Bachelor of Visual Arts
University of Sydney
CRICOS provider number: 00026A TEQSA provider ID: PRV12057
Courses included
This course has been cancelled
About
This hands-on degree is focused on providing the conceptual, theoretical and technical skills needed to succeed as a practicing artist or in a creative industries career.
You will be taught by practicing artists, writers and curators with extensive professional experience and networks in the arts industry, and be encouraged to work across disciplinary boundaries to realise your ideas. Our highly experienced technical team will provide relevant technical support and show you how to safely use our extensive workshop facilities including ceramics, glass, jewellery, painting, photography, print media, screen arts and sculpture.
Areas of study
You will complete studio and art history units and complete electives or a minor or major from Table S, excluding the Visual Arts major and minor. Students can also take electives from the Open Learning Environment.
Table S: Accounting; American Studies; Anatomy and Histology; Ancient Greek; Ancient History; Animal Health, Disease and Welfare; Animal Production; Anthropology; Applied Medical Science; Arabic Language and Cultures; Archaeology; Art History; Asian Studies; Banking; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Biology; Business Analytics; Business Information Systems; Business Law; Chinese Studies; Chemistry; Computer Science; Computer Systems; Criminology; Cultural Studies; Data Science; Design; Digital Cultures; Digital Music; Disability and Participation; Discrete Mathematics and Algorithms; Diversity Studies (minor); Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Econometrics; Economic Policy; Economics; Education Studies; English; Environmental, Agriculture and Resource Economics; Environmental Studies; European Studies; Film Studies; Finance; Financial Economics; Financial Mathematics and Statistics; Food Science; French and Francophone Studies; Gender Studies; Genetics and Genomics; Geography; Geology and Geophysics; Germanic Studies; Health; Hearing, Speech and Communication; Hebrew (Modern); High Performance in Sport; History; History and Philosophy of Science; Immunology and Pathology; Immunology (minor); Indigenous Studies; Indonesian Studies; Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management; Infectious Diseases; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; International and Comparative Literary Studies; International Business; International Relations; Italian Studies; Japanese Studies; Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture; Korean Studies; Latin; Linguistics; Management and Leadership Marketing; Marine Science; Mathematical modelling and Computation; Mathematics; Medicinal Chemistry; Microbiology; Modern Greek; Music; Neuroscience; Nutrition Science; Pathology (minor); Pharmacology; Philosophy; Physical Activity and Health; Physics; Physiology; Plant Production; Plant Science; Political Economy; Politics; Project Management; Psychological Science; Sanskrit (minor); Socio- legal Studies; Sociology; Software Development; Soil Science and Hydrology; Statistics; Spanish and Latin American Studies; Studies in Religion (available as a minor or major in 2024, available as a minor in 2025); Sustainability; Theatre and Performance Studies; Urban Studies; Virology (minor); Visual Arts; Wildlife Conservation (minor)
Career opportunities
Artist, arts writer, craftsperson, cinematographer, curator, digital artist, filmmaker, illustrator, painter, photographer, product designer, sound artist, web and multimedia designer.
Practical experience
You will have access to a studio environment in which to create a body of work. In your final year your work will be exhibited in the Sydney College of the Arts Graduate Exhibition. Students have the opportunity to attend professional practice seminars and workshops led by a range of art-industry professionals.
Fees and charges
The Australian Government subsidises the tuition fee for this course. The remaining balance is paid by the student. Current University of Sydney fee information.
Essential requirements for admission
Entry is assessed based on ATAR and a portfolio of artwork. Details on portfolio submissions.
Admission criteria
Applicants with recent secondary education
Recommended studies: Visual Arts, Design and Technology.
Creative Arts Special Admission Scheme (CASAS)
Under the University’s Creative Arts Special Admission Scheme Domestic applicants for the Bachelor of Visual Arts undertaking a current recognised high school (Year 12) qualification and applying via UAC, may be eligible for an early offer of admission prior to the release of ATARs or equivalent score. Eligible applicants will be automatically assessed based on a combination of academic performance and portfolio. For relevant deadlines, visit the link below.
How to prepare and submit your portfolio
Other applicants
Refer to the University of Sydney general admission criteria.
Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) Portfolio
The portfolio presents a sample of your artistic interests and explorations. Please include a short statement of between 200 and 250 words describing some of the more developed projects in your portfolio. Include information about the ideas and processes involved in generating the work. Specify details of whatever activities or experiences support your creative interests, and what you hope to achieve through your studies at Sydney College of the Arts.
For more information on how to submit your portfolio, visit the University of Sydney.
Student profile
Visit the University of Sydney website.
Further information
View all details of this course on the University of Sydney website.
The academic content of all programs is subject to routine review.
ATAR profile
ATAR-based offers only (semester 1, 2024)
Use all ATAR profile data as a guide only; it provides a broad overview of the ATARs and selection ranks of previous Year 12 students admitted into that course. ATARs and selection ranks required for entry in 2024 may be different. If you are unsure about including a course among your preferences, contact the relevant institution.
- This ATAR profile table is in line with Commonwealth Government transparency requirements. It is based on offers to recent school leavers (ie completed Year 12 in the last 2 years) who were selected solely or partly on their ATAR. Note that some institutions further differentiate this information on their websites.
- The ATAR values exclude any adjustment factors.
- The selection ranks include the ATAR and any adjustment factors.
Abbreviations
– = data is not available.<5 = less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made.
N/A = no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
NC = new course
NP = Not provided by institution
NR = No reportable profile
NS = No Semester 1 offers
NN = Unavailable (other)
NO = Entry on other criteria
Student profile
Course updates
Courses are added and cancelled throughout the admissions year and course details are subject to change. Check the UAC course search regularly.
Global mobility/international experience
At the University of Sydney, every undergraduate student has access to global opportunities. These opportunities may include overseas field schools, global professional placements, and student exchanges (one-year, single semester and shorter-term durations) with more than 300 partner universities worldwide.
Open Learning Environment (OLE)
Open Learning Environment (OLE) units are short, on-demand and workshop- supported. They enable you to broaden your skills in areas such as entrepreneurial thinking, persuasive communication, project management and ethical reasoning. OLEs are available to all students at the University, while students commencing in liberal studies degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce or combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies) and some specialist degrees (Bachelor of Economics) must complete 6 credit points of OLE units.
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Selection into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music programs is based on an audition and/or portfolio
and/or interview, while the ATAR is used only as an indicator of your ability to undertake tertiary studies.
Faculty handbooks
View available first-year subjects in the University of Sydney handbooks.