MFA at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA)

Written in: August 2000
By Neeta Madahar

My motivation for applying for a Fine Art Masters degree outside of the UK was the fact that the cultural experience of living and studying in the US would affect my art practice enormously. There were also the advantages of having access to a high standard of resources and equipment, getting my work exposed to a wider audience and gaining teaching experience. I therefore decided to apply to 4 Fine Art programs at San Francisco Art Institute, Mills College in Oakland, University of California – San Diego and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) in Boston. As well as receiving places from each institution, I also received offers of financial assistance including a full tuition scholarship of over $19000 per year from SMFA.

To begin a search for the right institution and the right degree program can be daunting, particularly as the US is a vast country with thousands of institutions that offer Fine Art degree programs. It is therefore important to allocate plenty of time to the task and have an organised approach. At the start, I found it useful to discuss my plans with ex-tutors of mine, either because they could recommend certain institutions for me to investigate or because they had colleagues in the US who I could contact for advice. Using the Internet was a critical tool in my research as I saved valuable time downloading information about institutions and courses. I also believe that introducing myself to members of teaching faculties and asking questions about their work as well as about particular course programs aided my subsequent applications. In fact, I discovered that many US universities prefer to correspond with individuals via email.

In terms of financing your studies, don’t be immediately dissuaded by the huge fees quoted in prospectuses. Certain institutions can offer full or partial tuition scholarships to students they want regardless of nationality. Another common benefit of Masters programs in the US is that students are expected to learn about their specialist area through paid teaching assistantships. These assistantships are usually available in the second year and can cover most if not all of a student’s living expenses. Finally, provided you perform well as a student in your first year, many US institutions will offer you scholarships and awards to enable you to continue your second year studies.

From a logistical perspective, it’s best to narrow down your choices so that you apply to no more than 4-7 places and if you can, arrange a visit to a school to meet the teaching faculty and some of the students. One of the most important aspects of an application is a statement that you are asked to provide about yourself. Don’t presume that the admissions committee in the US will automatically understand the structure of your first-degree course so explain things clearly. Finally, be direct about stating your achievements, as you’ll be competing with US students who certainly won’t be reserved about selling themselves.