Fine Art

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a relevant subject. Professional experience will also be considered.

You must also submit a portfolio of recent artwork in one or more media which highlights your interest and understanding of global contemporary art practice.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This intensive MA Fine Art course aims to provide the basis for your future professional art practice, curatorial engagement or academic research at a higher level, allowing you to develop a body of work within the contexts of the studio, production, dissemination and audience.

We encourage applications from artists working, or wishing to work in: studio-based practice, socially engaged practice, collaborative practice, as artist curators, as art writers or within art education.

You'll develop your art practice in our purpose built studios, working towards a final exhibition, supported by a series of seminars, tutorials, group critiques and a visiting speaker programme. Assessments include a variety of professional-facing formats, such as personal statements, academic writing, portfolio, and project plans.

Studying Fine Art at Leeds, you'll be taught by practising artists, writers and theorists, supported by the region’s internationally recognised resources including the Henry Moore Institute, The Hepworth Wakefield, Leeds Art Gallery, the National Science and Media Museum, Yorkshire Contemporary and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

As well as studio and exhibition work, you can choose from a range of optional modules that explore critical and theoretical issues such as aesthetics, deconstruction, feminist studies and museum practice.

Specialist facilities

Housed within a single central campus location, the School offers a modern and well-equipped learning environment providing 24-hour studio access and versatile exhibition spaces. Resources include:

• dedicated Mac and PC computer suites for digital video editing, animation, design and image manipulation;
• printmaking workshops for etching, relief and screen printing;
• a photography darkroom for film developing and printing;
• woodworking and casting;
• 3D printing.

You'll also have access to Helix, the University's learning innovation hub for students, staff, and the local community. Located in the heart of campus, Helix offers cutting-edge digital provision, including immersive technologies, 3D printers, multimedia production studios, as well as a physical makerspace. You'll be able to bring your own initiatives and ideas to life through collaboration, creation and innovation.

Project Space is the School’s multi-purpose space designed for the development of curatorial practice and visiting exhibitions.

The Brotherton Library holds a wide variety of manuscript, archive and early printed material in its Special Collections - valuable assets for your independent research.

In addition to the wide range of museums and galleries in the city and beyond, the University campus features:

• The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery
• Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery
• Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine
• Marks & Spencer Company Archive
• International Textile Collection
• Public art trail
• stage@leeds performance venue

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Information for international students

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.