Bachelor of Visual Art (Visual Art Studio Practice)

Extend your creativity, be innovative and adaptable, and gain the entrepreneurial skills to be industry-ready with UniSQ’s Bachelor of Visual Arts (Visual Art Studio Practice). 

1. Use advanced studio-based knowledge, technical proficiency, and apply individual work ethic necessary for practice as a skilled, professional visual artist.
2. Use a broad knowledge of the historical, ideological, critical and ethical perspectives in the visual arts, both historically and in contemporary cultural, social contexts and industry.
3. Apply a high level of critical reflexivity and reflectivity in the design, implementation and evaluation of individual and group art projects with an ability to adapt knowledge and skills in problem solving.
4. Apply a flexible and innovative approach to practicing creativity and engaging the visual arts in the wider community and in a range of professional industries.
5. Use a range of verbal, written and visual communicative forms that will enable effective and articulate engagement with relevant organisations, industry bodies and professional networks.
6. Actively engage with the advocacy and pursuit of ongoing research in the visual arts and their role in cultural growth.

Be at the forefront of engaging the visual arts in the wider community when you study the Bachelor of Visual Arts. You'll learn to extend your creativity, be innovative and adaptable, and gain the entrepreneurial skills to be industry-ready. Gain traditional visual art industry qualifications, but also benefit from dynamic pathways for qualifications in arts therapy, education, business, marketing and graphic design. You'll have access to practical studios and have the opportunity to exhibit your work at both UniSQ Toowoomba campus and the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery.

Recommended study pattern

Year 1 - Semester 1

SCA1001 Persuasive Communication: Presenting Yourself and Your Ideas

VIS1010 2D Studio Foundations

VIS1101 Perspectives in Visual Arts: Movements, Moments and Events

Second Major/Minor

Year 1 - Semester 2

SCA1002 Introduction to Creative and Critical Thinking

VIS1020 3D Studio Foundations

VIS1402 Artists and their Studio Practice

Second Major/Minor

Year 2 - Semester 1

SCA2001 Cultural Responsibilities and Creative Communities

VIS2010 Intermediate Studio 1

VIS2101 Visual Storytelling: Building Personal and Cultural Narratives in the 21st Century

Second Major/Minor

Year 2 - Semester 2

SCA2002 Arts Business: Making and Managing Your Arts Career

VIS2020 Intermediate Studio 2

VIS2202 Curatorial and Cultural Management

Second Major/Minor

Year 3 - Semester 1

VIS3010 Advanced Studio 1

VAP3100 Professional Visual Art Project 1

Second Major/Minor/Elective

Second Major/Minor/Elective

Year 3 - Semester 2

VIS3020 Advanced Studio 2

VAP3200 Professional Visual Art Project 2

Second Major/Minor/Elective

Second Major/Minor/Elective

Award requirements

Completion of 24 units as outlined in the Recommended Study Pattern section.

Choose your subjects

Majors

• Visual Art Studio Practice
• Curation, Innovation and Visual Art

Electives

You may select courses from the available minors to make up your electives in this program.

Exit points

Students may exit with the Diploma of Creative Arts (DCRA) if they have completed 8 courses as follows:

• A minimum of 2 School of Creative Arts-coded Core courses from the Bachelor of Visual Arts and
• 6 other courses from the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

Students may exit with the Associate Degree of Creative Arts (ADCA) if they have completed 16 courses as follows:

• A minimum of 4 School of Creative Arts-coded Core courses from the Bachelor of Visual Arts and
• 12 other courses from the Bachelor of Visual Arts, with no more than ten Level 1 courses.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $24,063

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

As Australia’s #1 university for graduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide, 2022), University of Southern Queensland is the right place to make real progress. Regardless of your education history, your age or your aspirations, at UniSQ you’ll be inspired by quality learning experiences matched with top resources and research. Having delivered distance and online learning for over 40+ years, UniSQ supports you to learn at your own pace—exactly how it suits you.

Learn more about USQ.

Explore USQ courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

24

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

25

Have achieved a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 60, or equivalent qualification.

Attend an interview with portfolio.

Interview information

Applicants for the Bachelor of Visual Art must attend an interview and must provide:

• a head shot style photo of themselves
• a school exit statement or evidence of previous education standard achieved
• Applicants are to present a portfolio of work at interview. This should contain at least 8-10 high quality images of past artwork. Please note: it is not necessary to bring/provide the physical work.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements. For entry to the Bachelor of Visual Art (Visual Art Studio Practice) program, applicants are required to meet the Category 2 English Language Proficiency requirements.

Credit will normally only be granted on the basis of formal studies of equivalent material undertaken at a college of TAFE, college of advanced education or university. Studies successfully completed within the last five years are automatically eligible to be used as a basis for a claim for credit. Studies completed more than five years ago will be considered, but should be accompanied by evidence that the knowledge and skills acquired from those studies have been maintained. Students who believe that they may qualify for credit should consult the Admissions Policy for further information about the content of courses and the procedures to be followed for credit claims.

Students who have been granted credit have a responsibility to ensure that their knowledge and skills are kept up to date in these areas. This is particularly important when they have been granted credit from a course which is a pre-requisite for another course.

Students who have completed a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in an area specifically related to one of the majors in this program within the last five years, will normally be eligible for up to 8 credits and up to 12 credits respectively.

The Visual Art Studio Practice specialisation is available on-campus in Toowoomba and online.

Online Visual Art students should note the following further requirements:

• all Curation, Innovation and Cultural Management courses are available online
• On-campus/online students may be able to gain credit for approved studio intensives/workshops undertaken in the non-teaching periods eg. UniSQ McGregor Summer and/or Winter schools