Art and Design, BA

Course content

In your first year you'll pursue a range of art and design practices, exploring processes and ideas in your studio practice. You'll also be introduced to key issues in the history, culture and technologies informing art and design to help you put your practice into context.

The following year will allow you to build on this understanding: you'll develop an awareness of professional standards in art and design and begin to put together a sustained body of work in your practice, engaging with the context you've gained from your academic studies. You'll also develop your knowledge of research methods and marketing.

All of this prepares you for your final year, in which you have the opportunity to apply all that you have learned as you work towards your final degree exhibition. You'll also demonstrate the skills of research and critical thinking you've gained as you write and research a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Entry requirements, fees and applying

  Entry requirements

  A-level: ABB including an art or design-related subject and excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking.

  If you don't have an art or design-related subject, we may also consider your application based on a high grade at GCSE in Art/Design and a portfolio of recent and relevant work.

  • Career opportunities

    A degree in Art and Design equips you with a wide range of skills. Obviously, skills developed through studio practice in a range of different media are vital, but because our degree incorporates a rigorous academic and theoretical framework you'll also develop important transferable skills. You'll develop sound professional awareness and be able to research different topics independently, then critically think about these and draw your own conclusions. We encourage you to be self-motivated and capable of explaining and defending your point of view. All of these qualities are valuable to employers.

    As a result graduates have pursued a wide range of careers. Many continue with their own practice as either artists or designers, and a selection of exhibitions by recent graduates includes the London Original Print Fair - Royal Academy of Art, Baltic Gallery, Jerwood Drawing Prize, Saatchi's New Sensations, Arts at Trinity Leeds and Art in Unusual Places, Leeds.

    Others have gone into careers related to art and design in a variety of roles including art gallery manager, fabricator, illustrator, editorial assistant, graphic designer, journalist, theatre prop designer, lecturer, learning support worker, artist in residence and study centre assistant. Graduates have worked in Damien Hirst's studio and assisted artists like Tracey Emin, Gillian Ayres and Ian Davenport.

    Some graduates have decided to move onto postgraduate studies in disciplines such as fine art, advertising and architecture, illustration, set or furniture design, museum studies and curating while others have entered teacher training. Yet more go into completely different careers in accounting, law, marketing, journalism and retail.

    Careers support

    We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

    Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

    The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

  • Study abroad and work placements

    Study abroad

    On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has partnerships with more than 400 universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

    Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

    Work placements

    Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

    Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.