MFA (Master of Fine Arts)

MFA (Master of Fine Arts) is a postgraduate degree course that involves the study of visual and performing arts. The course is of two year duration (usually divided into four semesters) and most of the colleges or universities offer the course with a specialisation.

There are a variety of MFA specialisations that candidates can choose to pursue. Some such specialisations are mentioned below:

A Master of Fine Arts course is designed to help candidates refine their skills and become an artist in their chosen field. There are ample career opportunities for candidates with an MFA degree in different sectors including advertising, clothing, printmaking, magazines, dance studios, digital media, publishing houses, and so on.

Here aspirants can check colleges according to location which can help them pursue MFA.

MFA Eligibility Criteria 

Candidates should meet the below-mentioned parameters to meet MFA eligibility criteria:

• Possess Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or any other equivalent degree from a recognised institute or university
• Obtain the minimum aggregate percentage (usually 50% - 60%) as stipulated by an institution in which a candidate is applying for admission
• Sometimes candidates with a bachelor degree in Humanities are also eligible to apply

Note: Eligibility criteria for MFA course might vary depending on the policies of the institution in which a candidate is applying.

Candidates with a creative mind and an interest in learning new techniques to refine their artistic abilities are most apt for Master of Fine Arts course. Some of the traits and skills that candidates looking to pursue MFA course should possess are:

Course curriculum for MFA

MFA course curriculum is inclusive of both theoretical as well as practical subjects. Practical knowledge is imparted to candidates in the form of seminars, research projects, workshops, viva-voce, etc. Sometimes candidates are also encouraged to create their full-fledged artworks in the form of portfolio.

Theoretical aspect of MFA involves the study of some core subjects as well as specialised subjects (depending on the candidate’s chosen specialisation). Some of the core subjects that are usually taught in MFA course are:

MFA: Job Profiles & Top Recruiters

Depending on their MFA specialisation, candidates can find employment in various sectors including animation, gaming, design manufacturing, digital media, advertising, academic institutions, television, theatre, tailoring shops, music companies, art studios, and a lot more.

Some of the popular job profiles for MFA passouts include:

• Art Teacher: An Art teacher is responsible for refining practical skills of students along with teaching theory of various art forms such as drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, etc. A candidate can obtain a BEd degree or clear UGC NET to become Art teacher at school or college level, respectively.
• Musician: A musician is an artist who performs music for live audiences and recordings. A musician can perform as a solo artist or can also choose to work in bands, choirs, orchestras, etc.
• Music Teacher: A music teacher is responsible for teaching music to students in the form of instrumental techniques, scales, music theory, etc.
• Art Director: An art director is the professional who manages the teams of creative designers. An art director can choose to work in advertising agencies, publishing houses, television industry, film industry, gaming industry, theatre, etc. 
• Graphic Artist/ Designer: A graphic designer creates and assembles pictures to make beautiful designs by using softwares such as Adobe InDesign. Such designers can choose to work for print, electronic or digital media.    
• Photographer: A photographer uses his creativity along with technical expertise and composition skills to click pictures that visually tell a story.  
• Creative Director: The main responsibility of a creative director is to head the creative team of a company. The creative team of a company mainly includes professionals like designers, copywriters, marketers, salespersons, and artists.
• Art Restorer: An art restorer restores, preserves, and analyses artifacts and works of arts. An art restorer or conservator usually specialises in a particular type of object such as paintings, books, sculptures or textiles.
• Art Critic: An art critic is a professional who is specialised in analysing, interpreting, and evaluating art. An art critic’s reviews are often published in different newspapers, magazines, books, and websites.  
• Animator: An animator is responsible for designing cartoons and creating visual effects for television, video games, movies, etc.  
• Illustrator: An illustrator is responsible for drawing illustrations for books, advertisements, periodicals, etc. An illustrator might also use a digital format to draw backgrounds for video games.

Some of the top recruiters that hire MFA graduates are:

MFA admissions in a majority of colleges and universities are done on the basis of a written entrance exam followed by a practical test. Some institutions also conduct a personal interview/ portfolio round for candidates who clear written and practical exams.

Written Test: The written test for MFA admissions typically contains multiple choice questions related to the subject for which a candidate has applied.  

Practical Test: The practical exam contains a candidate’s performance on the subject for which s/he has applied.

Note: Some universities or colleges also provide MFA admission to candidates on the basis of their performance in graduation.

FAQs on MFA 

Q. What are the subjects in Master of Fine Arts?

Q. What is the duration of MFA course?

Q. What are the skillset required for MFA candidates?

Q. Who are eligible for MFA?

Q. What comes after MFA?

Q. What is the subject of fine arts?

Q. What are the core subjects of MFA?

Q. Which course is best in fine arts?

Q. Can I do MFA without BFA?

Q. What are the specialisations offered in MFA?

Q. Which are the top recruiters for MFA graduates?