Bachelor of Fine Arts
at The University of Western Australia, Western Australia.
A research-led fine-arts degree at UWA's School of Humanities focused on art history, visual analysis and curatorship rather than studio-only practice. Pairs theory with a creative production component and end-of-year exhibition.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the The University of Western Australia Bachelor of Fine Arts. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official TISC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The UWA BFA combines art history and theory with creative practice and curatorial training. Year one builds the foundations: introduction to art history, contemporary art and theory, visual analysis, drawing and contextual studies. Classes run in cohorts of 30 to 60 with weekly seminars of 12 to 20 students.
From year two students stack specialist art history, visual culture and creative practice units. UWA's School of Humanities has particular strengths in modern and contemporary Australian art, Indigenous art histories, Asian art and museum and curatorial studies.
Year three is capstone-focused with a major research project, a curatorial proposal or creative work, contribution to the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery undergraduate exhibition, a written research paper and a professional portfolio. Assessment is research and process driven rather than exam based, with strong essay and writing demands. Many students pair the BFA with a BA major in Anthropology, History or Communication and Media Studies.
Example first-year subjects
- Introduction to Art History
- Visual Analysis and Theory
- Contemporary Art and Curatorial Practice
- Indigenous Australian Art and Culture
- Drawing and Visual Studies
- Histories of Modern Art
How you will be assessed
- Research essays of 2000 to 4000 words
- Visual analysis assignments and image-led writing tasks
- Curatorial proposal and exhibition catalogue submission
- Studio or creative practice portfolio (where elected)
- Group exhibition contribution and oral presentation
- Seminar participation and weekly response writing
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as practising artists, screen and stage performers, art directors and gallery educators across the WA cultural sector.
- Common destinations include exhibition assistant roles at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and Fremantle Arts Centre, plus freelance studio practice and arts administration with regional councils.
- Many alumni progress into curatorial roles, postgraduate study or arts education in WA secondary schools.
Typical first jobs
- Gallery education and engagement officer at AGWA and PICA
- Curatorial assistant at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery and John Curtin Gallery
- Arts administrator at Perth Festival, Fringe World or local councils
- Editorial or research assistant in arts publishing
- Junior collections officer at the WA Museum (Boola Bardip)
- Freelance artist or arts educator across the WA cultural sector
After graduation
Honours year (year four) is the gateway to research masters and PhD by visual arts research at UWA. Common postgraduate pivots include the Master of Heritage Studies, Master of Curatorial Practice, Master of Fine Arts (research at Curtin or UNSW), and the Master of Teaching for art-and-design teaching accreditation with TRBWA. Graduates also pursue artist residencies, gallery internships and self-directed practice with grant applications via Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries WA, the Australia Council and Creative Australia.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who enjoy art history, theory and close visual analysis
- Those willing to write essays and develop critical writing skills
- People interested in curatorial, gallery and museum work
- Students happy to combine the BFA with a complementary BA major
- Those who can manage independent study and gallery visits across Perth
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a primarily studio-based practice degree (consider Curtin's BFA)
- Those uncomfortable with theory-led writing assessment
- Anyone seeking a structured high-paying graduate role at 21
Related courses at UWA
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Western Australia handbook and on TISC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/uwa/bachelor-of-fine-arts.