Graduate

Each year the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students also go on a fall field trip. In 2019, we went to Venice to see the Biennale. Check out some of our pics. The trip is made possible due to the kind gift of Keith and Win Shantz in support of our MFA program and professional practice.

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the University of Waterloo is an intimate program built around a solid core of studio research, practice, professional development, and pedagogical training. Each year the program admits five students, resulting in a tight knit community with plenty of access to both faculty and resources. The studio portion of the program culminates in the completion, exhibition, and defense of a coherent body of work in a solo exhibition at the University of Waterloo Art Gallery (UWAG). The pedagogical component of the program includes a seminar in course development, two teaching assistantships and the opportunity to teach a foundations level course.

A key feature that distinguishes our MFA program is the Keith and Win Shantz International Research Scholarship, which provides opportunities for students to study alongside an established artist anywhere in the world. Our students have travelled to the Netherlands, Scotland, England, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Brazil, China, and the United States. This six-week fully funded professional development program occurs during the summer of students’ third term.

Our size, teaching assistantships and the Keith and Win Shantz Research Scholarships enable us to offer one of the most generous funding packages in the country.  In 2019, the funding offered for five consecutive terms (full-time study) was approximately $34,000.

For a tour of our facilities, or more information, contact faculty member and Graduate Chair Lois Andison.

Applicants with an Honours BA (Fine Arts Studio) from UW will be required to wait a minimum of two year before being eligible for application and/or admission to the MFA Studio program.

International students

Due to funding restrictions, the Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students we can admit. Please contact the department's Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program.