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Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours)

The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.

The Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) provides students who have qualified for, or been awarded, an undergraduate pass degree in visual arts the opportunity to extend their potential in studio-based and written research.

As a candidate you may continue to work in the area of your undergraduate study or undertake research in a different area. You can nominate to study by either studio project and research paper or by dissertation and minor studio project.

You are expected to have developed a focus and direction in your work and be prepared for working in a tutorial environment with a supervisor. You will be assigned a supervisor from SCA academic staff members. You will also participate in seminars and attend lectures as required. You will be examined at the end of the course.

The Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) focuses on establishing your individual research practice, further equipping you for entry into professional practice or entry into the Master of Fine Arts or Doctor of Philosophy programs.

Honours subject areas

Units of study

For full information on Units of Study available in this course, please visit the Sydney Courses website

Full units of study list

Further course information

Typical workload and assessment

Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) students produce a body of artwork for exhibition and examination, and a research paper of dissertation based on their research proposal. There are two categories of candidature: honours by studio project and research paper (5,000-7,000 words); or honours by dissertation (15,000 words) and minor studio project. Students enrolled in the category studio project and research paper additionally undertake a semester one unit of study called Studio Seminar/Research Paper A. All students undertake a semester one unit of study called Honours Theories of Art Practice.

Honours awards and classes

The Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) is awarded in the following classes:

Honours Class I where the Honours mark is in the range of 80 to 100
Honours Class II (Division 1) 75 to 79
Honours Class II (Division 2) 70 to 74
Honours Class III 65 to 69
Honours not awarded if Honours mark is below 65

Ethics and honours research

All University of Sydney staff and students who intend to conduct research involving human participants as part of an Honours, Diploma, Masters, Doctorate or other higher degree must apply for approval from the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).

If you plan to hold or use animals at the University of Sydney then you must apply to the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) for permission to do so. This is a requirement of the NSW Animal Research Act 1985.

Applying for ethics clearance

To apply for ethics clearance please refer to [hyperlink: http://sydney.edu.au/research_support/ethics/index.shtml]

Closing dates for ethics applications

Closing dates for ethics applications [hyperlink: http://sydney.edu.au/research_support/ethics/index.shtml]

Postgraduate research at the University

The Sydney College of the Arts Graduate School provides two postgraduate research degrees, the Master of Fine Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

The Master of Fine Arts is designed to provide visual artists with the opportunity to extend their professional practice through advanced research. As a candidate you will develop a level of proficiency, self-direction and focus through investigating a proposed area of research to produce work of an original and speculative nature. The Master of Fine Arts is a two-year full-time program.

The Doctor of Philosophy is designed to engage visual artists in independent research that constitutes an original contribution to the understanding of contemporary visual arts. The program provides candidates with a critical and intellectual focus to explore a single proposed research topic full-time over three to four years. Your research may reflect a critical exploration of the history, theory and practice of visual art; the development of new materials or technologies; the relationship between visual art and society; or the relationship between visual art and other disciplines.

Applying for honours

The honours year in the Bachelor of Visual Arts may be undertaken in the following studio areas: ceramics, film and digital art, glass, jewellery and object, painting, photomedia, printmedia, and sculpture, performance and installation (SPI). All students who plan to undertake honours in visual arts submit an application [hyperlink:https://sydneystudent.sydney.edu.au/sitsvision/courses/dbhvisarh1000-0.htm] to the University. Applicants who are not current SCA students are required to submit a portfolio of recent artwork and may be interviewed as part of the admission process. All applicants are required to submit a project proposal and nominate a mode of research: by studio and research paper; or by dissertation and minor studio project. The closing date for all applications for the honours year is the last working day in October.

Admission

Admission requirements

To qualify for admission to the honours year an applicant should:

(1) have completed the requirements of the pass degree of the Bachelor of Visual Arts, or equivalent degree from a recognised institution, with a weighted average mark across intermediate and senior units of at least 65; and
(2) have graduated from the pass degree no more than three years prior to commencement of the honours course.

Applicants are also selected on the basis of their portfolio and project proposal. Admission is competitive and not all eligible applicants may be offered candidature.

How to apply

Domestic students

How to apply

Applications are made directly to the University of Sydney and assessed by the Faculty. Current SCA students submit a research proposal with their application; all other applicants - a research proposal and a portfolio of recent artwork. All applicants must nominate a mode of research: by studio and research paper; or by dissertation and minor studio project in their research proposal.

Further requirements

Admission to honours candidature requires the applicants to present a project proposal. Applicants who are not current SCA students are also required to submit a portfolio of recent artwork and may be interviewed as part of the admission process.

Ancillary expenses

Students can expect to spend between $1200 and $2500 for materials purchased for studio work, depending on the type of materials and area of study.
A studio access fee is payable each year by students who choose to access facilities in additional studios. Honours students are also required to make a contribution toward the cost of the Degree Show exhibition and catalogue.

International students

How to apply

International applicants may apply directly to the University of Sydney or through a University overseas representative (education agent). Current SCA students submit a research proposal with their application; all other applicants - a research proposal and a portfolio of recent artwork. All applicants must nominate a mode of research: by studio and research paper; or by dissertation and minor studio project in their research proposal.

Further admission requirements

Admission to honours candidature requires the applicants to present a project proposal. Applicants who are not current SCA students are also required to submit a portfolio of recent artwork and may be interviewed as part of the admission process.

Ancillary expenses for international students

Students can expect to spend between $1200 and $2500 for materials purchased for studio work, depending on the type of materials and area of study.
A studio access fee is payable each year by students who choose to access facilities in additional studios. Honours students are also required to make a contribution toward the cost of the Degree Show exhibition and catalogue.

Fee disclaimer

Domestic students

Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount

This student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. If you are a Commonwealth supported student and was enrolled in a University course before 1 January 2012 your student contribution may differ.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.

International students

Indicative international tuition fees for undergraduate students

This international tuition fee is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact tuition fees that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees and health insurance

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.