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Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

Course resolutions

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1 Course codes

Code Course title
BPVISART-04 Bachelor of Visual Arts
BPVISAVS-01 Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time or part time according to candidate choice. Visa requirements commonly restrict international students to full time study only.

3 Streams

(1) Streams are not available in the Bachelor of Visual Arts or the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

4 Cross-faculty management

(1) Candidates in the Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies and those undertaking honours in the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies will be under the supervision of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

(2) Candidates undertaking honours in the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor Advanced Studies will be under the management of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Admission, requirements, award of the honours mark, and award of the grade of honours for an honours component undertaken by a candidate will be under the supervision of the faculty offering and supervising the embedded honours component. The faculty offering and supervising the embedded component will direct the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on all matters relating to admission, requirements, award of the honours mark and award of the honours grade.

(3) The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences shall exercise authority in any matter concerned with the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies and the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor Advanced Studies with Honours combined degrees not otherwise dealt with in these resolutions.

5 Admission to candidature

(1) Except for students admitted under the Creative Arts Special Admission Scheme, admission to this course is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English.

(a) Special admission pathways are open for mature aged applicants who do not possess a school leaving qualification, educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission requirements are found in the Coursework Rule and the Coursework Policy.

(b) Offers to the Bachelor of Visual Arts may be made to exceptional students under the Creative Arts Special Admission Scheme. Details of the requirements for this scheme are found in the Coursework Policy.

(2) In addition, admission to this course requires the applicants to present a portfolio of their artwork online, or in an optional interview. The results of this process will form part of the ranking for applicants.

(3) Admission to the embedded honours component is by permission of the relevant honours coordinator or head of department after the completion of 144 credit points of the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies in accordance with section 6(2) of these resolutions. Admission requires a major or study of equivalent depth with a WAM of at least 70 in the area of the proposed honours component; presentation of a research proposal outlining the proposed topic of investigation; and presentation of a portfolio of creative work

(a) The major or study of equivalent depth required in the area of the proposed honours component shall be met by the 72 credit points of Studio units specified in 6 (3) (a) above, demonstrating a level of expertise suitable for honours.

6 Requirements for award

(1) The units of study that may be taken for the award Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies are set out in:

(a) Table A for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies;

(b) Table S of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees;

(c) Table O of the Shared pool for Undergraduate Degrees.

In these resolutions, except where otherwise specified, Table A, Table S and Table O mean Table A, Table S and Table O as specified here.

(2) Bachelor of Visual Arts

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Visual Arts pass degree, a candidate must successfully complete 144 credit points, comprising:

(a) 72 credit points of Studio units as specified in Table A;

(b) 24 credit points of Art History units as specified in Table A of which 12 credit points must be at 1000 level and 12 credit points must be at 2000 or 3000 level; and

(c) 48 credit points of units from Table O or Table S, which may, optionally, include a minor or major excluding the Visual Arts major or minor.

(3) Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, a candidate must successfully complete 192 credit points, comprising:

(a) 72 credit points of Studio units as specified in Table A;

(b) 24 credit points of Art History units as specified in Table A of which 12 credit points must be at 1000 level and 12 credit points must be at 2000 or 3000 level;

(c) A major from Table S, excluding the Visual Arts major;

(d) 6 credit points of units from the Open Learning Environment from Table O;

(e) A minimum of 24 credit points at 4000 level as listed and defined in Section 7 below and specified in Table A or Table S, including a research, community, industry or entrepreneurship project of at least 12 and a maximum of 24 credit points; and

(f) Where appropriate, elective units from Table O or Table S.

(g) For candidates, completing the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies the requirements in the Bachelor of Advanced Studies for completion of a second major shall be met by the 72 credit points of Studio units specified in 6 (3) (a) above.

7 Majors

(1) Bachelor of Visual Arts

(a) Candidates have the option of completing a major or a minor from Table S, excluding the Visual Arts major or minor.

(2) Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

(a)  Completion of a major from Table S, excluding Visual Arts major, is a requirement of the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

(3) Available Majors for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

The list of available majors for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies is as specified in Table S. Candidates in these degrees may not take the Visual Arts major or minor from Table S.

9 Requirements for the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies with Honours

(1) An embedded honours component involving a research project, is available to meritorious students, who complete an alternative set of units of study in the final year of the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies. Honours can be undertaken by studio practice and research paper or by dissertation.

(2) The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Table A for the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

(3) To qualify for the award of the honours degree a candidate must complete 36 credit points comprising:

(a) By either studio practice and research paper;

(i) 30 credit points of honours Studio; and

(ii) 6 credit points of an honours unit of study prescribed by the Faculty as listed in the Table A for the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

(b) Or dissertation:

(i) 30 credit points of honours Dissertation; and

(ii) 6 credit points of an honours unit of study prescribed by the Faculty as listed in the Table A for the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

(c) Candidates may utilise the remaining 12 credit points to complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, which include completing a second major or OLE requirements.

(4) Admission to the embedded honours component is by permission of the relevant honours coordinator or head of department after the completion of 144 credit points of the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies in accordance with section 6(2) of these resolutions. Admission requires a major or study of equivalent depth with a WAM of at least 70 in the area of the proposed honours component; presentation of a research proposal outlining the proposed topic of investigation; and presentation of a portfolio of creative work demonstrating a level of expertise suitable for honours. 


(a) The major or study of equivalent depth required in the area of the proposed honours component shall be met by the 72 credit points of Studio units specified in 6 (3) (a) above.

(5) The honours mark is determined by calculating a WAM from the 36 credit points of Table A honours units of study, using the formula:

WAM =  sum(marks x credit point value)
sum (credit point value)

The mark is the actual mark obtained by the student for the unit of study, or in the case of a failing grade with no mark, 0. Pass/fail assessed subjects and credit transfer subjects (from another institution) are excluded from these calculations. However, the marks from all attempts at a unit of study are included.

(6) Honours in the Bachelor of Visual Arts is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class in accordance with the Coursework Policy and the resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

10 University Medal

A student with an honours mark of 90 or above may be awarded a university medal. The medal is awarded at the discretion of the Faculty to the highest achieving students who in the opinion of the Faculty have an outstanding academic record, in accordance with the Coursework Policy.

11 Award of the degree

(1) The Bachelor of Visual Arts is awarded at a Pass level.

(2) The Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies is awarded at either a Pass or Honours level. The honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the rules specified in the Coursework Policy and the resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

(3) Candidates taking the embedded honours component who do not meet the requirements for award with honours, and who fulfill requirements for the Bachelor of Visual Arts or Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies will be awarded the degree at a pass level.

12 Cross-institutional study

Cross-institutional study is available in this course under conditions specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

13 International exchange

The Sydney College of the Arts encourages candidates in this course to participate in international exchange programs as set out in the resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

14 Course transfer

A candidate may transfer from the Bachelor of Visual Arts and elect to complete the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies in accordance with these resolutions and receive full credit for work completed in the Bachelor of Visual Arts. A candidate may transfer from the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies combined degree and elect to complete the Bachelor of Visual Arts in accordance with these resolutions and receive credit of up to 144 credit points as determined by the faculty.

15 Credit for previous study

Credit transfer is subject to the provisions of the Coursework Policy and the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, or, in the case of a major or minor offered by another faculty, any relevant resolutions of that faculty.

16 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to students in the Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies and the Bachelor of Visual Arts who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2024.

(2) Candidates who commenced the Bachelor of Visual Arts or Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies prior to 1 January 2024 should complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.