The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a prestigious degree that will give you a broad knowledge in visual arts, multimedia, and design before you specialise in one studio area.
The four-year degree is based within purpose-built facilities and students enjoy being part of a supportive community of practitioners.
(1) FINA 101 is 30 points. FINA 103 is 45 points.
(2) Students specialising in Film or Photography may take either Art History and Theory or Cinema Studies 200-level courses. All other students take Art History and Theory 200-level courses.
(3) Students must complete a 200-level course to be eligible for entry into Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours at fourth year.
(4) Students must complete 30 points of 300-level ARTH courses (or CINE courses for Film and Photography students) to be eligible for entry into Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours at fourth year.
* Students eligible for Honours will instead take FINA 450 in their fourth year.
Each small block represents a 15-point course. However, some courses may be 30 points (or more).
For full course requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Fine Arts.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts requires a total of 480 points:
- 90 points of compulsory Fine Arts courses
- 45 points of compulsory Art History and Theory and/or Cinema Studies courses
- 270 points towards a specialist studio subject
- 75 points from courses in Arts or other degrees.
The first year of the degree is called the Fine Arts Intermediate Year and comprises of three compulsory courses (90 points), as well as 30 points of 100-level Art History and Theory courses.
On passing the Intermediate Year, students gain a place in one of their two preferred studio subjects. Your grades in the Intermediate Year will influence your choice of subject.
In the second, third, and fourth years of the BFA, you will specialise in the one studio subject, and complete courses in Art History and Theory or Cinema Studies, and other subject areas.
The degree takes 4 years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 6 years.
For study planning help, contact the UC Liaison Office | Te Rōpū Takawaenga o UC (new students) or a College of Arts | Te Rāngai Toi Tangata Student Advisor (advancing students).
Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours
Students may be accepted into the Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours programme, based on their results in the previous years of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Students must have completed their third year of the BFA, and completed 30 points of 300-level ARTH or CINE courses with a B grade or better, and achieved a B grade or better in their 300-level studio subject course.
During their fourth year of study, students will instead take FINA 450 Honours Research.
Contact Te Kura Kōwaiwai | Ilam School of Fine Arts or see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours for more information.
Double degrees
It is possible to study a BFA with another degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.