MFA Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University

This course allows you to develop your artistic practice whilst engaging professionally with the rich and vibrant arts community in Nottingham, which is recognised as having one of the most active artist-led scenes outside London. You will critically engage with, interrogate and resolve your own practice, as you develop an informed and established body of work.  

With an emphasis on professional practice and audience engagement, you will widen your network with partners across the city, including Nottingham Contemporary and New Art Exchange.

This will prepare you for the rigours of contemporary practice as both an artist and researcher. Successful completion of this course will give you grounding to progress to PhD study, or our Professional Doctorate course.

You may choose to study two year full-time, or three years part-time

Key features

• Dedicate yourself to the studio, focusing and exploring your practice
• Work with the arts community in Nottingham to widen your practice and professional network
• Take part in a programme of professional practice, including career development planning and professional work experience
• Be supported by staff who are practicing artists in their own right. * Benefit from our extensive links with festivals, arts organisations and artists’ groups locally, nationally and internationally, including our own Bonington Gallery
• Benefit from working in a close-knit community; with just ten places available per cohort, the MFA offers great opportunities to forge strong working relationships with academic staff, technicians and fellow students
• Opportunity to go on study trips both in the UK and abroad, to locations including Berlin and New York
• Have the opportunity to study abroad with a partner institution, through the Erasmus+ programme
• Opt for an additional research module if you’re thinking of progressing to PhD or Professional Doctorate study.

Careers and employability

Professionalism is at the heart of this course, helping you to gain experience and make lasting connections with arts organisations outside of the University. The opportunity to undertake work placements and to engage in professional practice is embedded into the course, helping you to gain insight and knowledge in preparation for a career after graduation.

If you're thinking about progressing to further study you'll have the option to undertake an additional series of research sessions, to help prepare you for a Professional Doctorate or PhD.

Connections with industry

A key aim of this course is to develop your ongoing professional practice, through exhibiting and audience engagement. The course is outward-facing, embracing and engaging with the creative art scene within Nottingham and the surrounding region. It will help you to widen your professional network, create a sustainable practice, and encourage you to make use of the rich art scene in the East Midlands.

Our MFA Fine Art course is supported by a partnership between NTU and Nottingham Contemporary. Staff and students from the course are invited to engage with Nottingham Contemporary’s programme, including lectures, symposia, workshops, reading groups and screenings. This partnership also includes a student placement scheme, providing opportunities for you to gain insight and knowledge to help prepare you for your career.