The MA in Visual Art program encourages students to challenge and explore conventional boundaries of various art and design disciplines, borrowing and experimenting creatively. Interdisciplinary methodologies are investigated and applied aiming in the advancement and development of new and novel art and design discourses. The program encourages and respects critical theory as well as in depth understanding of material and the practice of making. Furthermore, it offers a close relation with the creative and professional industries and provides opportunities for collaboration on real life local and international projects. Emphasis is placed upon pushing forward critical discourses in a challenging and provocative way, indicating relations to key discourses within the contemporary arena, as well as building upon a personal visual language that is both informed of current trends and innovative.
The program aspires to bring together students from diverse backgrounds that will have the opportunity to interact and develop skills necessary to envision a rapidly growing interdisciplinary culture.
Committing to a balanced input of theory and practice, the program fosters professional initiative, self-motivation and ambition, desire for positive social change, cultural responsibility and environmental ethics as well as imaginative, out-of-the-box creativity.
Tailored to the individual needs and skills of the students, the program gives them the opportunity to develop creatively, to find new experimental applications of their ideas and meet their individual aspirations. Through a series of self-initiated projects and personal tutorials the students are enabled to develop their creative identity and individuality. In doing so students are encouraged in bringing into context their real-life experiences, skills and practice.
Conceptual and theoretical issues will be relatively brought up, studied and tackled through courses of Visual and Critical Thinking and Contextual Studies. These courses are primarily engaged with the systematic study of core notions, concepts and disputes of and around critical theory, philosophy, the art and design history, aesthetics and relative studies.
Furthermore, research will be promoted by means of encouraging the development of collaboration between the university and other academic and social partners on a local, regional (Mediterranean) and international level. The establishment of such networks is critical in acquiring experience, achieving effective exploitation of research results, resulting in good practice examples and innovation. In order to build a strong art and design research culture with proficient methodological skills the program offers the course of Research Methods that will introduce and provide students with all necessary and relevant competencies and tools in order to encourage and engage them into such a culture.
Students will also be introduced to a variety of subjects and media through the art and design electives, that have been methodically structured to provide students with in-depth understanding of primal issues and crucial lines of enquiries in the Art and Design Field;
The program aspires to bring together students from diverse backgrounds that will have the opportunity to interact and develop skills necessary to envision a rapidly growing interdisciplinary culture in art and design practices.
Committing to a balanced input of theory and practice, the program fosters professional initiative, self-motivation and ambition, desire for positive social change, cultural responsibility and environmental ethics as well as imaginative, out-of-the-box creativity.
The vision of the MA program is to motivate, inspire and encourage students to approach art and design through non-conventional understandings, beyond predictable applications and expectations of what design might be and push the development into new forms and applications borrowing expertise from graphic, interior and media design as well as the fine arts. The program aspires for students to explore that area between design and art which will grand them the opportunity to develop their thinking, ideas and even their personalities beyond conventional standards.
The program is anchored in the area of Fine Art and Applied Art, allowing each individual student to follow the areas of expertise provided by two major streams, which reflect the needs of upcoming new industries:
INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN
Interdisciplinary Design students will be introduced to the applied art field through an awareness about fields such as space and form alternatives, curatorial and displaying practices, object and materiality issues, installation and art aesthetics, new media, moving image, animation, web design, alternative visualizing methods, interactivity and materiality issues. In all cases students will be introduced to the technologies that precede these topics. Students attending this pathway will have the opportunity to work on real life projects, work and co-operate with active professionals from the design industry, deliver projects for clients coming from the public or private sector, as well as investigate their professional opportunities in a network of design related individuals, agencies and industries.
CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICES
Through this pathway, the students are introduced and ‘guided to’ contemporary methods, techniques, approaches and practices of the fine art field through systematic exploration and work development primarily in the art studio. These fundamental courses will enable students to locate practical areas of study, to experiment and resolve problems relating their medium, materials, concepts and methods through ongoing practice, group and one to one tutorial, critiques, exhibition visits as well as local and international project initiations. In addition, the students will be presented with a series of talks and presentations by renowned artists, theorists, curators, art historians, thinkers and cultural producers in order to become engaged in contemporary disputes, subjects and art processes.
The program is strongly engaged in this very interrelation of contemporary cultural debates to contemporary art practices and for this very reason the students will be further exposed to critical and current disputes as reflected in the art processes, applications, mediums and materials through the courses of Visual Processes and Applications; a course that examines critical positions, histories and renderings/interpretations of the art object through
The specific goals of the program are:
The majority of the employment opportunities lie within the local creative industries. Graduates from the MA program in Visual Arts may go into managerial creative posts such as Creative Coordinators, Cultural Producers, Design Managers or Art Directors in Graphic Design agencies, Interior Architecture, Art and Design related posts, as well as the media and will be working towards hybrid forms of visual and social research and creative production.
Graduates can also pursue opportunities to initiate artist led, community-based projects or postgraduate doctoral studies.
| SEMESTER 1 | ||
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| MVA501 | RESEARCH METHODS | 10 |
| MVA503 | VISUAL AND CRITICAL STUDIES | 10 |
| MVA504 | STUDIO PRACTICE I | 10 |
| TOTAL | 30 |
| SEMESTER 2 | ||
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| MVA505 | STUDIO PRACTICE II | 10 |
| MVA506 | CONTEXTUAL STUDIES | 10 |
| ELECTIVE COURSE | 10 | |
| TOTAL | 30 |
| SEMESTER 3 | ||
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| MMM517 | MASTERS DISSERTATION | 30 |
| TOTAL | 30 |
To successfully complete the program the student must complete a total of 90 ECTS; (3) required courses, (2) required specialization courses, (1) specialization elective and an MA Thesis.
The Program is based on the ECTS credit accumulation mode of study. Students can be awarded the Master in Visual Arts with specialization in Interdisciplinary Design, after the completion of 90 credits. From these credits, 30 are allocated for mandatory courses, 20 are allocated for the required specialization courses, 10 for elective courses and 30 are allocated for the dissertation.
| Module Group | ECTS |
| Required Courses | 50 |
| Specialization Electives | 10 |
| Masters Dissertation | 30 |
| TOTAL | 90 |
Required Courses Modules
The student must successfully complete 50 ECTS, from the following list of modules:
| No. | Code | Name | ECTS | Hours / week |
| 1 | MVA501 | RESEARCH METHODS | 10 | 4 |
| 2 | MVA502 | ADVANCED RESEARCH APPLICATIONS | 10 | 6 |
| 3 | MVA503 | VISUAL AND CRITICAL STUDIES | 10 | 4 |
| 4 | MVA506 | CONTEXTUAL STUDIES | 10 | 5 |
| 5 | MVA507 | DESIGN MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICES | 10 | 6 |
Specialization Electives Modules
The student must successfully complete 10 ECTS, from the following list of modules:
| No. | Code | Name | ECTS | Hours / week |
| 1 | MVA509 | NEW MEDIA | 10 | 3 |
| 2 | MVA511 | SPACE AND DISPLAY | 10 | 3 |
| 3 | MVA512 | EXPERIMENTAL SPACES | 10 | 3 |
Masters Dissertation Modules
The student must successfully complete 30 ECTS, from the following list of modules:
| No. | Code | Name | ECTS | Hours / week |
| 1 | MMM517 | MASTERS DISSERTATION | 30 | 0 |
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All perspective candidates are admitted to the MA program if they satisfy the following criteria:
All perspective candidates must sit for an interview and a portfolio presentation/review. All interviews are conducted by a Selection Committee which includes the program coordinator (chair) and two faculty members.
The most important criteria for the selection of the MA students is based on the candidate’s ability for critical thinking and creativity, the visual intelligence, literacy and competency of the candidates as well as the candidate’s’ art and design visual language articulation and skills.
Frederick University academic year consists of the fall and spring semesters. The calendar is arranged so that students may start classes either during the last week of September or the first week of February. Candidates may submit an application for admission in any of the semesters. Due to the fact that formalities for the issue of an entry visa take at least 6 weeks, candidates are urged to file an application at least 8 weeks prior to the expected date of enrolment. Students are expected to be on campus prior to the beginning of the intended semester/session. In response to arising need, courses could be provided within the summer period.
Candidates who are nationals of EU countries can enter Cyprus as visitors. On arrival at Frederick University they must submit to the Admission Office the following:
Furthermore, they must pay the registration fee, the semester tuition fees, and register for subjects. Next they must apply to the Migration Department for a temporary residence permit. The application to the Migration Department must be supported by evidence that they have paid their tuition fees for the semester, have enough funds for their initial living expenses and have obtained local health insurance coverage.
B. Applicants from non EU countries
International Students from non EU countries need to have a valid student visa in order to be allowed to enter Cyprus. The issue of an entry visa takes about 6 weeks from the date of the submission of the application. It is therefore recommended that candidates submit their application at least 8 weeks before the beginning of the semester. Cyprus Migration Department requirements in respect of the issue of a student visa, which from time to time may be modified, are available to candidates in a separate document.
Applicants are requested to contact the Office of Admissions to receive information and guidance regarding the proper documentation and formalities to be followed.
Personal interviews are not normally required as part of the admission process; however, Frederick University reserves the right to request an interview before making a final decision on accepting an applicant.
A good knowledge of the English language is required for all programs of Frederick University taught in English.
English Placement Test
Students whose native language is not English will have to take the Frederick University English Placement Test (FUEPT). Students who are qualified for exemption from the English Language Courses should apply to the Center of Languages with the necessary documentation. Further details regarding the policies and requirements for exemption can be obtained from the Admissions Office and the Center of Languages.
Students who are not competent in the English language are required to take special English classes to improve their skills and, when necessary, they will take reduced load for that semester. Students who may need a more vigorous preparation will take an intensive course in English before enrolling in a regular program. Intensive courses commence at the beginning of the fall and the spring semesters.
FULL PROGRAM TUITION FEES :
| DISCOUNTED FEES - €/ECTS | FOR FULL TIME STUDY (60 ECTS)- € |
| 100.00 | 9000 |
| On campus students | Euro |
| Application Fee | €35 payable once |
| Registration Fee | €25 per registration |
| Student Activity Fee | €20 per semester |
| Technology Fee | €20 per semester |
| Late Registration Fee | €25 |
| Transcript Fee | €5 per additional copy |
| Incomplete Make-up | €25 |
| Graduation Application Fee | €55 |
| Exam Waiver Fee | €25 |
| Second Examination Fee | €80 |
| Transfer Credit Evaluation | €40 |
| Distance Learning students | Euro |
| Application Fee | €35 payable once |
| Semester Registration & Technology Fee | €100 per semester |
Contact Person: U.A.G.C.
Phone: +35722778744
Email: info@uagc.eu
