University Offers 2022 – Fine Arts
Congratulations to our Grad ’22 university offers in Fine Arts programmes!
Choosing to pursue Fine Arts is a big decision – it is not enough to have deep interest, creativity and passion; developing skills, mental agility and resilience are equally important to be able to succeed! The Grad ‘22 students who have decided to pursue the Fine Arts in university have taken advantage of the many opportunities at Bangkok Patana. “The course that most influenced my decision to study Architecture would be Design + Technology. Studying this subject for four years in both (I)GCSE and IB has helped me to become increasingly more passionate about the process of design and manufacturing,” explained Amy Smith. Enya Borjesson had a similar experience, “Ever since I was young, I have always had an idea that I wanted to do a career in some field of art but wasn’t sure how to accomplish that. Taking Art subjects in school consolidated the fact that I wanted to study design at university.” Kanitkanda (Didi) Mahathorn said, “I was introduced to oil paint at the very start of (I)GCSEs and I believe that it was one of the main factors in making me fall in love with art. With the help of my art teachers, I opened my mind to a new medium which illuminated further possibilities to make and create.”
Gemma Verde furthered this sentiment, reflecting on how Fine Arts courses provided her with creative relief from the more academically challenging subjects. “I enjoyed working in smaller groups and was able to build closer friendships with my peers. Through IB Visual Arts, I have been given a lot of freedom when creating my work, allowing me to experiment and explore different themes of my choice; helping me to grow as an artist.” Samiha Mahboob added, “I always feel the most comfortable in creative settings where I am encouraged to express my thoughts and feelings. The Arts are an incredible medium to help visualise and display ideas and emotions that I may not otherwise be able to communicate.” Didi agreed, “I enjoyed the more creative subjects such as Fine Arts and Theatre as they allowed me to pour my creativity into school. It didn’t feel like I was painting or performing for the sake of grades, but rather an opportunity for self-expression.”
Through basketball, photography, scuba diving, 3D printing, playing the ukulele and dance, these six students expressed their appreciation for the variety of activities that supplemented their well-being while at Bangkok Patana. Sophie Smith said the Arts Department, “…were a huge help in supporting my projects, no matter how strange the idea was, which really helped me develop my passion for the Arts.” Samiha reflected that having specialised facilities like the IB Art Studio is a big motivator. “It is a space that brings me a great sense of peace,” she said.
Looking forward, Gemma is excited by the opportunities to broaden her artistic perspective through her decision to study at the University of Reading. “The university’s accessibility to London will give me the freedom to visit friends, attend exhibitions and explore galleries in the city, as well as watch productions at the theatre. Engaging with different media and styles of art will allow me to develop my practical skills even further.”
Navigating the application process in the Fine Arts can be challenging, as Enya explained, “University Art programmes don’t really use the same ranking systems as most other courses, as it is primarily based on a portfolio. Also, art is very personal.” She has committed to attending the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (or NABA) in Milan for design, having made this decision as the “first year focuses on both interior and product design, with the second and third year being specialised in the area that you choose.”
Maia Nguyen has accepted an offer to McMaster University in Ontario, citing the “…diversity and innovation promised in the new Integrated Arts (iArts) programme. One course offering that I find interesting and am excited to participate in, is the Perspectives in Art class, as this is already an integral part of my artistic process.” Fall 2022 will be the inaugural cohort of the iArts BFA programme at McMaster University, providing interdisciplinary skills in art, performance, histories of the arts, theory and research, grounded in social justice.
Samiha is excited to explore Chicago, home to her university of choice, Columbia College Chicago. “The school’s morals and ethics really resonate with me and are exactly what I imagine my dream art school to stand for – social justice, freedom of expression, and the creation of a safe space for everyone.”
Fine Arts (and related) Programme Offers (as of 3rd May 2022) include:
- Birmingham City University (UK)
- Boston University (USA)
- Arts University Bournemouth (UK)
- University of Chichester (UK)
- Columbia College Chicago (USA)
- University for the Creative Arts (UK)
- Emerson College (USA)
- Emily Carr University of Art and Design (Canada) (QS #24 Art & Design)
- Kingston University (UK)
- University of Leeds (UK) (Russell Group)
- University of the Arts London (UK) (QS #2 Art & Design)
- London Metropolitan University (UK)
- Loughborough University (UK)
- Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
- McMaster University (Canada)
- Nottingham Trent University (UK)
- Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano (Italy)
- Ontario College of Art and Design University (Canada)
- Parsons School of Design (USA)
- University of Reading (UK)
- University of the West of England (UK)
- York University (Canada)
Bolded university names are those that rank within the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022: Art & Design; Russell Group; and/or are notable for their selectivity within the subject area.
