Fine Art MA (Online)
Tap into Falmouth’s renowned fine art expertise from your home and studio.
Course overview
Falmouth School of Art challenges student artists to explore and address both the contemporary moment and the developing future. On this online MA course, you’ll learn to build a sustainable practice that engages with global political, economic, social and ecological change.
You’ll be supported to experiment and collaborate within an international network of peers and professionals. Our lecturers and tutors are practising artists, curators, writers and researchers, building knowledge cooperatively with students in flexible online spaces. You’ll make a body of work that culminates in an ambitious public-facing project, wherever you are in the world.
Why study this course at Falmouth?
• Be supported to try new ways of working, deepen your material knowledge and develop your analytical skills
• Be informed by the wide range of expertise our artist lecturers and tutors bring to the course, supported by a dynamic programme of online guest lectures and workshops
• Build an understanding of historical and contemporary contexts, networks and opportunities within the professional art world
• Consider the impact of your practice and ask how it engages with global conversations
Start dates: January / May / September
(Three intakes per year)
Interested in studying this Online course? Join our virtual masterclass on 17 August.
Find out moreCourse details
Throughout this online Fine Art MA, you'll be challenged to experiment while developing and situating your practice within relevant fields of critical art practice. Foregrounding the importance of sustainability, collaboration and professional, ethical practice, you'll grow the ambition of your work as an artist.
Modules
The modules have been specifically designed to be studied in a non-linear order, with the order in which you’ll study the modules depending on when you begin the course.
MA
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit Major Project (180 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details for the MA.
PGDip
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules (120 credits in total), and will not complete a Major Project.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details for the PGDip.
Module details
This introductory module supports you to look at your work with fresh eyes, interrogate local contexts specific to your practice and situate new work within the wider context of international contemporary art discourse.
Contemporary Positions and Practice examines approaches to critical art practice, as well as core themes in contemporary visual culture, asking how artists can find new ways to respond to the social, political, economic and environmental conditions of our times. You will be supported to identify your existing knowledge and strategies, and explore the context(s) you are working in.
As you progress through the module you will be encouraged to experiment in the studio and engage with material and contextual research to generate new questions that will drive the development of your practice throughout the course. Within discursive activities with your peer group and faculty staff, as well as self-directed studio work and reflection, you will consider your motivations and better understand how your work is experienced by viewers.
You will be supported to acquire professional practice and academic study skills, including digital skills. You will receive feedback, and you will develop your analytical skills through conversation and collaboration with peers, so that you can articulate your intentions and arrive at critical positions regarding your own and others' artworks.
(30 credits)
This module asks you to open your practice to creative partnership and innovation. You will plan and deliver a public-facing project, whilst gaining insight into different frameworks and ethical considerations for collaborative practice.
During the module you will explore different possibilities for collaboration as an artist, asking how cooperative and innovative ways of working can grow the ambition – and inform the ethics – of your practice.
You will be invited to devise and develop a collaborative project relevant to your work and contexts. You will be working towards a public facing outcome, which might include – but is not limited to – an exhibition or event, a publication or performance, activity in the landscape or civic space, or activity online. You might need to explore strategies for ethical collaboration in your locality, a new context, or at a distance.
You will critically evaluate your work in a report at the conclusion of the module and consider the relationship between your intentions and the processes and audiences with whom you engage.
(30 credits)
This module addresses the impact of art practice environmentally, socially and economically. It asks you to consider strategies that will support you to sustain life as an artist in the long term and contribute to renewal.
The module offers time, space and learning resources that enable you to consider what sustainability means to you. Engaging with discourse that addresses the contingent times we're living in, you’ll reflect upon the politics and values within your own and others' work.
By exploring a variety of creative strategies for the development of innovative contemporary art practice, you'll devise strategies and processes that are conscious of environmental and social impact, as well as your own wellbeing, preparing you to participate thoughtfully in new communities of practice and sustain your life as an artist beyond the course.
Sustainable Strategies invites you to take risks in the studio, to develop new skills sets, and to produce an experimental artist film, reflecting on questions of sustainability and renewal within your studio work.
(30 credits)
This module provides the opportunity for you to research historical and contemporary contexts and theory. It supports you to address the debates, complex global networks and positions that surround your art practice.
Operating like a cultural critic or theorist, during this module you have the opportunity to research the historical and contemporary contexts within which your practice takes place.
The subjects of this research will be in relation to your own studio work, but not directly about it. Through your analysis of sources, you'll formulate your own position and develop your ability to enhance your subject knowledge.
You will reflect upon and critically interrogate positions in a manner consistent with contemporary academic discourse and professional practice in the development of a written essay or recorded lecture.
(30 credits)
This module takes place over two Study Blocks (30 weeks) and supports you to propose, research and produce an ambitious public-facing project, located within defined critical and professional contexts.
The module aims to support your increasingly independent practice as an artist, to enhance and synthesise the skills and knowledge you have gained from previous modules, and to challenge your practice and thinking as an artist to create ambitious, critically engaged, and thought-provoking new work.
Throughout your Final Major Project, you will be supported in 1:1 supervision to research, develop and produce a body of work that articulates your position – your practical and conceptual motivations as a practicing contemporary artist. You will consolidate the critical reflection and professional practice skills you have developed throughout the course to produce an ambitious public-facing outcome and an evaluative portfolio of practice.
On completion of this module, we celebrate graduate projects within our course community and on public-facing platforms. Graduates are also invited to join our alumni community.
(60 credits)
We regularly review course and module content to ensure our students receive a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be changes made to the curriculum which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Optional modules may be updated to maintain the best experience. Any students or applicants affected will be informed of approved changes directly.
Got questions? Chat to Rachel, your Course Advisor
Get in touchOur students and graduates
"I developed my creative and technical skills in new mediums through learning, experimentation, and research during my time on the course."
Spencer Hogg, graduate
“The community was wonderful. Before starting the course, I was worried that studying online might feel quite isolating, but it felt surprisingly communal."
Cindy Powell, graduate
"The online community is broad based and international so you gain insight into what it's like to practise in different parts of the world."
Anna Turner, graduate
Graduate Showcases
Meet our MA Fine Art Online class of May 2026
08 May 2026
This May's cohort of MA Fine Art (Online) graduates have just completed their Final Major Projects, ...
Meet our MA Fine Art Online class of January 2026
14 January 2026
This January's cohort of MA Fine Art (Online) graduates have just completed their Final Major Projec...
Meet our Fine Art MA (Online) class of September 2025
28 August 2025
This September's cohort of Fine Art MA (Online) graduates have just completed their Final Major Proj...
Credit: Kim Moreland
Meet our Fine Art MA (Online) class of May 2025
08 May 2025
This May's cohort of Fine Art MA (Online) graduates have just completed their Final Major Projects, ...
Meet our Fine Art MA (Online) class of January 2025
24 January 2025
The latest cohort of Fine Art MA (Online) graduates have completed their Final Major Projects this J...
Credit: Anupa Sahdev
Meet our Fine Art MA (Online) class of September 2024
10 September 2024
Our newest cohort of Fine Art MA (Online) graduates have recently completed their Final Major Projec...
Credit: Kamar Daboul, based in Saudi Arabia
Introducing our Fine Art MA (Online) class of May 2024
03 June 2024
Discover the work and inspirations of our third cohort of online Fine Art master's graduates.
Work: Rebecca Barnard
Introducing our Fine Art MA (Online) class of January 2024
30 January 2024
Discover the work and inspirations of our second cohort of online Fine Art master's graduates.
Work: Bridget Macklin Photo: Robin Shelton
Introducing our online Fine Art master's graduates: Class of 2023
11 September 2023
Discover the work and inspirations of first cohort of online Fine Art master's graduates.
See more work made by our community
Stories from our community
MA Fine Art Online Course Leader explores 'thoughtful, generous and alive’ research-led teaching
22 July 2026
One of our students recently wrote about how she felt “part of something thoughtful, generous and ...
Online Fine Art student wins International Amateur Photographer of the Year
27 March 2026
Between travelling the world and exploring diverse cultures and natural wonders, working as a creati...
Online Fine Art alumna makes this year’s John Ruskin Prize shortlist after career pivot
15 January 2026
After 15 successful years of working as a marketing director, Tracy McBride decided to switch career...
Why Falmouth's online Fine Art master's is the best course I've ever done
27 November 2025
Fine Art MA (Online) student Claire Rookes tells us about a recent course residential trip and why s...
Calabash Speaker Prototype v1, G.A.S Lagos Residency 2023. Courtesy Evan Ifekoya.
Falmouth's online Fine Art MA collaborates with Camden Art Centre on new podcast
18 November 2025
Falmouth Fine Art MA (Online) Lecturer and artist Evan Ifekoya has worked in partnership with Camden...
Fine Art Online graduate hosts collaborative workshop on the art of paper
30 September 2025
Interdisciplinary artist, handmade papermaker and recent Fine Art MA (Online) graduate Becca Edwards...
Balancing online study with work and life
24 June 2025
When I first looked into studying for a master’s in Fine Art, one of my biggest questions was: Can...
Why I chose to study Fine Art online
11 April 2025
Hi, I’m Kylie Merrick, a mature student studying the online Fine Art master’s at Falmouth.
From ‘Transition in Tradition’ series by Martin Travers
Graduate Spotlight: artist and youth arts developer Martin Travers
28 March 2025
International artist Martin Travers works across a wide range of disciplines including murals, fine ...
Graduate spotlight: South African artist Theodor Van der Merwe
13 March 2025
One of our most recent graduates from Falmouth’s online master’s in Fine Art is Theodor Van der ...
Connect with our course community
Learning and support
You'll learn through a blend of recorded learning content, learning activities, guest talks, tasks and discussion forums, which you'll access via our dedicated virtual learning environment. This is also where you'll find all key documentation, get course announcements and access extensive learning resources.
How will I be supported?
You'll be supported academically by Online Tutors, who will also deliver weekly learning activities and facilitate the online forums. If you need assistance with anything that isn't directly related to course material, a dedicated Student Advisor team will be on hand to help. You'll also have access to Falmouth University's excellent Employability Service.
You'll refine dynamic art practices, spending around 25 hours a week working on your craft. We incorporate optional live events for all our online students. There will be up to two per year and will typically run over a long weekend, to fit around your other commitments.
What are my study hours?
Based on the total learning time for the Postgraduate online courses, an average study week can be up to 25 hours. As our online courses are intended to be flexible, the time required to study will vary based on the level of study, the module week, and individual learning pace.
Assessment methods
Assessment provides the course team with a means of offering tailored guidance alongside advice on how to progress knowledge and skills in key areas that relate to the course Learning Outcomes. The course team will identify your strengths and weaknesses as an individual and discuss them with you throughout your time on the course.
You will be assessed via coursework at the end of each module in the form of visual, verbal and written assignments. You will also receive regular feedback via webinars, Q&As and workshops with your peers.
- Dedicated easy-to-use virtual learning environment (VLE)
- Accessible online audio / visual content
- A Student Advisor to support you throughout your studies and access to our Student Support Services
- Access to our Employability Service
- 24/7 access to Falmouth's extensive online library of contextual books, journals and resources
- Access to online software tutorials at LinkedIn Learning
- Students' Union community
- Optional in-person events
- Invitation to attend alumni events
Although online students don't have access to on-campus facilities as part of the course, you can hire equipment and access facilities by paying a charge. Find out more about availability and prices here.
Your online study setup
To get the most out of your online studies with Falmouth, we recommend using a desktop or laptop computer with reliable internet access. This will enable you to fully experience our Virtual Learning Environment, which houses your course material, module videos and webinar recordings, discussion forums and more. Please note while a mobile phone or tablet can support you in your studies, they are not suitable as your primary means of engagement.
If you have any questions, our friendly course advisors are here to help.
Meet the team
The Fine Art MA course is taught by a range of practicing artists with strong international networks. With diverse backgrounds, research interests and skills sets, they're well placed to guide your own unique development.
You'll also enhance your understanding of global contemporary practice through engagement with our programme of guest speakers, where we welcome innovative and acclaimed artists, curators, writers and researchers. Find out more about guest speakers, who join us for lectures, Q&As and live workshops, on our Instagram feed.
Josie Cockram
Course Lead, MA Fine Art (Online)
Josie is an artist, Senior Lecturer and contemporary art curator based in Devon, UK. As Course Leade...
Dr Kate Fahey
Lecturer & Module Leader, Fine Art MA (online)
Kate Fahey is an artist and researcher working with print, sculpture, moving image, sound and instal...
Dr Joanna Griffin
Lecturer, Drawing BA(Hons)
I am an artist and educator with a research interest in experiential encounters with large-scale tec...
Dr Lucy A. Sames
Tutor, MA Fine Art (online)
Lucy is a curator and researcher living and working between London, Bristol and South Wales. ...
Srinivas Surti
Tutor, MA Fine Art (online)
I completed an MA in Fine Art at St. Martins School of Art in 2002 and since then, I have been exhib...
Evan Ifekoya
Collaborative Practices Module Lead, Fine Art MA (Online)
Evan Ifekoya’s work in community organising, installation, performance, sound, text and video is a...
Luke Dowd
Online Tutor, Fine Art MA (Online)
I work through, or have worked through, processes that can be described as painting, screen printing...
Flora Bowden
Online Tutor, Fine Art MA (Online)
Flora Bowden is an artist, researcher, and educator. Her practice is centred around painting, drawin...
Dr Mary Anne Francis
Tutor, MA Fine Art (Online)
Mary Anne is an artist and writer with a long history of teaching Fine Art and related subjects at a...
Charlie Duck
Senior Lecturer, Fine Art BA(Hons)
Charlie works across printmaking, painting, sculpture, and ceramics to explore painting and its expa...
Georgia Metaxas
Lecturer & Module Leader, MA Photography (Online)
Georgia Metaxas is an artist and educator based in London, she is the Module Leader for Sustainable ...
Maria Christoforidou
Lecturer
Maria Christoforidou is an artist, writer and researcher. Maria was born in Zambia, grew up in Greec...
Lucy Willow
Senior Lecturer subject specialist in sculpture
I joined the BA Fine Art team in 2012 as senior lecturer with subject specialism in sculpture and am...
Dr Robyn Cook
Associate Professor of Design Ecologies
Dr Robyn Cook is an Associate Professor of Design Ecologies in the Department of Graphic Design at F...
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.
Meet your course leader, Josie Cockram
Josie Cockram is an artist, lecturer and contemporary art curator. We chatted to her about her journey as an artist, the online master's course and why art matters in the world today.
Read moreCareers
As a Fine Art MA graduate, you could become:
- Practicing artist
- Curator and art exhibition or festival organiser
- Arts teacher, lecturer and technician
- Art critic, journalist and publisher
- Social entrepreneur or campaigner
- Research/PhD student
Today’s creative industries are thriving and diverse. Discover the Falmouth graduates whose lives have been shaped by their creativity, explore where a degree at Falmouth could take you and learn about our Employability service.

How to apply
Speak to us about the course
If you'd like to talk to an Advisor about this course or your application, get in touch with us via the form below.
Apply now
Ready to apply for postgraduate study? We have three start dates a year: January / May / September. Select the start date you'd like to apply for in the drop-downs below and then click the relevant apply button to begin.
You can apply to begin your studies in September 2026 by selecting the relevant course route below:
You can apply to begin your studies in January 2027 by selecting the relevant course route below:
You can apply to begin your studies in May 2027 by selecting the relevant course route below:
Applying as an international student?
If you are ready to apply for this Online Postgraduate course, you can use the apply buttons within the section above to start your application. For more information on the application journey and for details on the steps to follow you can visit our apply for an Online Postgraduate Degree page or speak to one of our friendly Course Advisors using our online form.
How to apply for our Online Degrees
Find out moreAn honours degree or Level 6 equivalent qualification is desirable. However, candidates without a degree or formal qualification are still encouraged to apply. If you'd like to discuss our entry requirements, speak to an advisor.
We'll ask you to provide a portfolio of your most recent work when you apply. You'll need to submit a PDF or single link to your online portfolio. Your portfolio should include 10-15 images, films, or audio artworks. All of the pieces should be captioned with their title, material, size, duration, and date. Please also provide a 300-500 word portfolio statement that outlines the ideas and intentions of your practice.
If you'd like to talk to us about your application, get in touch.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.5 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, and Listening, and a minimum of 6.0 in speaking.
We also accept a range of other recognised English language qualifications. You can visit our English Language Requirements page for more information.
For more information about equivalent international qualifications or English language requirements please contact our friendly Course Advisors.
What we're looking for
We're looking for critically engaged practitioners who are looking to refine their practice and build global cooperative networks.
This course has three intakes per year: January, May and September.
| Academic start date* | Application deadline | Early Bird Discount deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 21 September 2026 | 7 September 2026 | 3 August 2026 |
| 18 January 2027 | 8 January 2027 | 23 November 2026 |
| 24 May 2027 | 7 May 2027 | 29 March 2027 |
Please note:
*Virtual Welcome Week begins the week before the academic start date. During this time, our Student Advisor team will host Welcome Webinars and be in touch with practical information on how to study online.
An Early Bird discount is available for early applications. Currently the scheme offers up to £600 off MA tuition fees: £300 if you apply by the Early Bird discount submission deadline, and a further £300 off your tuition fees if you receive an offer and within two weeks you accept the place and pay the acceptance fee. Both these payments would be applied to your final fee instalment. Please note the discount amount is subject to change for future intakes.
| Early Bird discount submission deadline | Academic start date |
|---|---|
| 3 August 2026 | 21 September 2026 |
| 23 November 2026 | 18 January 2027 |
| 29 March 2027 | 24 May 2027 |
To discuss all our discount opportunities, contact an advisor.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
At Falmouth University, you can choose to pay your tuition fees for our online postgraduate courses up front, or in instalments.
MA/MSc course (2 years part time)
- Total fee £12,150 (incl. acceptance fee)
- Two instalments of £6,075, paid at the start of each year, or six instalments of £2,025 at the start of each study block.
PGDip course
- Total fee £7,921 (incl. acceptance fee)
- Four instalments of £1,980.25 at the start of each study block.
Your acceptance fee is deducted from your first instalment. Any discounts you have been awarded are deducted from your final instalment(s).
At Falmouth University, you can choose to pay your tuition fees for our online postgraduate courses up front, or in instalments.
MA/MSc course (2 years part time)
- Total fee £12,150 (incl. acceptance fee)
- Two instalments of £6,075, paid at the start of each year, or six instalments of £2,025 at the start of each study block.
PGDip course
- Total fee £7,921 (incl. acceptance fee)
- Four instalments of £1,980.25 at the start of each study block.
Your acceptance fee is deducted from your first instalment. Any discounts you have been awarded are deducted from your final instalment(s).
Tuition fees for September 2027 will be confirmed in summer 2026.
Tuition fees are set annually. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or UK Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.
Early Bird discount available
Request informationTypical course costs
As part of studying MA Fine Art you will require:
Laptop/computer
You will need a laptop or computer with a webcam, for virtual learning. You'll also need a good internet connection and data allowance capable of supporting video meetings and streaming.
Digital camera
We would recommend you have a digital camera capable of making still and moving image to document your work (this could be a good phone camera).
Resources and materials
You will also need to sustain your practice through managing your own resources. Depending on your own artistic style, you may wish to have a dedicated space in your home, access to a studio, materials, tools or necessary hardware and software to produce digital work.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Depending on the mediums you choose to work in, you may require access to Adobe Creative Cloud. You may be eligible for discounted licenses through Adobe's education pricing and Falmouth University seeks to provide further discounts when possible. If any discounts are available, we will communicate these to you.
For more information please visit Adobe Creative Cloud.
Optional in-person events
You will be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation and subsistence costs to attend these events.
As part of studying MA Fine Art you will require:
Laptop/computer
You will need a laptop or computer with a webcam, for virtual learning. You'll also need a good internet connection and data allowance capable of supporting video meetings and streaming.
Digital camera
We would recommend you have a digital camera capable of making still and moving image to document your work (this could be a good phone camera).
Resources and materials
You will also need to sustain your practice through managing your own resources. Depending on your own artistic style, you may wish to have a dedicated space in your home, access to a studio, materials, tools or necessary hardware and software to produce digital work.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Depending on the mediums you choose to work in, you may require access to Adobe Creative Cloud. You may be eligible for discounted licenses through Adobe's education pricing and Falmouth University seeks to provide further discounts when possible. If any discounts are available, we will communicate these to you.
For more information please visit Adobe Creative Cloud.
Optional in-person events
You will be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation and subsistence costs to attend these events.
Funding and scholarships for postgraduate students
There are loans, scholarships, awards, graduate discounts and alternative funding sources for domestic and international postgraduate students. Read about them on our Postgraduate Funding page.
Find out about funding
Ask a student
What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?
From course details and academic support, to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Speak to an advisor
Do you have questions about the course or studying online with Falmouth? Fill in our simple online form and we'll get in touch to support your application journey.
Submit form
Similar courses
Spatial Design MA
Physical environments have the power to drive social, environmental and ethical change. This course ...
Design Innovation MSc
Challenge and shape the future of conscious, global design.
Fine Art MA
Refine your artistic practice through experimentation, innovation and applied research.
Sustainable Fashion MA (Online)
Become a conscious changemaker in the 21st century fashion industry. Position yourself as a catalyst...
User Experience Design MA (Online)
Learn how to apply key principles of user-centered design to create original work based on your own ...
Prosthetic Effects MA
Launch your career in prosthetic effects with this unique course. Working hand-in-hand with world-cl...
Communication Design MA
Design thinking is an essential tool for understanding the world around us, and at a time of unprece...
Illustration: Authorial Practice MA
Develop your unique visual language on this studio-based Illustration MA. You’ll learn to see your...
Creative Advertising MA
Master the contemporary craft of advertising. On this innovative master's course, you’ll ente...