FA2IARS: Art Studio 2b – Study Abroad

Module code: FA2IARS

Module provider: Art; School of Arts and Communication Design

Credits: 60

ECTS credits: 30

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Mr Timothy Renshaw, email: t.renshaw@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor John Russell, email: j.a.russell@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Through Study Abroad and studio-based practice this module provides you with opportunities to expand the exploration of your own interests and concerns through intensive and resourceful practical engagement in the studio and through research and academic writing.

You will build on studio work by providing a framework, both practical and intellectual, for the development of an independent art practice while further enhancing creative and research skills that will sustain continued professional practice. You will further develop a critical awareness and understanding of contemporary art and its global contexts and you will enhance appropriate reflection, documentation and presentation skills as well as collaborative learning through the production and curation of exhibitions, and group feedback sessions.

The module further develops competence in devising, managing, organising and completing larger-scale research projects, both practical or contextual, including developing research skills, knowledge of research methodologies, selecting appropriate methods and sources. It is excellent training for management and organisation, allows bridging different subjects for students on joint-programmes, and prepares the development of self-initiated, large-scale independent research projects in the subsequent year both studio-based and dissertation projects.

This module will situate students’ understanding of their art-practice in a global and historical context and develop an understanding of the diverse ways they contribute to an increasingly globalized world. It will greatly enhance the understanding and tools students have for developing intercultural competencies in a global context.

You will be provided with the opportunity for specialist skills training and further inductions in art facilities, including Health & Safety training, risk-assessment of responsible working practices.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Provide evidence of self-directed, purposeful experimentation and inquiry.
2. Demonstrate an informed, effective and skilful use of materials, techniques and ideas.  
3. Situate and reflect their own art practice in their various aspects in relation to other existing models of practice. 
4. Make an informed and considered selection of work that is effectively presented with appropriate methods.
5. Reflect informed decision-making and development, with a clear position and sense of ownership in relation to the work, its context and intentions.  

Module content

Students will have opportunities to build upon their achievements from previous studio modules. They will continue to develop and start to focus their understanding of an individually motivated art practice, selecting from a range of media, as appropriate to their work and their specific learning environment, either on campus or at the study abroad partner institution. They will extend and refine their knowledge of materials and techniques and reflect on the relationship between form, process and ideas. Students will reflect on the relationship of their intentions to outcomes and on the cultural relevance of their ideas.

Teaching through lectures will be further contextualized and opened up for discussions in seminars.

Students will consider different methods of presenting and documenting their studio work and consider the reflective role that documentation and writing play in the clear communication of their processes and ideas. Students will master visual analysis of their own work and that of others.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will be on study exchange in semester 1 and engage fully with the specific learning environment and teaching methods provided by the exchange partner institution. Arrangements will be in accordance with the standard arrangements at the host university. Regular online meetings with both Module Convenor and Academic Tutor will support and guide progress and development while on exchange. Videos available online will support remote learning in semester 1.

In semesters 2, teaching staff are available to guide them in their development of self-initiated working. Through tutorial meetings and small studio-seminar discussions students are encouraged to reflect upon how to progress their work, develop their understanding of materials and techniques, identify contemporary and historical precedents, and to expand their skills and competency in staging artworks in exhibitions.  In weekly studio seminars students learn about documentation, writing an artist statement and the different assessment criteria. From the weekly visiting Artist Lecture program students learn about global current issues of inclusive and diverse contemporary art practices.

Students will be supported to learn the value of working together through collaborative projects and through making, staging and organising exhibitions. A series of public facing exhibitions offer professional training. This also supports their skills and understanding of Formative and Summative Assessments. Students will receive feedback from studio tutorials, peer-reviews and weekly seminars, and from both formative and summative assessments which enables students to identify strengths and weaknesses in their art practice.

Collaborative working is encouraged through the shared use of studio space, group feedback sessions and the staging of group exhibitions. Alongside collaborative working individual students can with support from staff opt out of group working sessions and instead follow a path tailored to their particular learning needs.

Assessment points, briefs and deadlines are introduced at the start of the module.

Formative and summative assessments are authentic and are excellent preparation for professional practice.

Students are also required to self-assess their work in order to gain a more reflective understanding of assessment processes and how it supports development of work to create assessment literacy and awareness of marking rubric and process. There is ongoing verbal feedback and peer-review.

Formative Assessment in Assessment Period 1 will consist of documentation and statement on semester abroad work. Written and verbal feedback will support students develop this for studio-based working in Semester 2.

Summative Assessment at the end of the module is authentic, allowing professional experience through presentation of: (1) exhibition, (2) portfolio documenting artwork produced over semester 1 and 2, and (3) critical self-reflection.

Students returning from study exchange for semester 2 will participate in mid-module formative assessment, and summative assessment as described above. They have the opportunity to engage within the studio-environment upon their return and share and develop their experience and work through tutorials, artist talks and training sessions, and through participating in module seminars and field-trips. They are supported to present their artwork, reflect on and receive feedback on their development and experience as part of the studio learning environment and the scheduled exhibitions throughout semester 2.

Semester 1 of this module will be study abroad and therefore the teaching and learning activities will predominantly, or entirely, take place away from the University of Reading. Your host organisation will normally advise you of the associated hours of your placement or year abroad. If the module includes any in-person activities at the University of Reading, these will be confirmed to you before the start of the module.

Study hours

At least 76 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

The marks that students achieve at their host university will be brought back with them to the University of Reading. After translation in accordance with the agreed formula, the marks will be applied to this module and, if applicable, used in the calculation of progression and/or the overall classification.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Portfolios of practice, reflective report, series of formative exhibitions with peer-review and continuous feedback.

Reassessment

Additional costs