Regulations for The Master of Fine Arts - MFA

Official rules and regulations for the Master of Fine Arts. These regulations are for the 2024 intake to this qualification.

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Qualification Regulations

Part I

These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Part II

Admission

1. Admission to the Degree of Master of Fine Arts requires that the candidate will:

(a) have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Design (Honours) or equivalent with a grade average of at least B; or

(b) have been awarded or qualified for the Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts or the Postgraduate Diploma in Design or equivalent with a grade average of at least B; or

(c) have been awarded an undergraduate degree in design, fine arts, visual arts or equivalent with a grade average of at least B and provide evidence of professional experience of an appropriate kind and duration in an area relevant to the qualification; or

(d) have been granted admission under the Admission with Equivalent Status regulations and demonstrate practical, professional, and scholarly experience at an appropriate level; and

(e) be selected into the programme through an interview and the assessment of a portfolio of art or design work prepared by the applicant.

Qualification requirements

2. Candidates for the Master of Fine Arts shall follow a parts-based programme of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 240 approved credits, and include completion of Part One and Part Two. The requirements for Part One and Part Two are prescribed in the Schedule to the Degree.

Specialisations

3. The Master of Fine Arts may be awarded with a subject in either Fine Arts or Design. The subject will be specified following the successful completion of Part One.

4. The Master of Fine Arts may be awarded without a subject.

Student progression

5. Progression to Part Two will be conditional upon achievement of a minimum B Grade Average over Part One. In special circumstances this may be varied with the approval of the Academic Board.

Completion requirements

6. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates will apply.

7. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Qualification requirements within the prescribed timeframes; candidates who do not meet the requirements for graduation may, subject to the approval of Academic Board, be awarded an appropriate exit qualification, should they meet its qualification requirements.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

8. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.

Schedule for the Master of Fine Arts

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
Courses
Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
Course code
Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
Credits
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
Specialisations
Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Part One (Choose 120 credits from)

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 197821 Advanced Studio Praxis I 60 credits

Through the generation and presentation of a body of advanced creative work, contextual writing and participation in masterclass sessions, students identify key issues in their practice and critically respond to the research context in which they are working.

View full course details
Course code: 197822 Advanced Studio Praxis II 60 credits

Students reflect on the advanced creative work they are undertaking and the critical perspectives they have explored to develop a practical and written framework for a significant body of new work. Students develop and present a research proposal for their Thesis Project alongside a selection of creative work.

Prerequisites: 197821

View full course details

Part Two (Choose 120 credits from)

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 197810 Thesis 120 credits

In this programme of independent research students generate and present a distinctive body of new work that demonstrates innovative engagement with art/ design practice. The thesis comprises the presented creative work and an exegesis.

View full course details
Course code: 197811 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

View full course details
Course code: 197812 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

Corequisites: 197811

View full course details

Subjects (Choose 240 credits from)

Design (240 credits)

Part One

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 197821 Advanced Studio Praxis I 60 credits

Through the generation and presentation of a body of advanced creative work, contextual writing and participation in masterclass sessions, students identify key issues in their practice and critically respond to the research context in which they are working.

View full course details
Course code: 197822 Advanced Studio Praxis II 60 credits

Students reflect on the advanced creative work they are undertaking and the critical perspectives they have explored to develop a practical and written framework for a significant body of new work. Students develop and present a research proposal for their Thesis Project alongside a selection of creative work.

Prerequisites: 197821

View full course details

Part Two

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 197810 Thesis 120 credits

In this programme of independent research students generate and present a distinctive body of new work that demonstrates innovative engagement with art/ design practice. The thesis comprises the presented creative work and an exegesis.

View full course details
Course code: 197811 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

View full course details
Course code: 197812 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

Corequisites: 197811

View full course details

Fine Arts (240 credits)

Part One

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 197821 Advanced Studio Praxis I 60 credits

Through the generation and presentation of a body of advanced creative work, contextual writing and participation in masterclass sessions, students identify key issues in their practice and critically respond to the research context in which they are working.

View full course details
Course code: 197822 Advanced Studio Praxis II 60 credits

Students reflect on the advanced creative work they are undertaking and the critical perspectives they have explored to develop a practical and written framework for a significant body of new work. Students develop and present a research proposal for their Thesis Project alongside a selection of creative work.

Prerequisites: 197821

View full course details

Part Two

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 197810 Thesis 120 credits

In this programme of independent research students generate and present a distinctive body of new work that demonstrates innovative engagement with art/ design practice. The thesis comprises the presented creative work and an exegesis.

View full course details
Course code: 197811 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

View full course details
Course code: 197812 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

Corequisites: 197811

View full course details

Without Specialisation (240 credits)

Part One

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 197821 Advanced Studio Praxis I 60 credits

Through the generation and presentation of a body of advanced creative work, contextual writing and participation in masterclass sessions, students identify key issues in their practice and critically respond to the research context in which they are working.

View full course details
Course code: 197822 Advanced Studio Praxis II 60 credits

Students reflect on the advanced creative work they are undertaking and the critical perspectives they have explored to develop a practical and written framework for a significant body of new work. Students develop and present a research proposal for their Thesis Project alongside a selection of creative work.

Prerequisites: 197821

View full course details

Part Two

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 197810 Thesis 120 credits

In this programme of independent research students generate and present a distinctive body of new work that demonstrates innovative engagement with art/ design practice. The thesis comprises the presented creative work and an exegesis.

View full course details
Course code: 197811 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

View full course details
Course code: 197812 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

Corequisites: 197811

View full course details

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