Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design and Production)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is a three-year degree which offers immersive and experiential practice-based studio studies in nine areas of specialisation (Acting, Animation, Dance, Design and Production, Film and Television, Music Theatre, Screenwriting, Theatre and Visual Art).

It features an intense and student-centred approach to skills training, to create self-confident and autonomous arts practitioners with the capacity to build sustainable careers in an international context.

Each specialisation features regular opportunities for exhibition, production and performance, and culminates in a capstone experience, which prepares students for professional work and further research.

Critical studies build knowledge of the context of a student’s core discipline along with academic literacy, and complementary studies offer a choice of electives in the visual and performing arts, or from other areas of study within the University of Melbourne.

The degree is designed to have international currency and to assist the VCA to raise its international profile.

Course structure

300-point program, including:

• 206.25 points of common core subjects
• 62.5 points of major-specific core subjects
• 31.25 points of electives

Students apply for either the 'Design' or 'Technical' major and are selected into their major as part of the interview process.

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

one of

(a) the Victorian Certificate of Education including

• VCE Units 3 and 4 – either a study score of at least 25 in one of English, English Language or Literature or a study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language;

(b) the International Baccalaureate Diploma including

• at least Grade 4 in English or English B (Standard Level or Higher Level);

(c) a senior secondary program, foundation studies program or equivalent approved by the Academic Board including appropriate English language studies. Applicants are also required to complete an audition, test, interview, workshop, portfolio or folio presentation, as prescribed by the Academic Board for the stream to which entry is sought.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance, and
• performance in the audition, test, interview, workshop, portfolio or folio.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. For applicants who have not completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the undergraduate English language requirements must be met.

Note. For applications through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre, “middle‐band” selection adjustments are made only on the basis of eligibility for Access Melbourne.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Intended learning outcomes

The BFA is designed to train highly skilled arts practitioners who can:

• work independently or in ensemble in a wide range of careers and performance or production opportunities
• be well‐trained and knowledgeable in their own and related fields
• be committed to continuous learning and production in their discipline
• have a local and international perspective on their own arts practice
• excellence in practising their own art form
• have good academic literacy skills in expression, argument and research
• be proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies.