Fine arts
Shape the future of contemporary art
Fine arts at UNSW will prepare you to thrive in and lead theÌýfuture of global contemporary art and culture.ÌýFine arts allows you to experimentÌýwith a range of artistic processes, mediumsÌýand techniques,ÌýexploreÌýyourÌýideasÌýand creativityÌýandÌýhone yourÌýindependentÌýart practice.
PrepareÌýto thrive inÌýtheÌýcreativeÌýsector
As part ofÌýUNSW School of Art & Design, you’ll join a creative community with an unmatched record forÌýproducing critically acclaimed artists and designers.ÌýOur fine artsÌýgraduates are exhibited and collected widely in Australia and internationally, including in many of the world’s leading art museums, galleries and major biennales. Our graduates consistently achieve national recognitionÌý-winning Australia’s most prestigious art prizes, including the Archibald and Blake prizes, the NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship, as well as other notable prizes, scholarships and residencies.
Through fine arts, you’ll gainÌýtheÌýtransferable skills, confidence and insights to kick-start your professionalÌýartisticÌýpractice andÌýthrive in the creative and cultural industries. Our graduatesÌýmove into diverse careers, including:Ìý
- art direction, advertising and communications
- arts and cultural administration and policymaking
- arts education and training
- arts writing, publishing and criticism
- commercial photography and photojournalism
- contemporary art practice
- curating and program management in festivals, museums, galleries and public spaces
- exhibition planning, design and installation
- entertainment, media and technology industries
- theatre, film and television production
- urban planning, site activation and public art.
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StudioÌýpracticeÌý
Through aÌýstudioÌýpracticeÌýmajor, you’llÌýstudy two out ofÌýsixÌýchoices ofÌýspecialisations.Ìý
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In the drawing studio, you’ll develop understandings of the formal, material and conceptual possibilities of contemporary drawing practice. You’ll work from the human figure, experiment with a range of traditional and contemporary materials and extend your individual practice through rigorous creative and experimental approaches.
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In the painting studio, you’ll engage with painting as a formal, material and conceptual practice. Exploring connections between conceptual and material enquiry, you’ll develop an individual practice by testing ideas and techniques in aÌýcritically-informedÌýstudio environment.
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In the printmaking studio, you’ll acquire diverse technical skills in traditional and contemporary print methods, including digital imaging, etching, lithography, relief printing and screen-printing. You’ll use collaborative enquiry, analysis, critique and reflection to generate ideas and artworks in a contemporary printmaking environment.
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In the photography studio, you’ll develop diverse and transferable photographic skills, supporting you to become artists and practitioners in a variety of fields. The studio fosters critical enquiry and experimentation to explore the material and conceptual possibilities of photography in contemporary contexts.
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In the sculpture studio, you’ll develop artworks by engaging with sculptural, spatial and social possibilities of contemporary art. The studio fosters a collaborative andÌýcritically-informedÌýapproach to support students in developing their artistic practice.
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In the moving image studio, you’ll explore contemporary approaches to video art, short film, audio-visual composition and installation. You’ll develop understandings and skills in a variety of creative contexts for moving image practice, including gallery, screen, virtual and public spaces.
ThroughÌýaÌýseries ofÌýcore studio art practiceÌýcourses, you’llÌýalsoÌýbe supported to exploreÌýa breadth of understanding of fine artsÌýpractice while you dive deep and develop yourÌýindependent practice. 
Art theory
We also offer art theory as a majorÌýwithinÌýour undergraduateÌýsuite.Ìý
Study
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Your undergraduate study options include:
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours ) / Fine Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce / Fine ArtsÌý
- Bachelor of Computer Science / Fine Arts
- Bachelor of Fine Arts / ArtsÌý
- Bachelor of Fine Arts / Education (Secondary)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts / Engineering (Honours)Ìý
- Bachelor of Fine Arts / MediaÌý
- Bachelor of Fine Arts / Law
- Bachelor of Science / Fine ArtsÌý
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Fine arts (honours) is a one-year program intended for high achieving students who have completed an undergraduate degree in fine arts (or similar area), either from UNSW Sydney or another university. The degree allows you to advance your artistic practice by developing a significant practice-led research project in a rigorous and supportive community of artists.
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Through aÌý, you’ll undertake supervised research and investigation into an approved area of fine arts, media arts, design, or curatorial practice through a substantial body of creative practice and a 15,000 – 20,000 word dissertation.Ìý
Postgraduate research throughÌýa PhD or Master of Philosophy (MPhil)Ìýwill deepen your expertise and help you develop a broad intellectual sophistication, research, and professional skills that are prized by employers. You’ll have access to first-rate facilities and world-class supervisors at the forefront of their fields in fine arts.