About this course
Introduction
Drawing and Applied Arts is a multidisciplinary degree programme where drawing sits at the centre of creative practice. This unique course offers a practice based exploration of the relationship between drawing and making, materials and ideas, form and content. The programme of study is underpinned by cultural and theoretical enquiry and allows students to push boundaries, make new definitions and question traditions within drawing and making. Emphasis is placed on the uniqueness of each students’ creative voice.
Students on the Drawing and Applied Arts course create a diverse range of work through a variety of arts practices, including printmaking, painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, lens-based media and installation, using the breadth of technical centres available in the Department of Art and Design. The teaching staff on DAA are all active practitioners and researchers who have a broad range of conceptual and practical skills.
To view examples of work from students who graduated in 2010 and 2011 please go to http://daa2011.com and www.daa2010.co.uk.
Student's view
DAA is ideal for me as it is studio-based with excellent creative space in which to work and access to technical departments such as print, photography and fabrication.The teaching staff are all artists who share their knowledge on a whole range of creative fields. Louise
Structure
Content
Year 1
The first year introduces you to a range of concepts and applications relating to the practice of drawing. You will be encouraged to explore the way in which drawing may be developed through a range of different media, processes and ideas. You will be introduced to studio and applied arts practices that include printmaking, bookmaking, stitch, photography, fabrication techniques in wood and metal, ceramics.
There will be a range of visiting speakers and a professional practice module to enable you to begin to locate the context of your own practice.
Year 2
You will focus on developing the relationship between form, content and the language of materials. Further workshop activity enables you to refine your skills base. The Professional Practice module provides a series of structured lectures and events designed to help you explore your potential for employment. All students exhibit their work within UWE and at external locations, you are also encouraged to undertake work placements and live projects. There is the opportunity to undertake a work experience module and to take part in an international exchange programme.
Year 3
Your final year of study consists of a self-directed programme of study that reflects your particular strengths and abilities and ambitions developed through a combination of critical discussion, contextual awareness, visual research and creative practice. The year culminates in the presentation of a substantial body of work. The Professional Practice module in Year 3 focuses on self-promotion and readiness for employment.
Teaching and learning
The Drawing and Applied arts programme involves a rich and diverse set of experiences designed to stimulate your ability to learn as well as encouraging a high level of critical reflection. This will provide you with the skills and enthusiasm to pursue your practice beyond university. You will be expected to take part in workshops, projects, seminars, lectures and tutorials. You will engage with self and peer assessment and contribute meaningfully to your peer group.
Throughout the course you will have access to experienced tutors and visiting artists who will discuss your work with you and offer support, guidance and suggestions on how to develop your arts practice.
Visual Culture lectures and seminars will allow you to locate your practice within the context of fine and applied arts practices.
A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the course, including essays, projects, group presentations and presentations of visual work. There are no exams. You will engage in written critical evaluation of your work where you are expected to critique and analyse your work and relate it to the broader context of drawing and applied arts practice. Marks from modules at Levels 2 and 3 can contribute towards your overall degree classification.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the course, including projects, essays, group presentations and presentation of visual work. There are no exams. Critical evaluations are written throughout the course. In these you are expected to critique and analyse your own work and also relate it to the broader context and history of drawing and applied arts practice. Marks from modules undertaken at levels 2 and 3 can contribute to the final degree.
Special Features
Placements
During the second year you may be able to study abroad through the Socrates-Erasmus scheme.
Study facilities
All Drawing and Applied Arts students have access to the departments' technical centres including fabrication, media centre, EPI centre, Print Centre, Textiles, Photography and library.
All DAA students have access to award winning studios at Bower Ashton Campus and there will be the opportunity to make use of the exhibition spaces around the university.
Careers/further study
The development of professional practice is central to each level of study on Drawing and Applied Arts. This is both diagnostic and practical in nature to equip DAA students with a toolkit to help them target the most appropriate area of the creative industries for employment. DAA students test their readiness for success through competition entry, for example, DAA students have won the Jerwood Student Drawing Prize in 2005, 2009 and 2011.
Because the range of student outcomes is so diverse DAA graduates have gone on to develop an equally wide variety of careers in arts, design and craft. This has included freelance work, arts administration, public arts commissions, teaching, project co-ordination and curation, MA study.
Graduate destinations
Find out what our graduates are doing six months after graduating- includes examples of careers, employers and further study. Download a PDF from graduate destinations.
Creating employable students
UWE places strong emphasis on employability and skills development at every level. Through work placements, volunteering, study abroad and UWE initiatives which nurture talent and encourage innovation, students gain valuable real world experience and graduate with diverse career opportunities and a competitive place in the job market.
See great graduate prospects for further information.
Be inspired
See Nathalie's youtube film showing her work at the degree show.
See some of our students' work on flickr.
Read about some of the work opportunities generated by the Enterprise office.
Useful links
UWE - careers in creative arts and design
Prospects - careers in the creative arts sector
The UWE careers service provides guidance and support throughout your studies in addition to useful resources, CV checks, career coaching and details of current job vacancies.
Entry
Typical offers
Advice on typical offers
Please read the general information about entry requirements.
Entry requirements
Successful applicants are generally those with the strongest portfolios. Students of all ages and from all social backgrounds are recruited with a variety of qualifications including Foundation Studies Diploma, BTEC National Diploma, A levels or equivalent qualification in Art and Design
Applicants demonstrating commitment to and knowledge of the subject on their application form are invited to a selection session where they will be required to present a collection of their creative work to demonstrate a good practical ability in and understanding of their chosen field.
To have a good chance of obtaining a place on the course, you should bring a portfolio of your creative work to the interview. The emphasis is on quality rather than quantity. You should be able to show evidence of drawing and staff will be looking for quality of ideas and evidence of creativity. It is essential to include sketch and ideas books. The programme is looking for 'makers' who are prepared to work independently and who are self-motivated.
The majority of selection sessions for September 2012 entry will take place during February and March 2012 in order to allow applicants time to develop their portfolios.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications. The course code for applications is W110.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011