Introduction
Transform and refine your practice and professional approach as an artist. Extend your practical, contextual and research skills in a constructive, discursive and critical environment.
Student work
Our studio-based MA Fine Art course provides an opportunity for you to further explore, test and challenge your creative ideas in a supportive, professional environment.
The programme reflects the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary art practice/s, facilitating the exploration of a range of approaches, including, but not limited to drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, moving image, digital media, installation, sound, performance, social and collaborative practice.
By engaging with contemporary critical issues and with how artistic practices are understood in the 21st century and across different contexts, you will be encouraged to experiment, take risks, shift expectations and to strengthen the motivation, direction and ambition of your practice.
Full-time students are normally offered a dedicated studio space, while part-timers can access the studios as a shared work-base. Other facilities include printmaking, 3D/sculpture workshops, photography darkrooms and computer suites for video production and digital imaging.
Course options
Key facts
Close up in the 3D workshop
"As Fine Art Technical Officer I teach students how to use machinery and equipment including the potters’ wheel, laser cutter and hand tools. Don’t be scared to try things. Experiment. Step outside your comfort zone, work with materials and processes you have never used before."
Hear more from our Fine Art Technical OfficerEntry requirements
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Fees and paying for university
Facilities and showcase
Industry-standard equipment
As well as our dedicated fine art studio with your own workspace, you’ll have use of facilities including:
- Ruskin Gallery, a professional digital art gallery
- Life drawing studio
- Dedicated Mac and PC suites with the latest software including Adobe Creative suite
- Specialist printmaking workshop including etching, screen-printing, and lithography
- 3D workshops for physical media including wood, plastic, metal, and clay
- Photography and media facilities including darkrooms; studios; film processing; digital printing suite; video editing; and professional equipment loans
- Dedicated fashion workshops with industrial sewing, finishing, embroidery and seam sealing machines.
Futures Lab and workshop equipment
Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:
- 3D printers and scanners - FDM printers; material-specific extruders; SLA Formlabs printers; SLS Formlabs Fuse1; structured light 3D scanners
- 2D printing and cutting machines - laser cutters; Roland BN20 vinyl printer & cutter; Gerber substrate cutter; Mimaki TX300P sublimation printer.
Take a closer look
Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.
Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.
Lecturers
Véronique Chance
Course Leader and Senior Lecturer, MA Fine Art and MA Printmaking
Duncan Ganley
Lecturer, Photography
Emily Godden
Lecturer
Elizabeth Johnson
Senior Lecturer in Critical and Contextual Studies
Careers
This MA Fine Art will prepare you for work as a practising artist, and you will also gain skills and knowledge that will equip you for related roles.
As well as continuing their artistic practices, through which they have taken up artist residencies, research and fellowship opportunities and public art projects in the UK and abroad, our MA Fine Art graduates also pursue careers in further and higher education, museum and gallery management.
ARU's links with organisations including Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge Artworks, Commission Projects and Motion Sickness will give you opportunities to take part in professional exhibitions, workshops, portfolio review and other live projects.
While you’re studying here and after you graduate, you can access support through our dedicated Employability Service.
Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU, such as our PhD Fine Art. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.
DEBORAH
“By opting to study part-time it has given me the most incredible opportunity to take my time. I can soak in the experiences that ARU offers me and finely tune and hone my skills.”
DEBORAHMA Fine Art student
Read more about Deborah's postgraduate journeyWant to talk to someone?
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Improve your employability, progress in your career, and take on an intellectual challenge with our flexible postgraduate degrees.
Postgraduate study at ARULoading...
