MFA Fine Art

• We have high-quality studio space set within a traditional Art School environment and small group sizes allowing for individual support.
• Supportive tutors who produce and exhibit their own work both nationally and internationally as well as writing about art practice in books and journals.
• The programme encourages students to scrutinise their practice through peer dialogue.
• Provides students with the opportunity to broaden their industrial experience and professional practice.
• There are opportunities to study abroad through the Erasmus scheme.
• Prepares students for their wider responsibilities as practising artists via social, ethical, environmental and political issues.

Year 1 (Level 4)

The first year of this programme initially provides the opportunity to explore a variety of specialist activities offered within Fine Art as a broad based first-year experience. You will examine how artists process ideas through a combination of making and critical evaluation while learning to relate your experiences to those of other artists. 

Modules:

• Contextual Studies 1
• Creative Futures 1
• Visual Communication
• Principles and Processes (Fine Art)
• Ideas and Concepts (Fine Art)
• Media and Techniques (Fine Art)
  
  

Year 2 (Level 5)

Second year modules enable students to consolidate and extend their learning with more advanced techniques and processes that challenge them to experiment with a variety of media and methods of communication. You have the opportunity to explore the areas of Fine Art practice you are most interested in within workshops led by a skilled practitioners working within the field.  Having developed an awareness of what is possible, you may then choose to specialise in an established area of practice such as drawing, painting, video, digital media, sculpture or printmaking or adopt an interdisciplinary approach.

Modules:

• Contextual Studies 2
• Creative Futures 2
• Extended Practice (Fine Art)
• Practice in Context (Fine Art)
• Specialist Study (Fine Art)
  
  

Year 3 (Level 6)

Third year modules require more critical, analytical and lengthier negotiated studies where students can determine their own career path and have the opportunity to negotiate a year plan which places them with more responsibility over what projects they undertake. This is closely monitored through regular critiques, seminars and tutorials.

Modules:

• Contextual Studies 3
• Creative Futures 3
• Negotiated Study 1 (Fine Art) 
• Negotiated Study 2 (Fine Art)
  
  

Year 4 (Level 7)

Final year modules enable students to acquire deeper practice-based skills, while furthering their vocational experience of working on professional pieces of work, exhibition projects and commissions. The programme challenges students in the way they think about their practice and how they may embrace new opportunities, collaborate with others, take risks, solve problems and adapt to different and innovative ways of working professionally in the creative industries arena.

Modules:

• Locating Practice (Fine Art)
• Practice and Application (Fine Art)
• Advanced Professional Practices (Fine Art)
  
  

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

MFA Fine Art 

UCAS code: F2J5

The academic requirements for the course are 120 UCAS Tariff points at GCE A Level or equivalent.

The MFA programme team welcomes applications from anyone who can demonstrate a commitment to the subject and the potential to complete their chosen programme successfully. This can be established by showing appropriate academic achievements or by demonstrating that they possess the knowledge and ability equivalent to the academic qualifications.

An admissions tutor considers each application individually. All candidates will either be individually interviewed or invited to an applicants’ day where they will have the opportunity to display a portfolio of their work.

Experience may also be taken into consideration, particularly for those applicants who do not meet the academic requirements above, depending on the extent and depth of subject knowledge.

If you have studied in another European country, please check the Entry Requirements for your qualification.

Students from overseas, who are unable to attend an interview, are invited to send their portfolio of work digitally for consideration.

Assessment is continuous and relates to all aspects of the programme, providing more carefully defined emphasis on formative assessment and feedback throughout the academic year. Formative assessment takes place during and after assignment tasks, (the timing of which can vary from one day to several weeks depending on the requirements of the activity to be carried out), and towards the end of a module. There are reviews of work at key points before Christmas and before Easter and this provides time for students to reflect on their progress prior to a final or summative assessment.

Assessment is designed to enable students to participate in the measurement of their own progress. Students will submit a range of work including sketchbooks, design sheets, finished artwork, 3D work, screen-based work, technical/ production files, journals, essays and audio-visual presentations

Teaching and learning

Wrexham Glyndŵr University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

Most modules are taught predominantly through a combination of studio instruction and guided self-initiated work. Levels of taught contact are generous and are between 16 hours per week in level 4, 14 hours per week in level 5 and 12 hours per week in level 6.

The staff team hold mid-semester assessment monitoring meetings to discuss student progress across programmes, consider how best to support their progress, share good practice, identify problems and take any remedial action that may be necessary before summative assessments. These monitoring meetings also ensure parity and equivalence of assessment across the programmes.

The is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

The MFA has a strong vocational and academic ethos that aims to ensure graduates acquire a range of vocationally relevant skills. Integral to this ethos is the responsibility to ensure that our graduates have a portfolio of abilities and attributes which will allow them to thrive in the 21st Century workplace. It takes into account the fact that the future needs of the creative industries are likely to be very different, and aims to prepare ‘independent learners’ who on completion of their studies are able to flourish within increasingly diverse professional contexts.

We pride ourselves on the high level of realistic and practical experience of working in the professional creative environment that you can gain while you are on the programme. Students are encouraged to initiate, organise and participate in off-site projects and engage in professional opportunities including commercial activities that have the potential to launch their career in Fine Art.

Many Fine Art graduates go on to pursue careers in independent art practice, fine art conservation, teaching in further or higher education or in primary and secondary schools, gallery or other forms of exhibition work, public or community arts or as education officers, art therapists, researchers, agents, technicians or in arts management.

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s tuition fees for 2020/21 for a full-time undergraduate degree course are £9000 per year.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the FAQs section of those pages. 

You can see the full programme specification here.