedicated and talented tutors and experience our vibrant and welcoming community.

We welcome all enthusiastic candidates to apply. If you are interested in studying at the Academy please register to attend an Open day, above, or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 to discuss courses further or arrange a visit.

What to expect

Before you apply to the Academy you will want to understand what to expect from the application process and how best to prepare. Be assured that we assess you on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen programme of study with us.

It’s an individually tailored but consistent approach; all applicants are required to attend an interview and portfolio review. You will receive an invitation by email with an interview date and time, should you need to change this date, please speak to the Admissions Team. This will be a 30 – 45 minute conversation with one or two tutors, exploring your application and interview portfolio. Should your individual situation necessitate, we can conduct an interview via Skype. We encourage you to ask questions and see the interview as a 2 way process.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria, through the interview and portfolio review:

• The ability to demonstrate a range of Fine Art experience, ability and understanding, including evidence of:

1. Technical ability in one or more Fine Art medium
2. Conceptual ideas and understanding
3. Awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art

• Independence of thought
• Evidence of curiosity, inquisitiveness and being open to new ideas and thinking
• The potential and ambition to develop their Fine Art work and ideas further, and ideas about how they might do that
• A willingness to explore alternative ways of thinking and working
• Satisfactory academic reference
• Personal statement
• Academic attainment at a pre degree foundation course, within general education at GCSE & Level 3 (where the applicant has a traditional educational background) or alternative experience within art and design or appropriate subject areas

If you are at all concerned that a disability might interfere or inhibit your interview, please let us know in your application: we will make any reasonable adjustment we can, so that you can fully participate in an interview. Please see the below section “applicants with special educational needs and disabilities”.

In some cases the selection process may include the submission of supplementary work in addition to the information provided on the application form and requested as part of the portfolio review.

All applicants are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language competence to gain entry to the Academy. More information about this can be found in ‘Entry Requirements’ above.

Application Deadline

If you would like to apply for the Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree please note the following deadlines:

Deadline 1: Applicants who apply by 15th February will be interviewed by 8th March and will be informed of the outcome by 29th March. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 26th April.

Deadline 2: Applicants who apply by 3rd May will be interviewed by 24th May and will be informed of the outcome by 14th June. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 12th July.

Deadline 3: After 3rd May applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Please note, applications deadlines after Deadline 1 are subject to availability and will not be open for applications if the programme has reached capacity.

Applications for 2019/2020 will not be processed before 15th February.

More information on the admissions process can be found on the Academy’s Admissions Policy.

Apply

You can apply for the Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree starting September 2019 online or by post. To apply online you must fill in our online application form. Please note, the application form must be downloaded and cannot currently be completed online. To prevent problems when completing the form, please ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader. If you are applying via post you can download an application form here. This must be posted, along with at least 5 images of your work, to:

Admissions Team, The Art Academy, Mermaid Court, 165A Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR

The application form is your first opportunity to tell us about yourself, as well as being a vital source of the information we need to make a decision. Please take your time to complete the form accurately. When you have completed the application form remember to check you have provided all the information required, including the link to your digital portfolio. We only accept applications on the form provided and reserve the right to reject incomplete or alternative applications.

Should you have any questions about the application process or completing the form, please speak to a member of the Admissions Team.

The Result

Decisions will normally be communicated to applicants within three weeks. There are 3 possible outcomes:

Conditional Offer: A conditional offer means that the Academy will offer an applicant a place providing certain conditions are met before registration on the programme. Usually conditions are based on the completion of outstanding qualifications. Each offer is specific to the applicant’s individual circumstances.

Unconditional Offer: An unconditional offer means that an applicant has met the (academic and non-academic) entry requirements and has been accepted onto their chosen programme at the Academy.

Unsuccessful Application: Applicants will receive an unsuccessful response if the Academy has decided not to offer them a place on the programme. Applicants can be unsuccessful for many reasons and should be aware that many of the programmes at the Academy receive far more applications than number of places available.

Feedback on the decision will be given to any applicant who requests it.

We will always ensure that the interviews and portfolio reviews are carried out fairly and equally. All those conducting interviews are trained to do so and fully conversant in our Admissions Policy. Although decisions to admit or reject applicants are academic judgements and therefore cannot be appealed, if an applicant feels that the interview and selection process was not conducted fairly and equitably or as described in our Admissions Policy, the process for making a complaint in this regard can be found within the policy document.

Next Steps

You will be notified of the outcome by email. With this email you will receive an offer letter, the Terms and Conditions (contract) which you will need to sign and return along with the deposit (see Fees & Funding section above), a copy of the student handbook, programme handbook and Academic Regulations.

By accepting an offer you agree to abide by the Academy’s Regulations.

All successful applicants will be invited to our Graduate shows, to get a sense of the community and see what they could achieve by studying with us.

Prior to starting you will be sent the course documents for the Elective Skills Workshop courses and have a meeting or phone conversation with a member of the Academics Team to discuss and agree your choices for the first term. Part-time students will also need to decide on individual routes through the first stage of the programme.

Application Process

The Academy is committed to supporting accessible learning and welcomes students with disabilities and special educational needs subject to being able to support their individual needs; good accessibility practices and the needs of disabled students in academic provision are reviewed on a case by case basis, with all reasonable adjustments, such as the re-timetabling of studios and alternative assessment arrangements considered in order to provide services and equal educational opportunities to the individual student or applicant.

Disclosure

Applicants are invited and encouraged to disclose any disabilities or special needs at the point of application so that the Academy can begin to plan any support it may need to provide at the earliest opportunity, including during the admissions process itself. Admissions decisions are always made on the basis of the candidate’s ability and/or potential to complete the programme for which they are being considered.

Accessibility of the Academy’s estate and reasonable adjustments 

Provided that the candidate is suitable for the programme applied for, the Academy will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with a physical or mobility impairment in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

The Academy’s premises are old buildings which inevitably means that access to some areas can be problematic for people with a physical disability. This will continue to be an issue for the immediate future and all our premises are currently unaccessible to wheelchair users. Therefore, whilst this is the case, we undertake to mitigate problems for applicants and students with mobility difficulties as far as possible by ensuring that where possible, appropriate arrangements are made to hold interviews, classes, workshops, tutorials, exhibitions and other events in accessible spaces.

We are currently completing a number of works to our main building in Mermaid Court, London Bridge, which will provide improved access and facilities to wheelchair users, including a wheelchair accessible toilet. These works are intended to be completed in the new year. These works, along with appropriate arrangements made for individuals within accessible spaces, means that from September 2019 we will be able to accommodate most students with physical disabilities on academic programmes. Appropriate arrangements may include the rescheduling of classes, workshops, tutorials, lectures and other events to spaces within the main building of Mermaid Court and the ground floor of our Newington building. It may also include the provision of facilities to undertake classes and workshops in techniques and processes outside of the dedicated space in which they normally occur (i.e. printmaking) and individual provision of facilities such as storage spaces, where these are normally in unaccessible areas. Our library is located on the ground floor and fully accessible.

Some of our buildings will remain inaccessible for the foreseeable future (our second building at Mermaid Court and the 2nd floor areas of our Newington building). Further improvements are planned to ensure we have appropriate buildings and facilities in the future; we are committed to improving access to all our buildings and are working towards making all areas of our campus fully accessible to all.

Applicants and potential applicants who have mobility difficulties or any other special needs should speak to us and/or arrange to visit the Academy, before completing the application process, to discuss their needs so that they can make an informed decision as to whether the Academy is able to provide an appropriate environment for their studies.

Hearing Technology for hard of hearing/deaf applicants 

Portable induction loops can be provided during open days, interview and in teaching spaces for those who require them.

Other disabilities and conditions

If you have another disability, specific learning difficulty, health, or mental health difficulty, we strongly encourage you to contact us to talk about options for support.

Student Support

At the Academy we want to support you for every step of your journey with us. High levels of support and guidance are an integral part of the Academy’s ethos and are designed to help you from first enquiry to the completion of your studies. For more information on the Student Support available please see our Student Support page.

If you don’t find the answer to your question here please contact the Academic team on +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk:

Can I do the Contemporary Portrait FD part-time?

Yes, there is a part time Contemporary Portrait FD programme. Part time students attend 2 days a week over 4 years. The part time Contemporary Portrait FD takes 2 years to complete stage 1 and a further 2 years to complete stage 2.

Are bursaries or student loans available for the Contemporary Portrait FD?

The Contemporary Portrait FD is superseding our successful Contemporary Portrait Diploma, but as a new course in its first few years, is currently not eligible for student loans. The Academy can offer advice on possible sources of funding for students. See the ‘Fees and Funding’ section on the Contemporary Portrait FD webpage for more details or contact us to discuss your options.

Do you take mature students for the Contemporary Portrait FD?

Yes, applications from mature students are welcomed.

Do I need to have done formal art training before applying for the Contemporary Portrait FD?

No, but the Contemporary Portrait FD is for those intending to make art their full-time occupation. Selection is made during interview where we will consider your level of ability and commitment through discussion and portfolio review.

What is the structure for paying fees for the Contemporary Portrait FD?

Fees can be paid yearly or termly – full details can be found on the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Contemporary Portrait FD webpage. The first term of stage 1 must be paid for prior to the start the course. Furthermore there is a deposit required from all students enrolling on the course.

Is the Contemporary Portrait FD recognised or accredited?

The Academy is a fully accredited partner institution of The Open University (OU). Our BA (Hons) Fine Art, Sculpture Foundation Degree and Contemporary Portrait Foundation Degree are validated by The Open University, a hallmark of academic quality.

YES, BY THE OU

Do I need to supply my own materials?

Yes, materials are not included in your tuition fee costs. For more information on material costs see the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Contemporary Portrait FD webpage. We do have an art supplies shop in the Academy which offers materials at a heavily discounted price.

The Fine Art Foundation is led by Lynn Dennison, Foundation Programme Leader. The course takes place at both Mermaid Court (165A Borough High Street, London, SE1 1HR) and our Newington site (155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS).

Students have access to their personal dedicated studio space in the Foundation studio space at our Newington site (9am-9pm Monday to Thursday). This space is used for project work and self-directed study.

The programme comprises 3 main components:

• Personal Project modules
• Art Theory module
• Elective Skills Workshop courses

Course Dates

Autumn term – Monday 17th September to Friday 30th November (Half term – 22nd to 28th October)

Spring term – Monday 14th January to Friday 29th March (Half term – 18th to 24th February)

Summer term – Tuesday 23rd April to Monday 1st July

Personal Project Modules

The Personal Project modules form the core of the course. You will develop work and critical skills in response to a series of practical briefs that encourage increasingly independent learning. These modules run throughout the entire programme with 1 each term.  Personal Project modules are 1 day a week, taught through a mixture of 1-2-1 tutorials, group critiques, workshops and lectures, with students undertaking mostly practical work in a studio.

Your tutors and visiting tutors ensures you gain knowledge and understanding of the wider contexts and critical discourses relating to your own emerging fine art practice. For each Personal Project module throughout the programme you will be expected to collate a portfolio of evidence for assessment, which includes preparatory work, research work and final pieces (where relevant). Students present their work to tutors and peers for assessment at the end of each term. You will be additionally set mini holiday briefs over the christmas and Easter breaks, to enable you to continue to develop your portfolio for university application and interview. Each of the Personal Project modules equates to 30% of your final Foundation Diploma grade.

Elective Skills Workshop Courses

These 1 day per week, term-long courses underpin the Personal Project modules and are where you will receive intensive training in the technical skills necessary for your chosen discipline(s). These courses cover a wide range of disciplines with technical progress developed in whatever discipline you choose to pursue. You can work across multiple disciplines or follow a path focusing on a single discipline, such as painting, sculpture, digital media, installation or printmaking, allowing you to tailor your learning to your specific interests.

The Elective Skills Workshop Courses are not subject to summative assessment. They are intended to give you the freedom and space to experiment with skills and approaches which will in from the development of your personal projects.

The days you attend the Academy will vary from term to term, depending on which Elective Skills Workshop Course you choose (please note, however, the day you attend the personal project will remain fixed throughout the year).

Art Theory Module

This module comprises of 6 sessions in terms 1 and 2 introducing a series of fundamental questions about what art is and how we can study it. What is ‘an artist’? What does it mean to view an artwork ‘in context’? How can we compare the work of artists from different cultures? Does art communicate? It is assessed through a visual annotation exercise, which requires you to use both descriptive and analytical skills. You will also be required to do a presentation in working with another student, comparing and contrasting two works of art. The Art Theory module contributes 10% of your final Foundation Diploma grade.

Full time

As a full time student you will spend 3 tutored days a week studying at the Academy; 2 days per week on Elective Skills Workshops and 1 day a week working with tutors on your personal project, developing your portfolio and studying Art Theory. At least 1 further day per week should be spent developing your project work independently in your own dedicated studio space.

Autumn (September to December)

You will explore a range of mediums and ways of working. We want you to become confident in your expressive abilities and to discover the joy of experimentation. In this term you will cover 4 disciplines to give you an introductory awareness to different mediums; Installation and Sculpture, Drawing, Painting and Digital Media. These 4 disciplines are covered in a series of compulsory courses. Each course runs for 1 full day per week for 5 weeks. The 4 compulsory courses are:

• Photo, Video and Digital
• 3D
• Painting
• Drawing

Spring  (January to March)

You will be given the opportunity to select courses that reflect your interests and abilities and give you a greater understanding of different medias and techniques. You can gain skills in a range of specialist areas across 5 disciplines; painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and digital media. You will receive targeted sessions on portfolio development with an expert tutor, preparing you for interviews.

Summer (April to July)

In the Summer term you will work towards your final exhibition as well as completing 2 final courses to complement and support the development of your work. Individual tutors and the Foundation Programme Leader will constantly monitor your progress and each module will be followed by a thorough critique and roundup session.

Part time

Year 1 – Autumn (September to December)

In this term you will cover 2 of the 4 compulsory disciplines. Each course runs for 1 full day per week for 5 weeks. The 2 compulsory courses are:

• Painting
• Drawing

1 day per week will be spent working on your personal project answering a open brief based on a visit to the Tate. This personal project will stretch into the first half of the second term.

Year 1 – Spring  (January to March)

In this term you will be given the opportunity to select a 1 day per week, 10 week course, that reflects your interests and abilities. You can gain skills in a range of specialist areas across 5 disciplines; painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and digital media. 1 day per week will be spent working on your personal project, answering an open brief with emphasis on experimentation and continuous development. This personal project will begin half way through this term and span the third term.

Year 1 – Summer (April to July)

In this term you will be given the opportunity to select a 1 day a week, 10 week course, that reflects your interests and abilities. 1 day per week will be spent continuing the personal project begun in term 2.

Year 2 – Autumn (September to December)

If this term you will cover 2 of the 4 compulsory disciplines. Each course runs for 1 full day per week for 5 weeks. The 2 compulsory courses are:

• Photo, Video and Digital
• 3D

1 day per week will be spent working on portfolio building based on the first year’s personal projects, degree course applications and Art Theory. This will stretch into the first half of the second term.

Year 2 – Spring  (January to March)

In this term you will be given the opportunity to select a 1 day a week, 10 week course, that reflects your interests and abilities. 1 day per week will be spent working on preparing for your Graduate Show. Preparation will begin half way through this term and span the third term.

Year 2 – Summer (April to July)

In this term you will be given the opportunity to select a 1 day a week, 10 week course, that reflects your interests and abilities. 1 day per week will be spent continuing with preparations for your Graduate Show.

At the Academy, we believe a contemporary art practice is best developed by learning skills from professional artists so we invest unrivalled teaching time in evolving your practice.

The Academy will provide you with personal tutorial support and teach you practical techniques. This approach is unlike any other Fine Art Foundation course in the UK. The course, if studied full time, consists of 3 days a week tutored by a professional, practising artist and at least 1 self-led day spent developing your project work.

We aim to give you exposure to a wealth of disciplines to help you to discover which areas of art & design best suit your personality and abilities. As well as gaining technical skills, we’ll help you develop independent thought and confidence in your practice.

The lead tutors on the Fine Art Foundation are:

Alex Virji

CJ Mahony

David Hodge

Lynn Dennison

Lynn Dennison is our Foundation Programme Leader. David Hodge is Art History & Theory Programme Leader, Alex Virji is our Foundation core tutor and, along with Lynn, helps students develop their personal projects while CJ Mahony helps students with their portfolio preparation.

The tutors you are taught by within the Elective Skills Workshop courses will depend upon the modules you undertake. You can view all our tutors here.

“Having access to multiple studios and lecturers helped me strive as an artist and I was able to find the niche of work that I liked to create.”

Thomas Hall-Thompson, Fine Art Foundation Student

Fees 2019/2020

Fees must be paid in advance and can be paid yearly or termly (the latter incurring a 5% surcharge).

Please note, these are our 2019-2020 fees. Fees are subject to annual review and are likely to increase by due to inflation in the following academic years. (such increases will not exceed 5% annually).

Materials

Studying Fine Art at this level will incur costs in addition to fees, accommodation, travel and usual living expenses. Whilst some basic materials are provided for certain Elective Skills Workshop courses, you will be required to cover other costs such as those associated with the Graduate Show and materials required to successfully complete the course. We estimate that these costs will be between £300 and £700*, depending on materials and chosen disciplines.

The Academy has a small shop onsite, where you will be able to purchase some materials. Some guidance on where to purchase other specialist materials is in the student handbook and tutors can also advise you.

* Please be aware that this is an estimate for guidance only (based on survey results from previous students) and actual expenditure will vary from student to student, depending on the nature of the practical work they choose to make.

Trips and Visits 

It is expected that students studying at this level will visit galleries and exhibitions independently, as part of the development of the contextual knowledge and practice. Some components of the programme will suggest students visit relevant exhibitions. These are quite often free as they are in commercial galleries. Where there is an entry fee, whilst we encourage you to take these trips, we understand it is not always possible, so they are not compulsory nor essential. If you are not able to participate, the tutor will prepare an alternative itinerary of free museum and gallery visits that you can follow.

Deposit

As a small independent art school we are unable to hold places offered indefinitely. If your application is successful you will need to pay the deposit of £400 and return your signed contract to secure your place. The Deposit is in addition to the fees. Your deposit is returned after successful completion of the programme and removal of your Graduate Show installation.  Should you withdraw from the programme without successfully completing it we will retain your deposit. Should you fail to satisfactorily remove your Graduate Show installation, and the Academy incur costs to do so, we will retain your deposit.

Bursaries

We have a limited number of bursaries (typically 25%) available for students starting their Fine Art Diploma in September 2019. Applicants must have been offered a place before submitting a bursary application. The bursary application form can be found here. Please complete this form and email it to admissions@artacademy.org.uk. Bursaries are awarded based on need and merit. Bursary applicants will be informed of the decision after the application process is complete.

Funding 

As an independent institution our courses are not subject to public funding and as a result there is no exemption from fees for under 19 year olds or access to student loans.

Refunds 

Once you have returned the signed contract and deposit to secure your place you have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel, at which point your full deposit will be refunded. Fees are due prior to the start of the programme. If you decide to cancel after the 14 day period and before the fees are due, you will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you begin the course and decide to withdraw you will be liable for the tuition fees for the first term and will not be eligible for a refund of your deposit. If you decide to cancel your contract or withdraw at any point, you should do so in writing using the form provided.

Once enrolled or re-enrolled as a student, should you decide to withdraw from your programme, you are required to give the Academy a full term’s notice, informing us by the last teaching day of the previous term: the notice period cannot commence part way through a term. If it does, you will be liable to pay full fees for the term’s notice period.  Should you need to, you are able to suspend study for up to 12 months (please see our withdrawal and interruption of study policy).

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information on Fees.

Ideally, you will have an A-Level in Fine Art (or equivalent) and have developed a portfolio that you can bring to your interview, but there are no pre-requisite qualifications to making an application to the Foundation.

On receiving an application, we will offer candidates who meet the entry requirements an interview.

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria:

●  The ability to demonstrate a range of fine art experience including an awareness of the cultural, historical and professional contexts of fine art and key artistic skills through an interview and portfolio review.

●  Satisfactory academic reference, if applicable.

●  Personal statement

The deadline for September 2019 applications is 8th June 2019.

Portfolio

You will be asked to bring to the interview a portfolio containing the following:

• 10 pieces of original finished work, which show your technical ability in a range of media. Please bring photographs of 3D installation work or if some of your work is digital bring this on a device to show it.
• 1 sketch book showing your own areas of interest, individual thought process or development process of finished work.
• 1 example of your writing, critical study work or exploration of other artists.

If you do not have all of the above, please do not worry; contact the office and we can speak to you about alternatives.

English Language Requirements

All applicants are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English Language competence to gain entry to the Academy. This can be through previous study in English (evidencing an approved English language qualification at Level 2, GCSE or equivalent). Where an applicant is unable to provide evidence of a relevant, formal English qualification, the Academy will require specific performance in written English tests at interview. Appropriate level of spoken English is assessed at interview.

Admissions Policy

The Academy operates a fair and transparent admissions process to ensure that the widest range of people (with the motivation and ability to study at the correct level) have an opportunity to benefit from the Fine Art education we provide. To find out more information please see the Academy’s Admissions policy and Criminal Convictions Policy and Procedure.

Academic Regulations and Policies

As a student of the Academy it is very important you are aware of our Academic Regulations and Policies. These apply to any of our students studying on any of our Degree and Pre-Degree programmes and outline the agreed procedures and protocols to ensure all students understand both expectations and support available to them. To find out more information please see our Academic Regulations and Policies page.

If you are interested in studying at the Academy and would like to attend one of our Open Days, please fill in our Open Day form on our Open Day page.

Our Open Days offer an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth information on our courses, learn about our dedicated and talented tutors and experience our vibrant and welcoming community.

We welcome applications from all enthusiastic candidates. Please email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 to discuss courses further or arrange a visit.

Application Process

Applicants who apply by 25th January will be interviewed by 15th February and will be informed of the outcome by 8th March. If successful, the offer must be accepted by 5th April.

After 25th January applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. This is subject to availability; we will not be receiving applications if the programme has reached capacity.

More information on the admissions process can be found on the Academy’s Admissions Policy.

Apply

You can apply for the Fine Art Foundation starting September 2019 online or by post. To apply online you must fill in our online application form. If you are applying via post you can download an application form here. This must be posted, along with at least 5 images of your work, to:

Admissions Team, The Art Academy, Mermaid Court, 165A Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR

If you don’t find the answer to your question here please contact the Academic team on +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk:

What qualifications do I need to apply for the Foundation?

We don’t ask for any particular qualifications. The course is carefully structured in such a way that even students who have pursued no formal art studies can both take part in and benefit. The application and interview process will help determine whether the course is right for you.

Is the Foundation course only for students immediately planning to go on to Higher Education?

No, although certain aspects of the course are aimed at preparing students for further study, the course would benefit anyone who wants to explore a wide range of fine art disciplines and learn about life as an artist.

Can I specialise in just one discipline?

The course is designed to cover a whole range of fine art disciplines, but you will have the possibility to steer your studies and projects in a particular direction and towards specific media, especially towards the end of the course when you may be developing a specialism.

How old must I be to apply for the Foundation course?

There is no upper age limit for applicants to the Academy, and all applications are considered on their merits. Students under the age of 18 are generally not admitted due to lack of experience and levels of ability, however, in exceptional circumstances the Academy will accept students under 18 (though not below the age of 16) for the Foundation Course, which is designed to enable progression onto undergraduate degrees.

All applicants, regardless of age will need to demonstrate they meet the specific entry criteria for the programme of study.

Are student loans available for the Foundation course?


Our Fine Art Foundation is internally accredited and awarded and is not subject to funding from the EFA or SFA. It is therefore a full cost course. Neither is it eligible for student support under the Student Loans Company scheme. The Academy can offer advice on possible sources of funding. Please contact us to discuss your options.

Do you take mature students for the Foundation course?

Yes, applications from mature students are welcomed.

What is the structure for paying fees for the Foundation course?

Fees can be paid yearly or termly – full details can be found on the ‘Fees & Funding’ section of the Fine Art Foundation webpage. The first term of year 1 must be paid for prior to the start the course. Furthermore there is a deposit required from all students enrolling on the course.

Is the Foundation course accredited?

Upon successful completion you will receive an in-house Foundation Diploma (instead of a conventional Btec or UAL qualification), which attests to your individual achievements. Our in house Foundation Diploma is not part of QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework). This allows the course to focus on delivering a thoroughly useful programme suited to its students needs. The Academy’s Foundation course is a well-recognised programme and our students are regularly accepted onto further study courses at top universities. However just like all other Foundation courses, our Foundation course is subject to external moderation to ensure that our standards are comparable to national benchmarks.