MA in Visual Arts

The MA in Visual Art program encourages students to challenge and explore conventional boundaries of various art and design disciplines, borrowing and experimenting creatively. Interdisciplinary methodologies are investigated and applied aiming in the advancement and development of new and novel art and design discourses. The program encourages and respects critical theory as well as in depth understanding of material and the practice of making. Furthermore, it offers a close relation with the creative and professional industries and provides opportunities for collaboration on real life local and international projects. Emphasis is placed upon pushing forward critical discourses in a challenging and provocative way, indicating relations to key discourses within the contemporary arena, as well as building upon a personal visual language that is both informed of current trends and innovative.

The program aspires to bring together students from diverse backgrounds that will have the opportunity to interact and develop skills necessary to envision a rapidly growing interdisciplinary culture.

Committing to a balanced input of theory and practice, the program fosters professional initiative, self-motivation and ambition, desire for positive social change, cultural responsibility and environmental ethics as well as imaginative, out-of-the-box creativity.

Tailored to the individual needs and skills of the students, the program gives them the opportunity to develop creatively, to find new experimental applications of their ideas and meet their individual aspirations. Through a series of self-initiated projects and personal tutorials the students are enabled to develop their creative identity and individuality. In doing so students are encouraged in bringing into context their real-life experiences, skills and practice.

Conceptual and theoretical issues will be relatively brought up, studied and tackled through courses of Visual and Critical Thinking and Contextual Studies. These courses are primarily engaged with the systematic study of core notions, concepts and disputes of and around critical theory, philosophy, the art and design history, aesthetics and relative studies.

Furthermore, research will be promoted by means of encouraging the development of collaboration between the university and other academic and social partners on a local, regional (Mediterranean) and international level. The establishment of such networks is critical in acquiring experience, achieving effective exploitation of research results, resulting in good practice examples and innovation. In order to build a strong art and design research culture with proficient methodological skills the program offers the course of Research Methods that will introduce and provide students with all necessary and relevant competencies and tools in order to encourage and engage them into such a culture.

Students will also be introduced to a variety of subjects and media through the art and design electives, that have been methodically structured to provide students with in-depth understanding of primal issues and crucial lines of enquiries in the Art and Design Field;

The program aspires to bring together students from diverse backgrounds that will have the opportunity to interact and develop skills necessary to envision a rapidly growing interdisciplinary culture in art and design practices.

Committing to a balanced input of theory and practice, the program fosters professional initiative, self-motivation and ambition, desire for positive social change, cultural responsibility and environmental ethics as well as imaginative, out-of-the-box creativity.

The vision of the MA program is to motivate, inspire and encourage students to approach art and design through non-conventional understandings, beyond predictable applications and expectations of what design might be and push the development into new forms and applications borrowing expertise from graphic, interior and media design as well as the fine arts. The program aspires for students to explore that area between design and art which will grand them the opportunity to develop their thinking, ideas and even their personalities beyond conventional standards.

The program is anchored in the area of Fine Art and Applied Art, allowing each individual student to follow the areas of expertise provided by two major streams, which reflect the needs of upcoming new industries:

1. Interdisciplinary Design
2. Contemporary Art Practices

The majority of the employment opportunities lie within the local creative industries. Graduates from the MA program in Visual Arts may go into managerial creative posts such as Creative Coordinators, Cultural Producers, Design Managers or Art Directors in Graphic Design agencies, Interior Architecture, Art and Design related posts, as well as the media and will be working towards hybrid forms of visual and social research and creative production.

Graduates can also pursue opportunities to initiate artist led, community-based projects or postgraduate doctoral studies.

Key Learning Outcomes

1. Assimilate the philosophy and values which condition interdisciplinary design and to understand the processes and factors that lead to its development;
2. Analyze and discuss the contemporary global, regional and local design issues and exhibit critical and creative thinking about their impact on aesthetic and cultural activities;
3. Indicate and carry an in-depth practice-based research that reflects on advanced critical theory and original and creative visual language;
4. Demonstrate skills and experiences necessary to involve in practising design within the areas of two dimensional and three-dimensional space, form/ function and formation, screen and print/moving and static platforms, traditional and experimental techniques, design materiality and immateriality
5. Apply the methodologies, discourses and analysis needed to enforce interdisciplinary art and design applications, thus achieving high level of execution and finishing
6. Utilize effectively state-of-the-art software tools embracing the impact of technology and new media in the area of contemporary art and interdisciplinary design
7. Promote the development of practices which facilitate sustainability, social and cultural perspectives
8. Manage information about the main local and international market opportunities and channel directly their professional practices in unique and innovative channels
9. Apply the necessary knowledge so that they can become chartered in the professional arena and association;
10.  Demonstrate the ability for using research results in education, within their professional environments and in society.
11. Master skills and experiences that reflect on appropriate subjects and themes of the wider area of interest, in ways that challenge conventional boundaries and re-approach in unpredictable ways, traditional methods and mediums;
12.  Develop and execute a self-initiated project that makes an original contribution to the field.

Frederick University academic year consists of the fall and spring semesters. The calendar is arranged so that students may start classes either during the last week of September or the first week of February. Candidates may submit an application for admission in any of the semesters. Due to the fact that formalities for the issue of an entry visa take at least 6 weeks, candidates are urged to file an application at least 8 weeks prior to the expected date of enrolment. Students are expected to be on campus prior to the beginning of the intended semester/session. In response to arising need, courses could be provided within the summer period.

Admission Requirements

All perspective candidates are admitted to the MA program if they satisfy the following criteria:

• An accredited BA Degree from an an accredited institution of an Art and Design field.
• Good knowledge of the English language

All perspective candidates must sit for an interview and a portfolio presentation/ review. All interviews are conducted by a Selection Committee which includes the program coordinator (chair) and two faculty members.

The most important criteria for the selection of the MA students is based on the candidate’s ability for critical thinking and creativity, the visual intelligence, literacy and competency of the candidates as well as the candidate’s’ art and design visual language articulation and skills.

A. Nationals of EU countries
Candidates who are nationals of EU countries can enter Cyprus as visitors. On arrival at Frederick University they must submit to the Admission Office the following:

• A fully completed application form.
• An application fee of Euro 25 (non-refundable).
• Attested (certified true) copies of their academic qualifications.
• Evidence of proficiency in English, (if available).
• A photocopy of their passport. The passport should be valid for at least one year from the date of their arrival to Cyprus.
• A recent certificate of good conduct issued by the police of the candidate’s country of origin or residence, if necessary translated in Greek or English. The good conduct certificate should be original and issued less than 6 months prior to the beginning of the semester for which the student is applying. The names and titles of the persons issuing and certifying the document should be clearly stated therein.

Furthermore, they must pay the registration fee, the semester tuition fees, and register for subjects. Next they must apply to the Migration Department for a temporary residence permit. The application to the Migration Department must be supported by evidence that they have paid their tuition fees for the semester, have enough funds for their initial living expenses and have obtained local health insurance coverage.

B. Applicants from non EU countries
International Students from non EU countries need to have a valid student visa in order to be allowed to enter Cyprus. The issue of an entry visa takes about 6 weeks from the date of the submission of the application. It is therefore recommended that candidates submit their application at least 8 weeks before the beginning of the semester. Cyprus Migration Department requirements in respect of the issue of a student visa, which from time to time may be modified, are available to candidates in a separate document.

Once the Conditional Acceptance Letter is issued by the University, the prospective student is directed
by an Admissions Officer to send to the University several documents by email and then by courier.
The documents are as follows:
1. Original attested passport copy must be valid for 2 years
2. Original attested copy of High School Leaving Certificate and mark sheets
3. Original attested Police Clearance Certificate must be valid for 6 months
4. Original attested bank letter showing that the student’s sponsor has the financial ability to
support tuition fees and leaving expenses must be valid for 6 months
5. Original attested bank statement which clearly shows the minimum amount of €7,000 in the
sponsor’s account must be valid for 1 month
6. Original attested chest X-ray report for Tuberculosis must be valid for 4 months
7. Original attested blood test results for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C must be valid for 4
months
8. Attested document of parental consent for the student’s proposed stay in Cyprus and its
official translation in Greek or English– only for applicants below the age of 18 years
(minors).
9. Attested reports of medical tests showing that they are not suffering from Hepatitis B,
Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilis and a chest X-ray report.
10. A recent certificate of good conduct issued by the police of the candidate’s country of
origin or residence, if necessary translated in Greek or English. The good conduct
certificate should be original and issued less than 6 months prior to the beginning of the
semester for which the student is applying. The names and titles of the persons issuing
and certifying the document should be clearly stated therein.
11. Attested letter from a bank in the country of origin or residence stating that the student or
his/her parent (s) – full names to be mentioned – have the financial capability to cover the
cost of living and studying in Cyprus, and the student’s repatriation cost, as well as recent
bank statement showing a balance of at least €7000 (seven thousand Euro).

It is estimated that, on average, a student spends about 600 Euro per month for private accommodation, utilities, food and transportation. Of course, a budget is a very personal thing, depending on one’s preferences.

Full time students from non EU countries are entitled to seek employment of 20 hours per week during the study period, provided that the employment hours will not coincide with their study hours at the University, or 38 hours per week during their holidays. The right to employment starts after the completion of six months study and residence in Cyprus. 

Scholarships aim is to support young people with capabilities to distinguish and to contribute to the development and social progress.

The university offers full and partial scholarships to incoming students based on the academic merit of the high school performance. The University also has in place a scholarship scheme for continuing students which reduces tuition fees based on the GPA achieved by the student. The percentage of reduction is related to the GPA achieved.

Additionally, Frederick University has a broad range of scholarships to athletes.