Introduction:

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is an independent research-oriented program that emphasizes practice with theory support. The duration to complete the degree is two years. Our MFA program requires a bachelor’s degree before admission. However, the undergraduate major is not necessary to be the same as the MFA field of study. The most important admissions requirement is a portfolio and proposal statement of works to be explored and produced during the MFA program.
We have designed our MFA as a terminal degree; thus, we consider our MFA the highest degree in arts. However, to extend the connection between creative production and continued academic research, an MPhil or a Ph.D. program is also possible.

Our MFA provides an advanced fine arts education with intensive independent projects for creative individuals, art educators, aspiring artists, curators, and designers. With rigorous studio practice, research, critical thinking, and a range of problem-solving approaches, the program foster creativity by supporting students to be versatile, resourceful, and reflective. It prepares them to deal successfully with practical problems and issues. It aims to educate students in a specific discipline and encourages students to work across disciplines, focusing on an intellectually rigorous independent practice. With a wide range of experience in interdisciplinary collaborations and exposure to historical, theoretical, and current debates in the various fields, MFA graduates address much of Nepali society’s needs. Thus, the graduates will be playing critical roles in their respective areas of expertise, contributing to the visual culture of their communities.

Aims

The main aims of the MFA course are

  • To develop students’ creative, original, and innovative approaches through a rigorous and structured program that combines research, critical thinking, and practical skills.
  • To foster in students the capacity to contribute to contemporary visual culture by producing original works of art, design, and other related contribution
  • To promote academic and critical discussions around the arts by addressing visual cultural issues through a creative and analytical approach
  • To support the ecosystem of Nepali art by producing competent professionals with a problem-solving attitude who possess the knowledge and understanding of cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Learning and Teaching Methodologies

MFA is a full-time academic degree course supervised by a roster of experts, visiting artists, writers, curators, and regular tutors. Every student will be facilitated and mentored by experts from their concerned areas to undertake independent projects and manifest works negotiating different narratives and intellectual frameworks. Intensive peer learning environments will support their independent projects. 

Students will be acquainted with various pertinent issues related to the arts and other fields through our seminar sessions. These sessions will nurture students’ critical thinking, research skills, and investigation capacity by delving into transdisciplinary issues. The students will find ample time to reflect and manifest their works with significant conceptual and theoretical support and situate themselves as cultural knowledge producers.

The primary teaching methodologies are –

  • Innovative independent projects mentored and supervised by visiting experts and regular faculty members
  • Intensive seminar sessions offering exposure to various issues in the arts and other related domains
  • Theory tutorials with interactive sessions using multimedia projection, interdisciplinary teaching methodology, and as supplementary modules to the main practical components
  • Regular visits by experts, curators, and social scientists, and visits to artists organizations, research projects, and community and social-based projects, to develop liaisons with professionals for future purposes

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this degree course, students should be able to,

  • Work professionally with a clarity of thought to produce a desired, innovative, and original art, design, art education project, or curatorial venture that is aesthetically challenging, intellectually robust, or visually communicating
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the visual art system, including in-depth knowledge of the professional practice
  • Reveal the ability to accept challenges, explore and experiment, take control of their work, and drive it towards a new direction
  • Demonstrate the ability to articulate their artworks and art practice and others’.

Duration and Credits

The course duration will be of 2 years, each year consisting of two semesters offering 60 credits in total.

Eligibility

Bachelor degree in any discipline with a minimum of 3 years of education with 50% aggregate or 2.5 GPA

Admission Procedure

  • A statement of purpose
  • An MFA proposal
  • Portfolio Submission
  • An interview

Language of Instruction

All lectures and written work will be in English. However, Nepali will be used informally in practical sessions.

Intake Capacity

The intake capacity will be a total of 20 students.

Areas of Specialization

  • Art in Education
  • Curatorial Practice
  • Design
  • Studio Art Practice

Nomenclature of the degree

After completing academic requirements, the students will be awarded a Master of Fine Arts (MFA / Specialized Major) degree by the School of Arts, Kathmandu University.

IMPORTANT LINKS

MFA Application Form

MFA Fee Structure

MFA Information Booklet

MFA Course Content

MFA FAQs