Federation University Australia
Bachelor of Visual Arts
Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
Level
Bachelor
Duration
3.0F/P
Campus
Camp Street (VIC)
Intl. Tuition
Fee not confirmed
Home Tuition
A$9,880 (maximum student contribution 2027 (indicative))
Intake
TBD
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Course Overview
Bachelor of Visual Arts at Federation University Australia in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia is a bachelor programme designed to give you both rigorous academic grounding and exposure to current practice in the field.
- Study with academics who are active researchers and industry practitioners, with regular contact through seminars, tutorials, and project work.
- Develop core knowledge in your first year before specialising through optional modules in later years tailored to your interests and career goals.
- Build practical, transferable skills — analysis, communication, teamwork, and project delivery — that employers across sectors actively look for.
- Access dedicated employability support including internships, placements, alumni mentoring, and a careers service that connects students to graduate roles.
- Join a global student community with extracurricular societies, sports, volunteering, and study-abroad opportunities to round out your university experience.
Career snapshot (indicative)
Arts and design graduates build portfolio careers as practitioners, educators, creative directors and arts administrators, combining creative practice with commercial and community-facing work.
Student life (indicative)
Mount Helen (Ballarat) offers a comfortable, outdoor-focused student lifestyle. Great weather, natural surroundings and a friendly community create a welcoming environment, with cafés, bars and local events to fill your downtime.
The University at a Glance
Student Population
12,478
Staff Ratio
19.0:1
International
32.0%
Career Prospects
Employment Rate
75.0%
of graduates employed
Avg Starting Salary
£29,230
First-year earnings
Costs & Living
City & Location
Small city (50k-199k inhabitants)
Course Curriculum
Year 1
- Foundations of Bachelor of Visual Arts
- Academic and Research Skills
- Quantitative Methods
- Introduction to Theory and Practice
- Optional language or breadth module.
Year 2
- Intermediate Bachelor of Visual Arts topics
- Applied Methods and Tools
- Group Project
- Two optional pathway modules
- Career and Industry Insights.
Year 3
- Advanced Bachelor of Visual Arts
- Independent Dissertation or Capstone Project
- Two specialist optional modules aligned with your interests
- Employability and Professional Development.
Entry Requirements
Subjects
- Year 12 prerequisites Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any English. | Current Year 12 graduates Educational outcomes considered for selection Selection is based on the successful completion of a Year 12 qualification (VCE or an equivalent interstate or overseas qualification), meeting the prerequisite English or literacy requirements, and the successful completion of an interview and folio presentation.
- Applicants who have completed a Certificate III as part of their year 12 will be considered for this course.
- Folio preparation workshop Our full-day workshop is designed for all prospective art and design students.
- It aims to help you to plan and develop a quality folio of artwork to present at your interview for entry into a tertiary visual arts or design program.
- Watch the Folio preparation workshop .
- Please note that this is not an essential requirement for admission, however it may assist you to prepare your folio.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Federation University Australia Equity schemes information and the Federation University Australia website Recent Year 12 graduates Educational outcomes considered for selection Selection is based on the successful completion of a Year 12 qualification (VCE or an equivalent interstate or overseas qualification), meeting the prerequisite English or literacy requirements, and the successful completion of an interview and folio presentation.
- Applicants who have completed a Certificate III as part of their year 12 will be considered for this course.
- Folio preparation workshop Our full-day workshop is designed for all prospective art and design students.
- It aims to help you to plan and develop a quality folio of artwork to present at your interview for entry into a tertiary visual arts or design program.
- Watch the Folio preparation workshop .
- Please note that this is not an essential requirement for admission, however it may assist you to prepare your folio.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Federation University Australia Equity schemes information and the Federation University Australia website Applicants with Higher Education study Entire academic record This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
- Minimum requirements Previous higher education studies with results at a pass level, including any 'single subjects of study', or successful completion of a tertiary preparatory program such as the Federation Access Studies (FAST) .
- All applicants are required to attend attend an interview to present their folio of work.
- Folio preparation workshop Our full-day workshop is designed for all prospective art and design students.
- It aims to help you to plan and develop a quality folio of artwork to present at your interview for entry into a tertiary visual arts or design program.
- Watch the Folio preparation workshop .
- Please note that this is not an essential requirement for admission, however it may assist you to prepare your folio.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Federation University Australia Equity schemes information and the Federation University Australia website Applicants with VET study Entire academic record This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
- Minimum requirements Successful completion of a relevant VET qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
- All applicants are required to attend attend an interview to present their folio of work.
- Folio preparation workshop Our full-day workshop is designed for all prospective art and design students.
- It aims to help you to plan and develop a quality folio of artwork to present at your interview for entry into a tertiary visual arts or design program.
- Watch the Folio preparation workshop .
- Please note that this is not an essential requirement for admission, however it may assist you to prepare your folio.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Federation University Australia Equity schemes information and the Federation University Australia website Applicants with work and life experience Entire academic record This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
- Folio preparation workshop Our full-day workshop is designed for all prospective art and design students.
- It aims to help you to plan and develop a quality folio of artwork to present at your interview for entry into a tertiary visual arts or design program.
- Watch the Folio preparation workshop .
- Please note that this is not an essential requirement for admission, however it may assist you to prepare your folio.
- Minimum requirements Applicants who have not completed secondary education, or undertaken any TAFE or university studies are not be eligible for entry into this program.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Federation University Australia Equity schemes information and the Federation University Australia website | Current Year 12 graduates Supplementary form Applicants must complete and submit a supplementary application form to secure an interview.
- The online form can be accessed here .
- Folio and folio presentation The selection process includes an interview and folio presentation.
- Your folio work should be representative of your creative ideas and abilities.
- Qualities of importance are originality, innovation, imagination, experimentation and competence in the basic skills associated with visual arts.
- Please include evidence of your drawing skills in your folio, along with any journals of relevant material.
- Read more about preparing your folio or consider attending our folio preparation workshop .
- Interview Applicants must attend an interview of approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
- Please check the Arts Academy webpage for dates and locations.
- In the interview, you are asked to present a comprehensive folio of your work in a variety of media.
- The selection panel is interested in hearing about your motivations for studying in your chosen field and seeing a range of creative work that demonstrates your ability to explore ideas in depth.
- Watch the video on how to prep for the interview Recent Year 12 graduates Supplementary form Applicants must complete and submit a supplementary application form to secure an interview.
- The online form can be accessed here .
- Folio and folio presentation The selection process includes an interview and folio presentation.
- Your folio work should be representative of your creative ideas and abilities.
- Qualities of importance are originality, innovation, imagination, experimentation and competence in the basic skills associated with visual arts.
- Please include evidence of your drawing skills in your folio, along with any journals of relevant material.
- Read more about preparing your folio or consider attending our folio preparation workshop .
- Interview Applicants must attend an interview of approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
- Please check the Arts Academy webpage for dates and locations.
- In the interview, you are asked to present a comprehensive folio of your work in a variety of media.
- The selection panel is interested in hearing about your motivations for studying in your chosen field and seeing a range of creative work that demonstrates your ability to explore ideas in depth.
- Watch the video on how to prep for the interview Applicants with Higher Education study Supplementary form Applicants must complete and submit a supplementary application form to secure an interview.
- The online form can be accessed here .
- Folio and folio presentation The selection process includes an interview and folio presentation.
- Your folio work should be representative of your creative ideas and abilities.
- Qualities of importance are originality, innovation, imagination, experimentation and competence in the basic skills associated with visual arts.
- Please include evidence of your drawing skills in your folio, along with any journals of relevant material.
- Read more about preparing your folio or consider attending our folio preparation workshop .
- Interview Applicants must attend an interview of approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
- Please check the Arts Academy webpage for dates and locations.
- In the interview, you are asked to present a comprehensive folio of your work in a variety of media.
- The selection panel is interested in hearing about your motivations for studying in your chosen field and seeing a range of creative work that demonstrates your ability to explore ideas in depth.
- Watch the video on how to prep for the interview Applicants with VET study Supplementary form Applicants must complete and submit a supplementary application form to secure an interview.
- The online form can be accessed here .
- Folio and folio presentation The selection process includes an interview and folio presentation.
- Your folio work should be representative of your creative ideas and abilities.
- Qualities of importance are originality, innovation, imagination, experimentation and competence in the basic skills associated with visual arts.
- Please include evidence of your drawing skills in your folio, along with any journals of relevant material.
- Read more about preparing your folio or consider attending our folio preparation workshop .
- Interview Applicants must attend an interview of approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
- Please check the Arts Academy webpage for dates and locations.
- In the interview, you are asked to present a comprehensive folio of your work in a variety of media.
- The selection panel is interested in hearing about your motivations for studying in your chosen field and seeing a range of creative work that demonstrates your ability to explore ideas in depth.
- Watch the video on how to prep for the interview Applicants with work and life experience Supplementary form Applicants must complete and submit a supplementary application form to secure an interview.
- The online form can be accessed here .
- Folio and folio presentation The selection process includes an interview and folio presentation.
- Your folio work should be representative of your creative ideas and abilities.
- Qualities of importance are originality, innovation, imagination, experimentation and competence in the basic skills associated with visual arts.
- Please include evidence of your drawing skills in your folio, along with any journals of relevant material.
- Read more about preparing your folio or consider attending our folio preparation workshop .
- Interview Applicants must attend an interview of approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
- Please check the Arts Academy webpage for dates and locations.
- In the interview, you are asked to present a comprehensive folio of your work in a variety of media.
- The selection panel is interested in hearing about your motivations for studying in your chosen field and seeing a range of creative work that demonstrates your ability to explore ideas in depth.
- Watch the video on how to prep for the interview
Assessment Methods
Assessment is varied across the programme and may include: Written examinations across foundational modules; Coursework essays and analytical reports; Group and individual projects with presentations; Practical lab, studio, or fieldwork assessments where relevant; A final-year dissertation or capstone project that lets you specialise in a topic of your choice.
Campus & City Life
Student Population
12,478
Total students
Staff Ratio
19:1
Students per staff
International Students
32%
Of student body
Campus at a Glance
City Size
Small city (50k-199k inhabitants)
Climate (indicative)
Four seasons
Safety Index (indicative)
8.5/10
Transport
Good (close to station or regional airport)
Social Scene
Friendly community
Student Life & City (indicative)
Mount Helen (Ballarat) offers a comfortable, outdoor-focused student lifestyle. Great weather, natural surroundings and a friendly community create a welcoming environment, with cafés, bars and local events to fill your downtime.
- Mount Helen (Ballarat) offers a comfortable, outdoor-focused student lifestyle.
- Great weather, natural surroundings and a friendly community create a welcoming environment, with cafés, bars and local events to fill your downtime.
What Students Love
- Outdoor & nature activities
- Great café culture
- Thriving student social scene
- Beach lifestyle
University Stats
Total Students12,478
Student-to-Staff Ratio19:1
International Students32%
Safety Index (indicative)8.5/10
Career & Outcomes
Graduate Employment
75%
Employed after graduation
Avg Starting Salary
£29,230
Average first-year salary
Placement Year
✗ Not offered
Industry work experience
Career Outcomes Overview (indicative)
Arts and design graduates build portfolio careers as practitioners, educators, creative directors and arts administrators, combining creative practice with commercial and community-facing work.
- Arts and design graduates build portfolio careers as practitioners, educators, creative directors and arts administrators, combining creative practice with commercial and community-facing work.
Top Industries for Graduates
- Engineering
- Education
- Healthcare
Study Abroad Opportunities
Y
- Y
Costs & Living Expenses
Overall Cost of Living (indicative)
HIGH
This location has a higher cost of living. Budget accordingly for accommodation, food, and general expenses.
Estimated Annual Costs
Tuition (International)Fee not confirmedCheck the university's official fee page Official fee page
Tuition (Home)A$9,880per year, maximum student contribution 2027 (indicative) Official fee page
Monthly Student Budget (indicative)
Housing£821/mo
Food & Groceries£331/mo
Transport£86/mo
Estimated Monthly Total£1,429
Annual living costs£17,158/yr
Cost Overview (indicative)
Like most major Australian cities, Mount Helen (Ballarat) carries a moderate-to-high cost of living — expect around $1,810/month (housing $1,040, food $420, transport $110). A comfortable lifestyle at costs below Australia's major east-coast cities.
- Like most major Australian cities, Mount Helen (Ballarat) carries a moderate-to-high cost of living — expect around $1,810/month (housing $1,040, food $420, transport $110).
- A comfortable lifestyle at costs below Australia's major east-coast cities.