The Application guide gives you general information about degrees and studies in the Academy and detailed information and requirements concerning admissions.
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Application Guide 2012
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 2011 (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 in 2012 is open 5.3. - 3.4.2012 (until 4.15 pm Finnish time). You can fill the electronic application form at
https://www.yliopistohaku.fi/., only during the application period, not earlier.
The original artworks and a printed copy of the electronic application form must be delivered directly to the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts. You find further information about the delivering possibilities under Regular admission 2012.
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).
The application period in 2012 is open 30.1.-24.2.2012 (until 4.15 pm Finnish time). You can fill the electronic application form at
https://www.yliopistohaku.fi/., only during the application period, not earlier.
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 14 % of the students are international, both degree or exchange students.
Frequently asked questions about studying in the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts
Can I study in English?
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.
A student with good knowledge of English can succesfully complete the studies but no official English tests (TOEFL or similar) are not required.
Several foreign guest lecturers, teachers and exhibitions visit the Academy annually.
Finnish language courses are highly recommended for foreign degree students who wish to acquaint themselves with the Finnish language, culture and the country.
How much do studies cost?
There are no tuition fees for regular degree students in universities in Finland – education is subsidised by the State through the Ministry of Education. This applies also to the international degree students. The student unions in universities, however, charge a compulsory annual membership fee. At the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, the fee is approx. 90 € per academic semester. Student health services are included in this fee.
All students have to pay for their accommodation and living expenses. The average monthly living expenses of a single student vary from 700 to 1000 €. The rents in student dormitories and residence halls vary from 280 to 500 € per month.
Is there any scholarship programme for international applicants?
The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts does not offer scholarships for international applicants. It is highly recommended that you arrange adequate funding for your entire study period before leaving your home country.
Cimo scholarships
Finnish Centre for International Mobility (
CIMO
) offers scholarships mostly for
postgraduate study and research, for visitors to Finland from abroad and
CIMO
Fellowships. Further information on
CIMO
’s web site at
http://finland.cimo.fi/scholarships.
html
.
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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