Fine Art Mixed Media BA Honours

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Course Overview

UK Fees £9,250 *
International Fees £15,400 *
Duration 3 or 4 years

* Price per academic year

Course summary

Our innovative Fine Art Mixed Media BA will give you the opportunity to explore and develop work across boundaries, within the ever-expanding contemporary fine art disciplines.

Our course enables you to work across disciplines or within the more traditionally defined areas of practice, while referencing relevant critical and theoretical debates.

You'll be encouraged to bring highly individual approaches to studio practice, coupled with an emphasis on experiential learning – these are the defining factors that have established the course at the cutting edge of contemporary practice.

We encourage creativity, individuality and personal growth, and once you've acquired the basic skills you can negotiate your own individual programme of study with tutors.

We select only the most dedicated and creative students who have the energy, enthusiasm and commitment that our course requires.

Based at our Harrow Campus, you'll work alongside students from film, photography, music, fashion and journalism, in a unique hothouse of creative opportunity. 

Our studio-based course provides you with a permanent space, depending on the type of work you engage with as you progress through the programme.

You'll be taught by practising artists with national and international profiles working in and across the mediums of sculpture, painting, moving image, performance, photography and sound. Our exceptional team are supported by state-of-the-art facilities and workshops that are at the forefront of current technical innovation.

Our teaching and learning methods will encourage you to create a body of work characterised by personal commitment and an increasing sense of autonomy.

Our teaching methods include lectures, tutorials (individual and group), presentations, crits, workshops, and gallery visits and talks. 

Fine art disciplines include:

  • Digital
  • Drawing
  • Installation
  • Intervention
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Moving image
  • Painting
  • Performance
  • Photography
  • Printmaking
  • Sculpture
  • Sound

Top reasons to study with us

  • The University of Westminster is ranked in the Top 10 in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2023 Fine Art subject ranking
  • Westminster is ranked 2nd in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2023 for ‘Research Quality’ in Art and Design
  • Your own studio space – You'll have your own fine art studio space for the duration of your course in which to experiment with your practice
  • Dedicated facilities and technical support staff – You'll have access to specialist facilities including professional darkrooms and processing facilities, a photographic green screen and film studios, moving image editing suites, 3D workshops, digital facilities and traditional printing areas
  • Open supportive environment – We'll support you in exploring your fine art practice, using interdisciplinary mixed media and cutting-edge processes alongside traditional media
  • Develop your professional practice – You'll develop your professional practice via dedicated modules giving you direct practical experience, helping you decide on and pursue a career in the creative arts
  • Optional field trips – You'll have the opportunity to take part in field trips abroad and within the UK. Past destinations have included New York, Berlin, the Venice Biennale, the Kassel documenta
  • Learn through exhibiting – You'll exhibit your work regularly throughout the course, culminating in your degree show at the internationally acclaimed central London gallery space, Ambika P3

Course structure

The course emphasis on creativity and individuality is supported by regular tutorials and studio discussion. This encourages you to explore different approaches to practice, coupled with technical introductions and workshops, enabling you to conceive increasingly ambitious projects.

Contemporary fine art practice is the focus of debate in both lectures and the studio, supported by the programme of visiting artists and lecturers. You'll develop increasing insight into the exciting and diverse contemporary London art scene. 

In Years 2 and 3, you will continue to focus on your chosen area of practice. Experimentation and innovation are consolidated, and you'll undertake a work placement within the creative industries to test your emerging aspirations.

Contextual studies, theory and practice are allied, with you defining the topic through tutorial discussion for your Dissertation. The final year culminates in the degree show, and you'll engage in fundraising, promotion and curation of this public event.

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Subjects of study include:

  • Introduction to Fine Art Mixed Media Practice
  • Creativity and Collaboration
  • Contemporary Fine Art Practice Experimentation
  • Sources of Contemporary Fine Art Practice

Credit Level 4

Subjects of study include:

  • Contemporary Fine Art Practice 2.1 Exploration & Development
  • Concepts of Contemporary Art Practice
  • Contemporary Fine Art Practice 2.2 Presentation
  • Contemporary Fine Art: Ideas & Form
  • Work Based and Placement Learning
  • The Critical image
  • Photography in Context

Credit Level 5

Between Year 2 and 3, you may also undertake an optional year-long placement. If you take advantage of this option, you’ll undertake an additional year-long industry placement module running parallel to your work placement, and your final degree award will be BA Honours Fine Art Mixed Media with Professional Experience.

Subjects of study include:

  • Contemporary Fine Art Practice: Research and Development 3.1
  • Research Project
  • Contemporary Fine Art and Professional Practice: Realisation 3.2

Credit Level 6

Studying the Fine Art Mixed Media BA

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Programme specification

For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).

To request an accessible version please email [email protected]

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Prospectus

Get your copy of the University of Westminster prospectus and browse the range of courses on offer.

Request a prospectus

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Get in touch

Contact us for general course enquiries:

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
(Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm GMT)

[email protected]

Live chat with us
(Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm GMT)

Open days

Join us at an open day online or on campus. Get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster and talk to course leaders and our support teams.

Careers

Build industry connections

Our dedicated professional practice modules will help you to develop strong links within the fine art sector in London and beyond.

Be inspired by our graduates

Course alumnus Oscar Murillo was a collective winner of the Turner Prize in 2019.

Show your work

You'll benefit from exhibiting your work regularly with us, culminating at our acclaimed gallery space Ambika P3 in the heart of central London. 

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

  • Annka Kulty Gallery
  • Artists Damien Hirst and Phyllida Barlow
  • Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool
  • Camden Art Centre
  • Tate Modern

Work experience

All of our students develop strong links within the fine art sector in London and beyond through our dedicated professional practice modules. Our teaching staff are active practitioners in their field producing and showing work internationally.

Artists and organisations where students have volunteered/worked during the Fine Art Professional Practice module in the past include: 

  • Blain Southern Gallery
  • Brian Eno, Artist and Musician
  • Camden Art Centre
  • CORE Arts Therapy
  • Dairy Arts Centre
  • David Zwirner Gallery
  • Elle Decor Magazine
  • Estorick Collection
  • Heath Robinson Museum
  • Hew Locke, artist
  • Guest Projects London
  • Kettle Yard, Cambridge
  • Larry Achiampong, artist
  • Limoncello Gallery
  • London Art Fair
  • Mark Titchner, artist
  • Matt Collishaw, artist
  • Milton Keynes Gallery
  • MIRAJ Magazine
  • Monster Chetwynd, artist
  • Richard Woods, artist
  • Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
  • Rob Tufnell Gallery
  • Rose Wylie, artist
  • Saatchi Gallery
  • Wei Hua, artist (in-studio, in China)
  • White Cube Gallery
  • Yinka Shonibare, artist

Job roles

This course will prepare you for a range of roles, including:

  • Advertising executive
  • Artist 
  • Arts educator
  • Curator
  • Features writer
  • Journalist
  • Gallery owner or director
  • Moving image production professional
  • Museum archivist

Industry links

Our fine art students are commissioned each year by Travis Smith, a City of London law firm, to provide works for display in the law firm's public-facing London offices.

In the past, students from both the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Art have visited our Fine Art Mixed Media BA course every year, delivering workshops and artist talks, offering a unique perspective of young, up-and-coming professional artists.

We have a wide range of guest speakers join us, which in the past has included:

  • Dan Hays
  • Dexter Dalwood
  • Francis Sommers
  • Grayson Perry
  • Hayley Newman
  • Ian Davenport
  • Jem Finer
  • Jeremy Deller
  • John Hill
  • John Smith
  • Karen Russo
  • Labita Clayton
  • Larry Achiampong
  • Laure Provost
  • Lindsey Seers
  • Maggie Ellis
  • Matt Collishaw
  • Molly Soda
  • Oscar Murillo
  • Phoebe Cummings
  • Rupert Ackroyd
  • Simon Faithful
  • Uriel Orlo

Graduate success

Larry Achiampong

Fine Art Mixed Media BA - 2005

Larry has performed and presented projects at Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Somerset House, Documenta 13 Kassel, BFI, David Art Foundation and MOMA Oxford.

He completed a BA in Fine Art Mixed Media at University of Westminster (2005) and an MA in Sculpture at Slade School of Fine Art (2008). He lives and works in London. "Thank you so much to the tutors for your support. If I hadn't done the video module in the first year, I'm not sure I would be making films like this - it's something I will never forget." 

Oscar Murillo

Fine Art Mixed Media BA - 2007

Oscar was a collective winner of the Turner Prize in 2019. Solo exhibitions include South London Gallery and David Zwirner London. Oscar participated in the 2015 Venice Biennale and Forever Now at MOMA New York.

"The University of Westminster was my very first experience of an incredibly supportive educational system that nurtured my desire to develop into the complexities of being an artist in today's world.

This was due to the honest relationships I had with the tutoring cohort, my peers and, to my surprise, its positive distance away from the disruptive energy of the city of London."

Mandy El-Sayegh

Fine Art Mixed Media BA - 2007

Mandy had a solo show at the Chisenhale in 2020 and has exhibited at Carlos Ishikawa, Carl Kostyal and the Sharjah Biennial 13, 2017.

"The course helped me to gain a profound foundational understanding to develop my practice, as the tutors were invested in a way that is probably less common in other courses in London.

I was offered a real freedom to experiment and make mistakes, but also got a good reality check into what it could mean practising art outside the institution. This, for me, was valuable."

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Opportunities could include:

  • Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
  • Attending an international summer school or field trip
  • Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad

International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.

Find out more about our international opportunities, including funding options and where you can go.

Students working and studying internationally

Course Leader

Why study this course?

Learn in an open, supportive environment

Explore your fine art practice while being supported by our academic and technical staff.

Easy access to central London

Based just a 20-minute tube ride from the heart of the city, you'll be perfectly placed to access the work experience opportunities, potential collaborators and art scene of central London. 

Benefit from your own studio space

You can experiment with your practice in your own dedicated fine art studio space for the duration of your course. 

What our students say

Jack Evans

Fine Art Mixed Media BA

"I had a really enjoyable experience during my three years at university playing with a range of mediums, without the pressure of restricting myself to a particular pathway - this allowed my practice to thrive somewhere between drawing and installation.

The tutors are fab, with a huge bank of experience and knowledge of the contemporary art scene in London."

Kitty Tredwin

Fine Art Mixed Media BA

"I found the tutors some of the most inspiring people I have met while living and studying in London. As they have each led a life of art through different mediums and different artistic paths there is a great number of ways they help their students.

I also personally found it really great to watch the tutors put on their own show in Berlin and London - they showed us how to work hard, how important it is to be invested in your ideas and how fun the real art world is outside of university."

Kavitha Balasingham

Fine Art Mixed Media BA

"The studios are huge! Do not take them for granted, you will miss them when you are gone. There were also lots of artist talks. I had weekly one-on-one meetings with tutors to help my development.

Some modules push you to work in galleries and learn more about the outside world. This course has helped prepare me for life after university, introducing me to lots of connections."

What our students say

Yuqi Wang

Fine Art Mixed Media BA - 2023

What I've greatly appreciated about my course is its unrestricted nature. The Fine Art Mixed Media BA encompasses a broad spectrum, including painting, installations, performances, films, and more. You could be making a movie one semester, and organise a band for a performance art show the next, with this course you are not limiting your pursuits. 

Hansnii Aukhjee

Fine Art Mixed Media BA - 2023

The Fine Art Mixed Media course at the University of Westminster is designed to be highly independent. This has granted me the freedom to explore and work with a wide array of materials and subjects that align with my personal interests and artistic practice.

Rainha De Souza

Fine Art Mixed Media BA - 2023

My course has been an exciting and an extensive journey of learning and development. I particularly enjoyed the freedom of experimenting with variety of different media in my creative practice. Moreover, the collaboration with tutors and like-minded peers made the learning experience more enthralling.

Entry Requirements

  • A levels – CCC (96 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels – 96 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate – 96 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • BTEC Extended Diploma – MMM
  • BTEC Diploma – DD
  • Access – 96 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course

In addition to one of the above, you should have: 

  • GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths Pass – IB Pass

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

You will be required to submit a portfolio. We would like to see a selection of images of your fine art work – this should include images of your sketchbook work (if not online) as well as finished pieces. Think about how you can collate/curate these images within your digital portfolio. We are looking to see your creative and experimental approach to fine art practice so look for work which demonstrates your passion and interest in fine art. It will also be useful for you to include short pieces of text which could help us understand your work and processes. We will also be looking for an awareness and interest in contemporary fine art evidenced by artists, periodicals, reviews, exhibition and gallery visits.

We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combination of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.

View more information about our entry requirements and the application process

  • International Baccalaureate – 96 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

You will be required to submit a portfolio. We would like to see a selection of images of your fine art work – this should include images of your sketchbook work (if not online) as well as finished pieces. Think about how you can collate/curate these images within your digital portfolio. We are looking to see your creative and experimental approach to fine art practice so look for work which demonstrates your passion and interest in fine art. It will also be useful for you to include short pieces of text which could help us understand your work and processes. We will also be looking for an awareness and interest in contemporary fine art evidenced by artists, periodicals, reviews, exhibition and gallery visits.

More information

Pre-sessional English programmes

Need to improve your English before starting your course? We offer summer pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.

Follow us on Instagram

View the latest work from our Fine Art Mixed Media BA students on Instagram.

Follow @fineartmixedmedia

Facilities

We provide dedicated, high-specification studios for our portfolio of art and design courses.

At our Harrow Campus, we have a suite of 3D making facilities which include metal fabrication, moulding and casting, wood and ceramics. There are additionally laser cutters and 3D printers, as well as a wood and metal store on campus, and we have a selection of tools available for loan.

You can also experiment in a range of media using all of the technical facilities the University has to offer. These include photographic studios and darkrooms, professional moving image production facilities including studios and dedicated edit suites, traditional printing processes including mono and silk screen printing, and dedicated digital facilities.

We have a wide range of professional photographic, sound and moving image equipment available for loan.

Student work

A selection of work created by our Fine Art Mixed Media BA students.

Westminster Degree Shows

The Westminster Degree Shows are an annual collection that showcases the creativity, vibrancy and artistic talent of our undergraduate arts courses. You can see the latest online collection on Westminster Degree Shows.

Banner text: Westminster Degree Shows 2023

Learn new skills

Learn a new language

From Arabic to Spanish, you can learn a new language alongside your degree with our Polylang programme

Develop your entrepreneurial skills

Our award-winning Creative Enterprise Centre offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your startup projects. 

Gain extra qualifications

We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.

Fees and Funding

UK tuition fee: £9,250 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

Funding

As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.

Find out about undergraduate student funding options.

Scholarships

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.

Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.

Additional costs

Optional field trips on this course and some fine art materials may cost extra.

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

International tuition fee: £15,400 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme

If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.

International student funding

Find out about funding for international students.

Additional costs

Optional field trips on this course may cost extra.

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

Teaching and Assessment

Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable.  Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.

How you'll be taught

Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

  • Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
  • Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
  • Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
Year
1
38%62%
2
23%75%2%
P
4%6%90%
3
17%83%
Scheduled hoursIndependent studyPlacement

How you'll be assessed

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:

  • Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts  
  • Written exams: end of semester exams 
  • Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
     
Year
1
100%
2
26%74%
P
100%
3
58%42%
PracticalCoursework

Data from the academic year 2023/24

Supporting you

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

  • Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
  • Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
  • Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
  • Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Visit our student hub

Course location

Harrow is our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media and digital courses. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.

Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.

For more details, visit our Harrow Campus page.

Contact us

Call our dedicated team on:

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511

Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday

[email protected]

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Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday

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