single degree

Bachelor of Visual Arts

A single three year undergraduate award offered by the School of Art

BVA
  • Length 3 year full-time
  • Minimum 144 Units
Admission requirements
  • Field of Education
    • Visual Arts and Crafts
  • Length 3 year full-time
  • Minimum 144 Units
Admission requirements
  • Field of Education
    • Visual Arts and Crafts

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Visual Arts requires completion of 144 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 144 units must include:

6 units from completion of ARTV2819 Vision and Perception

12 units from completion of introductory courses from the following list:

ARTV1020 Figure & Life
ARTV1021 Image and Object
ARTV1033 Hold Everything: Studio Foundation
DESA1021 Precise Drawing and Model Making
DESN1001 Making Online: Context & Presence
DESN1002 Visual Communication: Design and Production
COMP1720 Art and Interaction in New Media

6 units from completion of an introductory art and design history course from the following list:

ARTH1006 Art and Design Histories: Form and Space 
ARTH1007 Art and Design Histories: Making and Meaning

18 units from completion of art history and theory courses from the following list:

ARTH2043 Modernism and Postmodernism in Art and Design: 1850-2000 
ARTH2044 Art and Its Context: Materials, Techniques, Display 
ARTH2045 Curatorship Theory and Practice 
ARTH2050 Photography and Art 
ARTH2052 Art of the Modern Print 
ARTH2056 Art and Architecture of Southeast Asia: Tradition and Transformation 
ARTH2059 Art and Architecture of Asia: Histories and Traditions 
ARTH2061 Postmodern Sublime 
ARTH2080 Art and Visual Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century, 1660-1815 
ARTH2081 Art of the European Courts, 1500-1815 
ARTH2082 Art, War and Conflict 
ARTH2093 Post-Colonial Discourses in Australian Art 
ARTH2097 Victorian and Edwardian Art: Australia and Europe 1837-1914 
ARTH2098 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art 
ARTH2104 Asian Art In-Country 
ARTH2160 Cartographies: Art Exploration and Knowledge
ARTH2161 Contemporary Australian Art 
ARTH2162 Cyberculture 
ARTH2163 Memory
ARTH2164 Theories of the Object
ARTH2165 Theories of the Image
ARTH2166 Individual Research Unit
ARTH2167 Issues in Contemporary Craft and Design
ARTH2168 Renaissance and Baroque Art 
ARTH2169 Introducing Asian Modernisms
ARTH2170 Contemporary Asian Art 
ARTH2171 Australian Art: The Modern Period 
ARTH2172 Costume, Fashion and Visual Culture

6 units from completion of an engagement course from the following list:

ARTV2027 Professional Practices
ARTV2038 Workshop Atelier
ARTV2909 Textiles: Maker to Market
ARTV2921 Environment Studio 1
ARTV3601 Photomedia: Documentary Project
DESA2017 Multiples and Production: The Unique Offering

48 units from the completion of one of the following workshop majors:

Animation and Video
Ceramics
Furniture
Glass
Gold and Silversmithing
Painting
Photomedia
Printmedia and Drawing
Sculpture
Textiles
 

48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

Unless otherwise stated, a course used to satisfy the requirements of one list may not be double counted towards satisfying the requirements of another list.

Honours

For information about honours in visual arts, please see Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours)

Majors

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective majorminor or specialisation.

Study Options

Year 1 48 units Visual Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units Introductory Course 6 units Introductory Art and Design History Course 6 units ANU Elective Course 6 units
Visual Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units Introductory Course 6 units ARTV2819 Vision and Perception 6 units ANU Elective Course 6 units
Year 2 48 units Visual Arts Major 2000 level Course 6 units Visual Arts Major 2000 level Course 6 units Art History and Theory Course 6 units ANU Elective Course 6 units
Visual Arts Major 2000 level Course 6 units Visual Arts Major 2000 level Course 6 units Art History and Theory Course 6 units ANU Elective Course 6 units
Year 3 48 units Visual Arts Major 3000 level Course 6 units Art History and Theory Course 6 units ANU Elective Course 6 units ANU Elective Course 6 units
Visual Arts Major 3000 level Course 6 units Engagement Course 6 units ANU Elective Course 6 units ANU Elective Course 6 units

Admission Requirements

Admission to all programs is on a competitive basis. Admission to undergraduate degrees is based on meeting the ATAR requirement or an equivalent rank derived from the following qualifications:

• An Australian year 12 qualification or international equivalent; OR
• A completed Associate Diploma, Associate Degree, AQF Diploma, Diploma, AQF Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or international equivalent; OR
• At least one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) in a single program of degree level study at an Australian higher education institution or international equivalent; OR
• An approved tertiary preparation course unless subsequent study is undertaken.

Click HERE for further information about domestic admission.

More information about ATAR requirements for individual programs can be found HERE.

The National Register of higher education providers is an authoritative source of information that will help you confirm your institution of choice is registered to deliver higher education in Australia.

The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) website is HERE. Based on surveys done by thousands of students across Australia you can find out about universities that interest you, doing side-by-side comparisons.

The table below is a guide to the entry level required for domestic applicants. Exact entry level will be set at time of offer.

Domestic applicant entry requirements

Queensland Band equivalents are a guide only - selection is made on an ATAR equivalent that is not available to students.

International applicant entry requirements

International applicants may view further information on admissions requirements at Entry Requirements for International Undergraduate Applicants

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs as required.

Prerequisites

Entry into the Bachelor of Visual Arts is based on ACT or NSW HSC equivalent and interview and portfolio. Australian and New Zealand applicants apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) and international applicants lodge an application directly with ANU. Once an application has been lodged, applicants are required to register for an interview and upload a portfolio on the ANU School of Art & Design website at: soa.anu.edu.au/how-apply/undergraduate-applications.

Adjustment Factors

ANU offers rank adjustments for a number of adjustment factors, including for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. Rank adjustments are applied to Bachelor degree applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 points (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustments, maximum 10 equity-based adjustments and maximum 5 Elite Athlete adjustments) will be awarded. Subject and performance-based adjustments do not apply to programs with a minimum selection rank of 98 or higher. Visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees

Annual indicative fee for international students
$35,904.00

For further information on International Tuition Fees see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/international-tuition-fees

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

The Bachelor of Visual Arts at ANU is a practical degree which offers you the opportunity to develop and refine high-level technical and creative skills and knowledge for working with the forms, materials and technologies of a chosen studio discipline.

You can choose a major from the following range of studio disciplines: animation and video, ceramics, furniture, glass, gold and silversmithing, painting, photomedia, printmedia and drawing, sculpture or
textiles. You will have the opportunity to deepen your study through elective courses drawn from the School of Art & Design and the wider university.
 

Career Options

Graduates from ANU have been rated as Australia's most employable graduates and among the most sought after by employers worldwide.

The latest Global Employability University Ranking, published by the Times Higher Education, rated ANU as Australia's top university for getting a job for the fourth year in a row.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates may find work as independent artists, in arts organisations, as an art teacher, in galleries or museums and in many other related fields.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of a Bachelor of Visual Arts, graduates will be able to:

  1. Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge to realise works, artefacts and forms of creative expression.
  2. Demonstrate skills and knowledge of the practices, languages, forms, materials, technologies and techniques in the visual arts.
  3. Recognise and reflect on social, cultural and ethical issues, and apply historical and theoretical perspectives to practice in the visual arts.
  4. Develop and evaluate ideas, concepts and processes by thinking creatively, critically and reflectively.
  5. Interpret, communicate and present ideas, problems and arguments in modes suited to a range of audiences
  6. Work independently and collaboratively in response to project demands.

Single degree

This following information is to be read in conjunction with the program rules that are outlined on the “Study” tab.   Please always make sure that you refer to the program rules for the year that you commenced your program.

Bachelor of Visual Arts consists of 144 units. Most courses are worth 6 units each, with 48 units (8 courses) per year being the standard full-time load.

A course (usually 6 units) can only be counted towards one list such as in a major or minor or designated list. For example, you are not permitted to count ARTH1006 towards the Art History and Theory major and the BVARTS designated list.

For the Bachelor of Visual Arts you will need to complete:

  • One compulsory course (6 units)
  • Two introductory courses from the designated list (12 units)
  • One introductory art and design history course from the designated list (6 units)
  • Three art history and theory courses from the designated list (18 units)
  • One engagement course from the designated list (6 units)
  • One workshop major from the designated list (48 units)
  • Eight electives from across the ANU (48 units)

Please note that you are only permitted to count ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your program.

You are advised to complete a Program Plan for the Bachelor of Visual Arts. This will help you seek advice on your course choices, ensure you meet the program requirements and give you a plan that you can refer to for the duration of your program.

Double degree

This following information is to be read in conjunction with the program rules that are outlined on the “Study” tab.   Please always make sure that you refer to the program rules for the year that you commenced your program.

Bachelor of Visual Arts Double Degree program consists of 96 units. Most courses are worth 6 units each, with 48 units (8 courses) per year being the standard full-time load. During each semester you are likely to take two courses from your Bachelor of Visual Arts degree and another two courses from the other half of your double degree – making up a total of four courses per semester.

A course (usually 6 units) can only be counted towards one list such as in a major or minor or designated list. For example, you are not permitted to count ARTH1006 towards the Art History and Theory major and the BVARTS designated list.

You will need to complete:

  • One compulsory course (6 units)
  • Two introductory courses from the designated list (12 units)
  • One introductory art and design history course from the designated list (6 units)
  • Three art history and theory courses from the designated list (18 units)
  • One engagement course from the designated list (6 units)
  • One workshop major from the designated list (48 units)

Please note that you are only permitted to count eight 1000-level courses (48 units) towards your degree.

You are advised to complete a Program Plan for the Bachelor of Visual Arts. This will help you seek advice on your course choices, ensure you meet the program requirements and give you a plan that you can refer to for the duration of your program.

Enrolment Status

While it is possible for domestic students to enrol in fewer than four courses per semester, which is called studying part-time, it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be full-time.

First year students are not permitted to study more than four courses (24 units) per semester.

If you are beginning your program in Semester 1, you should enrol for all your courses for both Semester 1 and Semester 2 (8 courses for full time), so that you can plan your study year.

Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses

When you enrol for the first time you will study ‘1000-level’ courses. These courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code, such as ARTS1234. Whilst it is important to take 1000-level courses in your first year (so that you can meet the pre-requisites for later year courses) they also can be taken later in your program.

You can only count a maximum of ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or eight 1000-level courses (48 units) towards your Bachelor of Visual Arts half of the double degree.

In your first year you need to enrol in:

  • 1000-level Introductory courses
  • 1000-level art and design history courses
  • 1000-level workshop major courses
  • ARTV2819
  • Elective courses for students undertaking the single degree.

Electives

For students in the single degree, your electives (48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU) can be additional courses from your discipline (including the option of a major or minor) or courses from another ANU College.  If you have an interest in another discipline such as management, psychology or mathematics, then you should explore first year courses in these areas. In particular look at the majors and minors in these areas.  These will give you an idea of the first year courses you can study.

If you are interested in undertaking a language and have prior knowledge/experience with that language you may need to undertake a placement test – you should check with the relevant language area for further details by searching for “language placement test” on ANUs website.


Study Options

Study Plan

Please refer to the "Study" tab.

Study Options

Year 1 48 units - - - -
- - - -

Study Plan

Please refer to the "Study" tab.

Study Options

Year 1 48 units - - - -
- - - -
Back to the top

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions