Master’s programme in fine arts

The University of the Arts Helsinki’s (Uniarts Helsinki) Academy of Fine Arts is accepting new students to its two-year master’s programme in fine arts. Studies begin in January 2022.

As a student at Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts, you have the flexibility to pursue your own personal aspirations when selecting courses and planning your curriculum. Individual guidance and independent artistic work are integral to the studies. You are encouraged to choose courses from subject areas other than your own and to engage in versatile artistic work using different media. We also encourage cross-disciplinary studies at the other academies of Uniarts Helsinki: the Sibelius Academy and the Theatre Academy.

As well as first-class facilities and support, every student is provided with a workspace of their own. Students also have excellent opportunities to exhibit their work in public, thanks to the Academy’s own galleries, frequent public art projects and active cooperation with the local and international art scene. In autumn 2021, the Academy will move to a new building designed for studying art, situated in the vibrant, up-and-coming Sörnäinen district in Helsinki.

Our faculty is composed of distinguished artists and experts from various fields of art. Students have the opportunity to work closely with our acclaimed teachers across subject areas. Our current faculty includes, to name a few, professors Andrew Best-Dunkley, Marjaana Kella, Daniel Peltz, Tarja Pitkänen-Walter, Anna-Kaisa Rastenberger, Sigrid Sandström, Anita Seppä, Riikka Stewen, Juha-Heikki Tihinen, Salla Tykkä, Kari Vehosalo, and Annu Vertanen.

Our impressive list of visiting artists, professors and lecturers from the past few years includes Rachael Allen, David Batchelor, Nisrine Boukhari, Monster Chetwynd, Elmgreen & Dragset, Okwui Enwezor, Andrea Giunta, Özgü Gündeslioglu, IC-98, Nomaduma Rosa Masilela, James Nisbet, Ruth Pelzer-Montada, Dianna Molzan, Alex Olson, Ciara Phillips, Olivia Plender, Josephine Pryde, Martha Rosler, Mira Schor, Adam Szymczyk, Ho Rui An, Amalia Ulman, and Emily Wardill.

Master’s programme in fine arts
Our master’s programme will encourage you to find your own strengths and methods of expression within the field of fine arts. You will acquire skills and knowledge that will enable you to work independently as a visual artist and understand your own work in the context of contemporary art and society where artists may adopt multi-faceted roles and profiles.

At the Academy of Fine Arts, you can study the subject areas of sculpture, painting, printmaking and time and space arts. Time and space arts allows you to specialise in moving image, photography or site and situation specific art.

The primary languages of instruction are Finnish and English, and both languages are used flexibly on the courses. All mandatory studies are offered in both Finnish and English, and it is also possible to complete credits in Swedish.

Learn more about the programme. Admissions guide.

Applying
We welcome applications between August 11–25, 2021 (ending at 3pm local Finnish time on the last day). We have a three-phase application process: electronic application and advance assignments, evaluation of the advance assignments and interview.

Online event: MFA open house on June 10, 2021
Are you interested in applying to our master’s programme in fine arts? What do you want to know about studying at Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts? Join our MFA open fouse webinar on June 10 at 4pm (UTC+3) for information and a chance to ask questions.

Learn more about the event.

Uniarts Helsinki
The University of the Arts Helsinki, located in Finland’s capital Helsinki, provides the highest level of education in music, fine arts, theatre and dance in Finland. Uniarts Helsinki’s wide selection of programmes in the field of arts and a productive dialogue between teaching and research make the university unique on an international scale.