Fine Art Practice

Key Facts

Staff

Programme Overview

Award

MLitt Fine Art Practice. All GSA degree programmes are validated by the University of Glasgow. Established in 1451, the University of Glasgow is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities and a founder member of Universitas 21, an international grouping of universities dedicated to setting worldwide standards for higher education.

Assessment

Applicant's project proposal at point of application forms the basis for the student's final project of practice and research. The course includes formative and summative assessment, with continuous feedback from tutorials, peer and staff review. Lecture courses are assessed by essay and/or coursework.

Facilities
Dedicated studio space. Workshop and technical facilities including for printing a range of presses, purpose-designed acid room, photo-etch and photo-polymer facilities, Colour negative and slide processing lab; multi-unit black and white darkrooms with enlargers capable of using 35mm, medium format, and 5x4" negs, and able to produce mural size black and white prints; multi-unit digital darkrooms incorporating negative scanners (up to 5x4"), A2 ink jet printers; large scale digital print facilities. Alternative process darkrooms, photographic studios, and a range of print finishing and mounting facilities are also available. Media Studio which offers facilities in computers, digital sound, video and editing. 3D making workshops.

Indicative Additional Costs
Individual departments levy material fees as indicated on this page. You should budget for each year of your programme of study and should allow for costs over and above your fees and maintenance, particularly if expensive materials or projects are chosen.

Programme Leader
Mick McGraw


Acting Programme Leader

Marita Fraser

Pathway Tutors
Alan Currall
Marita Fraser
Michelle Hannah
Aoife McGarrigle
Jane Topping


Visiting artists to the Programme over recent sessions have included:

Kitty Anderson
Claire Barclay
Ruth Barker
Juliette Blightman
Judit Bodor
Sue Brind
Erin Busswood
Kate Clayton
Jamie Crewe
Ultimate Dancer
Phil Gurrey
Michael Fullerton
Andrew Houston
Marcus Jack
Rachel Maclean
France-Lise McGurn
Chad McCail
Lorna Macintyre
Jade Monserrat
Toby Paterson
Anthony Schrag
David Sherry
Ross Sinclair
Alberta Whittle
Adrian Wisniewski

Programme Overview

The M.Litt in Fine Art Practice is a one year taught programme which runs for 12 months between September and September. It consists of the following combined disciplinary pathways*:

  • Painting, Drawing and Print Media
  • Photography and the Moving Image
  • Sculpture and Performance

Applicants to the programme will identify in advance which pathway they would like to study. The programme is split into two distinct modes of study; studio practice over four days of the week and Research Methods and Methodologies in Practice for one day per week (for the first two stages of the course).

The programme is predominantly studio-based, offering students the opportunity to immerse themselves within research and studio practice. Each student has their own studio space within the larger pathway studios which allows them to develop their ideas throughout the year within their own space.

The 12-month programme expects applicants to have an in-depth knowledge of their area of specialism. The nature of the 12-month programme encourages an intensive exploration of research and development of ideas from the outset. Throughout the year on the programme, each student passes through three stages of studio practice: 

  • Origination (in which first forays into the project's content and themes are made); 
  • Investigation (in which testing, sampling and experimentation are key);
  • Consolidation (the bringing to fruition of the year's work in a cohesive portfolio of output at the Degree Show).

Each student on the programme is encouraged to develop a high level of independence, enabling them to construct a working studio routine that utilises their time throughout the three stages of the programme.

Students will be based within, and supported by staff from, the appropriate pathway within the School of Fine Art. The staff who teach on the various pathways are all experts and practitioners in that particular specialism, ensuring students can engage in dialogue pertinent to their individual learning through their specialism.

Students on the MLitt in Fine Art Practice programme oscillate between operating within their pathways (in the studio, in tutorials and group critiques, and specifically focused lectures and seminars), and across them - especially in lectures and talks that deal with more generic conceptual and philosophical issues. Efforts are made to ensure that students on the programme are enabled to fully devote themselves to their chosen field of practice, whilst facilitating their learning through the provision of a range of interdisciplinary opportunities for critical reflection and personal development.

 

*subject to final approval