Updated on Aug 22, 2023 by GMU
MFA is a two-year specialized postgraduate course that deals with Applied Arts, Painting, Art History, Sculpture, Visual Communication, Printmaking, Ceramics, and other fields of Aesthetic arts. Moreover, it gives the aspirants various job opportunities in many international job sectors. For example, they can fulfill the role of a Curator, Graphic Designer, Animator, Art Designer, Lecturer, Art Critic, Commercial Artist etc.
MFA Course Details
| Degree | Masters |
| Full Form | Master of Fine Arts |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Age | No specific age |
| Minimum Percentage | 45 - 50% |
| Average Fees | INR 20K - 2 LPA |
| Similar Options of Study | MVA, BFA, BVA |
| Average Salary | INR 4.5 - 6 LPA [Source: PayScale] |
| Employment Roles | Curator, Graphic Designer, Animator, Art Designer, Lecturer, Art Critic, Commercial Artist |
About Master of Fine Arts
According to Wikipedia," Art is a diverse range of product of human activity involving creative imagination to express technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas." The full form of MFA is Master of Fine Arts. One of the leading specializations in the MFA Degree is a complete knowledge of macro and micro-aspects of aesthetic art forms. Programs at the postgraduate level are completed in two years. Their primary areas of focus for the MFA are visual arts and performing arts.
Table of Contents
- MFA Eligibility Criteria
- MFA Admission Process
- MFA Entrance Exams
- MFA Colleges
- Why Choose MFA?
- MFA Fees Structure
- MFA Syllabus and Subjects
- Preparation Tips for MFA
- Scope of Higher Education for MFA
- MFA Salary
- MFA Career Options
- Skills to Excel
Eligibility Criteria for MFA
Admission for the MFA course in India begins with checking the course's eligibility criteria, including a minimum of 45-50% aggregate marks in a Bachelor of Fine Arts or an equivalent degree in any reputed University or Institution. In addition, a passing score is required on BHU PET, AMU, or the necessary entrance examination. This course is open to all ages.
Admission Process for MFA?
The MFA admission process begins with the student having eligibility criteria along with passing marks on entrance exams conducted by national bodies, institutes, or a group of institutes. Then, aspirants are called to write a written test, participate in group discussions, and have a personal interview after passing these exams. Though the admission process varies from college to college, below mentioned are the steps that one should go through generally to get admission:
How to Apply?
Students must use the online portal/offline network to get the application form first. Then, it has to be filled. Because of covid, online is the only option available right now. Once done, the aspirant has to upload/attach the required documents per the guidelines and the specifications mentioned. Then, apply for a loan if necessary and pay the fee if selected.
Selection Process
The selection is based on the MFA eligibility criteria of the minimum scores in the listed exams. Once that is done, there might be an entrance test in colleges. After passing those with a decent score, the aspirant is selected. Then, either with/without the loan, the fee has to be paid depending on the ones quoted by the institution.
Popular Entrance Exams for MFA
Some universities and institutions or even states may conduct their entrance examinations for MFA admissions. The exam includes topics taught in the Bachelor's degree, helping them understand the course. The exams are:
- BHU PET
- AMU
A Quick Glance At the MFA Entrance Exams
The students must qualify for the national or state level MFA entrance exams such as BHU PET, AMU, etc. Aspirants can choose B- schools or coaching institutes that prepare students for the entrance exams. The entrance exam gives a glance at the entire course, thus giving an overview of the topic.
- The aspirant needs to learn time management to be able to attempt all the questions.
- Time management and aptitude knowledge are required for the generalized section.
- The exams are held only in English, and thus language proficiency is a must.
- Study the entire syllabus for the entrance exams, covering each topic and studying in detail about them
- Skills to prepare for include Analytical thinking and general knowledge.
Top 10 MFA Colleges in India
India has a variety of colleges offering a course in MFA. Since it's a form of specialization, it requires a practical and theoretical study which helps them get in-depth knowledge on the course. These are the top 10 colleges in India, according to the updates given in 2021.
|
SI.No. |
Name of the College |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
10 |
Fee Structure for MFA
The MFA course fees may vary based on colleges. A government-based institute charges less than a private institute because of its infrastructure and facilities. The average price of an MFA course in a private institute is about INR 2K - 20 LPA.
|
College Name |
Fees Per Annum |
|
Sir JJ Institute of Applied Arts, Mumbai |
INR 20K |
|
Bhartiya Kala Mahavidhyalaya, Pune |
INR 1.5L |
|
Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU |
INR 5.3K |
|
Amity School of Fine Arts, Noida |
INR 80K |
|
Dept. of Fine Arts, Kurukshetra University, Thanesar |
INR 72K |
Syllabus and Subjects for MFA
The MFA course is a 2-year program consisting of 4 semesters. It covers topics such as graphic designing, interior design, fashion design, etc., Oil Painting, Water Colors, Modern Art History, Sculpture, Printmaking, Lithography, Digital Art studies, Animation, etc. Depending on the course modules, each college may have its topics and subjects. A few of the subject topics are:
- Aesthetics & Principles of Art Appreciation
- Principles and Sources of Art
- History of different art/ art forms
- Mechanism of Artistic Perception
- Sociology
Read More About Master of Fine Arts Subjects and Syllabus
Why Choose MFA?
MFA is a very demanding course for the aspirants trying to work in healthcare, social services, human rights, and many more. It is a course that provides a wide range of opportunities. A key aspect of the program is the understanding of the social fabric and hierarchy. It even offers a high job scope abroad because of the language proficiency. The course itself is a highlight in one's CV, thus emphasizing its huge job scope.
What is MFA all About?
MFA or Master of Fine Arts helps students develop analytical and critical thinking skills for producing original insights in the field. The MFA course list extensively covers topics from Photography, Sketching, Drawing and Illustration, Oil Painting, Printmaking, Ceramics, Sculpture, Wood Carving, Graphic Designing, Interior Design, etc. Postgraduates with an MFA are hired in Commercial Art, Theatre, Television Industry, Animation, Exhibition Designing, etc., thus showing their huge job scope.
What Does an MFA Graduate Do?
MFA graduates have a variety of job roles and career-related plus points because of the good knowledge of the most needed skills. The aspirant chooses either to work as a social activist, social worker, and social personals or do research and pursue further education. Some of the options are:
Teaching Profession: Graduates can pursue teaching positions in educational and research institutions to share their knowledge and expertise with younger students.
Reasons Why MFA Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?
MFA is an accredited Postgraduate program and provides the aspirants with high career opportunities and other benefits. Since arts is a very important field, being a master's in it is, in fact, a plus that one would carry, and in fact, any firm would accept a person with the knowledge. The benefits of the course are:
High Pay: The job offers a good starting salary for freshers and a well of ones for senior or experienced graduates, thus marking it as a good one in the economy.
Exposure: A MFA degree gives a good skill, thus having a good effect as a part of CV and gives a good job scope even abroad, because of the skills.
Opportunities: It gives a wide job scope in various sectors as art forms are the most basic requirement. It even has a high job scope abroad.
Read More About Master of Fine Arts Jobs
Preparation Tips for MFA
MFA entrance exams involve both an aptitude and a knowledge testing type of questions. So being well prepared with it would be of use. In addition, since the exams themselves brief the course, it would be of more use to get into an in-depth study. Below are some preparation tips made by experts for aspirants who want to pursue MFA.
Time Management: The aspirant should be capable of answering all the questions in the specified time. Since it involves aptitude and language, it would be lengthy.
Reading Newspapers: General knowledge and current affairs questions are often asked in entrance exams and sometimes in personal interviews and group discussion rounds.
Skills: Trying to focus more on general knowledge and aptitude etc., which are all included in the questions.
Scope For Higher Education
Having an MFA degree opens up a wide range of career options. It is even possible to study further after completing the course. The most commonly followed path in this aspect is the Doctorate degrees, which students can obtain in different specializations involved in the course module. A few of the courses are:
- M.Phil Fine Arts
- Ph.D. Fine Arts
- MFA in Painting
- MFA in Textile design
- MFA in Graphic design
Salary of an MFA Graduate
The starting salary of an MFA graduate would be around INR 2 - 8 LPA [Source: PayScale]. As skills and experience increase, so will the salary increment. The salary varies depending on whether it's a private or a public sector and the firm's popularity. Even the job role of the aspirant is a factor that is noted while the salaries are discussed.
Read More About Master of Fine Arts Salary
Career Options After Master of Fine Arts
After completing a course in MFA, the aspirant can work in public and private sectors depending on the type of work they prefer or the skills they have. They even have an option of further specialization by doing a course like a doctorate or even a further extension by doing other full-time courses. But even the MFA degree has a high job scope because of the demand and the necessity. Some of the best job designations for the graduates after the course of MFA are as follows:
- Art Teacher
- Photographer
- Creative Director
- Art Teacher
- Art Director
- Graphic Artist/Designer
Skills That Make You The Best after MFA
The MFA course is done to provide a career boost for people seeking jobs in social welfare fields. It opens a variety of career opportunities for Aspiring Artists, Designers, Teachers, and many more. Some of the skills required for the MFA graduates are as follows:
- Creativity
- Organization skills
- Research Skills
- Interpretive Skills
- Detailing
- Decision Making
