A Diploma in Fine Art graduate from DASEIN Academy of Art enters the final year of the University of Sunderland’s BA (Hons) Fine Art for the September 2026 intake, with a Top Up Degree Scholarship and her UK student visa on standard service, guided by Uni Enrol’s Rainie.
Denise Wong Jia Jin is a Diploma in Fine Arts graduate with a 3.8 CGPA from DASEIN Academy of Art Kuala Lumpur. An award winner during her time at the academy, she worked for 2 years as a studio assistant before she decided to continue her studies with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts.
Due to her busy schedule at work, her biggest concern was missing out on the window to apply, let alone start researching on what she should do in order to study in UK. Denise eventually found Uni Enrol online, where she was assigned to Rainie, her dedicated study abroad education counsellor, or as commonly known, our education consultant!
This is her account of how Rainie, and Uni Enrol, got her to study in the UK where she is currently studying a BA (Hons) Fine Art at the University of Sunderland with a scholarship!
Can You Enter the Final Year of a UK Degree With a Diploma?
Yes, you can. Especially if the diploma already covers what the university’s first two years teach. At the University of Sunderland, students can enter via a direct entry with advanced setting, which is decided per applicant.
In some cases, you will need to submit an Application of Prior Learning (APL) to verify that you are eligible to study your final year of your Bachelors with a Diploma by mapping the courses taken in Diploma with the learning outcomes of Years 1 and 2 of the Bachelor’s degree. With Rainie’s help, Denise found out that the University of Sunderland has admitted her seniors from Dasein who share her case, and she was granted entry to study her final year directly.
What Should a Fine Art Portfolio for a UK University Include?
In order to study a BA (Hons) in Fine Arts at the University of Sunderland, applicants must also submit a portfolio of their work. While she understood that she had to submit one, Denise didn’t know what she needed to do to start. With Rainie’s help, she found that:
- She had to submit 10-20 pieces of her work, displaying a range of styles and techniques.
- Her works must be completed in and outside of her studies.
- She must also include ideas that didn’t work.
- She must show how she did her research via design sheets or sketchbooks that inspired her.
- Include photos of any 3D or large 2D work she has done, and
- Show her uncompleted work, or works in progress.
Through that, Denise filled up 18 pages worth of various works in her portfolio to submit for evaluation by the University of Sunderland!
Why Choose the University of Sunderland for Fine Art?
The University of Sunderland’s BA (Hons) of Fine Arts is ranked 8th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide. Students like Denise also have the benefit of learning and doing work at their own large studio space in the Priestman Building. Students also have access to the materials lab and drawing lab, and learn to develop their professional skills by exhibiting their work in the Priestman Gallery.
While enquiring about her options with Rainie, Denise was also recommended to the Fine Arts programmes at UWE Bristol and Leeds Arts University. With Uni Enrol’s help, she was given conditional offer letters from all 3 institutions that she applied to.
Denise eventually chose the University of Sunderland, due to the institution’s experience with her fellow seniors, and the benefits that we laid out above.
“Rainie and Uni Enrol’s university recommendation list was also really useful in helping me explore my options and choose a university that was most suitable for me.”
Denise
When Should You Start a UK University Application for the September Intake?
Students are highly encouraged to start a year ahead of their intake, taking into account assessment for necessary documentation; in Denise’s case; portfolio reviews, personal statements, applying for scholarships, as well as her UK visa.
With Rainie’s help, Denise was given a detailed application timeline on what to submit and when, given that she did not have the time to do it herself, and planning is essential to ensure that she didn’t miss out on key dates for her application.
“Rainie was very helpful throughout the process, from assisting with my university application and scholarship application to supporting me with the visa process. Rainie guided me through each step and made the whole process much smoother and less stressful.”
Denise
Does the University of Sunderland Offer Scholarships for International Students?
Yes, the University of Sunderland has a list of scholarships for international students to apply to. Denise, with the help of Rainie, was matched with the Global Leaders Scholarship during her intake year of 2026. The scholarship helped her waive GBP4,600, and an additional International Fee Waiver of GBP1,400, totaling up to the maximum of GBP6,000 that was allocated for the scholarship.
Can You Get a UK Student Visa in a Week Without Priority Service?
You can get a UK student visa within a week, but you shouldn’t treat it as standard practice. The GOV.UK standard processing time for a Student visa application is 3 weeks for students outside of the UK. You can get your UK student visa in 5 working days provided you pay an additional GBP500 for priority service.
For Denise, she was fortunate enough to work with Rainie and visa specialist Lok Yi, who managed to help her obtain her visa in 5 days upon the date of lodgement.
Is Uni Enrol Reliable for Art and Design Applications To Study In UK?
Yes, and Denise’s story is proof of how even armed with a diploma, you can study abroad in the UK for just your course’s final year! Uni Enrol can assist in setting a recommended timeline, source out key information you need for additional documentation, and ease the clerical burdens that are vital in ensuring successful application. Even when you are balancing your application with work, you’ll be assisted every step of the way!
“Studying abroad is exciting but can also feel quite overwhelming at the beginning, so having someone supportive and knowledgeable to guide you along the way made a big difference. I’m really grateful to Rainie and the Uni Enrol team for their support in making my study abroad journey a much smoother experience!”
Denise
What Is Life Like as a Final-Year Fine Art Student at Sunderland?
Life in Sunderland is a mix of industrial heritage, coastal beauty, and also urban renewal in the North East of England. Denise captured some photos for us of how life is there, from the seasides, and also the University of Sunderland’s City Campus!
If you’re a Malaysian student with Diploma qualifications considering the University of Sunderland, or Arts programmes elsewhere in the UK, our team can assist you in comparing offers, scholarships and visa timelines similar to how we did for Denise.
Thinking About Finishing Your Art Degree in the UK Too?
Drop by Uni Enrol Study Abroad Office and let us help you plan your perfect UK study pathway together!
Find us at B-02-03, Level 2, Sunway Geo Avenue, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor. Our experienced study abroad education consultants work with you one-on-one on your UCAS application, scholarship strategy, university comparisons, and your final submission.
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About the Author:
Uni Enrol supports over 80,000 students annually with local and abroad university applications, covering course selection, visas, and scholarships. Our education consultants bring backgrounds in admissions offices, education agencies, and student counselling.
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