Bachelor of Visual Arts

This is a studio-based art degree that usually takes three years full time.

Compare 6 providers

How long it takes: 3 years; full time
Entry ATAR: From 43.2; Lowest offered at La Trobe University, 2026
How you can study: On campus
Taught by: 6 providers; 5 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Bachelor of Visual Arts asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

an interest in making and looking at art
a willingness to experiment with materials and ideas
good observation skills
the habit of finishing creative projects

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs a degree can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

Art Teacher
Art teachers teach students to draw, paint, print and build, and to look critically at the images and objects around them.
Median pay$101,400 (estimate)
Ceramic Artist
Ceramic artists make functional and sculptural objects from clay, forming, glazing and firing each piece by hand.
Median pay$59,800 (estimate)
Illustrator
Illustrators turn a brief, a story or an idea into original artwork, usually for a client who needs an image rather than a page of text.
Median pay$96,200
Sculptor
Sculptors make three-dimensional work in materials such as stone, metal, clay and wood, for commissions, exhibitions and public spaces.
Median pay$59,800 (estimate)
Tattoo Artist
Tattoo artists design and apply permanent body art, turning a client's idea into a drawing, then a stencil, then ink under the skin with strict sterile technique.
Median pay$49,400 (estimate)
Visual Artist
Visual artists make original work in paint, clay, print, digital media or whatever material suits the idea, then find ways to show and sell it.
Median pay$62,400 (estimate)

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

Where you can study this course

There are 6 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

Griffith University
Brisbane City, Brisbane City (South Bank), QLD
4.3from 1,317 Google reviews
ATAR
57.9 lowest
(63.9 median, 2026)
How you study
On campus
(full or part time)
Fee
$10,000 a year
(Government-supported place)
Website for Griffith University (opens in a new tab)
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and approachable
What to weigh up
- Tutors can be slow to reply to emails
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
La Trobe University
Bendigo, VIC
4.3from 1,101 Google reviews
ATAR
43.2 lowest
(58.1 median, 2026)
How you study
On campus
(full or part time)
Next intake
Feb 2027
Course page for La Trobe University (opens in a new tab)
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly and supportive
What to weigh up
- Admin and support can be slow to respond
- Some find courses light on practical content
Edith Cowan University
City, WA
4.3from 679 Google reviews
How you study
On campus
(full or part time)
Next intake
Feb 2027
The University of Sydney
Camperdown/Darlington, NSW
4.5from 2,084 Google reviews
How you study
On campus
(full or part time)
Course page for The University of Sydney (opens in a new tab)
Federation University Australia
Camp Street, Gippsland, VIC
4.2from 562 Google reviews
How you study
On campus
(full or part time)
Next intake
Feb 2027
The Australian National University
Canberra, ACT
4.4from 702 Google reviews
How you study
On campus
(full or part time)
Website for The Australian National University (opens in a new tab)
What students like
- People are friendly and supportive