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MA in Fine Art coming soon - The Open College of the Arts

To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.

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MA in Fine Art coming soon

The OCA is working hard on designing an MA and hopes to launch it in January 2011. This is an exciting new venture for OCA and we anticipate significant interest in it, judging on the feedback we have had from the students we have asked. The programme will be different from existing OCA provision in that it will be cohort based. This means there is a particular starting point, so that students are more or less at the same point as others on the course . This is important since peer discussion is a critical element of the programme. All the OCA tutors on the course have been selected because of their experience of teaching in other Higher Education contexts and all have MAs or PHDs in art. The course will have obligatory workshops sessions twice a year, one towards the beginning of the year. The course aims to prepare students to become independent professional artists, and to further their artistic thinking and develop fluency in their work. The course has five modules including Visual Enquiry and Research methods, Studio Practice and Professional Context. The course can be completed over two, three or four years, depending how intensively students wish to study. There will be an annual entrance point to the course, at the beginning of each year. Students wishing to study this programme should have a good Honours degree in Fine Art or a related subject or an excellent portfolio of work and evidence of a good degree in another subject. More news on this MA will be announced over the summer.


Posted by author: Jane Parry

25 thoughts on “MA in Fine Art coming soon

  • >The course will have obligatory workshops sessions twice a year, one towards the beginning of the year>
    Winter can make for tough travelling, especially if it’s like the last one! Can the first workshop be in late March? Or attendable via webcam?

  • I very much want to take an MA course in Fine Art. Inhibitors to date have been cost and accessability. The proposed OCA course could be the answer. What is the likely cost to be?

  • And is there any news on a photography MA yet? I know it’ll be a couple of years before I get there, but this would be exciting news nonetheless…

  • Partial answers to all three questions:
    First we feel it is useful for the MA student group and tutors to meet up early on in the course, but the numbers will be small so a certain amount of flexibility may be possible. However, we really do want students to attend the two workshops we plan. Webcam will be a useful resource at other points in the course. (We will watch the weather!).
    John: we certainly aim to be as flexible as possible while maintaining quality of delivery on the MA, hence only two workshops. Apart from that your study will be home or studio based. As far as fees go, I cannot be specific at this stage, but we hope the fee will at the very least be on a par with average MA prices, if not better.
    Rob: your desire for an MA in Photography matches with our aspirations. But that is, for the moment, what it remains. We will have to see if we can make a success of the Fine Art MA first.

  • Very interesting. Look forward to seeing how this goes: I hope you’ll keep us updated as the course progresses.
    Like Rob I could well be interested in a Photography MA some way down the line.

  • Hello, just to say that the Fine Art MA is designed to be broad based, so if you are impatiently awaiting a Photography MA, you CAN use photography within the Fine Art MA. It is designed to encourage art practice in the broadest sense.

  • I have been trying to Google this, but haven´t really got any clear answer. What is an average MA price?

  • Well, prices do vary considerably, but a straw pole brings the average for a two year MA out at about £4 to £4.5k. The price of courses in 2009 to 2010 to EU students ranges from £3,400 ( Leicester), through £3,470 (York), St Martins £4,300, Slade £4,865 and Chelsea £5,100. However, the prices for 2011 were not yet published when I looked, and these types of courses will certainly typically be going up and up because of cuts in funding to universities. OCA’s MA will not be dependent on government funding but self financing. So we hope to be able to keep the price down.

  • I am interested in the Fine Art MA but have not decided if the OCA is the outlet I am looking for. The study material for Textile 3: Own Exhibition/Portfolio was not of the quality I had expected (based on previous OU and OCA materials) and although tutor support has been very good, the back up I feel falls short.
    I also have a preference for working from books rather than being computer based although I use Illustrator and Photoshop at home. What course materials are planned/will be available with this MA.

  • I am definitely interested. I am currently finishing my first level degree course and if successful with high enough grades will be hoping to go onto the MA course. It gives me something to aim for.

  • Please can you make it possible to pay for the MA in installments. This ppraoch for the BA Hons has meant that I am able to afford the course.

  • There will definitely be an installment plan for the MA, Sarah.
    I have asked Jane to discuss your experience on the Textiles 3 course with the Course Leader for textiles Moira. We are producing a student handbook for the MA which we will make public on validation so you will be able to see what materials will be available. Sorry I can’t give you more detail at this stage.

  • Yes! That is exactly why we have a Creative Arts degree. We get some wonderful work from students who do combine their studies of the arts. A recent poetry student submitted her poetry illustrated in an artist’s book. The Creative Arts degree pathway allows you to pick and mix the courses you study.

  • Will an oca creative arts degree with a major study in print making be acceptible for admission to the MA fine art course ?
    My other subjects areas are painting 1,printmaking 1,2 and textiles 1,2,3.

  • Hello. Entry to to course is a good Art BA degree or a good portfolio. Your choice of courses will not be a difficulty. The quality if your work and your application will be key to your success. I hope this is helpful. If you’d like to discuss this further please give me a call at OCA.

  • You will be much more likely to be accepted on the course with a BA Hons .. But if you have an excellent portfolio and write a good application you may also gain entry. In other words, there is no direct answer to the question: it’s about the quality of your work and ideas.

  • How will the application process work ?
    Will there be a formal portfolio interview, following a written application ?
    If so will this be at a specific date during the course of the year ?

    • Hi Amanda
      We are still working out the exact process with the accrediting university, so it is a little early to be able answer these questions I am afraid. I think we should be able make an announcement in September.

  • Hi Natalie, we are still going through the validation process for the MA at the moment. We have an important meeting next Monday after which we can firm up the arrangements. We currently envisage places for around 12 students in year one, with reservations for the following year open at that point too, when the intake will increase to 15. Application packs will be available at the end of September 2010, with the MA start date 2 January 2011.

  • getting a masters degree is of course necessary if you want a wage increase and improvement in your career “‘,

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