MA Fine Arts is a 2-year postgraduate degree program that is designed to help candidates refine their skills and become an artist in their chosen field. The course offers subjects such as Applied Arts, Painting, Art History, Sculpture, Visual Communication, Printmaking, Ceramics, etc.
Know More About Fine Arts Courses
Check out the full list of top MA Fine Arts Colleges in India.
The minimum eligibility for this course is a Bachelor’s degree in fine arts or equivalent from a recognized institute.
Admission to MA Fine Arts is based on a candidate’s performance in a relevant entrance exam and subsequent rounds. The average annual fee for the course ranges between INR 4,000 to 2 lakhs for 2 years. There are ample career opportunities for candidates with this degree in different sectors. MA Fine Arts jobs are available in advertising, clothing, printmaking, magazines, dance studios, digital media, publishing houses, and so on.
The MA Fine Arts graduate can work as Art Director, Photographer, Graphic Designer, Art Teacher, Musicians, Creative Director, Music Teacher, Drawing Teacher, Art Restorer, Art Critic & Writer, Animator, etc. The average starting MA Fine Arts salary can range from INR 3 to 8 Lakhs per annum for the freshers.
Graduates can also choose to go for higher studies after MA Fine arts. The most common options available for them are PhD or M.Phil in any of the specialization courses like Animation, Theatre, Ceramics, etc.
MA Fine Arts: Course Highlights
MA Fine art is highly opted by the students who seriously want to build a career in the field of arts and expect to increase their salary by taking up this graduate level program. The details about the course in brief is mentioned in the table below. Students can check the eligibility, admissions, career options, etc about the course in the table below:
| Course Level | Postgraduate/ Master’s |
| Full-Form | Master of Arts (Fine Arts) |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination Type | Semester-based |
| Eligibility | BA/ BA Fine Arts from a recognized institute |
| Admission process | Merit-based/ Entrance Examination |
| Course Fee | INR 4,000-2,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3-8 lakh |
| Top Recruiters | Times of India, Colors TV, New York Academy, Octane Technologies, ITech Mass, EXL, IT Jack, India Habitat Centre, Eggfirst Advertising Pvt. Ltd., BIPA, CAT LTD, Inbound, etc. |
| Job Profiles | Art Director, Photographer, Graphic Designer, Art Teacher, Musicians, Creative Director, Music Teacher, Drawing Teacher, Art Restorer, Art Critic & Writer, Animator, etc. |
| Areas of Employment | Music Companies, Tourism Industry, Theatres, Animation Companies, Comics, Educational Institutes, Advertising Companies, etc. |
MA Fine Arts: What is it About?
- MA Fine Arts is a graduate-level degree that especially focuses on areas like creative writing, filmmaking, performing arts, photography, and visual arts.
- Some of the areas have more concentration under it like the visual arts includes works on drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, etc.
- The course includes both theory and practical. The theory is usually based on the art movements, art history, great artists & their works, and illustrations on previous work.
- This course is designed for those who already have an arts background and want to enhance their knowledge and skills in a particular area of specialization.
- After completion of the course, the graduates will be able to work as artist-in-residence, curators of museums, cinematographers, photographers, instructors, writers, editors, graphic designers, etc.
The study of MA in Fine Arts includes a wider range of performance possibilities and opportunities. Artists have the freedom to choose their own thing by considering their skills and passion.
- This degree course enables the students to explore various areas of creative arts that include advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary, and visual arts.
- The course helps to develop observational & systematic analytical skills and have their own opinions on different projects.
- Art can be therapeutic and also helps people to release their mental stress, therefore art is usually encouraged in schools, hospitals, and prisons. Students pursuing this course can be helpful to society.
- Career opportunities are diverse such as artists can work for ad agencies, marketing companies, museums, art colleges, and small non-profit organizations or companies. They could even start their own graphic design firm if they have the skills and ideas to do so.
Having a degree of MA in Fine Arts will provide them an edge in the career which not only be beneficial for them but also to their work as well.
MA Fine Arts Admission Process
The admission application form can be collected from the college or can be applied online by going to the respective university’s official website.
- College Application forms for admission are available both offline and online.
- The admission into the MA Fine Arts course depends upon the scores of the entrance test. During the admission process, the candidate’s age and caste statuses are taken into consideration.
- Most of the application forms of entrance exams are available after March, and the entrance exam occurs usually after May.
- The process of admission goes on until June, and results are announced in July or August.
MA Fine Arts Eligibility
- The main eligibility for pursuing a MA Fine Arts course is a Bachelor’s degree or BA in Fine Arts from a recognized institute or college.
- A minimum of 50% of marks should have been obtained. Some colleges like Jamia Millia Islamia require at least 60% in graduation.
- Though, the minimum percentage range is between 45-60% depending upon the minimum criteria set in different colleges.
- For SC/ST candidates, a relaxation of 5% aggregate is available.
MA Fine Arts Entrance Exam
No such national-level or state-level MA Fine Arts exams are conducted for admission to the course. Institutes like AMU, JMI, and BHU conduct department level examinations for admission. Other institutes that conduct internal exams include Banasthali Vidyapeeth, which conducts an aptitude test for selecting candidates.
There may be one specific section or a few questions which can be subjective based on Art skills. Listed below are some of the popular MA Fine Arts entrance exams.
- BHU UET: BHU UET is the entrance examination of Banaras Hindu University. The exam is conducted for admission into multiple programs, including MA in Fine Arts. The exam is held in both paper format and online format.
- JMI Entrance Exam: Jamia Millia Islamia conducts their entrance exam for admission into the MA Fine Arts program annually, mostly in the month of May-June.
- Aligarh Muslim University MA Fine Arts Entrance Exam: Aligarh Muslim University also conducts entrance exams to provide admissions to the deserving candidate into their MA Fine Arts program.
- DU Entrance exam: The University of Delhi conducts entrance exams for the admission into Fine arts programs.
- KUK Entrance Exam: This entrance exam is conducted by Kurukshetra University for the candidates who choose to take admission in Fine Arts.
| Exam name | Registration date | Exam date |
|---|---|---|
| PUBDET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| APU UG NET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| TS EAMCET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
How to Prepare for a MA Fine Arts Entrance Exams?
The syllabus for MA Fine Arts entrance exams will vary from institute to institute. However, most exams concentrate on Art related subject knowledge and skills. There may be a different section testing student’s Aptitude Skills as well.
Students should consider buying study material and practice material of MA Fine Arts entrance exams so that they prepare well for the same. BA Fine Arts Subject Course Books also constitute a good study material for these exams.
Some points that are useful while preparing for MA Fine Arts entrance exams are:
- Students should know the entire syllabus of the entrance exam which they are going to sit for. Since some of these exams are purely based on the Fine Arts Knowledge and some exams may be general and have few sections of Art related questions.
- Students should also focus on preparing an Art Portfolio which might be considered during the admission process.
How to get admission in a good MA Fine Arts college?
To get admission in top MA Fine Arts colleges, the following points must be kept in mind:
- The candidate should start working on a personal interview round after checking that they are eligible to apply for the program.
- The performance in the qualifying exams is the basic selection procedure followed by a personal interview in which the panel will judge the interests and skills of the candidate. Therefore, the candidate should have a portfolio of their work as evidence.
- Keep the portfolio updated and ready, learn new skills and techniques, and include them in your portfolio.
- Be ready with all the important application and registration dates to avoid last-minute chaos and delay.
MA Fine Arts Syllabus
MA Fine Arts syllabus is almost the same in all the colleges, apart from the choice of electives which can be Photography, Illustration, etc.
The table below shows common subjects that are included in the structured MFA syllabus and subjects included in it.
| 1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
|---|---|
| History of Indian Architecture | Principles and Sources of Art |
| History of Indian Painting and Sculpture | History of Indian Painting |
| Drawing and Painting (B: Practical) | Drawing and Painting (B: Practical) |
| Drawing and Painting | Drawing and Painting |
| 3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
| History of Western Art from early times to ca. 1400 AD | History of Modern Movements in Art in Europe and the U.S.A. |
| History of Western Art from ca. 1400 A.D. to ca. 1850 A.D. | History of Modern Movements in Art in India |
| Drawing and Painting (B: Practical) | Drawing and Painting (B: Practical) |
| Drawing and Painting | Drawing and Painting |
MA Fine Arts Books
Tabulated below are some of the MFA subject books that can help students to have a broader and better understanding of the course. The books mentioned below will also help the students in cracking various MFA exams.
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Making a Good Layout | Lorisieber & Lisa Balla |
| Airbrushing and Photo Retouching | Brett Breckon |
| Applied Art Handbook | Prof. S.K. Luthra |
| Sign Design: Graphics, Materials & Techniques | Mitzi Sims |
| A History of Fine Arts in India and the West | Edith Tomory |
MA Fine Arts Top Colleges
The table below shows the best Master of Fine Arts colleges and universities that offer the course in a full-time and part-time mode. Some of these colleges may also offer this course through distance education and online mode.
| College Name | City | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | INR 4,600 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | New Delhi | INR 20,800 |
| University of Delhi | New Delhi | INR 46,600 |
| Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh | INR 1,18,570 |
| Amity School of Fine Arts | Noida | INR 1,20,000 |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth | Pune | INR 1,15,000 |
| Kurukshetra University | Thanesar | INR 72,000 |
In the top MA Fine Arts colleges like the ASFA Noida and DU College of Arts, there are many internship opportunities in different art and entertainment companies which offer a minimal stipend of around INR 3K – 8K to the students.
MA Fine Arts College Comparison
The tabulation below shows the comparison made among the three top MA Fine Arts colleges in India.
| Parameter | Amity School of Fine Arts | College of Arts, Delhi University | Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Noida | New Delhi | Vadodara |
| Overview | Amity School of Fine Arts (ASFA), is a part of Amity University, Noida and offers specializations such as Applied Arts and much more | College of Arts was established in the year 1942 and is a part of the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts at Delhi University. It offers courses like BFA, MFA, etc. in various specializations. | This institute is one of the top fine arts colleges in India. It offers both UG and PG programs. |
| Ranking | NIRF: 37 | NIRF: 11 | - |
| Average Fees | INR 1,20,000 | INR 46,600 | INR 12,000 |
| Average Placement Offered | INR 5 Lakh | INR 4.30 Lakh | INR 3 Lakh |
| Top Companies Visited | Visual Myth, Entrayn Education, Morphed Studio, TCS Life Sciences, Global Logic, BYJU’s: The learning App, etc. | TCS, Adobe, DRDO, L&T, etc. | Bank of Baroda, Bombardier, Atos, Business Standard, Hyatt, HT Media, etc. |
MA Fine Arts Distance Learning
There are a few colleges that offer this course in distance education/ correspondence. Such courses are meant for those who are currently working but still want to pursue a degree in their field of study. Some of the institutes that offer distance learning education in MA Fine arts are:
- IGNOU
- Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu
Course Comparison
MA Fine Arts vs MFA
Both of these are very similar courses that deal with different mediums of Fine Arts. Some colleges even consider them the same degrees.
Check the table below for more details regarding MFA and MA Fine Arts courses.
| Parameters | MA Fine Arts | MFA |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Master of Arts (Fine Arts) | Master of Fine Arts |
| Overview | It includes study in areas like creative writing, filmmaking, performing arts, photography, and visual arts. | It includes study in the areas of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and poetry. |
| Subjects taught | It is a course that includes a combinational study of all the areas in fine arts | It usually focuses on only one area of fine arts. |
| Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
| Eligibility | BA/ BA Fine Arts with a minimum of 50% from a recognized institute | BA Fine Arts from a recognized institute |
| Admission Process | Merit-based / Entrance Exam | Merit-based / Entrance Exam |
| Exam Type | Semester | Semester |
| Average Fees | INR 4,000-2 lakh | INR 2,000-2 lakh |
| Average Salary | INR 3 – 8 LPA | INR 2 – 6 LPA |
| Job Profiles | Art Director, Photographer, Graphic Designer, Art Teacher, Musicians, Creative Director, Music Teacher, Drawing Teacher, Art Restorer, Art Critic & Writer, Animator, etc. | Art Designer, Animator, Curator, Graphic Designer, Lecturer, Art Critic, Commercial Artist, etc. |
| Areas of Employment | Music Companies, Tourism Industry, Theatres, Animation Companies, Comics, Educational Institutes, Advertising Companies, etc. | Music labeled Companies, Tourism Industry, Theatres, Animation Companies, Educational Institutes, Advertising Companies, etc. |
MA Fine Arts Job Prospects and Career Options
The best thing about being an artist is that you can choose your career according to skills and interests.
- Candidates who are interested in design can work as a designer in some ad agency or marketing company.
- In case they like to work on canvas, they can be a professional artist, and besides that, they can teach students in colleges, in workshops, or through online videos. Students can also become a freelance artist.
- Candidates having this degree/ program can be hired in diverse fields such as Creative Director, Graphic Designer, Art Teacher, Musicians, Music Teacher, Art Director, Graphic Designer, Photographer, Drawing Teacher, Art Restorer, Art Critic Grafter & Writer, and Animator, etc.
The following table shows some of the major areas where you can find employment after pursuing the MA Fine Arts degree:
| Job profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | They work with software like Photoshop, Corel Draw, etc. and make digital designs for books covers, signage, hoardings, product packaging, etc. | INR 4.5 Lakh |
| Art Teacher | They have been employed in private institutes or schools and teach children or adults the basics of drawing, painting, and other art methods like sculpture, crafts, etc. | INR 3.8 Lakh |
| Animator | As an animator, they illustrate and design cartoons and animated characters and make them interact with their surroundings. They work in films, television, and gaming industries. | INR 4.45 Lakh |
| Creative Director | A creative director is hired to manage the creative team of a company. They are creative leads in working with designers, copywriters, advertising and marketing companies, artists, sales teams, and marketers to create campaigns for products to be sold. | INR 7.5 Lakh |
| Photographer | They are of many types; wedding, event, fashion, product, etc. | INR 3.6 Lakh |
| Art Restorer | They are responsible to repair damage to different artworks and books. | INR 3.20 Lakh |
| Art Critic | Art critics write about different exhibitions of individual artists or group shows in magazines, blogs, newspapers, etc. | INR 4 Lakh |
MA Fine Arts Future Scope
A lot of young people are following their creative dream nowadays and studying MA Fine Arts so that they can enter the creative field. We have discussed some of the major job profiles after doing the MFA course in the above segment.
- Post completion of MA Fine Arts, candidates have an opportunity to work as an artist in government offices, art teacher or photographer.
- They can start their own art studio and work as an entrepreneur of a freelancer.
- They can pursue higher education in M.Phil. / Ph.D. or some certificate courses in animation, graphic designing, etc. to pump your game in these fields.
- Candidates can also clear the UGC NET exam to become a lecturer in an art college or university.
- After completing the MA Fine Arts degree, a student can work in: Museums, Art galleries, Dance academies, Music studios, Gaming industry, TV channels, etc.
MA Fine Arts FAQs
Ques. Can someone do a Master of Fine Arts course through distance education?
Ans. Some colleges like IGNOU, Annamalai University, etc. offer a Master of Fine Arts degree through distance learning.
Ques. What is the duration of the MA Fine Arts program?
Ans. The program duration is 2 years (or four semesters).
Ques. Is there any entrance exam for MA Fine Arts?
Ans. Admission and Selection in the MA Fine Arts course occur through either Merit or Entrance Exams. There are colleges which conduct entrance tests, followed by a Personal Interview.
Ques. What are the various specializations in the MA Fine Art program?
Ans. Some of the popular specializations of an MA Fine arts degree include ceramics, graphic design, painting, art restoring, applied arts, animation, etc.
Ques. How much is the salary after the MA Fine Arts course?
Ans. The average starting salary ranges from INR 3 - 8 LPA.
Ques. What are the top colleges for MA Fine Arts?
Ans. The top institutes and colleges for MF Fine Arts are Banaras Hindu University, Banasthali Vidyapith Jaipur, Aligarh Muslim University, and Amity School of Fine Arts Noida among others.
Ques. Which job profiles are available for the MA Fine Arts graduates?
Ans. Students of MA Fine Arts can work as Art Teacher, Musicians, Music Teacher, Art Director, Graphic Designer, Photographer, Creative Director, Drawing Teacher, Art Restorer, Art Critic Grafter & Writer, and Animator, etc.
Ques. What is the annual average fee charged for the MA Fine Arts program?
Ans. The annual average fee at the top MA Fine Arts colleges is between INR 4K to INR 2 Lakhs for 2 years.
Ques. What is the scope after MA Fine Arts?
Ans. Students can choose for higher education like they can pursue higher education like M.Phil. / Ph.D. or some certificate courses such as animation, graphic designing, etc. to pump your game in these fields.
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