Manchester School of art postgraduate

MA/MFA
Fine Art

MA – 1 year (full-time), 2 years (part-time)
MFA – 2 years (full-time), 4 years (part-time)

MA/MFA Fine Art provides a stimulating environment in which you will be guided to develop your creative aspirations, reach a critical maturity, and gain the self-confidence and skills that will enable you to work as a successful artist.

The course is studio practice driven and relies on experimentation and critical reflection supported by individualised mentoring, lectures, seminars and group critiques. It emphasises the articulation of ideas, development of working methods and the realisation of independent work. Seminars are structured to investigate a broad range of themes relevant to the practicing artist and provide a rich diet of inspiration.

Features

• —The course is taught by practicing artists and maintains active links with an international network of art professionals and organisations.
• —You will have your own spaces within communal studios, with full access to the School's workshops and other resources.
• —Regular programme of artists talks and studio visits from professionals working in the field.
• —Regular programme of talks by visiting artists organised in association with The Whitworth.
• —The University library has outstanding Art and Design holdings, including a special collection of artist’s books and ephemera.

• Course Content

  The MA Fine Art is made up of four units totalling 180 credits.
  The programme is practice driven and focussed on the development of your existing practice. It will enable you to identify and explore new concepts and approaches negotiated through an individual Working Synopsis.
  You will also be encouraged and supported to extend your experience in the professional sphere either through a practical project, research context, exchange, work experience, or other negotiated professional set of interactions with an external partner, groups of students or other art world partner. 
  Towards the end of the programme you will consolidate your research and practice into fully realised body of work for exhibition or other form of public situation as appropriate. You will also have developed a strategy for the continuation of your practice located and contextualised to the profession or discipline.
  If you choose to progress to MFA Fine Art award you will study a further two units of 60 credits each. 
  This award is focussed on the continuation of your practice aligned to the research and selection of appropriate public or professional venues and platforms to disseminate a significant body of work. You will be required to produce work for a public audience in the most relevant and appropriate form along with any implicit publicity and dissemination material. 

  Year 1 (MA Full-Time)

  The MA Fine Art is made up of four units totalling 180 credits.
  Practice 1 Art: Working Synopsis and Development

  60 credits

  Practice 2 Art: Fine Art

  60 credits

  Option Unit

  30 credits

  Professional Platforms

  30 credits

  Option Units (Subject to Change)

  • Commercial Aspects of Design
  • Contested Territories
  • Digital Futures
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Object and Context
  • The Museum and the City - The City as a Museum
  • Negotiated Study
  • Making Our Futures - Ecological Arts and Sustainable Design
  • Writing Research and Funding Proposals
  • Images and Archives
  • SciArt

  Year 2 (MFA Full-Time)

  The MFA Fine Art continues with the following two units totalling 120 credits.
  MFA - Practice 3: Contextualising

  60 credits

  MFA - Practice 4: Realisation and Publication

  60 credits
  You can find further details about the curriculum for the current academic year in the Programme Specification Document 

• Graduates

  We cultivate highly motivated, independent and creative thinkers who can transfer their skills into the creative marketplace, as entrepreneurial innovators, freelance practitioners and innovative team players. Past graduates predominantly achieve graduate-level positions or practise as sole traders, design studio artists, exhibiting artists, museum curators, archivists, researchers, academics, community practitioners, specialist technicians and filmmakers at national and international levels.

• Making an Application

  Entry Requirements

  You will normally have an undergraduate UK honours degree (or international equivalent) or a degree-equivalent postgraduate diploma or a professional qualification. Alternatively, you may be admitted if you can demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills at honours degree standard. In addition, you may also need to submit a Digital Portfolio.
  Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed here.

  How to Apply

  Please apply online using the link below. In your personal statement please include a web address to an online portfolio containing a selection of images or videos of your past work. You should also explain how you would like to develop your practice during the course.

• Fees2019 Entry

  UK and EU students

  UK and EU students: Full-time fee: £1542 per 30 credits per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

  UK and EU students: Part-time fee: £1542 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

  Non-EU and Channel Island students

  Non-EU international and Channel Island students: Full-time fee: £2750 per 30 credits per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

  Non-EU international and Channel Island students: Part-time fee: £2750 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

  Additional Information

  A Masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

  Eligible alumni receive a 10% discount on their postgraduate tuition fees. Find out more about our Alumni Loyalty Discount.

  Also see Postgraduate funding and financial support.

  Course Leader

  • Ian Rawlinson
    Senior Lecturer
    —