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I want more infoVisual Arts at QUT
Discover how you can study contemporary art in an open studio environment, combining sculpture, installation, photography, moving image, digital media, painting, drawing and printmaking.
Open studios
Learn about the open studio model that sets QUT apart. Creating art shouldn't be restricted to one kind of medium. The open studio model opens up opportunities for students to not only work alongside each other, but with each other.
Contemporary art with Amy
'Aftershock' is an installation consisting of more than 2000 custom plaster-cast pills, representing the complexities and intensities of emotional experience. Amy explains her process and course experience.
Contemporary art graduate
Contemporary art with Isere
Isere discusses how her images are made out of visual noise; mimicking AI processing in a physical form to produce her work.
Contemporary art graduate
Contemporary art with Paean
'We're really encouraged to make, but we're also encouraged to do the thinking and research behind the work.'
Hear about Paean's final year work and her experience studying contemporary art at QUT.
Contemporary art graduate
Visual Arts at QUT
Discover how you can study contemporary art in an open studio environment, combining sculpture, installation, photography, moving image, digital media, painting, drawing and printmaking.
Open studios
Learn about the open studio model that sets QUT apart. Creating art shouldn't be restricted to one kind of medium. The open studio model opens up opportunities for students to not only work alongside each other, but with each other.
Contemporary art with Amy
'Aftershock' is an installation consisting of more than 2000 custom plaster-cast pills, representing the complexities and intensities of emotional experience. Amy explains her process and course experience.
Contemporary art graduate
Contemporary art with Isere
Isere discusses how her images are made out of visual noise; mimicking AI processing in a physical form to produce her work.
Contemporary art graduate
Contemporary art with Paean
'We're really encouraged to make, but we're also encouraged to do the thinking and research behind the work.'
Hear about Paean's final year work and her experience studying contemporary art at QUT.
Contemporary art graduate
Highlights
- Shape your creative identity in an open studio environment, exploring the diverse range of contemporary artforms.
- Build your creative career as a professional artist, curator, gallerist, arts manager or entrepreneur.
- Gain an appreciation of cross-cultural and Indigenous Australian perspectives on art.
- Gain real world experience with opportunities for exposure by presenting collaborative projects in public spaces, galleries and arts festivals.
- With the flexibility to customise your Creative Arts degree to fit your interests, you can choose a second major, minors and/or extensions and electives.
- Unique course structure allows you to combine creative disciplines together to develop transferable skills across a range of industries.
Highlights
- Shape your creative identity in an open studio environment, exploring the diverse range of contemporary artforms.
- Build your creative career as a professional artist, curator, gallerist, arts manager or entrepreneur.
- Gain an appreciation of cross-cultural and Indigenous Australian perspectives on art.
- Gain real world experience with opportunities for exposure by presenting collaborative projects in public spaces, galleries and arts festivals.
- With the flexibility to customise your Creative Arts degree to fit your interests, you can choose a second major, minors and/or extensions and electives.
- Unique course structure allows you to combine creative disciplines together to develop transferable skills across a range of industries.
Why choose this course?
Contemporary art is art that responds to the culture, environment, and technologies of now, and reflects the complex and diverse issues that shape the world we live in.
A QUT Bachelor of Creative Arts (Contemporary Art) degree offers you the opportunity to investigate challenges and explore the creative possibilities of today's ever-changing, globalised, digital world - and learn to shape its future.
You will be part of a vibrant creative arts community at QUT and work intensively with leading artists and thinkers in state-of-the-art facilities at the Creative Industries Precinct.
Tailor your Contemporary art degree for your future with a second major or a combination of other creative field majors, minors and specialisation units across multiple subjects.
This degree has a unique course structure which allows you to combine creative disciplines together to develop transferable skills across a range of industries.
Real-world learning
As a graduate of the QUT Bachelor of Creative Arts (Contemporary Art) degree, you will be part of an active creative community and gain the skills and knowledge to prepare you for work in the contemporary arts anywhere in the world, with real-world learning at QUT.
Enjoy a range of practical options including:
- public art commissions
- curatorial projects
- independent publishing
- artist-run initiatives
- collaborative art production.
Build your career portfolio with tailored professional experiences including industry-based projects and internships at leading arts organisations, galleries and museums.
Broaden your global perspectives of art through international study tours and student exchanges.
Visit the student and graduate blog to find out more about what it's like to study creative arts and where a QUT degree can take you.
Explore this course
Our unique open studio environment enables you to experiment across an extensive range of art media. These include:
- drawing
- painting
- printmaking
- sculpture
- installation art
- photography
- video art
- performance art
- digital art.
You will learn critical thinking skills that will enhance your understanding of modern and contemporary art. You will also gain an appreciation of cross-cultural and Indigenous Australian perspectives on art.
In our studio program, you will specialise in contemporary art practice and develop personalised approaches to making art. You will also have opportunities to present collaborative projects in public spaces, galleries and arts festivals. You will be equipped with the ability to communicate your own ideas and engage with key contemporary debates in relation to digital transformation, social justice and environmental sustainability. In your final year of study, you will choose an advanced studio or critical theory stream - and present your professional practice in showcase exhibitions and events.
Double degrees
Combine contemporary art with a second study area for greater career flexibility and opportunities in other industries. Consider a double degree with:
-
behavioural science (psychology): combine your passion for creativity with psychology for an innovative career as a creative counsellor or practitioner
-
business: develop business critical skills to enhance your career managing a gallery, starting your own enterprise and even how to market your work
-
law: gain knowledge of the law and key skills such as research, communication and dispute resolution
-
education (secondary): combine your interests in the arts and education to prepare you to teach in secondary schools and other education environments.
Careers and outcomes
Our graduates are creative leaders, innovative thinkers, experimental and collaborative makers who work across the contemporary art sector. They become highly successful professional artists who exhibit their work internationally at prestigious galleries, museums, and art festivals. They are awarded public commissions, art prizes, international residencies, competitive grant funding, and post-graduate scholarships. Our graduates also embark on professional careers as curators, gallerists, arts managers, and experts in museums and galleries. They are employed by leading arts organisations in Australia and internationally. They also work as festival and art fair directors, art consultants, arts writers, art publicists and art teachers.
For graduates who are excited to teach, this course is offered as a double degree with Secondary Education. Another option is to follow the flexibility of this Bachelor of Creative Arts course with a graduate-entry teacher education Master of Teaching course, which also enables you to become a qualified teacher. Check the entry requirements for specific teaching courses.
Pathways also exist to prepare you for further study including post-graduate research.
Careers and outcomes
Our graduates are creative leaders, innovative thinkers, experimental and collaborative makers who work across the contemporary art sector. They become highly successful professional artists who exhibit their work internationally at prestigious galleries, museums, and art festivals. They are awarded public commissions, art prizes, international residencies, competitive grant funding, and post-graduate scholarships. Our graduates also embark on professional careers as curators, gallerists, arts managers, and experts in museums and galleries. They are employed by leading arts organisations in Australia and internationally. They also work as festival and art fair directors, art consultants, arts writers, art publicists and art teachers.
For graduates who are excited to teach, this course is offered as a double degree with Secondary Education. Another option is to follow the flexibility of this Bachelor of Creative Arts course with a graduate-entry teacher education Master of Teaching course, which also enables you to become a qualified teacher. Check the entry requirements for specific teaching courses.
Pathways also exist to prepare you for further study including post-graduate research.
Possible careers
- Art consultant
- Art director
- Art project manager
- Art publicist
- Art teacher
- Art writer
- Artist
- Community education officer
- Cultural officer
- Festival director
- Gallery director
- Researcher
In order to complete this course, you must complete a total of 288 credit points comprising:
- Six common units: 72 credit points
- Contemporary Art major: 96 credit points
- QUT You: 24 credit points
- Complementary studies: 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major; OR
- one 84 credit point second major and one unit option (elective); OR
- one 72 credit point second major and two unit options (electives); OR
- two minors; OR
- one minor and 48 credit points chosen from unit options (electives); OR
- 96 credit points chosen from unit options (electives).
In order to complete this course, you must complete a total of 288 credit points comprising:
- Six common units: 72 credit points
- Contemporary Art major: 96 credit points
- QUT You: 24 credit points
- Complementary studies: 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major; OR
- one 84 credit point second major and one unit option (elective); OR
- one 72 credit point second major and two unit options (electives); OR
- two minors; OR
- one minor and 48 credit points chosen from unit options (electives); OR
- 96 credit points chosen from unit options (electives).
- Course code
- CA01
- QTAC code
- 419272
- CRICOS code
- 116102H
-
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
Year 12 early offer scheme
If you're a current Queensland Year 12 student, you may be eligible to receive an offer for this course on the last day of Queensland Year 12, before receiving your ATAR or selection rank.
Offer guarantee
If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
Offer guarantee
If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
|
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| IELTS Academic / IELTS One Skills Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| TOEFL iBT / Paper | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2025 fees
2024: CSP $10,900 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2025 fees
2024: $34,600 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
QUT Real World International Scholarship
A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Updates about this course
This course is available from 2025 onwards
Updates about this course
This course is available from 2025 onwards
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