Art institutions are frequently involved with local communities, organisations and businesses as a means of exploring the importance of art in the world and its role in helping to explain human experience and the world we live in. And this is also true in the performing arts, where performances are not only being used as entertainment. One institution is using theatre in prisons as a way to create better relationships between prisoners and guards and to get across vital health care messages.

If you feel you have art in your bones, then the UK will help you express yourself to the full. You may be able to make backstage tours of theatres and performing arts centres, fashion shows and designer workshops. UK institutions may assist your studies by allocating you free studio workspace and free materials, professional-quality theatre facilities, practice rooms and workshops. Students are encouraged to take part in national and international competitions, and to mingle with professionals who have already made their mark. Study in the UK and you'll learn not only to push the boundaries of your imagination, but also to promote your work to the rest of the world. Students are encouraged to build up contacts in the art world, and get their name known through competitions and exhibitions. Then, of course, there is the final end-of-course show - your big chance to sell yourself to the professionals looking to snap up the hottest new talent. And there are plenty of areas in need of your talents. You could use the latest technology to design web sites or graphic illustrations, create television and film sets, or travel the world as an advertising photographer. Those with a passion for fashion might work for a leading name or even set up business for themselves.

Career based courses

A career based course in visual and creative arts takes one or two years, and leads to a qualification like a GNVQ, vocational A-level, higher national diploma (HND) or other diploma. After one of there courses, you could end up performing in plays, working backstage in a theatre, working in the fashion industry or working in graphic design.

A general art and design diploma will teach you a range of skills. You will also be able to study a specific area, such as graphic design, lens-based media or fashion and textiles, in more detail.

A media communication and production course will focus on areas such as photography or audio and video production.

Courses are very practical and creative, and will give you excellent preparation for a future career. Content can vary enormously, and courses are constantly being reviewed and updated. You will therefore need to do plenty of research before making your choice.

Degree courses

Degrees are awarded by universities and specialist colleges. Specialist colleges are small institutions concentrating on one area of the visual and creative arts. For example, there are institutions dedicated to printing, photography, fashion and the theatre. Degrees last three or four years and cover the theory, as well as practice, of your chosen specialism.

The huge range of UK degree options includes:

• a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in theatre, film and television, where you not only study plays and films, but also work on more technical areas like lighting, sound and video editing
• a BA in lens and digital media, which focuses on areas like documentary photography, two-dimensional design and electronic arts
• a BA in twentieth-century music, requiring the production of original compositions, plus the study of stylistic trends and the philosophy of music.

You study through lectures, seminars and workshops. On the majority of degree courses, a lot of time is spent in practical workshops, in art and photographic studios, on stage or using high-tech digital and recording equipment. The emphasis is on hands-on experience. For some courses, assessment is based entirely on your coursework; others involve a combination of coursework and exams.

Courses are led by lecturers and tutors who are practising professionals in their own area, such as actors or designers. Institutions also organise guest lectures and workshops by stars like Michael Caine and David Mach.

Many institutions have links with professional individuals, agencies and organisations. While studying, you have the opportunity to work on commercial projects and get your name known. For example, fashion students work with retailers and theatre students are involved with professional productions. Work placements encourage your creativity, and help you develop the skills and techniques you will need for the workplace.

Many institutions also incorporate professional qualifications into their degrees. Even where this is not the case, the degree may entitle you to partial exemption from study for assessment by professional bodies. For example, film schools may be accredited by the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU).

If you do not have the right subjects or grades for a particular degree course, you can do the necessary A-levels, Highers, access or foundation course at a college, which will take one or two years. UK access and foundation courses provide an excellent introduction to such areas as art, art history and media studies. You study the theory, history and current trends in these fields, and success can lead to degree courses. There is an immense diversity of courses, covering areas such as archaeological illustration, furniture-making, photography and imaging, visual culture, and acting.

Postgraduate programmes

Postgraduate qualifications range from eight- or nine-month certificate and diploma courses to one-year Master's courses and research degrees. Postgraduate courses in the arts can be theory-based or practice-based. Theory-based courses investigate visual arts from a cultural, historical and contemporary perspective. Practice-based courses improve skills already developed during a degree course.

Postgraduate programmes - taught

Taught postgraduate certificates and diplomas and taught Master's courses (usually leading to a Master of Arts (MA) qualification) are often taken by professionals already working in the field who want to increase their knowledge and expertise. Tutorials are enriched by the variety of experiences that students bring from their different backgrounds. Students who come to such a course straight from a degree find that it acts as a bridge between study and professional life.

Postgraduate programmes - research

Research degrees involve writing and presenting a dissertation. A Master's degree by research usually takes one year and a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) takes two. A Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) programme normally requires three years of original research and may include some training in research techniques. Research opportunities include areas as diverse as scenography, drawing, typography, contemporary performance, exhibition design, history of art and music therapy.

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