Postgraduate Study in Fine Art
Fine Art at Newcastle University offers Masters-level courses in Fine Art studio practice, in Art History and Curating, as well as practice-led and research-led PhD programmes.
Postgraduate programmes in Fine Art
Our Programmes
Newcastle University offers four postgraduate programmes:
The programmes are delivered and taught by staff who engage in a wide range of innovative practices and research in contemporary Fine Art and Art History. This includes all areas of Fine Art, digital cultures, digital and time-based art, sound, performance, collaborative and interdisciplinary practices, and critical engagements with approaches to both art history and curating contemporary art.
MA Fine Art
Our postgraduate MA in Fine Art is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time studio-based programme in contemporary Fine Art practice. It's designed to help you 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.
This programme is excellent preparation for students interested in further developing their professional practice as an artist or researcher on our Fine Art MFA.
Read more about our MA Fine Art programme
MFA Fine Art
Our postgraduate MFA (Master of Fine Art) is a two-year full-time studio-based programme in contemporary Fine Art practice. It is designed to enable students to develop careers as professional artists. It is designed for graduates in Fine Art and for those with other backgrounds who wish to establish or extend their position as leading practitioners in the contemporary art world.
We admit a maximum of 12 students per year on to our MFA course.
The programme also offers a grounding for those hoping to progress to PhD degree study.
Read more about our MFA Fine Art programme
MA Contemporary Art History and Curating
On our postgraduate MA in Contemporary Art History and Curating you'll develop the skills required to work in the contemporary arts sector. You’ll have the opportunity to:
- explore your own creative interests and research questions
- learn to navigate the complexities of the contemporary art world with confidence and insight
- actively engage with artists, curators, scholars, and audiences
- build personal and professional connections to take into your future career
Read more about our MA in Contemporary Art History and Curating
Postgraduate Research - PhD
Fine Art has a thriving community of approximately 30 PhD students; it has built a strong reputation for quality of supervision, for its excellent resources for practice and research, and for the success of its graduates.
Newcastle University supports a wide range of both theoretical and practice-led research in Fine Art, Digital Cultures and Art History.
A practice-led PhD would require three years of full-time study (or six years part-time) and the final submission for the PhD would be a combination of an exhibition of creative work made over the period of study/research and an accompanying/supporting written text of (typically) 30 - 40,000 words.
A text-based PhD would require three years of study (or six years part-time) and the final submission would typically be a thesis of 80,000 words.
Proposals for interdisciplinary projects are also very welcome.
PhD Research Projects - past and current
Fine Art has a thriving community of PhD students; it has built a strong reputation for quality of supervision, and for excellent resources for practice and research.
Fine Art facilities
The Fine Art Building houses some of the best purpose-built studios and workshop facilities in the country.