BA Fine Art (Placement Year)
About this course
BA Hons in Fine Art (Placement Year), a fine art degree centred on contemporary art practices, studio work, and visual culture. Core topics include Research Methods, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Ethics & Professional Practice, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Design & Creative Practice, Global & Comparative Perspective. Students undertake an integrated work-based placement year in the third year to gain professional experience in the industry. The first year introduces foundational studio practice and art histories through modules such as Contemporary Art Practices, Creative Attention, and Art Histories and Contexts. The second year expands technical skills and theoretical understanding with modules like Expanded Art Practices, Art Theories and Contexts, and Creative Transformations. The third year consists of a dedicated work placement in a graduate-level role. The final year focuses on professional presentation and writing, featuring compulsory modules such as Writing for the Arts and Advanced Art Practices, where students produce a body of work for a degree show. Optional modules across the course allow students to explore topics in film, media, literature, and digital cultures.
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. Art and Design or a humanities subject would be considered desirable but not essential. IB: 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
See the highest paying Art, Design, Music & Drama degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 79%: 30 offers from 38 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 35 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 82%
- Learning opportunities: 81%
- Assessment and feedback: 78%
- Academic support: 82%
- Organisation and management: 63%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 70%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 85%
- Left higher education: 15%
What graduates do next
Based on about 28 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 76%
- Working and studying: 8%
- Further study: 6%
- Unemployed: 8%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Web and Multimedia Design Professionals: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 10%
- Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 55 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 9%
- North West: 36%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 14%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 9%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 16%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 2%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Contemporary Art Practices
- Creative Attention
- Art Histories and Contexts
- Raw Materials of Performance
- Understanding Media and Culture
- Transformations in Digital Media
- The Arts and Identity (Discovery module)
- Expanded Art Practices
- Art Theories and Contexts
- Creative Transformations
- Writing Fiction
- Film Theory and Aesthetics
- Visual Cultures
- Digital Cultures
- American Literature
- Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)
- Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)
- Work Based Learning Year
- Writing for the Arts
- Advanced Art Practices
- Global Film Genres
- Audiences, Fans and Participatory Cultures
- Literature and Environment
- Writing for the Arts (extended)
- Experimental Film Production
- The Making of Media and AI Futures
- Festival of the Future
- Queer Futures (Discovery module)
- People Power and Collective Action (Discovery module)
- Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)
- Artistic Fusions (Discovery module)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Fine Art (Placement Year) at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £25,500 after 15 months, £22,500 after 3 years, £27,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £21,000 and £33,500. The £27,000 median after five years is £4,500 more than the UK median for Art.
What do graduates of BA Fine Art (Placement Year) at Lancaster University 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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
82% 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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 146 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Fine Art (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
79% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 30 offers from 38 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Fine Art (Placement Year) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BA Fine Art (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
85% of students continued into their second year, and 15% left higher education.