Fine Art

Fine Art is a wide ranging field of activity, from painting to electronic and live art, and has grown rapidly in recent years to become a key cultural factor as demonstrated by the growth in the audience for art and in the media attention it attracts.

The MFA is a studio based programme dealing with the whole range of Fine Art, from painting and sculpture to video and live art, each supported by good facilities and taught by nationally and internationally practicing artists and including discussion of artists' practice, exhibiting and curating.

Course Structure and Content

On this practice-based Master's programme an individual programme of studio work, negotiated with staff, will re- establish and then develop your work, potentially to professional, exhibiting level. Progress is guided by both scheduled and optional individual tutorials, and group critiques of work.

The context for studio work is informed and clarified by a programme of seminars and discussions which set out a wide range of practice, both in terms of individual artists' work and contemporary museum, gallery, exhibiting and curating activity. This programme is taught with contributions from the staff of Arnolfini, Bristol, and from directors and curators of galleries of national and international standing. The programme content varies from year to year according to material available in exhibition in Bristol, London and other centres to which study visits occur on a regular basis - there are currently six to eight Master of Fine Art study visits to London each year between October and June as well as optional participation in two overseas study visits each year, currently to Paris and New York.
Teaching Methods and Resources

The programme runs for a 45 week, three trimester year, from October to January, February to June and June to September. Full-time students will have studio spaces in the Bath School of Art and Design at Sion Hill. Part-time students provide their own working facilities in the Bath area.

The course is organised in conjunction with the Artist Teachers Scheme (itself organised by the National Society for Education in Art and Design with support from the Arts Council) through which specialist art teachers prepare for Master's level study.

Assessment Methods

Examination of each stage of the studio element of the course is by exhibition and students make an oral/visual presentation of their 'position' at the Postgraduate Diploma stage.
Typical Career Destinations

Bath Fine Art graduates from BA and MA courses have worked and exhibited widely as professional artists, had work purchased by the Tate and other institutions, represented the UK in exhibitions such as the Sao Paulo Biennale and have been nominated for the Turner Prize. Graduates work as curators and gallery professionals in public and private galleries and for arts councils and organisations, and write for journals. We anticipate that with the collaboration of the Artist Teacher Scheme there will be regular recruitment from the profession and that a number of graduates will return to teaching or become lecturers.

Pre-Master's course

The University offers a Pre-Master's programme for international students who are non-native English speakers. This is intended to raise your level of English and to prepare you for postgraduate study in an English university.

Course Length

MFA full-time one year of 45 weeks.

MFA part-time two years of 90 weeks.