Fine Art MFA

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Level of study:
Masters
Entry Requirements:
More information
Start date:
September 2026
Duration:
2 Year(s)
Attendance:
Full-time
Course delivery:
On-campus (City Campus)

Information for 2026/27

About this course

Our MFA Fine Art is an immersive two-year programme that enables you to develop a critically engaged, ethically aware, and sustainable artistic practice. Based in Nottingham, home to one of the UK’s most vibrant artists led communities, you will interrogate, refine, and expand your work while building professional connections with key local, national, and international networks. With strong partnerships including Nottingham Contemporary, Backlit, and New Art Exchange, this course supports you in producing a coherent, publicly engaged body of work while preparing for a dynamic career as an artist, creative professional, or researcher.

Shape your learning around your goals

Choose between 20-credit modules Professional Pathways in the Arts or Advancing Research Design, the latter ideal for students thinking of progressing to PhD or Professional Doctorate study.
Take part in global opportunities

There is an opportunity to go on study trips within the UK. You will also have the opportunity to study abroad with a partner institution, through the Turing Scheme.
Learn in a supportive, close-knit cohort

Benefit from working in a close-knit community; with just ten places available per cohort, the MFA offers great opportunities to forge strong working relationships with academic staff, technicians, and fellow students.
Connect with festivals and galleries

Benefit from our extensive links with festivals, arts organisations, and artists’ groups locally, nationally, and internationally, including our own Bonington Gallery.

The course centres on research led studio practice, where you will dedicate significant time to developing and deepening your own work. Alongside this, you will take part in critical discussion, seminars, and collaborative activity that explore the contexts and theories informing contemporary art. Professional practice is integrated throughout the programme, giving you opportunities to work with Nottingham’s arts community, present your work publicly, and plan your future career with confidence.

You will be supported by staff who are practicing artists and researchers, and encouraged to situate your practice in relation to broader cultural, ethical, and sustainable concerns. By the end of the MFA you will have developed a substantial body of work and the professional skills to pursue a career in contemporary art or progress to doctoral study.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

In Year One, you will study 100 credit points of core modules and choose one 20 credit point optional module.

Core module - Autumn Semester

Core module - Spring Semester

Optional modules - Spring Semester

Core module - Summer Semester

Core module - Autumn Semester

Core module - Spring Semester

Core module - Summer Semester

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

You'll spend most of your time in a creative studio environment. Teaching and learning experiences will include:

independent studio practice
feedback tutorials
studio seminars
individual and group presentations
study visits
self-directed research
workshop inductions
technical surgeries
self and peer evaluations
Live Lecture programme

Find out when our postgraduate term dates for the Nottingham School of Art & Design are. Please note that these are slightly different to other Schools within the University.

Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Fine Art

This MA course acknowledges the growing influence of AI in creative and academic contexts, encouraging students to consider its implications within their discipline.

Through selective integration of AI tools and critical reflection on their ethical use, students are supported in developing thoughtful, future-aware approaches to their practice.

Find out more about AI, Creativity and Innovation at the Nottingham School of Art & Design

How you're assessed

Assessment is 100% by coursework and involves:

presentation of your work in the form of an exhibition
reflective document
learning agreement
documentation
verbal presentation of your practice

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Louisa Chambers

Senior Lecturer

Louisa Chambers is a Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, has taught across all levels on the undergraduate programme and into the MFA and has PhD supervisory responsibilities at NTU.
Visit Louisa Chambers's staff profile
Katja Hock

Senior Lecturer

As Course Leader, Dr Katja Hock is responsible for the MA Fine Art course and MFA in Fine Art courses.
Visit Katja Hock's staff profile
Emma Cocker

Associate Professor

Emma Cocker is a writer-artist and Associate Professor in Fine Art. Operating under the working title Not Yet There, Emma’s research focuses on artistic processes and practices, and the performing of ‘thinking-in-action’ emerging therein. Emma has a specific interest in artistic research, alongside the relation between writing and artistic research-practices including writing in-with-and-through practice, writing-as-practice, alongside various ‘expanded’ forms of writing, language and text-based approaches.
Visit Emma Cocker's staff profile
Ben Judd

Senior Lecturer

Ben Judd
Visit Ben Judd's staff profile
Sarah McConnell

Senior Lecturer

Sarah McConnell is Course Leader of MA Illustration in the School of Art & Design at Nottingham Trent University. She is a widely published Author/Illustrator of Children's books.
Visit Sarah McConnell's staff profile
Begüm Eken

Senior Lecturer

Begüm Eken is a Senior Lecturer and the Course Leader for MA Graphic Communications in the School of Art & Design.
Visit Begüm Eken's staff profile
Lars Koens

Senior Lecturer

Lars is the Course Leader for the MFA in Fine Art, which encourages rigorous experiment-driven studio practice, critical research, and professional engagement in Nottingham’s dynamic arts scene.
Visit Lars Koens's staff profile
David Downes

Senior Lecturer

David teaches scripting for animators, procedural animation, and motion capture, supporting students across animation and related courses. He also supervises postgraduate research in his areas of expertise.
Visit David Downes's staff profile
Debra Smith

Senior Lecturer

Debra joined NTU’s animation team in September 2016, having taught at Kingston University, the Kent Institute of Art & Design, and most recently for 17 years at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, USA.
Visit Debra Smith's staff profile
Hannah Halliday

Principal Lecturer

Hannah Halliday is the Principal Lecturer for Post-Graduate study in the Department of Design and Digital Arts and is responsible for the strategic overview of a suite of master’s courses
Visit Hannah Halliday's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

Academic entry requirements: 2.1 honours degree in a related subject.

Other requirements:

a creative portfolio;
interview.

Please note that there are limited places available for this course.

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Other qualifications and experience

We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 2.1 honours degree in a related subject. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

Other requirements:

a creative portfolio;
interview.

Please note that there are limited places available for this course.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional requirements for international students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

Other qualifications and experience

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

Getting in touch

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£10,300 for Home

Fee amount are per year and will increase each year in line with inflation, capped at no more than 5%.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. See which courses are eligible for scholarships.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Postgraduate loans

There is a government postgraduate loan scheme for Masters degrees. The loan contributes towards costs of study, and students can put it towards tuition fees, maintenance costs or other costs at their discretion. Find out more about postgraduate loans.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

£18300

Fee amount are per year and will increase each year in line with inflation, capped at no more than 5%.

Scholarships

Alumni discount

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money, the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

Professionalism is at the heart of this course, helping you to gain experience and make lasting connections with arts organisations outside of the University. The opportunity to undertake work placements and to engage in professional practice is embedded into the course, which also features a Professional Pathways in the Arts module, helping you to gain insight and knowledge in preparation for a career after graduation.

If you're thinking about progressing to further study, you'll have the option to undertake a module, Advancing Research Design, to help prepare you for a Professional Doctorate or PhD.

Connections with industry

A key aim of this course is to develop your ongoing professional practice through exhibiting and audience engagement. The course is outward-facing, embracing, and engaging with the creative art scene within Nottingham and the surrounding region. It will help you to widen your professional network and create a sustainable practice.

Live Lecture programme

You will benefit from our Live Lecture programme that welcomes national and international artists, creative practitioners and theorists.

Past guests include:

Hetain Patel
Michael Forbes
Lindsay Seers
Larry Acheampong
Pil and Galia Kollectiv
Lerato Shadi
Jane Rendell

Nottingham Contemporary

The MFA Fine Art course works in close collaboration with Nottingham Contemporary, one of the UK’s leading contemporary art galleries. Through the Realising Practice: Collaboration, Curation & Public Presentation module in Year One, you’ll take part in a live consultancy project with the gallery, gaining direct experience of working with curators and arts professionals. This partnership offers a valuable opportunity to engage with public exhibition practice, develop your professional portfolio, and refine the skills needed for a successful creative career or further research.

BACKLIT gallery opportunities

In your second year, you’ll have your own dedicated studio space at BACKLIT, an external partner organisation located a short walk from our City Campus. BACKLIT offers postgraduate students the opportunity to develop their professional studio practice within a thriving community of artists in an independent studio complex. The organisation provides studio and exhibition spaces for NTU Masters students and involves them in critical sessions with established practitioners and critics.

Showcase

Explore our showcase ‘We Are Creatives’ - celebrating the work of the Nottingham School of Art & Design students. You will find a sneak peek of some of our students’ work and gain a real insight into what it’s like to be part of the NTU creative community.

YouFirst – working with our Employability Team

Our friendly, experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice you won't find in a book or on the internet. You can benefit from this at any time during your studies and up to three years after completing your course.

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).
Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.
NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

For workshops and seminars, you will mainly be based in our Bonington and Waverley buildings on our City Campus – dedicated hubs for art and design students. Students will be given their own workspace within external studios at partner organisation BACKLIT, a short walk away from our City Campus.

You can view all of the facilities and equipment available to students in our Nottingham School of Art & Design Facilities Hub.

Boningtons Art Shop

Our specialist in-house art shop is based in the Bonington building. Run by experienced and friendly University staff, the shop stocks a wide variety of arts and crafts materials.

The shop responds to the requirements of our students, and the stock on offer grows each year to support the courses offered within the Nottingham School of Art & Design.