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Fine Arts

Master of Fine Arts

Designed around four, week-long seminars per year, the programme is delivered by faculty and guests that are nationally and internationally respected artists, critics, writers, and curators.
According to their interests and proposed direction of study, students are assigned two supervisors to support their studio practice as it develops from Semester to Semester in order to best support their direction and research throughout the programme.

 

The MFA programme prepares artists for a professional career working within a diverse field of contemporary art practices across local and international contexts.

Master of Fine Arts, Fine Arts Exhibition, Fine Arts student work, End of year Exhibition, Whitecliffe master program, master, installation

Outline

The Master of Fine Arts is a full-time, two-year (year one at level 8, year two at level 9), distance programme with some in person seminars enabling enrolled artists to live and work anywhere in New Zealand. Designed around four, week-long seminars per year, the programme is delivered by faculty and guests that are nationally and internationally respected artists, critics, writers, and curators. According to their interests and proposed direction of study, students are assigned two supervisors to support their studio practice as it develops from Semester to Semester in order to best support their direction and research throughout the programme.

The MFA programme prepares artists for a professional career working within a diverse field of contemporary art practices across local and international contexts. The interdisciplinary structure and philosophy support artists in understanding how art and artworks operate in the world, and through regular critique, supervisory guidance, seminar participation, and a focus on exhibition and publication practice, assists them to develop their individual approach to practice and research.

Duration

2 Years

Low Residency

Key Dates

February 2025 Intake

17/02/2025

 

 

Available Locations

Auckland City Symonds Street Campus

Costs

Fees indicated are for 1st year of study. 2nd Year fees may vary.
All 2025 fees are subject to change and regulatory approval.

Domestic $10,504 + $300 Student Services Levy

International $27,000 + $300 Student Services Levy

The Master of Fine Arts programme is built around a comprehensive programme of supervised studio research and contextual studies requiring self-directed learning and continuing professional development.

Further study options:

Level 10 Doctoral degree Master of Fine Arts, Fine Arts Exhibition, Fine Arts student work, End of year Exhibition, Whitecliffe master program, master, photomedia, video, screen

Academic Calendar

2025 Academic Calendars

Key Student Information

NZ Government key information link for students.

Qualification

Master of Fine Arts
NZQA Level 9 (240 credits)

Where could this programme take you?

The MFA programme prepares artists for a professional career working within a diverse field of contemporary art practices across local and international contexts.

 

The interdisciplinary structure and philosophy support artists in understanding how art and artworks operate in the world, and through regular critique, supervisory guidance, seminar participation, and a focus on exhibition and publication practice assists them to develop their individual approach to practice and research.

Exhibiting Artist
Curator
Gallery Manager
Tertiary Teacher
Art Consultant
Art Magazine Editor
Art Project Manager

Featured student work

Featured Alumni

Admission Requirements

Applicants must

  • Have a Bachelor of Arts degree (or equivalent) with a GPA of their final undergraduate year (Level 7 credits) of B–and above (GPA of 4)
  • Present a portfolio that reflects skills and potential to successfully complete the programme
  • Had significant exhibition and/or professional experience as an artist/designer
  • Submit a Statement of Research Intent
  • Demonstrate academic writing ability which reflects the potential for successful study at the graduate level (applicants may use examples of previous academic writing to meet this requirement)
  • Attend an interview.

International applicants must

  • Have achieved prior to enrolling an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6.0 or equivalent (whitecliffe.ac.nz/english-proficiency-outcome)
  • Hold a New Zealand or overseas qualification Assessed by NZQA to be equivalent to the required level of qualification described above
  • Meet New Zealand visa entry requirements
    whitecliffe.ac.nz/international-students

Faculty Members

The vast majority of our team have extensive experience within their respective industries. This is key in helping us ensure our graduates have the real-world skills they need for a successful career and bright future.

David Cowlard, Senior Lecturer, Fine Arts, Faculty, employee, staff, Whitecliffe, team, member

David Cowlard

Senior Lecturer

Fine Arts

David Cowlard is a senior lecturer with specialist teaching experience in lens-based practices, d ...

Anton Maurer, Lecturer, Fine Arts, Faculty, Employee, staff, Whitecliffe, Team, Member

Anton Maurer

Lecturer

Fine Arts

Anton Maurer is an artist and educator, with a practice grounded in lens-based media.

...
Caryline Boreham, Lecturer, Fine Arts, Faculty, Employee, staff, Whitecliffe, Team, Member

Caryline Boreham

Lecturer

Fine Arts

Caryline Boreham is an artist and educator whose recent work blends a photography practice with a ...

Christina Read, Senior Lecturer, Fine Arts, Faculty, employee, staff, Whitecliffe, team, member

Christina Read

Senior Lecturer

Fine Arts

Christina Read’s artwork is bright, playful, and vulnerable. The UK-born Tāmaki-based artist ...

Glen Snow, Lecturer, Fine Arts, Faculty, employee, staff, Whitecliffe, team, member

Glen Snow

Lecturer

Fine Arts

Glen Snow gained his Masters at Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland (UOA) in 2012. H ...

Lynnemaree Patterson, Programme Leader, Certificate in Arts + Design, Faculty, employee, staff, Whitecliffe, team, member

Lynnemaree Patterson

Programme Leader - Certificate in Arts + Design

Fine Arts

Lynnemaree is a senior lecturer in Fine Arts. She gained her Bachelor of Fine Arts (2006) and a M ...

Matt Dowman, Lecturer, Fine Arts, Faculty, employee, staff, Whitecliffe, team, member

Matt Dowman

Lecturer

Fine Arts

Matt Dowman received his BFA from Whitecliffe in 2002, and a MFA with honours from Auckland Unive ...

Matt Ellwood, Head of School Fine Arts, Fine Arts, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member

Matt Ellwood

Head of School Fine Atrs

Fine Arts

Matt is an artist and educator with 30 years of experience in the arts sector.

He is Head ...

Noel Ivanoff, Whitecliffe lecturer. Fine Arts, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member

Noel Ivanoff

Lecturer

Fine Arts

Noel completed his undergraduate studies at the School of Art, Otago Polytechnic before completin ...

Sonya Lacey, Programme Leader, Fine Arts, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member

Sonya Lacey

Programme Leader

Fine Arts

Sonya Lacey completed an MFA through Auckland University’s Elam School of Fine Arts and is the ...

Richard Maloy, Programme Leader, Fine Arts, BFA, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member

Richard Maloy

Programme Leader

Fine Arts

Richard Maloy completed his MFA from the University of Auckland in 2001. He employs a multi-disci ...

Rose Meyer, Lecturer, School of Fine Arts, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member

Rose Meyer

Lecturer

Fine Arts

Rose Meyer gained a Master of Fine Art with First Class Honours in 2015 and a Post Graduate Diplo ...