Contemporary Creative Practice: Fine Art BA (Hons)

at Burton and South Derbyshire College

UCAS code W103

Duration

1 Year

2 Years

Location

Burton and South Derbyshire College

Burton and South Derbyshire College

This course allows students who have completed a Foundation degree (or equivalent) to progress to a BA Honours Degree.

This BA (Hons) top up course allows you to enhance relevant industry skills and processes, and graduate with a refined and professional portfolio of work in the field of Graphic Design . You will work practically through client-led and negotiated briefs that require the recognition and application of professional practice. You will also be aware of professional expectations and be able to develop an independent route towards your individual career or postgraduate goals.

You will be supported by your tutors to pursue new approaches to your subject as well as develop the transferable and technological skills necessary for you to compete in the changing global environment of contemporary creative practice.

This BA (Hons) top up course allows you to enhance relevant industry skills and processes, and graduate with a refined and professional portfolio of work in the field of Graphic Design . You will work practically through client-led and negotiated briefs that require the recognition and application of professional practice. You will also be aware of professional expectations and be able to develop an independent route towards your individual career or postgraduate goals.

You will be supported by your tutors to pursue new approaches to your subject as well as develop the transferable and technological skills necessary for you to compete in the changing global environment of contemporary creative practice.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BA (Hons) Contemporary Creative Practice: Fine Art

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BA (Hons) Contemporary Creative Practice: Fine Art

Course content

This Graphic Design course will support you in researching the most effective ways to apply your skills and knowledge into a highly competitive marketplace. Through a programme of investigation and evaluation into the contemporary industry environment, your digital and hand-originated work may be utilised in the production of supporting advertising and branding campaign production, working to design, lay and set book jackets, creating artwork for magazines, corporate reports or brochures. You might be developing logos and illustrations for websites, or advising clients on visual communication strategies for specific audiences. The skills you develop will support your work towards achieving your aspirations, which may be to work as a freelance graphic artist, to set up an agency, to work as a graphic designer in a larger company etc.

This Graphic Design course will support you in researching the most effective ways to apply your skills and knowledge into a highly competitive marketplace. Through a programme of investigation and evaluation into the contemporary industry environment, your digital and hand-originated work may be utilised in the production of supporting advertising and branding campaign production, working to design, lay and set book jackets, creating artwork for magazines, corporate reports or brochures. You might be developing logos and illustrations for websites, or advising clients on visual communication strategies for specific audiences. The skills you develop will support your work towards achieving your aspirations, which may be to work as a freelance graphic artist, to set up an agency, to work as a graphic designer in a larger company etc.

Entry requirements

FdA, HND (Level 5 progression route) in a relevant discipline.

FdA, HND (Level 5 progression route) in a relevant discipline.

 

Careers

This course will support you to develop the entrepreneurial skills which will allow you to flourish as a graphic designer, either pursuing a freelance career or working within a design studio of a larger company.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

We know that our students learn in different ways. To help everyone get the most out of their studies, we teach through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical sessions. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor (or equivalent) at least twice a year to help support you in your studies. You will be taught in high-quality learning spaces throughout your course, and of course will have access to virtual learning environments to enhance your learning opportunities. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.

We know that our students learn in different ways. To help everyone get the most out of their studies, we teach through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical sessions. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor (or equivalent) at least twice a year to help support you in your studies. You will be taught in high-quality learning spaces throughout your course, and of course will have access to virtual learning environments to enhance your learning opportunities. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module will give you a variety of opportunities to receive informal feedback from your tutor. These may include classroom discussions, discussions in the virtual learning environment, presentations, milestone assessments, and practice assessments. Informal feedback is developmental and any grades you may receive for these do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module will give you a variety of opportunities to receive informal feedback from your tutor. These may include classroom discussions, discussions in the virtual learning environment, presentations, milestone assessments, and practice assessments. Informal feedback is developmental and any grades you may receive for these do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on formal coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats, including one-to-one discussions with your tutor. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

You will normally receive feedback on formal coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats, including one-to-one discussions with your tutor. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Staff

You will be taught by a staff team with extensive experience within the creative industries.

Fees

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for BA (Hons)-Full-time, top-up
Study option
Full-time

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date Apply Link
Burton and South Derbyshire College BA (Hons) Full-time, top-up 22 September 2025 Apply now
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