Fine Art MFA
- Creative arts
- Postgraduate
The Fine Art MFA at Kingston School of Art is a unique and dynamic programme for artists who want to develop both their personal practice and conceptual understanding.
Take the next step on your creative journey
Take your artistic practice to the next level with a Fine Art MFA from Kingston School of Art.
This course supports emerging artists who want to develop their personal vision while engaging critically with contemporary art practice. Study contemporary fine art through theoretical and studio-based training, at our renowned, TEF Gold ranked school of art.
You will work across a range of media, taking advantage of the School's new cutting-edge workshop spaces.
Our world-class technical facilities and programme of visiting artists and professionals create an inspiring space to study and work. Join an engaging events programme and thrive on a campus shared by artists, designers and theorists alike.
Through a combination of studio-based learning and practical workshops, you’ll create meaningful artwork and prepare for a successful career in the art world.
Student work
Why choose this course
The MFA in Fine Art at Kingston School of Art offers a dynamic combination of studio-based practice and theoretical exploration. Students refine their artistic vision while engaging critically with contemporary social, political and cultural contexts. The programme offers an immersive experience, allowing students to develop their portfolio through practical research and critical engagement.
This programme emphasises the development of a significant body of work, supported by individual tutorials, seminars and practical workshops. It encourages both independent and collaborative approaches to art-making and curatorial strategies. Through a robust schedule of lectures and studio seminars, students connect with a diverse network of artists, curators and thinkers.
Located just 20 minutes from central London, Kingston School of Art provides world-class facilities and links to leading cultural institutions such as the ICA and Camden Arts Centre. The Fine Art MFA is led by accomplished staff and supported by esteemed guest artists, curators, gallerists and writers, all offering insights and rich exposure to contemporary art discourse and practice. Guests have included Ain Bailey, Alvaro Barrington, Phoebe Collings-James, Luke Fowler, RIP Germain, Mark Leckey, Trevor Leung, Liliane Lijn, Sin Wai Kin, Caragh Thuring, Luke Willis Thompson, Edward Thomasson, Chris McCormack, Abbas Zahedi and Ghislaine Leung.
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice.
Our workshops and labs are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Course content
This course will help you enhance your research and analytical skills as an integral aspect of your studio practice.
Your own research is augmented by collaborative work, seminars and talks. Within a diverse cohort of students, you'll challenge one another's world views, towards an in depth understanding of cultural production.
You will amass a substantial body of work, develop and apply highly attuned analytical skills, practice innovative exhibition strategies and hone your confidence as an artist.
Students must complete 120 credits at each level, totalling 240 credits by the end of the degree.
Year 1 modules
The teaching in the first year supports students to establish their studio practice and critical skills. Sessions with key professionals in contemporary art then assist students to develop the research and professional skills they need to sustain a career. This is followed by a period in which students (in dialogue with their peers) explore their strengthened individual practice and research through making and reflecting on modes for disseminating art.
Core modules
Final year modules
In the second year of the MFA, you are given the time, teaching, support and discursive framework to consolidate your independent practice and research. You will work towards the completion of a final major exposition of work that signals a critical engagement with notions of dissemination and publication in the field of contemporary art. The final major exposition is the culmination of the technical, critical, professional and organisational skills learnt earlier in the course.
Core modules
Career opportunities
Prepare for a range of career paths
Graduates of Kingston University's Fine Art MFA are equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in the contemporary art world. The course provides a blend of studio-based practice, critical reflection and professional development, ensuring you are prepared for a range of career paths.
Many graduates go on to become independent artists, curators, educators or arts managers.
Gain a range of transferable skills
Through collaboration, research and public exhibitions, you’ll hone your ability to communicate your ideas effectively across diverse media and professional contexts.
The skills you develop will prepare you to navigate the complexities of the art world, from conceptual development to the logistics of exhibition curation and art production.
Benefit from real-world connections
Kingston’s strong industry connections, including partnerships with major galleries, museums and institutions in London, further enhance your prospects.
Teaching and assessment
The course employs a range of approaches to teaching and learning. Lectures, seminars, group critiques, individual tutorials, optional study visits, presentations, workshops and assessed expositions of work support the development of your practice and research.
Fees and funding
Fees for future course years
This is a two-year, full-time course.
If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fees for both years.
If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. Find out more through the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Fine Art MFA at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Kingston University offers a range of postgraduate scholarships, including:
Student work
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
After you have applied
For courses that select on application alone, applicants should normally receive an initial decision or a request for more information within four to six weeks of receipt of their application. Our admissions team will notify you of the decision by email.
Learn more about the postgraduate application process in detail.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
