Fine Art MA

Course Content

• Course Details

  This course has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

  SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  For both full and part-time students, the course begins with two modules, ‘Fine Art Practice’ and ‘Extended Fine Art Practice and Research Methodologies.’ The module ‘Fine Art Practice’ will enable you to identify the practical and theoretical parameters of your studio practice. ‘Extended Fine Art Practice and Research Methodologies’ will provide you with a grounding in different research-based methods appropriate to Fine Art. During the first trimester, full-time students will also be enrolled on ‘Interfacings,’ a module which examines the theoretical and cultural underpinnings of contemporary art.

  During the second trimester both full and part-time students will be enrolled on ’Fine Art Practice and Context,’ a 40-credit module that typically culminates in a public exhibition. At this point full-time students will also undertake ‘Independent Study in the Arts,’ a module which will enable you to undertake a project focused around a defined topic.

  In the third trimester full-time students will complete their final research project which will culminate in a public exhibition. Alternatively, students can submit a dissertation which will be 15-18,000 word in length. Over this trimester part-time students complete the ‘Independent Study in the Arts’ module. When part-time students return in their second year of study, they will be enrolled on Interfacings in the first trimester and will then over the course of the second and third trimesters complete their final research project.

  You can study this course full-time or part-time, and you will benefit from well-equipped facilities and links with galleries such as NN Contemporary (Northampton). The course often offers international study trips, typically one European option and one long-haul destination. Recent visits have included Italy, India, Vietnam and the USA.

  As well as the existing connections between this course and regional galleries and art organisations, we encourage you to engage with external activities and events, nationally and internationally. For example, a group of MA Fine Art students attended a printmaking residency at the world-renowned Frans Masereel Centrum in Belgium. During this time they produced work which was subsequently included in an artist’s book, published by Book Works.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 21/22. The modules relating to the academic year 22/23 will be available from June 2022.

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• Entry Requirements

  Applicants will normally have an honours degree with a first or upper second classification in Fine Art. Under exceptional circumstances, other candidates will be considered. Applicants whose first language is not English may be required to demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English.

  Prospective students should present a portfolio of work together with supporting evidence that is representative of their current creative practice.

  For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent)
    for study at postgraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  22/23 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £7,650
  • UK – Part Time: £850 per 20 credits
  • International: £15,000

  Additional Costs

  The cost of your materials will not be covered by your tuition fees. It is very hard to approximate these costs, as it depends on what materials you will be using. Traditional art materials can be purchased from the University shop, which has a wide range of art equipment such as paint, charcoal and quality papers. All materials are competitively priced and the shop is run by our Student Union. You will be responsible for locating alternative and specialist materials, which can be locally sourced from building suppliers and our many industry contacts in the region.

  21/22 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £7,470
  • UK – Part Time: £830 per 20 credits
  • International: £14,000

  Additional costs

  The cost of your materials will not be covered by your tuition fees. It is very hard to approximate these costs, as it depends on what materials you will be using. Traditional art materials can be purchased from the University shop, which has a wide range of art equipment such as paint, charcoal and quality papers. All materials are competitively priced and the shop is run by our Student Union. You will be responsible for locating alternative and specialist materials, which can be locally sourced from building suppliers and our many industry contacts in the region.

   

  Postgraduate Loans

  If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 2021/22 or 2022/23 either full-time or part-time* you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan through Student Finance England.

  *Please note that the maximum period of study allowed for part-time courses is two years.

   

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

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• Opportunities Abroad

  You will have the opportunity to take International study trips, typically one European option and one long-haul destination. Recent visits have included France, Italy, Spain, India, Vietnam and the USA.

  Costs for study visits vary but are always competitive. UK trips would typically cost £10-£50, European trips would typically cost in the region of £250-£450 and a long haul trip such as Hanoi or Calcutta would cost around £800-£900. Some students have subsidised this further through fundraising activities.

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught?

  We take a range of approaches to teach this course, to help you learn in the best way for you. A combination of tutorials, group critiques, research supervision, lectures and seminars will give you theoretical and practical experience.

  What is the learning and teaching schedule?

  During the first and second trimester specific modules are usually delivered on Mondays 9:30am to 4pm.

  How will I be assessed?

  The course is assessed in both theory and practice by assignment, examination, portfolio submission and exhibition. You will produce work throughout the course for informal feedback, which does not contribute to your final grade but will give you the chance to improve your work. The MA Fine Art has three formal assessment periods in February, May and September, and these will contribute to your final grade.

   

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Careers and Employability

The MA Fine Art is excellent preparation for both professional cultural environments and higher research study.

You may choose to pursue a PhD with us, through traditional or practice-led methodologies, and the MA is a comprehensive and relevant foundation for such study.