BA (Hons)

Alumni Career Progress

Students are encouraged to question their role as artists and how their work is to be understood in the public domain. There is considerable emphasis on the realities of working within the professional environment, supported by teaching staff who bring their direct experience of fine art practice and research to the course. The course team develop strong relationships with the students over the duration of their studies and there is a lasting sense of community beyond graduation. While many students remain in contact after leaving the College (passing on news or requesting advice, references etc) it is the Fine Art Alumni group that strengthens this contact. The links with past students not only enrich the course community but also enable the team to monitor the successes of individual students, which feeds back into course development.

Our students have gone on to a broad range of destinations which have included Casting Assistant, Internship at the V&A, Assistant at a Digital Arts Organization, Art Technician, Studio Assistant to Damien Hirst and Ian McKeever, Research Assistant at ArtSway as part of a Knowledge Transfer Catalyst Scheme, awarded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, PGCE study at Goldsmiths College, Intern at White Cube Gallery, Graphic Designer, Fine Art PhD, Founding of Artworks artists studios in Poole, Dorset, exhibiting at Frieze Art Fair.

They have also chosen to study Fine Art, Scenography and Gallery Studies at some of the most prestigious Postgraduate centres in the UK and abroad including The Slade School of Art, Wimbledon School of Art, City of Westminster University, Edinburgh School of Art, Central Saint Martins and Oslo National Academy of the Arts.

There is a consistent positive attitude from past students and a clear fondness for the course team. The following passages are a selection of extracts from Alumni:

‘I cannot praise the BA (Hons) Fine Art course enough. My three years studying there were terrifyingly challenging and unimaginably mind-opening.’

Josepha Sanna, 2006

‘I am very happy and grateful to all the wonderful people and tutors I met during my studies. I learnt and achieved so many things and carry that drive and passion for art with me today.’

Sara Duffield, 2003

‘After the Arts University College I have built a studio, and then spent two years at the MA in Fine Art the National Academy in Oslo.’

Bjorn Basen, 2004

‘I still paint as much as I can and have had six shows including The Future Can’t Wait in London during the Frieze Art Fair.’

Eric Tidemann, 2005

‘The most difficult part of graduating is realising how much hard work one must put into getting the right job. Being a recent Fine Art graduate from the University College I feel fully prepared for this reality.’

Peter Morphew, 2007

‘The final stages of the BA led me to a decision I never even thought was within my reach, and I am now studying for a Masters in Photography.’

Laura Rouse, 2007