Fine Art MA

Overview

Our Fine Art MA encourages curiosity and innovation in a multidisciplinary, studio-based environment.

You’ll focus on:

• experimentation, risk-taking, and reflective practice
• exploring your creative identity
• working within various cultural, social, and historical contexts

Our unique student studios and exhibition spaces let you engage with artists, curators, scholars, and audiences. You’ll build connections that go beyond the classroom.

Through this Fine Art MA you will gain confidence in navigating the complexities of contemporary fine art, with versatile skills for a range of careers.

Important information

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

During this Fine Art Masters you’ll explore your own creative interests and research questions, guided by a diverse staff made up of practicing artists and art historians. You’ll develop skills as an independent artist and expand your knowledge of the contemporary art field by:

• gaining a thorough understanding of the diversity of fine art methods
• discovering the value of communication, collaboration and community building
• developing an awareness of the aesthetic, ethical and social contexts of art as a human experience
• exploring curating and exhibiting practices
• building expertise and independence as an artist through your own residency in a large exhibition space
• advancing your self-reflection, communication and critical thinking by exploring leading-edge research and practice

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Fine Art MA modules

Compulsory modules

Students will take all of the following modules:

Module	Credits
Exhibiting Art	20
Studio Practice 1	40
Art Writing	20
Studio Practice 2	40
Studio Residency and Exhibition	60

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

You’ll be taught using a range of methods, including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Case studies
• Practice driven small-group teaching
• Studio and gallery visits

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Design or creative project
• Essay
• Oral presentation
• Portfolio

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your development

Over the course of your degree you’ll develop a range of professional, research and practical skills.

You’ll learn how to:

• critically assess different models of theory and practice in the visual arts
• communicate clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing, with a range of professional organisations and individuals
• use secondary and digital resources efficiently and appropriately
• plan and manage professional projects
• think critically and creatively to solve problems in relation to the production, exhibition and communication of your practice

Your future

Further Study

This programme is excellent preparation for students interested in further developing their professional practice as an artist or researcher on our Fine Art MFA. 

Industry links

You’ll benefit from our strong links and partnerships in the industry, providing you with opportunities to engage with the art world in Newcastle and beyond. We work with artists, curators and critics from:

• The British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
• European Ceramics Work Centre
• The NewBridge Project
• The British School at Rome
• Newcastle City, and local schools

Careers

This course equips you with the skills and knowledge needed for a career in the creative arts. As well as becoming artists, our graduates gain employment and make significant contributions in the arts arena, in areas such as:

• exhibition curation
• art history
• education
• gallery or arts administrators

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

School of Arts and Cultures

Based in the heart of Newcastle city centre, our Fine Art department is part of the School of Arts and Cultures, which is home to a wide variety of courses, including:

• music
• media and cultural studies
• digital media
• museum, gallery and heritage studies
• film

At the School of Arts and Cultures, we're committed to the education of artists, along with the practice, exhibition, history and theory of art.

We offer interdisciplinary practice, research and engagement within centres such as:

• the Culture Lab
• the Institute for Creative Arts Practice

We also provide well-resourced workshops (all with full technical support) and student studios. We offer:

• purpose-built painting, sculpture, printmaking and digital media studios
• Wood, Metal, Casting, Digital, and Ceramics workshops

Our facilities also include:

• designated gallery and project spaces
• seminar rooms
• large lecture theatre

All students have the use of the award-winning Phillip Robinson Library and computer clusters around the University.

We're based in the same building as the Hatton Gallery. This is one of the largest exhibition spaces in North East England. It accommodates both student shows and large touring exhibitions. The Hatton's permanent collection consists of works of art from five centuries and includes the Elterwater Merzbarn construction by Kurt Schwitters.

Find out more about our facilities

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Home students - Arts and Cultures Postgraduate Taught Scholarships (2025 entry)

The School of Arts and Cultures is pleased to offer £2,000 tuition fee awards for outstanding home applicants who apply to commence full-time studies on this degree. Read more.

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You will be eligible for a scholarship worth 15% off the international fee. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

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Select your country

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

 

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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