Manchester Metropolitan University
MA in Fine Art
Manchester, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 22,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time fee for EU and Non-EU international students | part-time fee: £3667 per 30 credits studied per year
Key Summary
MA/MFA Fine Art provides a stimulating environment in which you will be guided to develop your creative aspirations, reach 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 individualized mentoring, lectures, seminars, and group critiques. It emphasizes the articulation of ideas, the development of working methods, and the realization 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 and Benefits
- The course is taught by practicing artists and maintains active links with an international network of art professionals and organisations.
- Full-time students will have their own spaces within communal studios, part-time students are expected to have their own studio provision, both modes of study will have access to the full range of the School’s workshops and other resources.
- Regular programme of artists talks and studio visits from professionals working in the field.
- The University library has outstanding Art and Design holdings, including a special collection of artist's books and ephemera.
Course information
MA Fine Art 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.
Year 1
MA Fine Art is made up of three core modules plus one option module, totalling 180 credits.
Core modules
- Practice 1, Art: Fine Art, Working Synopsis and Development
- Practice 2, Art: Fine Art
- Professional Practices
Option modules
- Culture and Context (Expanding Fields and Exploring Practices)
- Art and Design: Culture and Context (MA:X)
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.
Study
- Full-time 35% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 65% independent study
- Part-time 35% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 65% independent study
Assessment
- Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
- Part-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination