BA (Hons)
Fine Art (Extension Degree)
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Why study BA Fine Art (Extension Degree) at Goldsmiths
The Extension Degree has been designed specifically for students from countries outside the United Kingdom. Our aim is to enable you to work independently as an artist, and to generate and develop your own ideas.
- Within a university, the term fine art describes an area of study in which students make and learn about contemporary art (this means art being made and exhibited today). Fine art students might create sculpture, painting, video, performance, sound art, installation, drawing, art writing, or any other mediums to describe their aesthetic and intellectual ideas. The ideas expressed within the artwork are understood to be as important as the medium that the artist has chosen to use.
- On the BA Fine Art (Extension Degree) you'll make and study contemporary art in a dynamic, critical and interdisciplinary environment.
- Through the development of your individual practice you'll be introduced to a range of technical and conceptual skills that will help you to develop your critical judgment and establish the basics of your future work, and you'll undertake English Language study where necessary.
- It's a small, friendly programme, and we place an emphasis on one-to-one tuition and teaching in small groups.
- You'll have your own studio space from day one, and will have access to excellent facilities including specialist art practice areas.
- All staff on the programme are practising artists, curators and writers, here to respond to the work that you make and to help you understand how it contributes to, and challenges, the critical debates that animate cultural practices and contexts today.
- Many Goldsmiths students go on to become internationally successful artists. Since 1990, former Goldsmiths students have been nominated for the Turner Prize more than 30 times, and have won the prize on 8 occasions.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Jacqueline Pennell.
UCAS code
W191
Length
1 year full-time, followed by 3 years full-time (undergraduate degree)
Fees
International - full-time: £TBC
Department
Watch videos about your course
What you'll study
Throughout the programme we'll encourage you to work independently as an artist, to generate and develop your own ideas.
If you complete all Extension Degree modules successfully you'll be able to progress directly to year 1 of the BA Fine Art or the BA Fine Art and History of Art degree.
During the Extension Degree you'll undertake the following elements.
Studio Practice
As a student on the Fine Art Extension Degree, you will be taught by practising artists, writers and curators and the student-centred learning means that it is your own practice and research that is the centre of the learning process.
You will join a tutor group led by your personal tutor as part of a larger group of students and staff. You take part in regular tutorials (one-to-one discussions) and studio seminars with staff and other Extension Degree students where you present your work and you are encouraged to participate in discussions around your own practice and that of others.
The development of your own practice will introduce you to a range of technical art practice areas and specialist tutors to support your work, and you will be allocated an individual studio space which forms the focal point of your activities for the full academic year. You will be supported, and your progress assessed, by the Studio Practice teaching staff and we have a programme of visiting artists' talks with workshops and tutorials throughout the year.
Critical Studies
The Critical Studies element of the programme introduces you to the broader critical, institutional, historical and social contexts of contemporary art practice.
Critical Studies is taught as a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and tutor-led visits to relevant exhibitions in London. This is designed to support your practical work in the studio, broaden your horizon, and help you ground your thinking and making in a contemporary cultural and theoretical context.
Critical Studies is intended to help you formulate your own ideas and responses to artworks across different mediums. We will encourage you to familiarise yourselves with key themes in contemporary cultural debate, develop ways of actively discussing other artists' work and grant insights into the varied infrastructures of contemporary art in London and beyond.
Portfolio of Art Writing or English language classes
Depending on your level of English language you will either study the Portfolio of Art Writing module or take English language classes. Click on the tabs to find out more about these elements of the programme.
Integration
As an Extension Degree student you'll meet students on the BA Fine Art or BA Fine Art and History of Art programmes through mixed-level group sessions and discussions arranged by our Junior Fellow Graduates. They enable you to benefit from contact and shared activity with other students working across different levels.
How you'll be assessed
Studio Practice is continuously assessed through your participation in individual tutorials and group seminars, and presentations of your work during the first two terms. In addition to this, in the summer term there is an assessment of studio practice through a formal presentation of your work in your studio space.
Critical Studies is assessed through submission of essays and collaborative presentations in the first two terms.
Portfolio of Art Writing is assessed through submission and there are exams for English for Academic Purposes in the summer term.
Teaching
On the Extension Degree you'll attend tutorials, lectures and seminars where you'll hear about ideas and concepts related to specific topics – such as feminist and queer art, performance, the climate crisis, and decolonial curation – and where you'll be encouraged to discuss and debate the issues raised. This will enhance your academic knowledge of the subject, and will improve your communication skills.
But this is just a small proportion of what we expect you to do on the degree. For each hour of taught learning, we expect you to complete another 5-6 hours of independent study. This typically involves carrying out research, or producing project work.
This emphasis on independent learning is very important at Goldsmiths. We don't just want you to accept what we tell you without question. We want you to be inspired to read more, to develop your own ideas, and to find the evidence that will back them up. Independent study requires excellent motivation and time management skills. These skills will stay with you for life, and are the kind of that are highly sought after by employers.
Learning and teaching on this degree will take place through:
- Tutorials
- Studio seminars
- Lectures
- Presentations
- Discussions
- Independent learning
- Presentations
- Assessments
Goldsmiths has its very own public art gallery on campus, where you can experience world-class exhibitions by international artists.
The annual Goldsmiths Degree Shows attract industry interest and are an inspiring celebration of student creativity.
Careers
Many graduates have continued to be successful, practising artists long after graduating, winning major prizes and exhibiting around the world.
The Turner Prize shortlist has consistently included at least one of our former undergraduates. Eight of the prizewinners have studied here: Grenville Davey, Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing, Steve McQueen, Mark Wallinger, Laure Prouvost and Charlotte Prodger.
The interdisciplinary nature of the programme will enable you to work in a variety of fields (eg media, museums, education, the music business, and academia) and progress to a variety of careers, including:
- Practising artist
- Art historian
- Arts administrator
- Gallery curator
- Arts journalist
- Teacher
- Lecturer
- Writer
- Editor
- Publisher
- Media and communications manager
- Conservationist
- Designer
You can read more about potential career paths after graduation on our art careers page.
Skills
The art undergraduate degrees at Goldsmiths give you the skills to develop independent thought and confidence in your practice. Many of these skills will also be transferable and of use in other career paths you may wish to follow.
You'll develop skills such as:
- Technical skills in art practice areas
- Creativity and imagination
- Independent learning
- Resourcefulness
- An understanding of your own practice and where it sits within historical and contemporary contexts of art
- Critical and analytical skills
- The ability to express ideas clearly
- The ability to work collaboratively and with an awareness of contemporary political and social contexts and debates
We provide you with a series of opportunities for specialist advice and further information to complement your studies and prepare you for professional life after graduation.
Our students actively seek opportunities to exhibit their work beyond Goldsmiths through external networks while they are here.
Entry requirements
Our entry requirements for this programme are usually:
- Successful completion of A-levels (CC)
- Portfolio of work
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of UKVI IELTS 5.0 (with no individual score lower than 5.0) to study on this programme. (Please note: these requirements are under review for 2025 entry and will be updated by the autumn 2024 term.) If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.
Selection process
At application, you'll be required to provide a portfolio of recent work. This informs the selection and interview process. Find out more about the electronic portfolio requirements.
How to apply
You apply via UCAS.
There are two rounds of application deadlines for the programme:
Round 1
- Application deadline: 25 January 2024
- Interviews (if applicable): January to April 2024
- Decisions: before 1 March 2024
Round 2
- Application deadline: 18 April 2024
- Interviews (if applicable): April to June 2024
- Decisions: before 5 May 2024
Applications that are not shortlisted or given an offer after round one may be held until round two applications have been considered. Late applications will only be considered on a rolling basis if there are spaces available on the programme.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the UG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
- International - full-time: £TBC
If your fees are not listed here, please check our undergraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Student Visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
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