| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-18 | 2023-05-05 |
Program Overview
Our MA programme provides a series of connected learning experiences, which are delivered through four modules. The Fine Art degree within the Programme enables you to develop the skills, critical understanding and specialist knowledge required to follow a rewarding career as an independent professional artist or to work within a related creative sector.
This pathway provides a tailored learning environment that encourages and supports your creative development, independence in creativity, imagination and ideas. You will gain an understanding of new interdisciplinary practices, conceptual skills and of the debates informing Art & Design practices. The course is suitable if you have an undergraduate honours degree in Fine Art, Painting, Printmaking, Contemporary Art Practice or Photography, or if you want to develop your career and specialist academic knowledge in these disciplines based on prior professional experience.
Program Outline
The programme provides a series of connected learning experiences (3+1 modules), which critically challenge you to develop and reflect on your specialist disciplinary practice.
Applied Practice
You will be supported in identifying and acquiring the most appropriate research and practice based strategies for the development of your Fine Art creative practice.
Critical Contextual Studies and Research Methods
You will be introduced to a key set of research methods and thematic issues integral to the programme. These are delivered through a set of discursive lectures and seminars, resulting in a reflect essay exploring your contextual, societal or theoretical outlook related to Fine Art.
Personal Development and Professional Networks
You will reflect, evidence, evaluate and present your work across a range of outputs; exhibition, online journal and collaborative networks.
Master's Project
The culmination of the 3 previous modules provides a critical platform for a self-directed major piece of practice-based research. You will also be required to produce an extended piece of analytical and critical writing in support of your practice-based work.
Modules
Modules and delivery order may change for operational purposes. The University regularly reviews its courses. Course content and structure may change over time. See our
course and module disclaimer
for more information. Detailed module informationActivity Summary
You will work in a tailored, dynamic, creative environment which encourages independent thinking and original ideas.
The main teaching strategies for this practice-based course are delivered through structured seminars and critiques, workshops and individual one-to-one tutorial support. Although a practice-based programme, the MA places great emphasis on contemporary critical and visual cultural debates and appropriate research practices. You will work as an individual but also will take part in group activities, presentations and discussions.
You will have opportunities to engage and learn from invited artists, designers, experienced researchers and speakers from industry through our Guest@Gray’s lecture programme.
How long is a Fine Art course?
The total learning effort upon completion of this course is:
Staff Delivering on This Course
The MA Programmes teaching staff are made up of a team of recognised artists, designers, critical theorists and curators from within Gray’s School of Art, together with guest lecturers drawn from a network of professional and cultural partnerships.
The pathway is delivered by an experienced team of consultants and designers who encourage and support a diversity of approaches within your specialist practice and its expanded field. You will be assigned a specialist tutor based on your disciplinary needs.
The programme also benefits from close collaborative links with a number of arts and cultural organisations together with a varied and weekly Guest@Gray’s lecture programme.
Assessment
Typically students are assessed:
Full time
Part-time
Year 1
Year 2
Feedback
We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.
Independent Study
The pathway emphasises directed independent learning, negotiated independent project work and individually focused research. You will be challenged to develop your own work and ideas with the support and advice of staff and/or external partners, within a supportive learning environment of cooperative critical debate.
Academic Support
The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.
The Inclusion Centre
Online Learning & Support
All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.
CampusMoodle
Study Skills Support
The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:
Study Skills Support
Library Support
The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.
University Library
Placements
The pathway has been designed to specifically enable you to study and practice in context and offers you the opportunity to undertake collaborations with cultural partners such as Grampian Hospital Arts Trust, Peacock Visual Arts and Deveron Projects, or gain professional experiences by working with Creative Learning Team ACC. You will be able to carry out your placement as part of the Applied Practice module or your master's project.
Find out more about our placementsStudy Abroad
There is a possibility of an overseas exchange as an alternative to the placement opportunity.
STUDY ABROADJob Prospects
The MA Programme is designed to support you in further developing your subject-specific disciplinary expertise and skill sets to pursue a career in the creative and cultural sectors.
On completion of the Fine Art pathway, you will have the experience to pursue a career as a professional artist or to work within a related role within the creative industries.
Is Fine Art a good career choice?
Previous graduates have gone on to:
If you wish to pursue opportunities for further study towards a higher degree, Gray’s School of Art offers art and design research degrees both full-time and part-time at MPhil, MRes and PhD level.
Find Your CAREER PAth