Fine Art MA

Course modules

Modules

Studio Practice modules

The programme is organised around a sequence of studio practice modules designed to support both full-time and part-time students in a structured progression through the establishment, development, exhibition and evaluation of a contemporary art practice, and the production of an individual body of work, as a means to a tacit and articulate understanding of the contemporary subject at an advanced level.

These studio practice modules provide a creative and critical platform for the generation, development and sharing of new ideas and forms of expression. We recognise that invention emerges through a robust and energetic engagement with your chosen media and disciplines. Teaching, workshops and technical support will help you to establish and develop appropriate creative strategies and deepen your understanding of how methods and materials shape the agenda in contemporary practice.

Research Methods for Creative Practice

Enhances your knowledge and understanding of research, focusing on the identification and development of methods of enquiry appropriate to developing your practice.

Professional Studies

Develops your understanding of professional opportunities within Fine Art and its associated industries. This will help you to develop good working practices for the documentation of work and focus your learning to better support your long term ambitions.

Fine Art MA has a fixed diet of modules for full-time and part-time study. All students take the Research Methods for Creative Practice module and the Professional Studies module alongside part-time and full-time variants of the Studio Practice modules.

Teaching and assessments

Overview

Teaching is delivered through a combination of one-to-one tutorials, group seminars, lectures, workshops and field-trips. You will be supported by a highly skilled team of technical demonstrators with access to a range of workshops including metal, wood, plaster, resin and other processes, as well as CAD facilities, photographic darkrooms, studios and editing suites.

You will be introduced to contemporary debates relating to presentation, installation, curatorial and representational issues, and assessed on your independent and creative response to these issues. You will learn how to develop appropriate research methods in order to inform your creative decisions. You will build significant professional practice skills throughout the course and exhibit your work both individually and in groups.

Assessment tasks include presentations of outcomes of practice, written assignments and the maintenance of a digital online presence.

The teaching team is comprised of practicing artists. This ensures that you will learn real-world skills that are in touch with the commercial sector, the latest technologies and current thinking.

Contact hours

In your first two terms you will normally attend around 4 hours of timetabled taught sessions including lectures, tutorials and workshop and studio sessions each week, and be expected to undertake at least 31 hours of independent study each week. Your third term will be pre-dominantly self-directed (including meetings with your tutor), during which you can expect to undertake 35 hours of independent study each week

Part-time study is normally undertaken on a half-time basis.