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Fine Art with Psychology

BA (Hons)

Explore the relationship between art, creativity and the human mind, while developing your own artistic practice.

UCAS Code: CW89

Single Honours

Apply now
Hands sketching on a desk with notepads and pens

With your own studio space, access to specialist facilities, and insights from guest artists and therapists, this course equips you with the skills to pursue careers in art therapy, creative healthcare and a variety of roles in the arts and education sectors.

1st

in the UK for Quality Education

THE University Impact rankings 2024
11th

in the UK for art and design graduate prospects

Times University Guide 2025

First for jobs

The University of Worcester is first in the UK for sustained employment, further study or both, five years after graduation (excluding specialist institutions) - Longitudinal Educational Outcomes Survey 2024. Read more.


Overview

Our Fine Art with Psychology degree offers a blend of creative exploration and psychological insight. It is one of only two undergraduate courses in the UK combining these fields.

Based at the Art House, you’ll have access to your own personal studio space, specialist facilities and a supportive, collaborative environment where you work alongside other arts students. You’ll explore a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, and digital media. Through workshops, studio critiques, and one-to-one tutorials, you’ll refine your artistic voice and gain confidence in your work.

You’ll also benefit from engaging guest lectures by contemporary artists and have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in local schools and galleries.

By combining artistic creativity with psychological theory, this course gives you a unique perspective on how the arts can promote well-being and personal development. When you graduate, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue careers in art therapy, creative healthcare, teaching, or a range of other roles in the arts.


Arts facilities

A group of students conducting illustration at the Art House
The design computers in the Art House
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Several display boards at the Art House
A group of students learning in the art house
students gathered in an art gallery
A group of students conducting illustration at the Art House
The design computers in the Art House
art-house-external-city-of-worcester-2-column
Several display boards at the Art House

Course content

Each year you will study a mix of arts and psychology modules. In the second and third years you’ll choose from a range of optional modules in both disciplines, so you can steer the degree towards your own interests and ambitions.

Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.

Mandatory modules


Careers

Our course is designed to equip you with the practical and creative skills needed for a successful career in the arts, education or health and well-being sectors. You'll be able to showcase your versatility as an artist through a diverse portfolio while also developing your communication, project management, and problem-solving abilities – vital skills in any workplace.

Our Fine Arts degree could be the first step towards your career as a:

  • Art therapist
  • Community arts worker
  • Creative health worker
  • Counsellor
  • Teacher
  • Educational consultant
  • Graphic designer
  • Illustrator
  • Printmaker
  • Advertising art director
  • Gallery curator
  • Marketing officer
  • Arts educator

Opportunities to progress

Options to progress onto postgraduate study at Worcester include our Creative Media MA, Occupational/Business Psychology MSc and Counselling MSc. If you’re looking to pursue teaching as a career you may be interested in our PGCE Primary or PGCE Secondary (Art and Design) courses.


Student work and studio environment

Fine Art degree student work
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Fine art degree student work
Fine art degree student work
Fine art degree student work
Fine art degree student work
Fine art degree student work
Fine art degree student work
Fine Art degree student work
Fine Art degree student work, student sat on the floor with art surrounding
Fine Art degree student work
art-house-degree-show-fine-art2
Fine art degree student work
Fine art degree student work

Course highlights

A postcard exhibition at the Art House
Group of students working in the light and spacious Art House
Several visitors at an exhivition at the Art House
Final year exhibition
You’ll work with classmates and lecturers to create a public exhibition in the third year of your degree. This is a chance for you to showcase your work to industry experts, and to celebrate your achievements with friends and family.

Teaching and assessment

Fine Art with Psychology draws upon two distinct yet complementary disciplines and the teaching reflects this. Across the course you will experience a variety of methods including Studio Practice, interactive practical workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork and practical activities.

Assessment comes in many forms and includes producing artwork portfolios and exhibitions, alongside writing reflective essays, critical commentaries and research assignments.

Teaching and assessment contents

Fine Art with Psychology draws upon two distinct yet complementary disciplines and the teaching reflects this. Across the course you will experience a variety of methods including Studio Practice, interactive practical workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork and practical activities.

All these forms enable the application of learning through a combination of practice, discussion, problem-based learning and smaller group activities. Single sessions may involve lectures, workshops, seminars and practical sessions; site based work and formative exercises and there is an expectation of sustained studio practice in art.

Theory is taught through practice to enable you to gain a real understanding on how to apply research in a practical and professional context.

Psychology is normally lecture-seminar based but practical, problem-based learning is also a key component of the delivery, as well as blended and online delivery of course content.

Seminars enable the discussion and understanding of topics covered in lectures and practical session are focussed on developing specific skills and applied individual and group work, and make extensive use of formative feedback to shape your learning and confidence throughout modules.

You will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor who will be accessible to you throughout your time here via a number of scheduled sessions in each year plus private meetings for help and advice as you need it.

Meet the team

A small selection of the Arts lecturers who teach on this course.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Jess Mathews

Jess Mathews is a curator / producer based in Cardiff, Wales. Her practice-based research often necessitates a complex dialogue between the roles of writer, researcher, explorer, curator and maker. Key to this process, is that the thing that is produced (be that an object, a text, a book, an event, an exhibition, a symposium), remains open to intervention and moments of between.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Dr John Cussans

Dr Cussans is an artist and writer working across the fields of contemporary art, cultural history and practice-led artistic research. His work explores the legacies of colonialism in art, cinema and popular culture from anthropological, psychological and science fictional perspectives.

John has a special interest in the use of diagrams in art and design education and is a member of the Social Morphologies Research Unit (SMRU), a collaboration between anthropologists and artists investigating the creative, political and educational use of diagrams.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Dr. Tanya Carpenter

Tanya is an HCPC registered and BPS Chartered Counselling Psychologist. She is also an Associate Fellow of the BPS with 13 years of clinical and managerial experience at the Priory hospital North London. Tanya has also been in clinical practice within the NHS, private practice and university counselling services.

Tanya also has experience supporting people with Asperger’s, and, as well as having written articles on Mindfulness, she facilitated Mindfulness Groups for 5 years

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Jess Mathews

Jess Mathews is a curator / producer based in Cardiff, Wales. Her practice-based research often necessitates a complex dialogue between the roles of writer, researcher, explorer, curator and maker. Key to this process, is that the thing that is produced (be that an object, a text, a book, an event, an exhibition, a symposium), remains open to intervention and moments of between.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Dr John Cussans

Dr Cussans is an artist and writer working across the fields of contemporary art, cultural history and practice-led artistic research. His work explores the legacies of colonialism in art, cinema and popular culture from anthropological, psychological and science fictional perspectives.

John has a special interest in the use of diagrams in art and design education and is a member of the Social Morphologies Research Unit (SMRU), a collaboration between anthropologists and artists investigating the creative, political and educational use of diagrams.


Entry requirements

UCAS tariff points required: 112

Typical Offer
QualificationGrade
A-levelBBC
BTEC National Extended DiplomaDMM
T-levelMerit

We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above. Work out your estimated points with the UCAS tariff calculator.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.


Fees

Fees contents

UK and EU students

The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.


In focus

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Jade Blackstock

Whether it’s appearing at festivals across the world or searching for inspiration and hunting down materials for her latest piece, every day is different for Fine Art and Psychology BA (Hons) graduate, and performance artist, Jade Blackstock.

“The University of Worcester changed the course of my life in a really good way,” said Jade. “For me, my University studies were the foundation for the work I’m doing today. If I hadn’t have gone to Worcester I don’t know if I would have been doing performance art. There are so many things that started there and developed there.”

Full story here.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Jade Blackstock

Whether it’s appearing at festivals across the world or searching for inspiration and hunting down materials for her latest piece, every day is different for Fine Art and Psychology BA (Hons) graduate, and performance artist, Jade Blackstock.

“The University of Worcester changed the course of my life in a really good way,” said Jade. “For me, my University studies were the foundation for the work I’m doing today. If I hadn’t have gone to Worcester I don’t know if I would have been doing performance art. There are so many things that started there and developed there.”

Full story here.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Jade Blackstock

Whether it’s appearing at festivals across the world or searching for inspiration and hunting down materials for her latest piece, every day is different for Fine Art and Psychology BA (Hons) graduate, and performance artist, Jade Blackstock.

“The University of Worcester changed the course of my life in a really good way,” said Jade. “For me, my University studies were the foundation for the work I’m doing today. If I hadn’t have gone to Worcester I don’t know if I would have been doing performance art. There are so many things that started there and developed there.”

Full story here.


How to apply

How to apply contents

Applying through UCAS

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.

Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.

Fine Art with Psychology BA (Hons) - CW89

Apply now

Contact

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

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Admissions Office

Admissions Office

01905 855111

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