Bachelor of Fine Art (Hons)
The Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is an intensive one-year course.
Building on undergraduate study, the BFA(Hons) supports you to extend skills and develop an independent research project and deepen your knowledge of the contexts that shape contemporary art practice.
The BFA(Hons) cohort is organised into small research groups led by an academic supervisor. Students are allocated according to common research interests, which may be material, methodological, conceptual, or theoretical. This approach supports you to follow your individual practice whilst maintaining a shared foundation for in-depth critique and interdisciplinary dialogue.
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Being a NAS student is an absolute privilege. There is a genuinely collegial and supportive atmosphere. I’m continually impressed by how intelligent, creative, and hardworking those around me are. It’s a joy to witness the evolution of their practices.
The BFA (Hons) comprises three units: Studio Practice, Research Practice, and Professional Practice.
In Studio Practice, 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 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 supports the studio inquiry by introducing students to advanced research methods 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.
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) course, students engage with professional contexts through a professional placement, internship or practical project such as a group exhibition or arts event.
Graduate Pathways
The Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is an intensive one-year course 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, develop advance research skills, build industry connections and establish a professionally sustainable fine art career.
Many BFA(Hons) graduates also continue into further postgraduate study and research, such as an MFA, DFA or PhD.
Eligibility Requirements
Admission eligibility to the Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is dependent on meeting one of the following entry criteria:
- 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
Application Process
All applicants must complete and submit an application form online, directly to the National Art School website.
All BFA(Hons) applicants are required to submit an Honours Project Proposal and digital portfolio of recent artworks.
A selection panel will review all complete applications received by the deadline. If you meet the eligibility requirements, and your application is assessed as competitive within the applicant pool by demonstrating a level of merit and preparedness for Honours-level study, you will be contacted by NAS Student Services after applications close to schedule an interview. The interview will be convened by NAS academics and discuss your project proposal, portfolio, and goals for further study.
Further information about the proposal and portfolio requirements can be found in the Application Guidelines.
Entry into the BFA(Hons) is competitive and places are limited. Meeting the Eligibility Requirements adoes not guarantee entry into the course. Applications are marked against standardised selection criteria which includes academic achievements, commitment to study, the quality of portfolio artworks, and written and verbal communication skills as demonstrated by the applicant’s interview and project proposal.
Successful applicants will receive an Offer of Place email from Student Services. To accept an offer, applicants must complete the online process by the deadline specified in their offer notification.
Key Dates
BFA(Hons) Applications are closed for 2026.
Key dates for future admissions rounds will be updated shortly.
Fee Schedule
Domestic Student Fees 2026*
Bachelor of Fine Art $16, 740 per year (full time)
International Student Fees 2026*
Bachelor of Fine Art $44, 160 per year (full time)
*Fees are subject to change year-on-year
FEE-HELP is a loan from the Australian Government for eligible higher education students to pay tuition fees.
The Australian Government pays the amount of a student’s loan directly to NAS. Students repay their loan through the tax system once their income is above the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment. Government loans come with additional loan fees. Currently, FEE-HELP attracts a 20% loan fee (for undergraduate courses) and is also subject to annual indexation.
Students are eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are either:
- an Australian Citizen, or:
- an eligible New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder and will live in Australia for the entire course, or;
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will live in Australia for the entire course.
The following students are not eligible for a FEE-HELP loan:
- New Zealand Citizens (with the exception listed above)
- Permanent residents (other than holders of a permanent humanitarian visa)
- Overseas students.
Please note that NAS does not offer HECS-HELP as we do not offer Commonwealth supported places.
Scholarships
BFA(Hons) applicants are able to apply for scholarships including the Alumni Advancement Scholarship, Baxter Marr Scholarship and Perry Foundation Art Scholarship.
For more information about scholarships including eligibility criteria and the application process, please visit Scholarships & Opportunities.
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