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Fine Art MA

The MA in Fine Art combines studio work with a theory-based programme of lectures and seminars led by internationally renowned practising artists and history of art scholars. Students are admitted into one of three areas on the research-centred programme: Painting, Sculpture or Fine Art Media, which includes electronic media, photography, print, film and video.

Covid-19 programme updates

Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.

Key information

Programme starts

September 2020

Modes and duration

Full time: 2 years

The MA Fine Art is taught over two calendar years (24 months).

Application dates

All applicants
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 7 January 2020

Tuition fees (2020/21)

UK/EU:
£10,450 (FT)
Overseas:
£26,380 (FT)


Note on fees: The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website.

Location: London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

MA applicants are required to hold a first degree in Fine Art at second-class Bachelor's level or above, or its overseas equivalent, and are required to satisfy the school that they have an appropriate level of academic achievement. Exceptionally, an applicant with a first degree in a related subject (such as Art History) will be considered, but evidence of a high level of achievement in the chosen studio discipline will also be required.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Advanced

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

International students

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.

Select your country:

About this degree

The MA programme provides an intellectual and creative environment in which talented fine art graduates develop their individual potential as professional artists and pursue independent research. The History and Theory of Art component enables students to develop in depth the relationship between theory and practice in their own work.

The Fine Art MA (240 Credits) is an integrated degree programme and does not have a modular structure.

The programme consists of studio work (75%) and History and Theory of Art (25%). Students undertake taught courses in History and Theory of Art in Year 1 and attend Research Seminars in Year 2.

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MA in Fine Art.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory modules

  • There are no core modules for this programme.

Optional modules

  • There are no optional modules for this programme
Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study. These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only.  The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August.  From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system. There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.

Dissertation/report

All students undertake an individual research project in their second year as a component of the History and Theory of Art course, which culminates in a substantial report of up to 10,000 words.

Teaching and learning

A studio-based programme, students develop their work with tutorial and technical assistance according to need. The taught component is delivered through lectures, seminars, studio critiques, tutorials and workshops, but primarily demands individual investigation. Year two prioritises supervised individual research. Assessment is by exhibition of final studio-work and history and theory coursework including a report.

Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully. In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching. UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Covid-19 practical component updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to the availability of the practical components for your chosen programme. Any updates relate only to the 20/21 academic year and may not apply to all students across the programme depending on your year of study.  Your department will keep you updated if the practical component of your programme is able to occur and/or any alternative options available.   There may need to be additional updates or changes to the practical component during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and/or Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available. 
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.   If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.    
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.

Additional costs

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Funding

The UCL Slade School has numerous departmental prizes, travel awards and scholarships available to graduate students. These include partial fee waivers for Home/EU and International (non-EU) students amongst others.

For further information please visit: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/degrees/ma-mfa#scholarships-bursaries-prizes.php.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Careers

The programme aims to develop students' individual potential in the field of fine art. It also provides an excellent foundation for further doctoral research. The Graduate Degree Shows are attended by artists, gallerists, curators, critics and collectors, and provide a high-profile entrance to the professional art world. Recent graduates have established international careers as professional artists, receiving important commissions, gaining gallery representation, winning major prizes and residencies, as well as developing new artist-led initiatives. Others have roles in related careers, for instance, curation, museum and gallery management and education, worldwide.

News and achievements of alumni including recent graduates are detailed on the news section of the Slade School website.

Employability

The Slade provides graduate students with opportunities to enhance existing skills and to learn new techniques, in the context of developing their individual creativity, in preparation for careers as practising artists and within related fields.

Outside of UCL the Slade has an established partnership with Camden Arts Centre, which offers an international summer studio programme, working with professionals in the field of art. In addition, there are several studio residency awards to help launch graduate students, including the annual Red Mansion Art Prize of a residency in China and an annual competition for residencies at the Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University, China.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The Slade School of Fine Art at UCL is one of the UK's leading university departments for research in Fine Art, approaching the study and practice of art in an enquiring, investigative, creative and experimental way.

All academic staff are practising artists, actively involved in research as well as teaching, and have a diverse range of interests and expertise. Students benefit from excellent studio space and technical facilities, including the Slade Research Centre.

The Slade's central London location enables easy access to a wide range of learning resources including major galleries, museums, libraries, cultural institutions and theatres.

Department: Slade School of Fine Art

What our students and staff say

Staff view

"Through teaching, I am concerned with the ways in which the contemporary painter considers, believes or understands that knowledge of methods and materials is relevant to the creative process."

Ms Jo Volley

Fine Art MPhil/PhD, Fine Art MA, Fine Art MFA
Senior Lecturer

Application and next steps

Applications

Please note that due to the competition for places, applications will not be accepted after the deadline. You must also submit a portfolio. Details for portfolio submission will be sent to you once you have submitted your UCL application. Applicants will be considered for Slade scholarships as part of the admissions process.

There is an application processing fee for Slade School of Fine Art programmes of £25 for online applications and £50 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.

Who can apply?

Having received a good grounding in art or a related field at undergraduate level, the emphasis for graduate students is on advanced personal research as a thorough preparation for professional practice and/or further doctoral study in the field.

Application deadlines

All applicants
7 January 2020

Late applications will not be considered under any circumstances. All candidates are required to submit a portfolio for inspection with shortlisted candidates being invited for interview at the Slade.


For more information see our Applications page.

Apply now

What are we looking for?

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Fine Art at graduate level
  • why you want to study Fine Art at the UCL Slade School of Fine Art
  • how you will use the programme, staff and resources to develop your practice
  • how your academic and/or professional background has prepared you for the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with your portfolio and essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.

Page last modified on 13 August 2020