MA Fine Art

About this course

Develop your artistic practice and understanding of contemporary art, relating to wider social and cultural contexts, with leading artists on LJMU's Fine Art MA.

Course modules

• Transdisciplinary Practice (30 credits)
  • This module is shared by all students studying on taught Art and Design postgraduate programmes.
  • The Transdisciplinary Practice module concerns the development of your individual practice.
• Research Inquiry (30 credits)
  • This module is shared by all students studying on taught Art and Design, MA Cities and Immersive Media postgraduate programmes.
  • The Research Inquiry module aims to develop and improve your research and analytical skills.
• Studio Practice (Fine Art) (30 credits)
  • Testing techniques and methods for producing formal and/or discursive artworks and evaluating these against individual and wider contextual concerns is the blueprint for developing a robust and relevant artistic practice for our times.
• Major Project (Fine Art) (60 credits)
  • The Major Project module reflects the summation of the postgraduate programme of study.
• Critical Discourses - Fine Art (30 credits)
  • Critical engagement with texts, artefacts and environments girders artistic endeavour.

Your Learning Experience

• Teaching Assessment
• Study hours: around nine hours guided learning each week
• Teaching methods: lectures, seminars, and tutorials
• Applied learning: work placements, collaborations with partners in business, neighbourhoods, and the public sector

Career paths

• Further your career prospects
• LJMU has an excellent employability record with 94% (HESA 2022) of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation.

Tuition fees and funding

• Home: £8,965
• International: £17,750
• Fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment, and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support.

Entry requirements

• Undergraduate degree: a good honours degree (normally 2:1 or above) in a visual arts related subject or professional qualifications and industry experience.
• Additional requirements: interview required, satisfactory portfolio of documented work, academic or arts professional reference.

International requirements

• IELTS English language requirement: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component)

How to apply

• To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form.
• You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.

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Degree Overview:

• Objectives: Develop artistic practice and understanding of contemporary art within social and cultural contexts.
• Description:
• Leading artists guide students in a program that emphasizes contemporary art within a global context.
• Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities in the John Lennon Art and Design Building.
• Strong connections with Liverpool's arts organizations like Tate Liverpool, Biennial, Bluecoat, and FACT.
• Full-time students receive allocated studio space.
• Opportunities for networking and collaboration in professional fields.
• Access to the 2022 Liverpool School of Art and Design MA Online Degree Show.
• Scholarships available through the Michael Pugh Thomas and Julia Carter Preston Legacy.
• Small group setting fosters discussion, reflection, and artistic thinking.
• Emphasis on exhibition making as a medium to push practice, experiment, and hone professional skills.
• Collaboration with curators and leading artists from the UK and internationally.
• Students take the lead in many projects, from scouting and negotiating sites to marketing and promotion.
• Strong institutional partnerships with Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Biennial, and FACT.
• Collaboration with the Liverpool Biennial every two years, placing the Masters show within the Biennial program.
• Close relationships with local initiatives like MAKE Liverpool, The Royal Standard, and CBS.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogues with other Masters students through cross-school modules.
• Access to the Exhibition Research Lab, a partnership with Liverpool Biennial.

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Outline:

• Content:
• Focus on contemporary fine art practice, encompassing a broad range of approaches.
• Development of verbal communication skills related to individual practice and the broader context of contemporary art.
• Acquisition of technical skills and methodologies relevant to enhancing practice.
• Research in the field of history and theory, including constructing coherent written arguments and exploring various modes of writing.
• Planning, organizing, and delivering a final exhibition project or equivalent, demonstrating critical engagement, creative achievement, and technical ability.
• Public speaking about work and enhancing capacity for professional practice.
• Structure:
• Core modules:
• Research and Practice 1 (30 credits): Introduces current and emerging practice, historical, theoretical, and critical principles.
Includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, visits, and guest lecturers.
• Transdisciplinary Practice (30 credits): Investigates contemporary creative practices, engaging with cultural and regulatory institutions and organizations.
Includes live Institute of Art and Technology research projects.
• Studio Practice (Fine Art) (30 credits): Develops understanding of contemporary fine art practice, encompassing a broad range of approaches.
• Research and Practice 2 (Fine Art) (30 credits): Develops research skills in history and theory, including essay writing and knowledge of various modes of writing.
• Major Project (Fine Art) (60 credits): Final exhibition project or equivalent, demonstrating critical engagement, creative achievement, and technical ability.
• Course Schedule:
• Full-time, one-year program.
• Start date: September.
• Individual Modules:
• Research and Practice 1:
• Shared by all taught postgraduate students at Liverpool School of Art and Design.
• Collaboration across programs.
• Lectures, seminars, tutorials, and visits.
• Introduction to current and emerging practice.
• Historical, theoretical, and critical principles.
• Guest lecturers.
• Sharing, discussing, and evaluating ideas and practice.
• Transdisciplinary Practice:
• In-depth investigation into contemporary creative practices.
• Participation in live Institute of Art and Technology research projects.
• Understanding of the social, cultural, and economic environment of the city.
• Engagement with cultural and regulatory institutions and organizations.
• Enrichment of professional environment experience.
• Transdisciplinary projects challenging the notion of interdisciplinary practice.
• Proposing, planning, organizing, publishing, and promoting work and research.
• Studio Practice (Fine Art):
• Development of understanding of contemporary fine art practice.
• Broad range of approaches to art making.
• Development of verbal communication skills related to individual practice and the broader context of contemporary art practice.
• Technical skills and methodologies relevant to enhancing practice.
• Research and Practice 2 (Fine Art):
• Development of research skills in the field of history and theory.
• Construction of coherent written arguments in essay form.
• Knowledge of various modes of writing.
• Major Project (Fine Art):
• Planning, organizing, and delivering a final exhibition project or equivalent.
• Effective time and resource management.
• Demonstration of a high level of critical engagement, creative achievement, and appropriate technical ability.
• Public speaking about work.
• Enhancement of capacity to engage in professional practice.

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Assessment:

• Methods:
• Presentations.
• Proposals.
• Practical projects.
• Production of supporting documentation.
• Criteria:
• Demonstration of critical engagement, creative achievement, and technical ability.
• Effective time and resource management.
• Public speaking about work.
• Enhancement of capacity to engage in professional practice.

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Teaching:

• Methods:
• Lectures, seminars, and tutorials in the John Lennon Art and Design Building and at partner organizations.
• Benefit from University academic debate and practical input/critical discussion generated from the presentation of work and ideas in professional environments.
• Faculty:
• Roy Claire Potter, Programme Leader.
• Mark Roughley, Senior Lecturer in 3D Digital Art.
• Unique Approaches:
• Access to the Exhibition Research Lab (ERL), a partnership with Liverpool Biennial.
• Encouragement to develop collaborations in the realization of projects with partners in business, neighborhoods, and the public sector.

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Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Roles in the cultural sector.
• Further research.
• Opportunities:
• Networking, collaboration, and work-related experiences during studies.
• Establishing significant links with professional fields in the John Lennon Art and Design Building.
• Outcomes:
• Preparation for the workplace on graduation.
• Understanding of how to apply knowledge in a real-world context.

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Other:

• Facilities:
• State-of-the-art workspaces and facilities in the John Lennon Art and Design Building.
• Stimulating and critically demanding environment.
• Student Experience:
• Participation in the annual postgraduate degree show, showcasing and curating work to an audience of artists, fellow students, and members of the public.
• News and Views:
• Additional Costs:
• Accommodation and living expenditure.
• Books.
• Printing, photocopying, and stationery.
• PC/laptop.
• Mobile phone/tablet.
• Field trips.
• Placements.
• Student visas (international students only).
• Study abroad opportunities.
• Academic conferences.
• Professional-body membership.
• Graduation.

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Home fee £8,965 International full-time per year £17,750

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Overview:

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a public university located in Liverpool, England. It is a large and diverse institution with a strong focus on providing high-quality education and research opportunities.

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Services Offered:

LJMU offers a wide range of services to its students, including:

Accommodation:

On-campus and off-campus accommodation options are available for students.

Student Support:

The university provides comprehensive support services, including academic advising, career counseling, financial aid, and mental health resources.

Library:

LJMU has a well-equipped library with extensive resources and study spaces.

Student Futures:

This service helps students with career planning, job searching, and employability skills development.

International Student Support:

Dedicated support is available for international students, including visa guidance and cultural adjustment programs.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

LJMU offers a vibrant and engaging campus experience for its students. Key aspects include:

Sports, Societies, and Lifestyle:

Students can participate in a wide range of sports clubs, societies, and social events.

Campus:

The university has multiple campuses located in Liverpool, providing a diverse and stimulating environment.

Go Abroad:

LJMU offers opportunities for students to study abroad and gain international experience.

Volunteering:

Students can engage in volunteering activities and contribute to the local community.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Strong Academic Reputation:

LJMU is known for its high-quality teaching and research.

Diverse Programs:

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.

Location:

Liverpool is a vibrant and culturally rich city, providing students with a stimulating and enjoyable living experience.

Student Support:

LJMU provides comprehensive support services to ensure student success.

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Academic Programs:

LJMU offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Undergraduate:

Bachelor's degrees in various fields, including business, law, health sciences, engineering, and the arts.

Postgraduate:

Master's degrees, PhD programs, and other postgraduate qualifications.

Degree Apprenticeships:

Programs that combine work experience with academic study.

Continuing Professional Development:

Short courses and programs for professionals seeking to enhance their skills.