Master's Programme in Fine Arts, 120 Credits

Entry Requirements

A successfully completed Bachelor´s degree in Fine Arts or equivalent. Artistic skills as judged through documentation of investigative artistic development work. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper Secondary course English A.

Degree

Examination
The education in Fine Arts at the Master's level is project-oriented in its structure, which is why the examinations take place continually during the supervision of the student's artistic work and participation in workshops, seminars etc.

The examination takes place in the fourth semester and consists of
- presentation of exam work with a focus on investigative artistic development (45 ECTS)
- documentation of exam work (photographs, video or other documentation appropriate for the format of the artistic work
- oral presentation of the exam work (a 30 min lecture)
- written presentation of exam work (a reflective text based on the artistic work).

The oral and written presentations are to contain an analysis of the work's background and context and a discussion of the method, application and references of the work within and outside the field of the work.

The exam work is presented for the student group, supervisor, instructor and external examiner who evaluates the work. In the evaluation, emphasis is placed on the effort and results, the knowledge and skills, its independence, insight and critical reflection, and the presentation as a whole.

For students who have not received a passing grade at a regular examination opportunity, another examination opportunity will be arranged. Students who have failed an examination twice have the right, according to the Faculty of Art's Board, to request that another examiner be chosen to determine the grade.

Description of the education for current education cycle

Content and organization
The education is internationally focused with many guest teachers from abroad and aimed at students who want to work professionally as artists in Sweden or abroad or within fields in society where artistic knowledge and research is of importance.

All students shall have access to a studio area during the education.

The instruction consists of project work (individually and in groups), tutorials (individually and in groups), lectures, seminars, courses and field studies.

For students who have not received a "proficiency certificate" in their bachelor's programme that gives access to the workshops, such courses will be provided.

Courses in artistic work, theory and techniques as well as workshops and tutorials are offered from an extensive course catalogue. Students can in year one take 25 ECTS elective credits, in year two 15 ECTS elective credits, etc, which means their own artistic work is equivalent to 35 respective 45 ECTS per academic year. The expectation is placed on the students to establish their own plans for their studies in cooperation with their supervisor.  

Required work for the Master's programme is
- an artistic work focused on artistic development work of 45 ECTS
- a cooperative project based on artistic work
- a written assignment that relates to the student's own artistic applications and its method
- regularly scheduled discussions with the supervisor on the studen's own work, and 
- public presentations of the artistic work on at least two occasions during the study period.

National goals for current degree

National goals
Knowledge and understanding
For a degree in Master of Fine Arts (two years) students must

- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both broad knowledge in the field and substantially deeper knowledge in parts of the field, together with deeper insight into current research and development work, and
- demonstrate familiarity with methods and processes for dealing with compex phenomena, issues and situations in the field.

Skills and abilities
For a degree in Master of Fine Arts (two years) students must

- demonstrate an ability to independently and creatively formulate new questions and contribute to the development of knowledge; solve more advanced problems; develop new and personal means of expression; and reflect critically on their own and other people's artistic approaches, within their main field of study,
- demonstrate an ability to create and realise their own artistic ideas, giving them welldeveloped personal expression to independently identify, formulate and solve artistic ideas and design problems; and to plan and, using appropriate methods, perform advanced artistic tasks within specified time limits;
- demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their activities and artistic issues in dialogue with different groups, orally, in writing or in some other way, in both national and international contexts; and
- demonstrate the skills and knowledge requiredd to work independently in professional life.

Judgement and approach
For a degree in Master of Fine Arts (two years) students must

- demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant artistic, social and ethical aspects;
- demonstrate insight into the role of art in society; and
- demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

Independent project (degree project)
For a degree in Master of Fine Arts (two years) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30  credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements. The independent project may comprise less than 30 credits, but not less than 15 credits, if the student has already completed an independent project at the second level worth at least 15 credits in their main field of study, or an equivalent project in a foreign educational programme.

Local goals for current degree

Local goals
Upon competion of the Master's programme the student shall have

- the ability to work independently professionally as an artist in Sweden or abroad or in fields in society where artistic knowledge, artistic investigative development and research are of importance,
- ability and skills to take initiative for discussions and detabes, be able to argue for and present ideas,
- knowledge, ability and skills in developing, organizing, promoting, evaluating, presenting and communicating their own artistic investigative development,
- skills to work ethnic and cultural diversity as well as for a deeper gender perspective,
- ability to critically analyze their own field's methods and framework of knowledge.

Examination format

Degree project/ Independent project
Artistic work with a focus on artistic investigative development (45 ECTS) including a written assignment that relates to one's own artistic application and method.

Study year 1 (fourth year)                            Study year 2 (fifth year)

Grades

Grades
Students will be graded with either pass or fail.

Transfer of Credits

Credit transfer
Students have the right to have and earlier education or activity examined to see if it can be accepted for academic credit. For more detailed information see the Higher Education Ordinance and http://www.umu.se/utbildning/antagning/tillgodoraknande/bestammelser/

Approved leave from studies

Interruption of studies
Interruption of studies can be granted for special cases. Application is submitted to the head of the department.

Discontinuation

Discontinuation of studies
Discontinuation of studies is reported to the head of the department.

Outline