Art - Fine Art

Established in 1979, this rigorous studio-based programme is delivered with the expertise of a staff of internationally recognised artists. Within the studio environment, the diversity of the teaching staff’s professional experience reflects the range of approaches and contexts the course embraces.



It recognises contemporary art practice as open and pluralistic, encouraging dialogue between diverse disciplines. This approach facilitates working in a flexible manner to offer maximum opportunities for individual practice and exploration of traditional exhibition formats, alongside broader models of production and dissemination.



Critical discourse on practice, with an emphasis on creative analysis and self-reflection, contributes to an understanding of art within larger cultural, social, and political contexts.



Many of our graduates go on to establish successful studios, exhibiting internationally, gaining public-art commissions, residencies, fellowships, and awards. Others develop careers in other arts sectors such as curatorial practice, art writing, community arts, education, research, and administration. Further information on the MFA Fine Art and its alumni activity is available at mfabelfast.wordpress.com



Work placement / study abroad

On the programme you will gain work placement experience at one or more of our external partners, for example 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.



For further course details please see "Course Web Page".

Year one

• Art & Theory

• Strategies for Professional Development

• Studio Practice 1

• Studio Practice 2



Year two

• Practice & Exhibition

Standard entry conditions

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.



Entry Requirements

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.

Your Application

Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink").

Start Date: September 2024

Career options

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 at: http://mfabelfast.wordpress.com/alumni/