Program Overview

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Master of Fine Arts Program

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus provides students with opportunities to develop sophisticated production skills within a variety of media. Students are encouraged to engage in and investigate creative practice-based research that combines an interdisciplinary approach bridging academic research and fine-arts disciplines, and explore non-traditional community or collaborative creative practices.

Program Structure

The MFA program includes:

• Coursework
• Creative practice
• Thesis

The program length is 18 to 24 months.

Specializations

There are three areas of specialization to choose from:

• Visual Arts
• Creative Writing
• Interdisciplinary Studies

All three areas share an MFA Colloquium course that helps to develop bonds between differing areas while promoting innovative and interdisciplinary artistic opportunities.

Visual Arts Specialization

The specialization in Visual Arts requires:

• An exhibition of a body of work completed during residency in the program
• A written thesis
• An oral defence of both the exhibition and written thesis

Students specializing in Visual Arts must complete the following 30 credits:

• CCS 506 (3) M.F.A. Graduate Colloquium I
• VISA 582 (3) Graduate Studio in Visual Arts I
• VISA 583 (3) Graduate Studio in Visual Arts II
• One additional 3-credit course
• CCS 599 (15) Masters Thesis

Creative Writing Specialization

The specialization in Creative Writing requires:

• A full-length work of publishable quality (book-length poetry, fiction, or non-fiction manuscript, full-length stage play, libretto or screenplay)
• A 2,500 to 5,000 word introductory support paper
• An oral defense

Students specializing in Creative Writing must complete the following 30 credits:

• CCS 506 (3) M.F.A. Graduate Colloquium I
• 6 credits of CRWR 581 Graduate Workshop in Creative Writing- Lyric (taken twice for a total of 6 credits)
• 6 credits of CRWR 582 Graduate Workshop in Creative Writing-Narrative (taken twice for a total of 6 credits)
• One additional 3-credit course
• CCS 599 (15) Masters Thesis

Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization

The specialization in Interdisciplinary Studies requires:

• A body of work and a written research paper in a secondary area of study
• An oral defense of both the artistic and/or curatorial body of work and the written support paper

Students specializing in Interdisciplinary Studies must complete the following 30 credits:

• CCS 506 (3) M.F.A. Graduate Colloquium I
• 6 credits of creative practice or curation courses in the student’s primary discipline
• One additional 3-credit course in a field relevant to the secondary complimentary discipline
• CCS 599 (15) Masters Thesis

Research Areas

Graduate students can pursue these and other faculty research and teaching interests:

• Applied Theatre
• Community-based art
• Curation
• Devised Theatre
• Digital Art and Design
• Drawing
• Eco-art
• Eco-poetry
• Fiction
• Indigenous Contemporary Art
• Installation Art
• Interventionist Performance
• Media Arts
• Painting
• Photography
• Poetry
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Stage Play and Screen writing
• Technology-based art

Supervisors

The success of UBC Okanagan’s MFA program depends on exceptional students. Applicants should indicate their preference for a supervisor in the statement of intent or in the application. Supervisors will be assigned once applicants are admitted.

Facilities and Labs

The MFA program includes state-of-the-art production with 21st-century digital, printmaking, sculpture, and photography studio facilities. While in residence, each student has a studio space to work in an artistic environment to explore, share, and develop their own artistic community in relationship to a dynamic cohort of fellow MFA students.

Students and Alumni

MFA students have participated in many exhibitions, readings, and performances on and off campus. View fine arts student work on the art blog.

Careers and Outcomes

Graduates of the MFA program have had successes in publications, exhibitions, and other career opportunities, including teaching and maintaining an art and studio practice.

Tuition and Funding

For official tuition and fee information, see the academic calendar’s page on standard masters degrees. The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies is committed to financially supporting graduate students to the best of their ability and providing a variety of funding options.

Admission and Applying

Admission to the MFA program requires a complete application package and meeting program-specific criteria. Applicants do not need to find a supervisor ahead of time, but rather, applicants should indicate their preference in the statement of intent or in the application. Supervisors will be assigned once applicants are admitted. Applications open September 1 each year.

Admission Requirements

A complete application package will include:

• English language test (for non-native speakers of English)
• CV or resumé
• Portfolio
• Artistic statement/ statement of Intent (500 words)
• Two reference letters

How to Apply

Applying takes time. It is recommended that students start their application two months in advance. For full consideration, students should submit all application materials by the following deadlines:

• Domestic & International: January 15

Global and Close-Knit

At UBC Okanagan, students gain all the benefits of attending a globally ranked, top 3% university while studying in a close-knit learning community.

Discover the Okanagan

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful lakes, vineyards, orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan is an inspirational landscape perfect for those seeking leisure or outdoor adventure.