Visual Arts, MFA

The MFA in Visual Art offers training in contemporary visual art and prepares its graduates for professional careers as artists and curators, as well as for advanced training at the PhD level, and for a range of careers in galleries, museums, and other art world contexts. It combines an emphasis on critical theory with instruction in the studio arts. In the first semester, all MA and MFA students take a core course in art theory together, thereby providing opportunities for exchange and collaboration. Students work in small seminar courses to develop their research and studio practice.

Admission Requirements

Additional Requirements

• Students must submit a sample of written work of at least 1000 words. In addition, we require photographic, video or digital documentation of studio practice, accompanied by a description of the work..

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language by a satisfactory* achievement within the last two years in one of the following:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL). iBT (internet-Based Test): The minimum acceptable score is 86, with no individual score below 20.
• The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS Academic). The minimum acceptable score is 6.5 out of 9.
• The Duolingo English Test. Applicants must attain a minimum score of 115.
• The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL Assessment). The minimum acceptable score is 60.
• Western English Language Centre. The requirement is successful completion of the High-Advanced level.
  
• Fanshawe College’s ESL Program. The requirement is graduation from Level 10, English for Academic Purposes, with a minimum 80% in all components.

*Programs at Western may require a higher minimum score than those listed above.

Students who are required to present evidence of proficiency in English must make their own arrangements to complete one of the above tests or programs and to have the official results sent directly to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by the testing agency.

Exemptions

Students must contact the graduate program(s) to which they have applied in order to request an exemption.