Yearbooks

Programme: BA Fine Arts

Kindly take note of the disclaimer regarding qualifications and degree names.
Code Faculty
01130103 Faculty of Humanities
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 4 years Total credits: 486 NQF level:  08
Contact:
Dr A Sooful
[email protected]
+27 (0)124203111

Programme information

This programme focuses on the main disciplines in fine arts, ie painting, sculpture, graphic printmaking, drawing and new media, as well as on the theories and concepts of art. Graduates qualify as professional artists. The programme is aimed at the promotion of aesthetic awareness and the broadening of visual, critical and creative thinking. The programme also incorporates art management, art communication and marketing, digital training and the use of a wide range of artists materials, media and techniques.

Closing date for applications: 30 June annually

Admission requirements

  • The following candidates will be considered for admission:
  1. A candidate who is in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate (NSC) with university endorsement; a candidate who is a graduate from another recognised tertiary institution or has been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution; and a candidate who is a graduate of another faculty at the University of Pretoria
  2. Candidates who have completed the National Senior Certificate with admission to degree studies or a certificate of conditional exemption on the basis of a candidate’s international ("foreign") qualifications, the so-called “Immigrant” or “Foreign Conditional Exemption”. The only condition for the “Foreign Conditional Exemption” that is accepted is: ‘completion of the degree course’. The exemption certificate is obtainable from Universities South Africa (USAf). Detailed information is available on the website at mb.usaf.ac.za.
  • To retain admission, learners will be expected to obtain an APS of at least 28 in the NSC.
  • Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.

Minimum requirements

Achievement level

English Home Language or English First Additional Language

 

APS

NSC/IEB

AS Level

 

5

 

C

 

30

Should you be selected, you will be expected to achieve an APS of at least 28 in Grade 12 to retain admission.

The NBT is not applicable to this programme.

*  Cambridge A level candidates who obtained at least a D in the required subjects, will be considered for admission. International Baccalaureate (IB) HL candidates who obtained at least a 4 in the required subjects, will be considered for admission.

Additional requirements

Departmental selection is necessary prior to admission to this programme. Although Art as a Grade 12 subject is not a requirement, a candidate must be able to demonstrate his/her creative potential and commitment to the chosen field of study. Candidates are therefore required to submit a portfolio of work for a merit selection review and, if invited, undergo a series of selection processes and be interviewed by a selection committee. Contact the coordinator for more information.

Other programme-specific information

Students who are deemed NOT to be at risk of their level of academic literacy, are exempted from ALL 110 and ALL 125.

Promotion to next study year

  • To be promoted to the second year of study, a student should pass all the core modules prescribed for the first year of study.
  • To be promoted to the third year of study, a student should pass all the core modules prescribed for the second year of study.
  • To be promoted to the fourth year of study, a student should pass all the core modules prescribed for the third year of study.

The Dean may approve exceptions to these promotion requirements on the recommendation of the head of the department.

Pass with distinction

The degree is awarded with distinction to a candidate who obtains at least 75% in BKK 400 and in VKK 401.

Minimum credits: 126

To be promoted to the second year of study, a student should pass the following modules: BKK 100, VIT 100, VKK 111, 121, and 123.

Fundamental modules

  • Module content:

    Find, evaluate, process, manage and present information resources for academic purposes using appropriate technology. Apply effective search strategies in different technological environments. Demonstrate the ethical and fair use of information resources. Integrate 21st-century communications into the management of academic information.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Find, evaluate, process, manage and present information resources for academic purposes using appropriate technology.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Apply effective search strategies in different technological environments. Demonstrate the ethical and fair use of information resources. Integrate 21st-century communications into the management of academic information.

    View more

  • Module content:

    This module intends to equip students to cope more confidently and competently with the reading and understanding of a variety of texts, to apply these skills in a variety of contexts and to follow the conventions of academic writing.

    View more

  • Module content:

    This module equips students to understand and use a range of discipline-specific terminology; apply the strategies of critical and comprehensive reading to their own academic literacy; apply the conventions of academic writing to their own writing, using the process approach, to produce intelligible academic texts and use the correct referencing technique as required by the faculty.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Foundations of visual culture
    This module introduces art and visual culture theory using a wide range of texts and ideas. The module gives students wide exposure to visual discourses and includes a variety of visual culture examples e.g. artworks, advertisements. These discourses may include:  exploring what visual culture is; modes of analysis; introducing terminology such as ideology and myth; dealing with selected periods from history contextually; introducing cultural icons and themes from popular visual culture.

    View more

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    During the first year, students will explore a range of 2D, 3D and digital mediums and processes as practiced in various studio modalities, including graphic printmaking, painting, sculpture, drawing and digital laboratories. The subject will develop students’ technical abilities and artistic expression related to ideas, formal aspects, materials and techniques through the processes of conceptualisation, observation, visualisation, materialisation, documentation, representation and presentation of artworks. Students are introduced to Fine Art research approaches and methods. Through themed projects and self-study, students will explore critical concepts and methods in historical and contemporary art practices. 

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    This module offers occupational related preparation by familiarising students with art institutions and the art industry; and by providing skills in the promotional aspects of their personal art practice. Students will conduct site visits and research, reflect and report on the local art industry, its institutions and communities as codified practices. Opportunities will be provided for students to evaluate and investigate a specific facet of the local arts and culture environment through conducting interviews and contextual research. Students will be introduced to ethical matters in the discipline and will be orientated towards a community art engagement. Further, the module provides guidance on preparing self-promotional documents and opportunities to enhance social and networking skills.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Images across media: current issues
    This module presents an introduction into the ways in which images appear across media in contemporary visual culture from a specific African perspective within the global. This is done by means of exploring key modes, themes, genres, platforms and visual texts. Among the media and mediums that may be covered are photography, art, graphic design, advertising, film, documentaries, video, digital and social media. 

    View more

Elective modules

  • Module content:

    Taalkundekomponent: Inleiding tot die Afrikaanse taalkunde met klem op lees-en skryfvaardigheid. Letterkundekomponent: Inleiding tot die Afrikaanse en Nederlandse letterkunde aan die hand van kortverhale en gedigte.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Taalkundekomponent: Inleiding tot die Afrikaanse sintaksis, fonetiek en taalgeskiedenis. Letterkundekomponent:Inleiding tot die Romankuns Inleiding tot die Drama

    View more

  • Module content:

    This introduction to social anthropology introduces basic themes of the discipline including ritual, religion, marriage and sex. It combines classic studies with recent scholarship, and asks the ‘big question’ about human society and human cultures that offer challenging perspectives on the world we live in.

    View more

  • Module content:

    This module builds on the ethnographic and theoretical themes introduced in APL 110, asking particular questions about how we may think about the relationship between the local and the global; indigenous and universal; public and private; the real and the possible.The module continues in the vein of APL 110, in that it explicitly encourages students to understand the society in which they live through a series of critical anthropological perspectives.

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Alternative evening classes - 2 discussion classes per week Introduction to Literature in English (1) This module introduces the study of literature by examining a number of texts representing different genres (poetry, prose, drama). The texts studied here will be mainly from the pre-twentieth century era and may include texts written in English from both Africa and other parts of the world. The aim of this module is to equip students with the critical and analytical skills required for a perceptive reading of poetry, novels and plays.

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Alternative evening classes: 2 discussion classes per week
    Introduction to Literature in English (2)
    This module introduces the study of post-nineteenth century literature by examining a number of texts representing different genres (poetry, drama, prose). Texts will be from both Africa and other parts of the world. By the end of this module students should have the background and analytical skills to perceptively read modern and contemporary poetry, novels and plays.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Introduction to Philosophy

    The two semester modules at first-year level introduce students to four main subfields of philosophy, namely metaphysics, epistemology, ontology and ethics. This module introduces students to two of these subfields, namely epistemology and metaphysics with reference to the work of a range of scholars from the Global South and the West. Students will become acquainted with the nature of philosophical reflection by exploring a number of classical philosophical themes in each subfield. Throughout the module there is an emphasis on developing those critical thinking, reading and writing skills that are required in Philosophy, while students become acquainted with the power of critique as critical judgment and discernment.

     

     

     

     

    View more

  • Module content:

    Introduction to Philosophy

    The two semester modules at first-year level introduce students to four main subfields of philosophy, namely metaphysics, epistemology, ontology and ethics. This module introduces students to two of these subfields, namely ontology and ethics and the emphasis is on texts by African and Western scholars. Students will become acquainted with the nature of philosophical reflection by exploring a number of classical philosophical themes in each subfield. Throughout the module there is an emphasis on developing those critical thinking, reading and writing skills that are required in Philosophy, while students become acquainted with the power of critique as critical judgment and discernment.

    View more

  • Module content:

    What is religion? The functions of religion. Studying religion. Perspectives on religion. Common concepts and key terms in various religions will be dealt with - also generic dimensions and aspects.  The interdependence of religion, culture and society.

    View more

  • Module content:

    The occurrence of religion in societies. Types of religion. Primal religions. Christianity, Judaism, Islam.  A variety of religions will be addressed: capita selecta will be made from Christianity; Hinduism; Buddhism; New Religions; New Age; main developments in the world and South Africa.

    View more

  • Module content:

    This module is a general orientation to Psychology. An introduction is given to various theoretical approaches in Psychology, and the development of Psychology as a science is discussed. Selected themes from everyday life are explored and integrated with psychological principles. This module focuses on major personality theories. An introduction is given to various paradigmatic approaches in Psychology.

    View more

  • Module content:

    This module introduces the student to a basic knowledge and understanding of the biological basis of human behaviour. The module addresses the key concepts and terminology related to the biological subsystem, the rules and principles guiding biological psychology, and identification of the interrelatedness of different biological systems and subsystems. In this module various cognitive processes are studied, including perception, memory, thinking, intelligence and creativity. Illustrations are given of various thinking processes, such as problem solving, critical, analytic and integrative thinking.

    View more

Minimum credits: 120

To be promoted to the third year of study, a student should pass all the core modules prescribed for the second year of study.

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    During the second foundational year, students will continue with their exploration of a range of 2D, 3D and digital mediums and processes as practiced in various studio modalities, including graphic printmaking, painting, sculpture, drawing and digital laboratories. The subject will enhance students’ intermediate technical abilities and artistic expression related to ideas, formal aspects, materials and techniques through the processes of conceptualisation, observation, visualisation, materialisation, experimentation, documentation, representation and presentation of artworks. Students will discover process-orientated research methods through their practice. Through themed projects and self-study, students will explore critical concepts and methods in historical and contemporary art practices and interpret their significance to their own work.

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    This module offers occupational related preparation by providing opportunities for students to participate in art education, community engagements and the art industry. Further, the module will provide opportunity for students to: Develop the promotional and entrepreneurial aspects of their personal art practice through creating marketing material and proposal writing; Develop their research, teaching and communication skills through peer teaching; Foster independent learning through a self-study component in a hybrid learning environment; Develop foundational skills in ethics; Participate in orientation towards a community engagement project; and apply skills and knowledge through curatorial practice or similar codified art practices.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Gender, sexuality and visual representation
    Introduction to the representation of sex, gender and sexuality in visual culture.  Gender theory and terminology related to feminism, masculinity studies and lbgtq theory (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgendered, queer) are unpacked. Themes and issues in gender and identity politics such as the male hero, the nude in late 19th century art, the femme fatale, hysteria, androgyny and transsexuality are dealt with. Sexuality and gender issues across a range of visual cultural such as soaps, sitcoms, artworks, advertisements, fashion, music videos and films are addressed.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Visual (Post)colonialisms
    This module investigates aspects of Africanness, Afrocentrism, multiculturalism, transnationalism and the African diaspora and studies a cross section of work including traditional art, tourist art and the hybrid aesthetics of contemporary African art and visual culture. The module also focuses on the ideology of imperialism and colonialism and its influence on art and visual culture from the nineteenth century onwards. The influence of postcolonial thinking on the deconstruction of the ideology of colonialism is highlighted with reference to landscape and memory, the exotic and primitivism in South African visual culture.

    View more

Minimum credits: 120

To be promoted to the fourth year of study, a student should pass all the core modules prescribed for the third year of study.

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    This module will focus on the integration of skills and knowledge acquired thus far, with emphasis on finding a synthesis between ideas, materials, process and theory through a studio-based research approach. Opportunities are provided for students to hone their artistic expression with a focus on experimentation towards their final year of study. Through lectures, consultations and self-study, students will explore concepts and methods in historical and contemporary art practices and their application within personal art practices. Studio projects will gradually merge into a continuous investigation of a self-motivated theme that is grounded in a theoretical understanding of concepts and methods in art. Students will reflect and write on their practice; different modes of presentation will be utilised to provide opportunities for critical reflection and debate. 

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    This module offers occupational related preparation by providing an opportunity for students to conceptualise, research, develop and manage a real world application of skills and knowledge within the broader creative and art spheres. Students will apply procedural and conceptual knowledge through their participation in a community engagement project. The module will hone students’ skills in the entrepreneurial, managerial and promotional aspects of their personal art practice. An opportunity for an internship within the creative or educational sector will provide insight into a selected professional art practice.

    View more

  • Module content:

    Post/Modernities: Contemporary discourses
    This module investigates Modernism and Postmodernism as the dominant aesthetic, discursive and visual paradigms of the 20th and 21st centuries. Key concepts in these discourses and counter-discourses are highlighted and explored, such as the creation of modern subjectivity, the beautiful and the sublime, the avant garde, the metaphysics of presence, originality, authorship, hermeneutics, the “language turn”, différance and the so-called “end of art”. Theorist may include: Kant, Heidegger, Derrida and Foucault.

    View more

Minimum credits: 120

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    Guided independent artistic research at honours level and specialisation within a studio modality/medium to demonstrate professional attributes. Opportunities are provided for students to develop a coherent and creative body of work through experimental and process-orientated studio-based research practice. Students will apply advanced skills of conceptualisation, visualisation, materialisation, documentation, representation and/or presentation, to determine a self-motivated project that is grounded in a theoretical understanding of concepts and methods in historical and contemporary art. Students will reflect and write on their practice; different modes of presentation will be utilised to provide opportunities for critical reflection and debate. 

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    This module focusses on developing students’ critical competencies and research skills. Students are familiarised with the broader streams of contemporary thinking in Fine Arts and critical approaches to form linkages between contemporary and historical art discourses and practices within both international and local cultural paradigms. Opportunities are provided for students to hone their analytical skills through conducting research into such discourses within art practice and theory. The module provides opportunities to develop competencies in research methodology; reading and writing skills; and critical, creative and generative thinking skills through class discussion, critical engagement, and written argumentation.

    View more


The information published here is subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information. The General Regulations (G Regulations) apply to all faculties of the University of Pretoria. It is expected of students to familiarise themselves well with these regulations as well as with the information contained in the General Rules section. Ignorance concerning these regulations and rules will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression.

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]

FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences