Bachelor of Fine Art (Degree with Honours)

The objectives of this course are to:

• provide the opportunity for students of proven ability to undertake advanced work in the visual arts;
• develop a high level of studio practice and further develop analytical, critical and research skills;
• produce professional practitioners in the visual arts and crafts;
• develop the student’s capacities, as a better informed, skilled and more articulate visual artist;
• promote critical reflection on the work produced and the artist’s role in society;
• enable students to prepare themselves for research based postgraduate study.

Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours)

In order to qualify for admission to Honours fourth-year the applicant must have:

• satisfied the requirements for a pass degree
• completed a major study in a particular visual art discipline
• attained the appropriate standard in the major study

An appropriate standard is deemed to be H2B (70-74%) or above in all subjects undertaken, or equivalent.

Candidates for entry into the Honours year will be selected after attending an interview which they will present a folio of their current work. Selection will be based on the interview, folio presentation, previous results and the suitability of the research project in terms of resource availability. At the time of application candidates are required to provide the research project/paper topic and an outline of the goals of the project.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum threshold requirement for admission to Honours year will require the approval of the course coordinator based on advice from the relevant head of department and proposed supervisor before being admitted and allowed to enrol in the Honours year.

Normally commencement of Honours study must occur within five years of the completion of the pass degree. Exceptions will require the approval of the course coordinator based on advice from the relevant head of department and the supervisor.

Entry into Honours year will be at the commencement of the academic year. In certain circumstances candidates applying for admission from outside Victoria will be offered the option of a telephone interview after the receipt of the folio.

At the completion of the course or subject students should be able to:

• exhibit extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of their discipline including relevant professional knowledge, skills, discipline and ethics as they relate to a practising visual artist;
• demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to the national and international challenges for the professional visual artist in the 21st century;
• demonstrate an open, independent and inquiring attitude towards contemporary cultural developments and new ideas;
• critically and creatively engage with topics of cultural significance across communities;
• understand and appreciate how the visual arts connect with the broader society and contribute to its social and economic development;
• understand their relationship with and responsibility to their cultural environment and society.