Bachelor of Visual Arts; Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies

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

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 and Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

4  Cross-faculty management

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

(2)  The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences shall exercise authority in any matter concerned with the Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies 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.

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 and Bachelor of Advanced Studies are set out in:

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

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

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

(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 and Bachelor of Advanced Studies

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Visual Arts and 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 and Bachelor of Advanced Studies, the requirements in the Bachelor of Advanced Studies to complete 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 and 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 and Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

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

(a)   The list of available majors for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Visual Arts and 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.

8  Requirements for Honours

(1)  Honours is available for students who meet the applicable admission requirements as a Bachelor Honours degree, after completion of the requirements for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies or the Bachelor of Visual Arts as specified in section 6.

9  Award of the degree

(1)  Candidates for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies will be awarded a separate testamur for each degree completed.

(2)  Candidates for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies who have completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Visual Arts but who do not meet the requirements for the Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree will be awarded the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

10  Cross-institutional study

(1)    Cross-institutional study is available in the Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies under conditions specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

11  International exchange

(1)    Candidates are encouraged to participate in international exchange programs as set out in the resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

12  Course transfer

(1)    A candidate may transfer from the Bachelor of Visual Arts and elect to complete the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies in accordance with these resolutions and receive full credit for work completed in the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

(2)    A candidate may transfer from the Bachelor of Visual Arts and 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.

(3)    Readmission to the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies after transferring from the degree will require a new application for admission to candidature for that degree.

13  Credit for previous study

(1)    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.

14  Transitional provisions

(1)    Sections 9 and 10 of these resolutions apply to all students in the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies regardless of when they commenced their candidature.

(2)    All other sections of these resolutions apply to students who commenced after 1 July 2024.