Fine Art with Contemporary Cultural Theory

This degree combines fine art studio practice with contemporary philosophy and cultural theory, preparing you to be a critically aware artist/thinker. It builds from the idea that art-making is enriched by conversations with thinkers, filmmakers, writers, philosophers and scientists.

Supported by artist-lecturers and visiting practitioners, you'll work across different media to develop your practice. You'll explore the relationship between art and society, examine theories of the image, the gaze and culture, and examine questions of gender, sexuality and cultural difference.

You'll initiate and organise curated exhibitions and events to develop both your practice and your ability to connect your practice with contemporary culture.

Placing art in its cultural context, you'll have the opportunity to study related fields such as music, literature, cultural history, philosophy and film.

You'll work with artists and theorists across the School on current issues like ecology, cities, place, power and conflict.

All of this will inform your practice, giving you the space to develop your creativity, and preparing you for a career in the arts and culture sectors.

Specialist facilities

The School has excellent facilities and resources. You'll work in well lit studios with 24-hour access and will benefit from versatile exhibition spaces and social areas.

Resources include:

• The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery

• Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery

• Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine

• Marks & Spencer Company Archive

• International Textile Collection

• Public art trail

• Project Space –“ a multi-purpose space in the School designed for the development of curatorial practice and visiting exhibitions.

The University Library offers online books, journals and databases, has a wealth of archive material in its Special Collections, including manuscript, archive and early printed material, and provides a range of spaces for individual study or group work. You'll also benefit from access to Box of Broadcasts, an archive of over 2 million TV and radio broadcasts.

The programme is designed for international students. Applicants must meet two of the following three criteria in order to be eligible for our programmes:

• Have an educational gap between their high school qualifications and the requirements for entry to undergraduate programmes at the University of Leeds. Qualifications beyond high school level will be considered within the applicant profile.
• Have completed the majority of their high school studies in a non-English speaking environment.
• Have completed the majority of their high school studies in a different educational context from that in the UK.

Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate will be considered for the International Foundation Year if they have reached a minimum Grade of 26 points overall with grade 4 at Standard Level or 3 at Higher Level in two subjects. Specific subjects will be dependent on the chosen degree path of progression.

This course offers you a unique combination of artistic, intellectual and professional skills. As a result, you'll be well equipped for a variety of careers.

You'll have the skills to work as a professional artist, designer or craftsperson, but the theoretical elements of the course will also allow you to develop critical, analytical, communication, presentation and research skills to work in multimedia and the creative industries, publishing, journalism, PR, film and television.

Many graduates from our School combine careers as artists with work in education, museums or galleries, or even go on to establish new cultural enterprises themselves –“ The Tetley, Leeds' contemporary art space, is just one example. Others use their knowledge and skills to launch careers in fields such as journalism, broadcasting, marketing, technology, business or design.

Some of our graduates have gone onto postgraduate study and some have completed PhDs and are teaching in higher education institutions around the world.

The School is committed to helping you achieve your career ambitions - you'll be able to work closely with staff in the School to source opportunities throughout your degree to gain experience, develop your skills and build networks.

The optional study abroad or work placement year offer opportunities to gain transferable skills, develop your experience and build your networks.

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures offers a number of paid internships every year too.

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.

Apply

There are three steps to applying:

1. Read our Access to Leeds application guidelines
2. Fill in our Access to Leeds application form (this will be available here once the application cycle opens). If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader), there is an accessible version of this form available to download. Please only use this version if you have accessibility requirements
3. Submit your application using our online Access to Leeds Application Submission Form (this will be available here once the application cycle opens).

If you require it for your application, please download our Declaration of Household Income Form (this will be available here once the application cycle opens).