Applying

(The application guide gives you general information about degrees and studies in the Academy and detailed  information and requirements concerning admissions)

The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts has provided the highest education in fine arts in Finland for over 160 years. The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts today is a university focusing on contemporary art education and offering the degrees of Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Fine Arts.

The studies leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (lower degree) aims to provide the student with the artistic, cognitive and theoretical basic abilities and skills required by a visual artist. After completing their degree, the students have the resources they need to work as visual artists and to carry on to the studies leading to a Master's degree and lifelong learning.

The Master of Fine Arts degree (higher degree) aims to offer the students the resources to function as an independent and analytical artist in society. Persons with a Master's degree have a thorough command of the instruments of fine arts and an understanding of the current significance and history of those instruments. They are qualified to act as experts and developers of fine arts and are ready to continue to postgraduate education in art.

The objective of the Doctor of Fine Arts degree (postgraduate degree) is for the students to have a profound understanding of their own field of interest and achieve the qualifications needed to create high-level, artistically mature work and for them to be able to carry out independent, innovative research in their own field.

The studies leading to the Bachelor's and Master's degrees are organised in degree programmes. These programmes focus on specific disciplines of fine arts requiring artistic talent and expertise and seek to develop the arts further. The Academy offers degree programmes in sculpture, painting, printmaking and time and space arts.

There are three different application procedures available to those who wish to study at the Academy. Regular admission is for students who apply for the Bachelor's and Master's degree studies, which take 5.5 years in total. Applicants who have an eligible Bachelor's degree or equivalent can apply for the two-year training leading to a Master's degree in the Master of Fine Arts admission. Those who have an eligible Master's degree or equivalent can apply for postgraduate studies in the four-year doctoral training.

1. REGULAR ADMISSION 2010 (BFA+MFA 5.5 years, 210 + 120 credits)

You can apply for studies leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees in the regular admission. (You choose a degree programme after being admitted to the Academy, during your first study year.)

Regular admission to the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts' 5.5 years Master degree programme will conform to the nationwide schedule of joint applications.

The application period for the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts is from 1 March to 16 April 2010. During this period, the electronic application form can be filled in at https://www.yliopistohaku.fi/.

The original artworks and a printed copy of the electronic application form must be delivered directly to the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts. The dates for delivery are from 21-23 April. ATTN! Before you bring or send your artworks, please check the the exact delivery address on the Academy's website. Works must be in the given address by Friday, 23 April at 16.15.

See Regular admission for further information.

2. MFA ADMISSION - Master of Fine Arts

In the special MFA admission you apply for the studies leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree (2 years, 120 credits). Admission period is from 15 February to 30 March 2010. The electronic application form can be filled in at https://www.yliopistohaku.fi/.

The annual total intake of students is 45, admitted through the regular admission and the MFA programme admission.

3. DOCTORAL STUDIES

The Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) degree is the postgraduate degree in the Academy of Fine Arts. You apply to the postgraduate studies in an open process. The Academy admits 2-4 new student per year.

See Doctoral studies for further information.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The Academy has no special international application procedure or special English programmes for international students. Foreign students participate in the normal application procedure. The Academy is an international university. Some 20% of the students are international, both degree or exchange students. The language of all degree programmes is Finnish but the Academy provides several courses taught in English. Also some of our seminars and lecture series are taught in English on a regular basis. Even when teaching in English is not available, it is often possible to complete courses through independent study. You can write your essays and exams in English.

Several foreign guest lecturers, teachers and exhibitions visit the Academy annually.

FURTHER INFORMATION

More information on the student admission and studies at the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts:

FINNISH ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
Kaikukatu 4
00530 Helsinki
tel. +358 9 680 33 20 (switchboard)
www.kuva.fi.

Send your emails concerning student admissions to: hakijapalvelut@kuva.fi
____________________________________________________________________________________

The National applicant's service at the National Board of Education gives assistance in general questions relating to the online application and provides on request the paper joint application form during application period on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm (exception: last day of the application period to 4.15pm).

Contact information to National applicant's service: