• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
University of Brighton
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • For
    staff
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study here
    • Courses and subjects
    • Find a course
    • A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Academic departments
    • Visiting the university
    • Explore: get to know us
    • Upcoming events
    • Virtual tours
    • Chat to our students and staff
    • Open days
    • Applicant days
    • Order a prospectus
    • Ask a question
    • Studying here
    • Accommodation and locations
    • Applying
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Transferring from another university
    • The Student Contract
    • Clearing
    • International students
    • Fees and finance
    • Advice and help
    • Advice for students
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for schools and teachers
    • Managing your application
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Apprenticeships
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Our research database
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Featured research and knowledge exchange projects
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Fine art student painting on a canvas
Studying here
  • Find a course
  • Subject areas
  • Choose Brighton
  • Applying to Brighton
  • Fees and finance
  • Visit us
  • Subject areas
    • Subject areas
    • Applied sciences
    • Architecture, technology and engineering
    • Art and media
    • Business and law
    • Education and teaching
    • Humanities and social science
    • Sport and health sciences
  • Art and media
    • Art and media
    • Fashion, textiles and 3D design
    • Fine art
    • Film
    • Journalism
    • Media
    • Photography
    • Sound and music
    • Visual communication
  • Fine art

Fine art degrees

Studying fine art allows you to find and fulfil your full potential as an artist. 

Art and design courses at Brighton are ranked joint 8th in the UK and in the top 100 globally by the QS World University Rankings® 2022

At the University of Brighton you can focus on a chosen discipline, or explore the broader subject until you find your specialisation.

We offer three undergraduate fine art degrees, Fine Art BA(Hons), Fine Art Painting BA(Hons) and Fine Art Printmaking BA(Hons). At masters level you can study our Fine Art MA.

Become a part of our artistic community in a dynamic central Brighton art school environment where you'll be encouraged to explore, experiment and create.

Visit us at an open day

Our degrees in fine art

Undergraduate degrees

We offer three undergraduate degree courses in fine art.

These courses are situated close together in our central Brighton Grand Parade building on our City campus. They share common features of being hands on and experimental.

All include critical studies, as well as practical application, with opportunities to exhibit your work throughout.

You’ll work alongside your year group in a studio space just for you: this is your creative place, your artistic home while at Brighton.

You can make use of extensive workshops facilities for metal work, ceramics, plastics, printmaking and more.

  • Fine Art BA(Hons)
  • Fine Art Painting BA(Hons)
  • Fine Art Printmaking BA(Hons)

Postgraduate degrees

Our popular Fine Art MA degree course is for artists wishing to push their practice to the next level and challenge themselves creatively. Students develop their work through both personal tutorials and interaction within an ambitious peer group.

  • Fine Art MA

PhD studies in fine art

At Brighton we’re internationally renowned for arts teaching and research, and the School of Art and Media has a long history of internationally recognised work.

It has been a pioneer of practice-based and inter-disciplinary methods and joins with other disciplinary areas to offer supervision.

The University of Brighton has offered PhDs in the areas of fine art, illustration, graphic design, visual communication, photography and film, digital and interactive arts, 3D design and craft, fashion and textiles, design and communication and drawing.

  • Art and creative practices PhDs

We also have research centres and groups.

I feel so grateful to be part of a team where creativity and individual personalities are celebrated and nourished.

Ainoa Burgos Gonzalez, Fine Art BA(Hons)

Which fine art undergraduate course should I choose?

A student and tutor having a discussion in an art studio

Fine Art BA(Hons)

This dynamic course is for you if you want to choose an exploratory, avant-garde artistic path. Our students work in all types of media, from collage to installation, sculpture to performance, text to digital. The Fine Art programme at Brighton guides you in imagining, investigating, experimenting and communicating your creative ideas. You will enhance your creativity and develop composition, communication, collaboration and critical skills.

Empty fine art studio space with equipment

Fine Art Printmaking BA(Hons)

One of the few printmaking degrees in the country, this course lets you explore this exciting medium in all its forms. You will have access to one of the UK’s best-equipped printmaking workshops with facilities for etching, screen print, lithography, relief and large format digital print, letter press and bookbinding and wet-based photography. Links with arts communities provide opportunities for local creative engagement.

Student standing between two large abstract paintings

Fine Art Painting BA(Hons)

If you adore painting and want to push your practice and challenge yourself, this course is for you. Taught by an experienced team of acclaimed artists, the degree is well known and highly respected. One of the few painting degrees in the UK, Fine Art Painting at Brighton is studio-based and centred on vital hands-on learning-by-doing. Many of our graduates exhibit their work globally and have made significant contributions to fine art and related cultural spheres.

What our graduates say

Detail of painting by Joseph Ring

Joseph Ring, Fine Art Painting BA(Hons)

“The university has offered me so much, not only through the tutoring I have received, but also in the opportunities it has exposed me to, alongside meeting other incredible artists I share a course with. After my foundation there was really only one place I wanted to study my BA. Brighton really has shown me what can be done with painting and how open for exploration the practice truly is."

Painting by Agnieszka Szymaniak

Agnieszka Szymaniak, Printmaking BA(Hons)

“I knew I wanted to take a course that would provide me with a good range of technical skills, as well as the opportunity to think more deeply about artistic practice from theoretical perspective. I knew Brighton to have a brilliantly equipped printmaking department. I am incredibly proud of the work me and my peers produced in response to the pandemic. We couldn’t have done it without the brilliant support of our technical and lecturing staff."

Details of painting by Voytec Brodacki

Voytec Brodacki, Fine Art MA

"Brighton impressed me with what I would call the magic of the place. My predictions were correct. I developed reflective skills, gained the opportunity to create exhibitions with other students including displaying work in a gallery space, developing my curatorial experience and organising and installing the display of my works with artist peers. Conversations, comments, suggestions from tutors, mentors and other students contributed to the development of my art practice.”

What jobs can I do with a fine art degree or masters?

The skills and experience you gain from fine art courses are designed to be transferable so there are many jobs where your qualification would be useful. The University of Brighton has been the catalyst for many successful creative careers.

10 jobs you could go on to do with a fine art degree or masters:

  • Freelance fine artist
  • In-house artist or designer, for example in a publishing house
  • Curator
  • Arts administration
  • Gallery manager
  • Community arts worker
  • Art teacher
  • Illustrator
  • Art director
  • Arts therapist.

Find out more

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube.

Hear from Fine Art Painting student Archie Nash about the studio spaces, the course tutors and living in Brighton

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube.

This short film shows some of the brilliant creativity taking place across our courses, from fine art and photography, to media and fashion.

Stay in touch

Sign up to hear about open days and events in this subject, as well as updates about the university.

Join an online event

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Explore more

Screen grab of fine art courses on Instagram

Follow our courses on Instagram

  • Fine Art Painting BA(Hons)
  • Fine Art Printmaking BA(Hons)
  • Fine Art BA(Hons)
  • Fine Art MA
Screen grab of the art designand media blog

Follow our art design media blog

Interior of Grand Parade cafe

School of Art and Media

You may also be interested in

Related subjects

  • Fashion, textiles and 3D design
  • Photography
  • Sound and music
  • Visual communication
  • Architecture and design

Short courses

  • Creative courses for adults

What’s happening?

Meet us at our postgraduate events

Meet us at our postgraduate events

There’s no better way to explore your future study opportunities than by meeting lecturers and researchers at a postgraduate event.

Gossamer an exhibition by Fine Art and Printmaking students at Edward Street, opening 28th Jan

Gossamer an exhibition by Fine Art and Printmaking students at Edward Street, opening 28th Jan

The University of Brighton’s second year Fine Art and Printmaking undergraduates present Gossamer, an exhibition of creative work from students at the mid-point of their degree course.

Not sure how to prepare your portfolio?

Not sure how to prepare your portfolio?

Join us at our online portfolio advice event on 28 February to get tips and advice from students and staff about how to prepare your portfolio.

Artist takes up Brighton painting fellowship

Artist takes up Brighton painting fellowship

Michael Clarence is the latest artist to receive a prestigious Freelands Fellowship to work for a  year within University of Brighton’s School of Art and Media.

Read more from our blog

Back to top
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn icon

Contact us

University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Order a prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • Online shop
  • COVID-19

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents