BA Fine Art
About this course
BA (Hons) Fine Art, a fine art degree focused on studio-based creative practice and contemporary culture. Core topics include Fieldwork. The programme spans four years and includes participation in ECA's annual Degree Show. The first year covers foundational methods through modules such as Adventures in Drawing, Body as Artistic Material, Expanded Drawing Practice, and Fine Art Printmaking: An Introduction to Multiples as Artistic Expression and Strategy. The second year builds upon practical and contextual studies through modules such as Art in Practice 2 and Art in Context 2. The third year explores professional integration and collaborative working through modules such as Art as Process: Ways of Learning, Making, Working Together, Art and Ecology: The Intersection of environmental and social justice, Exhibiting at Large as Contemporary Artists, and Gendered Soundings? Sound Art & Feminism. The final year culminates in independent research, external project establishment, and final project outcomes through modules such as Art in Practice 4, Art in Context 4, and Going Public.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 10%: 43 offers from 438 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 55 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 68%
- Learning opportunities: 60%
- Assessment and feedback: 71%
- Academic support: 76%
- Organisation and management: 44%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 59%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 75 students who started
- Continued on course: 91%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 4%
What graduates do next
Based on about 58 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 83%
- Working and studying: 3%
- Further study: 4%
- Unemployed: 3%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 22%
- Sales occupations: 8%
- Teaching Professionals: 6%
- Elementary occupations: 6%
- Skilled trades occupations: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 255 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 4%
- North West: 4%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 21%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 2%
- Scotland: 49%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 80 students who started
- A levels: 63%
- Baccalaureate: 6%
- Access course: 1%
- Foundation course: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 26%
- No formal qualifications: 3%
Modules
- group and individual tutorials
- critiques of individual work
- technical instruction through access and induction to ECA’s workshop provision and team
- lectures
- seminars
- workshops
- field trips
- visiting artist talks
- Adventures in Drawing
- Body as Artistic Material
- Expanded Drawing Practice
- Fine Art Printmaking: An Introduction to Multiples as Artistic Expression and Strategy
- Introduction to the Moving Image: Expanded History of Cinema
- Textiles in Contemporary Art Practice: Making and Thinking
- Art in Practice 2
- Art in Context 2
- lectures
- seminars
- workshops
- field trips
- visiting artist talks
- Adventures in Drawing
- Black and White Photographic Practice: The Portrait
- Body as Artistic Material
- Expanded Drawing Practice
- Fine Art Printmaking: An Introduction to Multiples as Artistic Expression and Strategy
- Introduction to the Moving Image: Expanded History of Cinema
- Textiles in Contemporary Art Practice: Making and Thinking
- how to draw from and integrate practical and contextual studies into forms of artistic praxis
- exploring how the work and projects you are involved in and are developing can move into the world beyond the university
- Art as Process: Ways of Learning, Making, Working Together
- Art and Ecology: The Intersection of environmental and social justice
- Exhibiting at Large as Contemporary Artists
- Gendered Soundings? Sound Art & Feminism
- Popular Art and Folk Culture
- Popular not Populist: Contemporary Art ‘Lost’ in the Mainstream
- Themes in Contemporary Art
- Making Things Public 1
- Making Things Public 2
- the exhibition of artworks
- the staging of performances
- the hosting of participatory activities
- launching publications
- Art in Practice 4
- Art in Context 4
- Going Public
- subjects, skills and practices of your work
- your research into the work of others
- your final project outcomes
- research
- action
- reflection
- participation in ECA’s annual Degree Show
- establishing an external artistic project
- staging performances
- screening events
- workshops
- talks
- hosting symposia
- developing art educational resources
- alumni of ECA
- specialists from related professional bodies and organisations
- encourage you to self-identify and articulate your skill needs for entering careers after study
- equip you with transferable skills and an understanding of your employability after study
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Fine Art at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £21,000 after 3 years, £26,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £20,500 and £34,500. The £26,500 median after five years is £4,000 more than the UK median for Art.
What do graduates of BA Fine Art at University of Edinburgh do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Fine Art at University of Edinburgh?
68% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Fine Art at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 174 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Fine Art at University of Edinburgh?
10% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 43 offers from 438 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA Fine Art at University of Edinburgh?
91% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.