
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
These days, students understand the significance of creativity and the importance of pursuing their dreams in the area of arts. As a result, in 2022, many students will continue to enrol in fine arts undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs abroad. The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is one such degree that can unlock exciting job opportunities for you.
Table of Contents
- Master of Fine Arts: Course Details
- What is Master of Fine Arts
- Top Colleges for Master of Fine Arts
- Master of Fine Arts: Subjects
- Master of Fine Arts: Courses
- Cost of Studying Master of Fine Arts
- Eligibility criteria for Master of Fine Arts
- Exams Required For Master of Fine Arts
- Scholarships To Study Master of Fine Arts
- Job Opportunities After Master of Fine Arts
- How To Study For A Master of Fine Arts?
Master of Fine Arts: Course Details
You will learn many concepts about art in this course, such as art history, sculpting, painting, drawing, designing, etc. In addition, students can choose from many specialisations available and pursue their dream careers.
Program |
Postgraduate |
Course |
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) |
Duration of the Course |
Between 1 and 2 years (based on the top 5 institutes) |
Eligibility Criteria |
{High school (10 + 2 equivalent), 60% recommended}, a bachelor’s degree, preferably in Fine Arts (MFA) and {IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent recommended)} |
Entrance Exams |
{IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent recommended) and GRE (if required) |
Tuition Fees |
Between 1582933 and 2335534 INR (based on the top 5 universities) |
Jobs |
Graphic Designer, Art Historian, Art Restorer, etc. |
Average Salary |
475000 INR (based on 10 jobs) |
What is Master of Fine Arts
The Master of Fine Arts, Masters in Fine Arts, or MFA is a postgraduate qualification in the creative arts. Students can enrol as either taught or research scholars to pursue their dreams in the stream.
Top Colleges for Master of Fine Arts
Following are some of the best institutes providing an MFA degree.
As per the QS World Rankings for 2022, 4 of these universities are among the top 300 in the world.
Please take a look below.
S.NO |
University Name |
Country |
QS World Ranking |
1 |
Massey University |
New Zealand |
292 |
2 |
The University of Canterbury |
New Zealand |
284 |
3 |
The Academy of Art University |
The USA |
NA |
4 |
The University of Glasgow |
The UK |
81 |
5 |
RMIT University |
Australia |
190 |
Master of Fine Arts: Subjects
Here's an overview of the various topics you will study in an MFA degree program. Please note that the subject names and subjects may vary from university to university. However, more or less, you will learn these concepts only.
- History of European Art.
- Advertising Principles and Practices.
- Occidental Aesthetics.
- Visualization/Illustration/Photography.
- Creative Painting/Mural Design/Portrait/Landscape.
- Oriental Aesthetics.
Master of Fine Arts: Courses
There are many specialisations and courses available for the MFA degree worldwide. From fashion to interior and graphic designing, students can choose from the various options available per their interests.
We have mentioned a few of the most well-known MFA qualifications in this list.
- Master of Fine Arts.
- MFA in Illustration.
- Master of Fine Arts Painting.
- Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art Film Production.
- Master of Fine Arts Full Residency.
- MA Fine Art.
- MFA in Fine Art.
- MA Fine Arts Sculpture.
- MA Fine Art Computational Arts.
- MFA Research.
- MFA Visual Art.
- MA Fine Art Print Making.
- Master of Fine Arts in Book Arts.
- MA Fine Art Drawing.
- Master of Fine Arts in Intermediate.
- Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Dramatic Media.
- Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics.
- Master of Fine Arts in Fibers.
Cost of Studying Master of Fine Arts
The cost of studying Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at one of the top universities worldwide is expensive, and so are the rewards for high-paying jobs. Thus investing in an MFA degree is excellent for your future. Usually, you should have a budget of around 30,00,000 to cover tuition fees, living expenses, etc., yearly.
S.NO |
University Name |
Course |
Duration |
Tuition Fees in INR |
1 |
Massey University |
Master of Fine Arts – MFA |
2 years |
15,82,933 |
2 |
The University of Canterbury |
Master of Fine Arts |
1 year |
16,80,188 |
3 |
The Academy of Art University |
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degree |
6 semesters |
23,35,534 |
4 |
The University of Glasgow |
Master of Fine Art |
2 years |
NA |
5 |
RMIT University |
Master of Fine Art |
2 years |
20,28,384 |
Eligibility criteria for Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts, a postgraduate degree, has specific eligibility criteria for international students to apply. These include minimum qualifications, entrance exams such as GRE or GMAT, English requirements, etc.
- To qualify for an MFA degree, you need at least a bachelor's degree, preferably in fine arts or equivalent.
- Some universities also require work experience for postgraduate degrees.
- You need to prove your competency in English with standardised exam scores such as IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, etc.
- Some universities may also require subject-specific prerequisites for master's degrees.
- GRE is mandatory for universities in the USA and Canada. However, this varies from university to university.
Exams Required For Master of Fine Arts
International students from non-native nations must prove their language proficiency via a standardised test. They may also require to submit GRE or GMAT for masters, but as per the universities in this article, they don't need these entrance exams.
Name of the University |
Exam Name |
Minimum Band Requirement |
Massey University |
IELTS |
6.5 (no band less than 6.0) |
The University of Canterbury |
IELTS |
6.5 (no band less than 6.0) |
The Academy of Art University |
IELTS |
NA |
The University of Glasgow |
IELTS |
7.0 (no band less than 7.0) |
RMIT University |
IELTS |
6.5 (no band less than 6.0) |
Scholarships To Study Master of Fine Arts
The Master of Fine Arts abroad can be expensive, and not all international students can afford the top universities. However, to welcome international students into their culture, many universities offer generous financial aid to needy students.
S.NO |
Scholarship Name |
Description |
Eligibility |
Amount in INR |
1 |
Massey University Master’s Research Scholarship |
The Massey University of New Zealand offers this award. |
NA |
7,43,161 for a year |
2 |
Ada Wells Memorial Prize |
This grant is awarded by the University of Canterbury |
NA |
49,544 |
3 |
Direct Stafford Loans |
These are government-funded loans that students need to pay back |
Depends on the university |
variable |
4 |
Clark (Mile-End) Bursary Fund |
This Scholarship scheme is a charitable endowment established in 1868 |
NA |
Between 39,800 and 1,19,400 |
5 |
Academic Excellence Scholarships for Onshore |
These Scholarships are awarded by the RMIT University to onshore students |
NA |
2,78,013 |
Job Opportunities After Master of Fine Arts
In the current scenario, many young people follow their creative passion and pursue an MFA to get into the creative industry. The job opportunities and diverse positions here are almost endless. Graduates can work with many firms such as museums, art galleries, dance academies, music studios, gaming industries, TV Channels, etc.
Read below the exciting jobs and high pay that awaits you after completing your qualification.
Job Profile |
Salary in INR |
Artist |
350,000 |
Graphic Designer |
300,000 |
Art Teacher |
310,000 |
Art Historian |
480,000 |
Curator |
420,000 |
Animator |
370,000 |
Creative Director |
13,20,000 |
Photographer |
3,60,000 |
Art Restorer |
3,90,000 |
Art Critic |
4,50,000 |
How To Study For A Master of Fine Arts?
When studying for a Master of Fine Arts or MFA, you must remember two things. First, it's a postgraduate qualification. Secondly, it's a professional course that will decide your future career outcome, so you must work hard with dedication during your program.
However, if you are finding it difficult, here are some tips.
Step 1: Practice is the secret to success in an MFA degree, regardless of specialisation. Practice everything to perfection. In the start, you will make mistakes, but the more you practice, the better you get.Step 2: Any Fine Arts or Arts degree, especially postgraduate ones, will require you to have creative potential for each assignment. Therefore, you need to unlock your creativity. The best way to do that is to meditate daily and write poetry as much as possible because poetry requires the maximum level of creativity.
Step 3: Having skills in one particular field of interest is necessary. You need to hone your skills for the best career possibilities, so pick a favourite subject and focus as much as possible on it.
Step 4: Other than skills, understanding theory is also required from an exam point of view. To gain knowledge, books and the internet are the best sources in the present.
Step 5: Done
Still have any doubts? Then, connect with AECC India and get satisfactory answers. Thank you for reading.
AECC is one of the world's leading educational consultancies with versatile expert professionals who are ready to help you with any queries you may have. Contact us so we can be of assistance to you in your journey of fulfilling your dream.