Degree Course Type 

Masters

Entry Level Qualification 

Graduate

Degree Course Duration 

2 Year

Course Fields 

Arts

Degree Course Entrance Exam 

CUET UG, CUET PG

Average Course Fee 

20000 - 200000

Average Salary Offered 

450000 - 600000

Course Details 

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

Course Highlights 

The table below has the highlights of Master of Fine Arts or MFA course. 

About Course 

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

The entire curriculum of an MFA course is very diverse, with the main emphasis on applied work. An MFA course student will typically produce a final creative project that draws upon all of the knowledge they have gained while studying. The MFA course will be more focused on practical work, so the final outcome should be at a professional level. The course can last between two and three years, depending on the country you study in. The MFA degree is usually completed in a year if the student works full-time. 

A Master of Fine Arts or MFA course will focus on a specific field and will be scholarly. MFA curriculum is designed to help students develop their artistic skills and understand their responsibilities as an artist. The MFA is a professional degree in the practice of an art form. You get to study interesting subjects such as Photography, Sketching, Drawing and Illustration, Oil Painting, Printmaking, Ceramics, Sculpture, Wood Carving, Graphic Designing, Interior Design, etc. The Master of Fine Arts or MFA is a unique and challenging postgraduate degree in the arts.​​​​​​​

Why Choose Course And Required Skills 

1. MFA study includes a wider range of performance possibilities and opportunities. Artists have the freedom to choose their own domain by considering their skills and passion.

2. In MFA course you get to specialize in fields such as Applied Arts which include graphic designing, interior design, fashion design, Painting, Modern Art, Sculpture, Printmaking, Lithography, Digital Art studies, Animation, etc.

3. Career opportunities are also quite diverse after getting an MFA degree. You can work for ad agencies, marketing companies, museums, art colleges, and small non-profit organizations or companies. 

4. You could even start your own graphic design firm after MFA course if you have the skills and idea to do so. You can do freelance work as well in digital art and commercial art.

5. Having an MFA degree will provide you an edge in your career which not only be beneficial to you but to your workplace as well.​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​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 or MFA course. Some of the traits and skills that candidates looking to pursue MFA course should possess are:

1. Creativity

2. Realistic and constructive drawing

3. Composition skills

4. Colour techniques

5. Organisation skills

6. Decision-making skills

7. Research skills

8. Attention to detail

9. Interpretive skills

10. Teamwork

Eligibility  

To get MFA admission certain eligibility criteria have to be met. Some of these criteria are mentioned below:

1. The student must possess a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or any other equivalent degree from a recognized institute or university

2. The student must have obtained the minimum aggregate percentage (usually 50% - 60%) as stipulated by an institution in which a candidate is applying for admission

3. Sometimes candidates with a bachelor's degree in Humanities are also eligible to apply

Entrance Exams Details 

Some universities and colleges conduct their entrance examinations for MFA admission. The exam includes topics taught in the Bachelor's degree, helping them understand the course. The exams for MFA admission are mentioned below:

1. BHU PET: This exam is conducted by Banaras Hind University (BHU) to admit students in its MFA course. It is a university-level postgraduate entrance exam, conducted to select candidates for various master degree programmes. It is an offline pen and paper-based test asking multiple-choice questions. 

2. LPUNEST: This is a university-level entrance exam, conducted by Lovely Professional University to select candidates for courses like Engineering, MBA, Law, MFA, etc. The exam will be conducted in online mode, where there will be a total of 120 MCQs. The duration of this exam will be 150 minutes.

3. JNAFAU Entrance Exam: This exam is conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University to admit students in its MFA course. The exam will consist of 30 MCQ questions and will have 50 marks for one question in the practical exam. Candidates have to finish the exam in 3 hours 45 minutes.

Degree Course Syllabus 

Top Colleges 

There are more than 300 fine arts colleges in different states of India offering MFA and BFA degree. Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Baroda are considered the main centres of art culture in India. There are more than 300 fine arts colleges in India, offering MFA course in full-time mode, part-time mode and through distance education from IGNOU. MFA degree through distance education is quiet popular among students because it provides flexibility to complete the course in minimum 2 years to maximum 6 years

The following list shows some of the best MFA Colleges in India along with their MFA fees:

Candidates wanting to pursue an MFA course abroad would want to know more about the top universities for MFA. Given below is a list of the top-ranked Art colleges abroad for 2020. Candidates can visit the official website of these MFA colleges to know about the courses offered, the eligibility guidelines, the fee structure, and much more

The above-listed MFA colleges are some of the best colleges in the world to pursue MFA course. Students choose from a range of technical and theoretical MFA courses, many of which are taught by internationally recognised artists. The MFA programme also includes a study trip and a degree project, which consists of an essay and a solo exhibition at the academy’s gallery.

Course Fees 

The average fee for Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) is INR 40,000 per year.

Top Recruiters And Salary 

Here are a few jobs along with the salaries which are as follows:

Course Scope And Career Options 

The increasing use of visual information and communications backs better employment prospects for talented MFA degree artists in these fields. MFA students with outstanding talent can certainly receive major income for their work and stand to earn quite well. All one need to do is look around as there are endless opportunities one can find.

Advertising agencies are always on the lookout for talented and creative people. From drawing to photography to sculpting, it is one’s creativeness that always MFA course students stand out. Your creativity can also act as a powerful catalyst for social change. The more you learn, the more knowledge you gain, the more explore, and the more creative you become during your MFA course, you will have a wider perspective on any topic or subject.

Career Options and Job Prospects after MFA

1. Graphic Designer

Graphic designers create visual text and imagery concepts, by hand or using computer software, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports, etc. The job of a graphic designer is excellent for MFA course graduates and they will be paid quite handsomely depending on their experience.

2. Theater Artist

Theatre artist is an actor who uses the stage for performance based on a real or fictional story in front of a live audience in one take. Theatre artist is different from TV or movie actors as they do not get second chance to perform. They use songs, musicals, poems, drama, dance, speech to exhibit their art. MFA graduates who have a knack for acting can go in this field. 

3. Animator

If you have chosen animations as your specialisation in MFA course, you will be entitled to working as an animator. You can get associated with an organisation and can design cartoons, caricatures or graphics as per their choice. Media houses, production houses as well as advertising agencies are often in search of Animators.​​​​​​​

Admission Process 

Check out the application process and detailed MFA admission process for the course in the sections below:

1. Candidates need to visit the official website of the college where they want to pursue their MFA degree.

2. In order to get MFA admission students need to register themselves, fill in the application form with all the details accordingly and complete the application process by paying the fees.

3. Next, a merit list will be issued by the college authority. If candidates find their name in the merit list, they need to fill the MFA admission fees asked by the college/university.

4. Some institutions also conduct their own written test and additional interview phase to finally select a candidate.

5. After clearing this written exam and other processes, applicants need to go through the counseling round, where their documents will be verified, and seat allotment will be done.