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I want more infoVisual Arts at QUT
Discover how you can study contemporary art in an open studio environment, combining sculpture, installation, photography, moving image, digital media, painting, drawing and printmaking.
Open studios
Learn about the open studio model that sets QUT apart. Creating art shouldn't be restricted to one kind of medium. The open studio model opens up opportunities for students to not only work alongside each other, but with each other.
Applying for visual arts courses
Want to study visual arts at QUT? Find out what you need to do to get there.
Welcome to visual arts at QUT
Fnd out more about our Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in visual arts, with study area coordinator Dr Rachael Hayne.
Showcase your work
Enjoy opportunities to present your works in public spaces, galleries and arts festivals including showcasing your artwork to industry professionals during the annual graduate exhibition in your final year of study.
Real creativity
'QUT has opened my mind to think holistically about being an arts practitioner. I find the atmosphere to be one of critical intellectual discussion and engaging collaborative activity. Another highlight is the emphasis placed on experimentation. I have learnt to take myself seriously as an artist. I've found a voice and the confidence to use it.'
Visual Arts at QUT
Discover how you can study contemporary art in an open studio environment, combining sculpture, installation, photography, moving image, digital media, painting, drawing and printmaking.
Open studios
Learn about the open studio model that sets QUT apart. Creating art shouldn't be restricted to one kind of medium. The open studio model opens up opportunities for students to not only work alongside each other, but with each other.
Applying for visual arts courses
Want to study visual arts at QUT? Find out what you need to do to get there.
Welcome to visual arts at QUT
Fnd out more about our Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in visual arts, with study area coordinator Dr Rachael Hayne.
Showcase your work
Enjoy opportunities to present your works in public spaces, galleries and arts festivals including showcasing your artwork to industry professionals during the annual graduate exhibition in your final year of study.
Real creativity
'QUT has opened my mind to think holistically about being an arts practitioner. I find the atmosphere to be one of critical intellectual discussion and engaging collaborative activity. Another highlight is the emphasis placed on experimentation. I have learnt to take myself seriously as an artist. I've found a voice and the confidence to use it.'
Highlights
- Shape your creative identity in an open studio environment, exploring diverse arts and digital media
- Build your creative career as a professional artist, curator, gallerist, arts manager or entrepreneur.
- Experience study in both studio practice and art history.
Highlights
- Shape your creative identity in an open studio environment, exploring diverse arts and digital media
- Build your creative career as a professional artist, curator, gallerist, arts manager or entrepreneur.
- Experience study in both studio practice and art history.
Why choose this course?
A QUT visual arts degree offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamic and transformative culture of contemporary art. During this course you will:
- Work intensively with leading creative artists and thinkers in state-of-the-art facilities.
- Develop a personal and critical framework to investigate the challenges and creative possibilities of today’s ever-changing, globalized, digital world. And learn to shape its future.
- Explore your distinctive creative art practice in our Open Studio program, combining experimental art and digital media, with a thorough conceptual grounding in modern and contemporary art.
- Tailor your degree for your future career, with options to combine your study in visual arts with areas such as interactive or visual design, animation, creative writing, marketing or education.
Real-world learning
Be part of an active creative community and gain the skills and knowledge to work in the visual arts anywhere in the world.
Enjoy a range of practical options including public art commissions, curatorial projects, independent publishing, artist-run initiatives and collaborative art production.
Build your career portfolio with tailored professional experiences including industry-based projects and internships at leading arts organisations, galleries and museums.
Broaden your global perspectives of art through international study tours and student exchanges.
Visit the student and graduate blog to find out more about what it’s like to study fine arts and where a QUT degree can take you.
Explore this course
Your studies will begin with you working with a variety of media and developing your own interests, ideas and art practice, and skills in visual analysis. You also study art history and theory units to support your studio practice and are introduced to modern, post-modern, and contemporary art. As you progress you will learn to contextualise your art practice through presentations, discussions and supported practical experience in display and exhibition. Later in your degree there are industry-based projects and international tours on offer to allow you to explore the creative avenues that will let you develop as an artist.
Real-world facilities
Our open studio program focuses on interdisciplinary contemporary art practice combining experimental 2D, 3D, digital, spatial, and performance skills. Whether you are planning to become a professional artist, teacher or art professional such as an exhibition curator or arts manager, you will benefit from substantial studio experience while receiving training in your specialist area.
Double degrees
- A double degree with business will broaden your skill set and make you stand out to employers, and give you the abilities to start your own creative enterprise.
- A double degree in secondary education will equip you to apply your creativity in education settings or complete a Masters fo Teaching in early childhood, primary or secondary education.
*Check entry requirements for the Master of Teaching for specific teaching areas.
Careers and outcomes
Many of our graduates become highly successful practising artists, represented by commercial galleries, and with strong careers in the commissioned and public funding sectors.
We provide grounding in art history and theory that equips you to communicate with clients, curators and employers. Graduates also pursue professional careers as curators, program officers or arts managers and are often employed by prestigious galleries and museums both in Australia and internationally.
QUT visual arts graduates are at the heart of innovative artist-run galleries across Brisbane. We foster a strong sense of community and entrepreneurialism. Our students have developed exciting experimental art spaces such as Boxcopy Contemporary Art Space and LEVEL ARI, and have also been the recipients of the prestigious Samstag Scholarships, Australia, Council and Arts Queensland awards, art prizes such as the Queensland Premier’s New Media Award and the Qantas Spirit of Youth Award, as well as the German DAAD scholarship and numerous international studio residencies.
Possible careers
- Art project manager
- Artist
- Arts administrator
- Curator
- Media industry specialist
- Multimedia designer
- Visual artist
- Visual arts teacher
Your course
To meet the course requirements of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts), you must complete the following:
- Two common units (KYB101 and KYB102) – 24 credit points
- Visual Arts major – 168 credit points
- Complementary studies – 48 credit points from the Situated Creative Practice Extension plus 48 credit points chosen from a minor or unit options (electives).
Year 1
- work with a variety of media and develop your own interests, ideas and art practice
- attend workshops for digital and traditional art-making skills
- develop skills in visual analysis
- discover the wide range of art practices both in the studio and in history/theory classes
Year 2
- further your skills in art practice using a range of media
- build on contemporary art studies
- develop skills in visual and textual analysis
- learn about national and international art
- learn to contextualise your art practice through presentations, discussions and supported practical experience in display and exhibition
- choose specific vocational training for a career as a teacher or art professional
Year 3
- consolidate your art practice and your understanding of its place nationally and internationally
- culminate your studies and practice in a public group exhibition
- specialise for your chosen arts industry role, prepare for a graduate teaching course or continue on to research studies
Study overseas
Study overseas while gaining credit towards your QUT creative industries degree with one of our worldwide exchange partners. Overseas study can be for one or two semesters (or during the semester break) and the units you take can be in a creative or non-creative discipline area, depending on how they match with your QUT course. Saving your electives for exchange will allow you the most flexibility. Find out more about studying on exchange.
Your course
To meet the course requirements of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts), you must complete the following:
- Two common units (KYB101 and KYB102) – 24 credit points
- Visual Arts major – 168 credit points
- Complementary studies – 48 credit points from the Situated Creative Practice Extension plus 48 credit points chosen from a minor or unit options (electives).
Year 1
- work with a variety of media and develop your own interests, ideas and art practice
- attend workshops for digital and traditional art-making skills
- develop skills in visual analysis
- discover the wide range of art practices both in the studio and in history/theory classes
Year 2
- further your skills in art practice using a range of media
- build on contemporary art studies
- develop skills in visual and textual analysis
- learn about national and international art
- learn to contextualise your art practice through presentations, discussions and supported practical experience in display and exhibition
- choose specific vocational training for a career as a teacher or art professional
Year 3
- consolidate your art practice and your understanding of its place nationally and internationally
- culminate your studies and practice in a public group exhibition
- specialise for your chosen arts industry role, prepare for a graduate teaching course or continue on to research studies
Study Overseas
Study overseas while gaining credit towards your QUT creative industries degree with one of our worldwide exchange partners. Overseas study can be for one or two semesters (or during the semester break) and the units you take can be in a creative or non-creative discipline area, depending on how they match with your QUT course. Saving your electives for exchange will allow you the most flexibility. Find out more about studying on exchange.
- ATAR/selection rank threshold
- 70.00
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2024.
Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?
- Course code
- KK34
- QTAC code
- 421782
- CRICOS code
- 056185A
-
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 3 years full-time
- 3 years full-time
- February
- February
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
Year 12 early offer scheme
If you're a current Queensland Year 12 student, you may be eligible to receive an offer for this course on the last day of Queensland Year 12, before receiving your ATAR or selection rank.
Offer guarantee
If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2023
Admission was based on additional entry requirements only.
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
- ATAR/selection rank
- 70.00
Offer guarantee
If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
|
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| IELTS Academic / IELTS Online / IELTS One Skills Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| TOEFL iBT / Home / Paper | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2025 fees
2025: CSP fees available from September
2025 fees
2025: Available from July
2024 fees
2024: CSP $12,100 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2024 fees
2024: $34,300 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)
QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding academic achievement.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
QUT Real World International Scholarship
A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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