Extended BA (Hons) Degree
If you want to pursue a creative degree at Arts University Plymouth but feel you have yet to acquire the experience and range of skills necessary, our Extended BA programme will prepare you for entry to one of our BA (Hons) undergraduate courses.
<ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Immerse yourself in experimental and intense learning experiences that open up new avenues of exploration and discovery – this is done through research, making practical work, lively discussion and self-reflection.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">You will embark on a challenging, creative academic and practical journey giving you the freedom to take risks, generate ideas and experiment with a variety of analogue and digital methods and materials.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Transformative and exploratory year that increases knowledge, curiosity and confidence and is fantastic preparation for the following three years of degree level study.</p></li></ul>
I started the course wanting to be an artist. I left the course as an artist. This has been the most amazing formative year of my creative journey so far, I wish I had done it sooner.
<p>Our Extended BA (Hons) Degree offers a unique four-year route for students aiming to delve into the diverse realm of art, design, and media. This program provides an initial exploratory year, where you'll cultivate insight into various creative skills and approaches, laying a robust foundation before advancing to a specialised degree of your choice. Whether you're returning to education after a hiatus or entering without formal qualifications, our Extended BA equips you with the requisite skills, knowledge, and experience to secure a place in our full undergraduate program.</p>
The year I spent on the Extended BA is one that I wish I could repeat again and again. To say that the year was transformative is a considerable understatement. I came onto the course feeling slightly imposter-like and I left the course an artist, excited for my future.
<p>Throughout this dynamic and supportive journey, you'll embark on a personal exploration, discovering your unique passions and strengths within the creative arts. Through lectures, workshops, studios, seminars, and tutorials, you'll engage in an intensive and challenging curriculum designed to foster academic confidence, purpose, and direction. This immersive experience culminates in a specialised personal investigation module, allowing you to delve deep into your chosen degree subject, gaining firsthand experience and refining your creative identity.</p>
“The Extended Degree is an excellent chance to experiment with everything the university has to offer. The support from staff and use of the facilities helped me to determine the direction in which I wanted to take my career, as well as giving me a broad knowledge of art across a wide range of practices.”
Max Wilson, Extended BA
<p dir="ltr">The Extended BA year primes you to become a confident, independent, and creative artist, designer, or maker, setting you on the path to excel in the next steps of your degree course.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There’s never been a more exciting time to join our university, as we develop our existing curriculum with the input of our students, alumni, and expert academics. Through close consultation with industry professionals, we can ensure that what you learn with us will prepare you for a dynamic and ever-changing future job market.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If you're applying to study with us this Autumn please visit UCAS and refer to the codes below. For more information or support with your application please contact <a href="mailto:admissions@aup.ac.uk">admissions@aup.ac.uk</a>.<br /></p>
<p>Study with us and you’ll expand your critical approach alongside developing skills in research and analysis. Our academically robust and intellectually stimulating degree programmes are delivered by our team of academics, technical demonstrators and invited experts who together deliver excellence in learning, teaching and assessment. Our programmes encourage diversity in thinking and making - from practical applications through to reflective, analytical writing.</p>
<p>We provide a dynamic, stimulating learning environment from which to test new models of practice, while investing in the rich relationship between practice and theory - based on the potential in material and visual exploration, collaborative working, cross-fertilisation of ideas, and the exploration of histories and contemporary contexts.</p>
Extended BA students exhibit their work in the annual end of year Summer Show.
Every single person you rub shoulders with is a creative, whether it's students, staff, housekeeping, front of house, everyone is here for one reason and one reason only, to make Arts University Plymouth a family community where you can truly be yourself, find your artistic voice, and become the artist that you had only dreamed about before. Arts University Plymouth genuinely makes dreams come true, it has for me!
<p>This entry year programme is year one of a four-year degree and is designed as a preparatory year to ready you for the transition to the full degree programme of your choice. It provides an opportunity to develop your portfolio and technical skills in a specialist subject area. </p>
<p>We offer places to students who have at least five GCSEs, grades 9 - 4 (A* - C), including English Language and a combination of AS and A-level qualifications or equivalent (with one in a creative subject). We also welcome applications from mature students who may not have the qualification profile but have other experience and knowledge. All applicants will be required to show a portfolio of creative work.</p>
PROGRAMME | UCAS CODE |
BA (Hons) Animation & Games (Extended Degree) | W618 |
BA (Hons) Commercial Photography (Extended Degree) | W641 |
BA (Hons) Costume Production (Extended Degree) | W451 |
BA (Hons) Craft & Material Practices (Extended Degree) | 69K5 |
BA (Hons) Fashion Design (Extended Degree) | W234 |
BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Marketing (Extended Degree) | 7BD5 |
BA (Hons) Film & Screen Arts (Extended Degree) | P311 |
BA (Hons) Fine Art (Extended Degree) | W103 |
BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Extended Degree) | W211 |
BA (Hons) Illustration (Extended Degree) | W221 |
BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling (Extended Degree) | B68G |
BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking (Extended Degree) | W102 |
BA (Hons) Photography (Extended Degree) | W600 |
BA (Hons) Textile Design (Extended Degree) | J400 |
In their artistic practice students are encouraged to take creative risks, generate ideas, experiment and develop a breadth of approaches to problem-solving.
<p>All students at Arts University Plymouth can access specialist support via our Student Support Team. Our trained advisers offer information and guidance on student finance and funding, disability support, counselling and more.<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/disability-support-and-reasonable-adjustments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br /><br />Click here</a> to read more about the support we offer.</p>
<ul><li><strong>E</strong><strong>mail: </strong><a href="mailto:admissions@aup.ac.uk">admissions@aup.ac.uk</a></li><li><strong>Tel:</strong> +44 (0)1752 203434</li></ul>
