Fine Art MFA

Overview

Newcastle University's Master of Fine Arts is a two-year full-time studio-based course. It's designed for fine art graduates and those with other backgrounds to progress their position as practitioners in the contemporary art world. It also offers a solid grounding for those hoping to progress to PhD degree study. We support practice and research in:

• painting
• sculpture
• digital media
• drawing
• performance
• photography
• printmaking
• installation
• film and video art
• art writing

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

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 2023-24.

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.

 

What you'll learn

Based in our purpose-built studio spaces, you'll work with internationally celebrated practicing artists

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 supoort your development as an artist through:

• regular meetings with your studio supervisor
• cross-disciplinary seminars
• group studio discussions
• lectures by distinguished visiting artists

Alongside your practice, you'll develop the skills needed to practice as an artist, such as:

• research
• writing
• professional
• intellectual
• practical

You'll be part of a creative community, 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.

You'll exhibit at the end of each year, and 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.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

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.

Optional modules availability

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

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Fine Art MFA modules

Compulsory modules

Stage 1

Studio Work (Stage 1) (110 credits)

Beyond Discipline (20 credits)

Exhibiting Art (20 credits)

Reading and Writing for Fine Art Practice (30 credits)

 

Stage 2

Studio Work (Stage 2) (150 credits)

Dissertation (30 credits)

You may take an equivalent module or modules from within the School of Arts and Cultures.

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

The Master of Fine Art is a two-year full-time studio-based course. Approximately 75% of the course (260 credits) is self-directed creative studio-based art practice. Your dissertation, professional practice training and other modules make up the remaining 25%.

Studio supervisors will support you throughout your MFA, with regular meetings to discuss your work. You can also discuss your work with all fine art staff, benefitting from the full range of expertise available. We deliver the course through:

• one-to-one studio tutorials
• seminars and group crits
• lectures
• workshops

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

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

You'll work in a practice-led environment, pursuing your art practice and research with a high level of independence.

We aim for you to have an understanding of cultural, social and political contexts, related to the art world and beyond. This is developed through events, exhibiting, seminars and peer group discussions.

Assessment methods

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

• Design or creative project
• Dissertation

Additional assessment information

The creative project will be in the form of an exhibition

Student support

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

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

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

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

Our staff

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.

Your development

Overseas opportunities

There are regular study trips abroad. We organise these optional trips at an additional cost. Recent trips have been to:

• New York
• the Venice Biennale
• Berlin
• Amsterdam

Our exchange scheme also gives you the chance to study in Europe or overseas at one of our partner institutions.

Your future

Careers

Our course equips you with the skills and knowledge needed for a career in the creative arts. As well as becoming artists, our graduates gain employment and make significant contributions in the arts arena, in areas such as:

• exhibition curation
• art history
• education
• gallery or arts administrators

The MFA also offers a solid grounding for those hoping to progress to PhD degree study.

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

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.

Facilities

School of Arts and Cultures

Based in the heart of Newcastle city centre, our Fine Art department is consistently rated in the top five of all UK art schools.

We're part of the School of Arts and Cultures, which is home to a wide variety of courses, including:

• music
• media and cultural studies
• digital media
• museum, gallery and heritage studies
• film

At the School of Arts and Cultures, we're committed to the education of artists, along with the practice, exhibition, history and theory of art.

We offer interdisciplinary practice, research and engagement within centres such as:

• the Culture Lab
• the Institute for Creative Arts Practice

We also provide well-resourced workshops (all with full technical support) and student studios. We offer:

• purpose-built painting, sculpture, printmaking and digital media studios
• Wood, Metal, Casting, Digital, and Ceramics workshops

Our facilities also include:

• designated gallery and project spaces
• seminar rooms
• large lecture theatre

All students have the use of the award-winning Peter Robinson Library and computer clusters around the University.

We're based in the same building as the Hatton Gallery. This is one of the largest exhibition spaces in North East England. It accommodates both student shows and large touring exhibitions. The Hatton's permanent collection consists of works of art from five centuries and includes the Elterwater Merzbarn construction by Kurt Schwitters.

Find out more about our facilities

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

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.

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. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

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.

Funding deadlines

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.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days
• webinars

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events