Art - Fine Art

The MFA Fine Art is a two year course (Full Time) and four years (Part Time) of 240 credits and is practice based and supported by a studio environment.



The academic years runs from late September to mid June.



The MFA was established 1979, is based in Belfast and has a long and proven track record of providing a rigorous studio-based programme with access to the expertise of a core staff of nationally and internationally recognised visiting artists. Within the studio and wider environments the diversity of teaching input by staff and visiting artists reflects the range of approaches and contexts embraced.



We recognise contemporary Art practice as being open and pluralistic and encourages dialogue between diverse disciplines. A multi-disciplinary/ inter-media approach enables students to work in a flexible manner that offers the maximum opportunity for individual practice. Students are asked to engage with systems of enquiry that explore and embrace traditional exhibition formats alongside wider lateral models of production, distribution and dissemination. Critical discourse on practice with an emphasis on analysis and self-reflection contributes to an understanding of contemporary art located within a larger cultural, social and political context. The MFA supports committed, critically engaged and sustainable professional practice.



Work placement / study abroad

On the programme you will gain work placement experience at one or more of our external partners, for example: QSS, Catalyst Arts or Platform Arts. Within this process you will be tasked with developing a professional exhibition of your own work as a group within a partner organization. This usually is undertaken of several weeks – with an intense period working on-site alongside professional colleagues.

F/T Programme

Year one

Art & Theory

Strategies for Professional Development

Studio Practice 1

Studio Practice 2



Year two

Practice & Exhibition



P/T Programme

Year one

Art & Theory

Studio Practice 1



Year two

Strategies for Professional Development

Studio Practice 2



Year three

Practice & Exhibition - Part 1



Year four

Practice & Exhibition - Part 2

Applicants must hold a degree with at least 2:1 Honours standard or equivalent or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL).



Applicants must be able to satisfy the panel via portfolio and/or interview that their work is of a required standard that will allow them to deal with the creative, intellectual and material rigours of the course.



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.



• For English language requirements go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/english-language-requirements



• For Your country go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/country

Your Application

You can apply directly to Ulster at any time of year. We advise that you submit your application no later than two weeks prior to your course start date. This is to ensure there is sufficient time for your application to be reviewed and, should you be made an offer, time for you to complete all the necessary pre-enrolment tasks.



Some programmes will have specific deadlines as additional selection (e.g. interview, portfolio submission etc) is required, so please check the course page to ensure you have sufficient time to complete your application.

2 years full-time or 4 years part-time.

Start Date: September 2026.

Careers and Opportunities

As practising artists, many of our graduates go on to establish their own studios, successfully exhibiting nationally and internationally, gaining public art and gallery commissions, residencies, fellowships, awards and prizes. Others develop careers in other sectors of the arts, such as curatorial practice, arts writer, art critic, community arts, education, academic art research, art facilitation and administration, while others have built reputations in the wider creative fields where innovative artists are highly valued as problem solvers.



Alumni lists and example career profiles are available here:



https://mfabelfast.wordpress.com/alumni/