The purpose of this qualification is to develop students as professional, self-reflecting individuals able to meet the demands of employers in the fine art sector as well as feel confident in their own abilities, adapting to a constantly changing world, to assert themselves as a freelance arts practitioner. The qualification aims to widen access to higher education, as well as the potential of a career in the creative industries. The course is about finding who you are creatively. This course is for curious minds, passionate about the arts. There is a strong emphasis on ideas and making. The course, spread over 2 years of full-time study, encouraging independent development and intrigue into all manners of creative output – installation, painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, performance and writing. Year 1 is a journey of discovery. Year 2 is developing that discovery. You will be taught by expert tutors in the field of arts from an academic level as well as a practical level. All tutors exhibit their work and have experience within the freelance and funded art world. North Star Campus is part of a rich history of the School of Art founded over 100 years ago. The Campus has a professional standard print room, ceramics room and darkroom as well as high-standard subject specific library catalogue.

The objectives within this qualification are to:
- Give students the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to achieve high performance in the national/international fine art environment

- Develop students with enquiring minds, who have the abilities and confidence to work, adapt and succeed in tackling a range of complex, fine art situations.

- Provide the core skills required for a range of careers in the creative sector.

- Offer a balance between employability skills – including technical proficiency – and the knowledge essential for developing students' creativity and application to the wider context of fine art employability and careers.

- Develop students’ understanding of the major impact that new digital technologies have on the fine art environment as well as emphasising the importance of sustainability, the drive towards change, and an acknowledgement of traditional, endangered crafts such as marbling, lithography and letterpress.

- Equip students with knowledge and understanding of culturally diverse organisations, cross-cultural issues, diversity and values, and to allow flexible study to meet local and specialist needs.

Trips, guest speakers and engagement with organisations within the sector are important facets of understanding the wider context of the art sector. It is encouraged to attend any trips, guest speakers and engage with networking opportunities in the area with local art organisations as part of the acknowledgement of the community of arts and the engendering of the social responsibility of artists. The course itself provides the skills that will not only develop students work practically through lessons in (but not exclusive to) printmaking, painting, drawing, collaboration. It will also provide the opportunity to learn important employability skills inherent in HE studies;

- problem-solving (the use of critical thinking through discussion/critiques)

- independent skills (self-management and reflection)

- interpersonal skills (presentation) and

- general sector skills (awareness of sector and funding/networking opportunities).

The course is reactive in design; the students decide their future whatever that may be, especially as part of Module B: Professional Creative Practice. As tutors, working in the art sector itself, it is our job to provide the necessary tools and information for those students to succeed in progression onwards whether that be:

- Writing Heritage Craft bursary forms

- Entering the RA Summer Exhibition

- Designing a website and portfolio ready for BA Top Up interviews.