Master of Fine Art (MFA)

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2025-26.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Based in our purpose-built studio spaces, you'll work with leading researchers and practicing artists as you develop on your creative journey

The MFA creates a platform to help you push your practice forward. You'll do this through experimentation and by developing inventive, rigorous, and focused working methods. We provide a rich creative environment, along with time and space to develop.

We'll support your development as an artist through:

• one-to-one studio tutorials
• seminars and group crits
• lecture, workshops, and seminars
• cross-disciplinary seminars
• group studio discussions
• lectures by distinguished visiting artists

You'll be part of a vibrant and creative community of staff and students, working to define your own artistic identity. You'll do this through self-reflection and a critical understanding of the context in which you're working.

We place a strong emphasis on student-centred learning. You'll work alongside your peers in the postgraduate studio, including with MA Fine Art Students with whom the MFA share modules, teaching and space.

We encourage and support the practice and study of art through:

• lively debate
• exhibiting
• thoughtful and informed investigation
• experimentation
• speculation

You'll exhibit at the end of each year as part of an 8-week Studio Residency and exhibition module. The course culminates in a final public degree exhibition. The exhibition is held throughout the Fine Art Building and in the Hatton Gallery.

Newcastle is a great place to study contemporary visual art with a vibrant arts scene. We encourage you to exhibit in the city and make connections for use beyond your degree. Our Alumni have made contributions to the creative arts ecology on the on the local, national and international stage.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Design or creative project
• Dissertation

The creative project will be in the form of an exhibition

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• academic staff
• personal tutors and research supervisors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives
• peers

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff, who will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Our teaching is research led and we have a committed and dynamic team of academic staff. They're all:

• excellent and engaged teachers
• active artists and researchers
• artists of international standing

Many national and international artists, curators and art theorists also work with us through our weekly visiting lecture programme. This is where some of the most interesting and original

• artists
• critics
• curators
• historians
• art professionals

working today present and discuss their projects.

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

The School of Arts and Cultures is pleased to offer £2,000 tuition fee awards for outstanding home applicants who apply to commence full-time studies on this degree for 2025 entry. Read more.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.