In the first year, you'll be introduced to the University and the technical workshops and facilities available to you. On the course you’ll learn the technical and conceptual skills that will give you a solid foundation from which to explore your areas of specialist activity. 

Studio Practice 1 
This unit introduces innovative approaches to making and thinking about fine art. It engages you in the experience of contemporary art-making in such a way that understanding is broadened and deepened, and habitual ways of thinking and making are challenged.

Context and Display
This unit introduces models of production, dissemination and reception in contemporary art practice and situates these within wider intellectual, cultural and global contexts.

History and Theory
This unit introduces historical and theoretical research as an approach to inform an understanding of art practice. In this context, the History and Theory unit introduces a range of approaches, discourses and models found in recent and contemporary art practice and explores these within wider intellectual, cultural and global contexts.

Studio Practice 2
Studio Practice 2 focuses on your choice of context(s) within your studio work (narratives, subject matters, materials, processes). While these may remain tentative and flexible, the focus is on the production of a substantive body of studio work showing evidence of consistency and investigation into contextual parameters, supported by developmental studies and a written statement.

The second year focus is on finding your own specialist way of working and you’ll be encouraged and supported to start working more independently. During this year you may also have the opportunity to complete an industry work placement or even study abroad. 

Contemporary Art Practice 1
Contemporary Art Practice 1 develops you individual practice within a more specialised and collaborative studio and research environment. Teaching on the unit is delivered through a number of tutor-led groups, each group representing a range of skills and practices.

Contemporary Art Practice 2
Contemporary Art Practice 2 is a continuation of Contemporary Art Practice 1, emphasising the focusing and refining of your studio work as a specialised practice, underpinned by creative and innovative approaches in the context of contemporary art.

The third year will see you achieve a greater level of independence with self-managed research, study and practice, resulting in a final major project and a written dissertation. 

Degree Show Development
This guides you towards your final graduation through the development of an individualised and critically informed practice. Within the unit, you'll create a body of work that stands as a position statement on your practice and your expected approach towards the degree show exhibition.

Dissertation or Combined Dissertation/Critical Reflection
You'll undertake a substantial period of self-directed research on a subject related to the historical, theoretical or critical concerns of your discipline. And you'll develop a range of research skills appropriate to your chosen topic. You'll be expected to articulate a clear, cogent and sustained argument in an extended piece of writing that conforms to academic conventions and demonstrates an understanding of the subject area through analysis and evaluation.

Critical Contexts
This unit is aimed at a summation of the critical writing and research skills you have acquired throughout the course. Operating alongside the Degree Show Development unit, it is integral to the development of a critical context for your practice as you progress towards your degree show. The unit explores academic research skills, methodologies, compositional and editing skills that will allow you to produce a concise and informed critical argument on a subject that relates to contemporary art practice. You are encouraged to be ambitious and intellectually creative in your approach. You are expected to produce a written text, supported with visual references where appropriate, that has the same degree of resolution and rigour that your degree show will have, with a particular emphasis on the structure and presentation of the text.

Degree Show
You'll work towards the creation and presentation of a body of self-initiated work. This is informed by current issues in contemporary art, and will be presented at the degree show exhibition.

This course offers the opportunity to study abroad for part of your second year. To find out more about studying abroad as part of your course please see the Study Abroad section:

• Study abroad information

As a long-established course, we have a national reputation which gives our students access to some of the most respected names in the creative industries, including:

• Tate Modern
• Turner Contemporary
• Saatchi Gallery
• Folkestone Triennial
• Dover Arts Development
• Stour Valley Arts
• LUX
• Film & Video Umbrella
• Nexus Productions.
• Prime Focus World
• British Artists’ Film & Video Study Collection
• Nowhere Lab
• Photoworks
• Animate Projects
• Cass Sculpture Foundation
• Crate
• Future\City
• Whitstable Biennale
• Canterbury Festival
• Limbo.

Whilst many of our alumni have developed careers as established artists, others have chosen to apply their talents to other fields, becoming:

• Artist practitioners
• Filmmakers
• Project managers
• Animators
• Curators
• Writers photographers
• Arts administrators
• Publishers
• Educators
• Technical instructors
• Designers
• Producers
• Picture/archive researchers
• Teachers.

Although our emphasis is on the creative and cultural economy, we ensure those who complete the course are equipped with the transferable skills and attitudes that are applicable to other industries, economies and contexts.

In the employment market, our graduates can be distinguished by their creativity, ability to cope with change, and their hardworking, flexible attitude to work. For this reason, they can be found working in graduate level roles within and beyond the creative industries.