Applying to Study for an MFA

Queries about the MFA programme can be directed to graduate@rsa.ox.ac.uk

Apply online

Please follow the detailed instructions here: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/mfa-fine-art

• Useful links:
• https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/applying-to-oxford/application-guide?source=coursepage (Application Guide) 
• https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate (General Admissions Info and Fees & Funding)

You will be able to complete and submit your application online and upload electronic copies of supporting materials (including written materials, curriculum vitae etc). You can also register the email details of your referees online ahead of submitting your appliation form so they have plenty of time to send in their supporting statements. 

All supporting documentation, including letters of reference, must be received by the deadline which is in early January 2025 (exact date tbc). Incomplete applications will not be assessed by the admissions panel.

Portfolio Submission

Your digital portfolio should consist of recently completed studio work documented through up to 15 images and/or 12 minutes of moving image or sound work. Portfolios will be assessed for evidence of creative thinking and artistic accomplishment, and clarity in the exposition of ideas.

In the 'written work' section of the application form please upload a single page PDF with just one URL to an online portfolio of your work. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the link is operative throughout the admissions and interview period. Dedicated section(s) of a website or platforms such as Vimeo, Google etc would be suitable. Platforms such as Flickr which are ad-heavy, or Dropbox are to be avoided where possible, as are password-protected sites, as they make the selection process and the interviews harder.

Do not upload your portfolio.

We cannot accept portfolios submitted via email. 

Collegiate System

Oxford students belong both to a department and a college. You can specify a college on the application form, or leave that field blank, in which case you will be assigned a college that has space for a Ruskin student. If it is not possible to offer you a place at your chosen college, you will be allocated to another college automatically. 

You may find it hard to choose a college. You may have a preference based on geographical location or whether a college only has postgraduates. Have a look here for more information: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/colleges . College placement has no funding implications (there is hardly any master's funding in the Humanities anyway) and if you are offered funding that is college-linked, you would migrate colleges. Once a college place has been offered, there is no mechanism (other than funding) to change colleges. International students often apply for postgraduate college accommodation which is most likely outside the college premises and dotted around the city.

Open Day

We do not hold physical Open Days for the MFA, but there will be an online info session in December 2024. Please watch this page for a signup link from October, or email Susanne on graduate@rsa.ox.ac.uk