BACHELOR OF FINE ART (HONOURS) 

The Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is an intensive one-year program designed for graduates of the BFA who are ready to deepen their studio practice and expand their academic and professional capabilities. This course is ideal for emerging artists who want to refine their practice, build industry connections, and prepare for postgraduate study or professional opportunities in the creative sector.

Who is this for?

The Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is designed for BFA graduates who wish to further develop their artistic practices and their individual research interests. The BFA(Hons) course prepares students for further postgraduate study, including the Master of Fine Art (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Art (DFA). 

Structure

The BFA(Hons) is a one-year course comprising three co-requisite units across Studio Practice, Research Practice, and Professional Practice.

 

Studio Practice 4000

Students develop a self-directed studio inquiry that is shaped by visual, material, and contextual research, culminating in a professional exhibition or body of work. Students are allocated to research supervision groups based on shared interests, with each student having an academic supervisor supporting their studio inquiry as part of a small cohort. 

 

Research Practice 4000

This unit supports the studio inquiry by introducing students to advanced research and writing skills. Students learn to critically discuss and contextualise their emerging research practice, producing a Studio Research Paper and Publication alongside their final body of work.

 

Professional Practice 4000

The Professional Practice unit provides students with professional experience within the creative sector and the opportunity to make valuable connections with industry professionals. As part of the BFA(Hons), students engage with professional contexts through a professional placement, internship or practical project (such as an exhibition). 

Application process

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

 To be eligible for admission to the BFA(Hons), applicants must: 
  • hold a Bachelor of Fine Art degree, or undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a Credit grade average (or equivalent), or
  • be currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Art degree, or undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, or 
  • meet the requirements of an alternative entry scheme (see Application Guidelines)

How to apply

 

Admission into the Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is competitive, with selection based on academic merit, the Honours Project Proposal, portfolio and interview process. BFA(Hons) applications are made directly to the National Art School. 

 

All applicants are required to submit:

  • Honours Project Proposal
  • Portfolio consisting of 10-12 images of recent artworks with captions (submitted as a single PDF)
 
 

Honours Project Proposal

All applicants must submit a written proposal (recommended length 500-1000 words) outlining the proposed direction of their project. The proposal must address the following: 

 

  • Working Project Title and Summary
  • Concepts and Contexts
  • Methods, Processes, and Materials
  • Proposed Outcomes
  • References and Bibliography

Further information about the proposal requirements can be found in the Application Guidelines.

 

Applications for 2026 intake open on Friday 26 September 2025.

Applications close on Friday 21 November 2025.

 

If you meet the eligibility requirements, the NAS Future Students Team will contact you shortly after applications close to confirm your interview date. Interviews will take place in early December 2025.