Master of Fine Arts Program

The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) program aims to provide advanced training for students to develop a career in studio art through studio and art theory courses. Fields of specialization include painting, sculpture, mixed media, Chinese painting, calligraphy, and seal carving.

Curriculum

Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 units of lecture courses for graduation, normally within two years. All students admitted are probationary candidates and will be reviewed for advancement at the end of their first year of study. The curriculum includes:

• Seminar (12 units)
• Special Topics in Hong Kong Art (3 units)
• Professional Practice (3 units)
• Elective Courses (6 units)

In addition to the lecture courses listed above, students are required to register for Thesis Research and Art Creation courses each term within the normative period.

Graduation Requirement

To graduate, students must:

• Submit a written thesis, in relation to the student’s work of art, supported by the reproductions of his/her original art work.
• Hold a graduation exhibition in his/her area of study.
• Pass in both the creative project and written thesis.
• Pass an oral examination.

Courses

The program offers a range of courses, including:

• FAAS 5101: Methodology in Art-historical Research
• FAAS 5102: Post-graduate Seminar: Special Topics in Chinese Art
• FAAS 5103: Theories of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
• FAAS 5104: Independent Study
• FAAS 5105: Study of Later Chinese Ceramics
• FAAS 5106: Schools of Model-calligraphy and Stele Studies
• FAAS 5107: Art in Europe and North America After WWII
• FAAS 5108: Daoist Art and Relics
• FAAS 5109: Special Topics in Art History
• FAAS 5110: History of Chinese Literati Painting
• FAAS 5111: Comparative Analysis of 17th and 18th Century Painting
• FAAS 5112: Art Theory in Europe and North America From Antiquity to the Present
• FAAS 5201: Seminar I
• FAAS 5202: Seminar II
• FAAS 5203: Seminar III
• FAAS 5204: Seminar IV
• FAAS 5205: Special Topics in Hong Kong Art
• FAAS 5206: Professional Practice
• FAAS 5207: Creative Workshops
• FAAS 5208: Special Topics in Studio Art
• FAAS 8161: Thesis Guidance
• FAAS 8121: Art Creation
• FAAS 8125: Thesis Research

Admission

To be considered for admission, applicants must:

• Submit a written statement (no less than 1000 words, written in English/Chinese) explaining the purpose of their application and the focus of their academic/artistic interest.
• Submit a portfolio of 10-15 original art works.
• Attend an interview if shortlisted.

Application Procedure

1. Submit the online application form and upload the required documents.
2. Upload additional application materials to the Division’s application materials collection platform.
3. Admitted students are required to submit the original copies of the official documents for verification by the conditions fulfillment deadline.

Fees and Funding

For details of the tuition fee and Postgraduate Studentships, please refer to the Graduate School website.

FAQ

• What are the entry requirements for postgraduate programmes in CUHK?
  • For entry requirements set by the CUHK Graduate School, the best source of information is the Graduate School website.
• When is the application deadline?
  • The application is open from November to January every year. For the exact date of any particular year, please refer to the Graduate School website.
• What is the difference between research postgraduate and taught postgraduate programmes?
  • The CUHK’s research programmes focus mainly on research work and require applicants to have sound research background. Students need to submit a thesis, pass the oral defense in order to graduate. As for Taught programmes, in contrast, focus on coursework. These programmes generally do not require students to submit a thesis.
• What is the difference between Master of Fine Art Program (M.F.A.) and Master of Arts in Fine Arts (Part-time) Programme (M.A. in Fine Arts)?
  • The main differences between the two programs are:
    • Programme: Research Postgraduate vs. Taught Postgraduate
    • Study Mode: Full Time vs. Part Time
    • Study Year: 2 years vs. 2 years
    • Teaching: Classroom teaching and thesis research vs. Classroom teaching
    • Timetable: Flexible vs. Twice a week (1 week-day evening and 1 week-end afternoon)
    • Tuition Fee (provisional): HKD 42,100.00 (per year) vs. HKD 63,000.00 (per year)
    • Graduation Requirement: Submitting a written thesis, in relation to the student’s work of art, supported by the reproductions of his/her original art work, holding a graduation exhibition, passing in both the creative project and written thesis, and passing an oral examination vs. Passing in all subjects and graduation project (including an artist statement and a graduation exhibition in respective area of specialization)
• I am from a non-English-speaking country. Am I required to present any proof of English proficiency?
  • Please see the Graduate School website for details of English Language Proficiency Requirement.