Master of Arts - Arts - Fine Art

The MA Arts programme at Derby offers pathways in Fine Art or Photography, designed for highly motivated and independently minded artists. The course supports the development of individual creative practice through reflection, research, experimentation, and critical evaluation. The academic team brings expertise across fine art, photography, film, public art, performance, curatorship, critical theory, art history, philosophy and criticism, residencies, and commissions, fostering a diverse and inspiring creative community.

Students have access to outstanding facilities, including professional-standard darkrooms, photography equipment and software, and recently refurbished Fine Art Studios at the historic Britannia Mill site. The programme allows a focus on a single discipline while encouraging engagement with activities across visual arts, promoting collaboration between students on alternative pathways. This interdisciplinary approach develops multifaceted, original artists capable of working across media in both traditional and digital forms.

The course combines studio-based research with strong theoretical grounding in contemporary practice. Students participate in lively debates and discussions involving staff and peers from multiple disciplines, providing exposure to a wide range of perspectives that inform and support creative practice. The programme also integrates narrative and theoretical studies, exploring the interpretation of time and space through practical and intellectual engagement. Participants become part of a thriving research culture, with opportunities to attend staff research seminar series showcasing the latest projects and developments in the field.