Study paths for the Academy of Fine Arts
Plan your studies according to the study path. This ensures that you can complete all courses within the target time of the degree.
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Study path
The degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts consists of 210 study credits and the duration of studies is 3,5 years. This is the study path for international students, including Swedish students, who have completed their formal education in language other than Finnish/Swedish.
1st year studies of Bachelor’s degree: Autumn semester
The student completes a total of 3 credits of Uniarts Helsinki’s general studies:
- X-YO1A University of the Arts as a learning environment (2 cr)
- X-Y03 Communication Skills (1 cr)
The student completes a total of 22 credits of compulsory studies included in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree:
- K-K24111 Introduction to subject areas (14 cr)
- K-K24112 Introduction to independent artistic activities (4 cr)
- K-K24113 Introduction to documentation of artistic work (4 cr)
- K-K24131 Introduction to the history of art (5 cr)
In total 30 credits.
1st year studies of Bachelor’s degree: Spring semester
The student completes a total of 5 credits of Uniarts Helsinki’s general studies:
- X-Y04 Textual Skills 1 – Specialist text (1 cr)
- X-YO11 Finnish language 1 (CEFR A1.3) (4 cr)
The student completes a total of 7 credits of compulsory studies included in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree:
- K-K24120 Artistic work seminar (teaching: K-KM24TTS) (2 cr)
- K-K24131 Introduction to the history of art (5 cr)
The student completes a total of 18 credits of elective and optional studies for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
In total 30 credits.
2nd year studies of Bachelor’s degree: Autumn semester
The student completes a total of 2 credits of Uniarts Helsinki’s general studies:
- X-Y06 English for Arts Studies and Practice 1 (2 cr)
The student completes a total of 4 credits of compulsory studies included in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree:
- K-K24120 Artistic work seminar (teaching: K-KM24TTS) (2 cr)
- K-K24133 Art and philosophy I (2 cr)
The student completes a total of 24 credits of elective and optional studies for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
In total 30 credits.
2nd year studies of Bachelor’s degree: Spring semester
The student completes a total of 3 credits of Uniarts Helsinki’s general studies:
- X-Y07 English for Arts Studies and Practice 2 (3 cr)
The student completes a total of 7 credits of compulsory studies included in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree:
- K-K24120 Artistic work seminar (teaching: K-KM24TTS) (2 cr)
- K-K24132 History and theory of contemporary art I (5 cr)
The student completes a total of 20 credits of elective and optional studies for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
In total 30 credits.
3rd year studies of Bachelor’s degree: Autumn semester
The student completes a total of 7 credits of compulsory studies included in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree:
- K-K24120 Artistic work seminar (teaching: K-KM24TTS) (2 cr)
- K-K24134 Thematic theoretical studies (teaching: K-KM24TT) (5 cr)
The student completes a total of 23 credits of elective and optional studies for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
In total 30 credits.
3rd year studies of Bachelor’s degree: Spring semester
The student completes a total of 4 credits of compulsory studies included in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree:
- K-K24120 Artistic work seminar (teaching: K-KM24TTS) (2 cr)
- K-K24135 Professional skills for visual artists I (2 cr)
- K-K24141 K-K24141 Bachelor of Fine Arts thesis seminar: seminar meetings starts
The student completes a total of 26 credits of elective and optional studies for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
In total 30 credits.
4th year studies of Bachelor’s degree: Autumn semester
The student completes a total of 3 credits of Uniarts Helsinki’s general studies:
- X-Y05A Textual Skills 2A – Component of written communication in the bachelor’s thesis (1 cr)
- X-Y02 Art, Work, and Sustainability (2 cr)
The student completes a total of 21 credits of compulsory studies included in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree:
- K-K24120 Artistic work seminar (teaching: K-KM24TTS) (2 cr)
- K-K24140 Bachelor of Fine Arts artistic work and a written thesis, 19 credits in total, including:
- K-K24141 Bachelor of Fine Arts thesis seminar (2 cr)
- K-K24142 Exhibition practices (2 cr)
- K-K24143 Bachelor of Fine Arts artistic work and its public presentation (9 cr)
- K-K24144 Bachelor of Fine Arts written thesis (6 cr)
- K-K24145 Bachelor of Fine Arts maturity essay (0 cr)
The student completes a total of 6 credits of elective and optional studies for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
In total 30 credits.
To note about the study path of Bachelor of Fine Arts
Alternative studies in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
Students must complete at least 20 cr of studies offered by the subject areas. They can be completed either in one or several subject areas (sculpture, painting, printmaking, time and space arts, joint studies).
Elective studies in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
Elective studies may include independent artistic work and studies that support it, as chosen by the student. The studies may include courses offered by the Academy of Fine Arts and Uniarts Helsinki, as well as other university-level studies. Students must complete at least half of their elective studies at the Academy of Fine Arts or at an exchange institution abroad, as approved by the Academy of Fine Arts.
K-K24142 Exhibition practices
Teaching is in connection with the K-K24141 Bachelor of Fine Arts thesis seminar.
Thematic theoretical studies
Thematic theoretical studies are included as compulsory studies in all degree programmes at the Academy of Fine Arts. For the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the scope of compulsory thematic theoretical studies is 5 credits.
Master of Fine Arts: Study path
The degree of Master of Fine Arts consists of 120 study credits and the duration of studies is 2 years. It is recommended that the student’s workload corresponds to 30 credits per academic term.
1st year studies of Master’s degree: Spring semester
The student completes a total of 7 credits of compulsory studies included in the Master of Fine Arts degree:
- K-M24110 Introduction to MFA studies (2 cr)
- K-M24120 Artistic work seminar (teaching: K-KM24TTS) (2 cr)
- K-M24142 Art and philosophy II (3 cr)
- K-M24153 Examination events of thesis projects: following the examination events of thesis projects
The student completes a total of 23 credits of independent artistic work and optional studies.
- katso tarjonta opinto-oppaasta
In total 30 credits.
1st year studies of Master’s degree: Autumn semester
The student completes a total of 11 credits of compulsory studies included in the Master of Fine Arts degree:
- K-M24141 History and theory of contemporary art II (5 cr)
- K-M24144 Thematic theoretical studies (teaching: K-KM24TT) (5 cr)
- K-M24151 Master of Fine Arts thesis seminar (3 cr)
- K-M24154 Master of Fine Arts thesis project: The project starts:
- drawing up a thesis project plan
- choosing supervisors for the thesis project
- K-M24153 Examination events of thesis projects: following the examination events of thesis projects
The student completes a total of 17 credits of independent artistic work and optional studies.
In total 30 credits.
2nd year studies of Master’s degree: Spring semester
The student completes a total of 7 credits of compulsory studies included in the Master of Fine Arts degree:
- K-M24143 Professional skills for visual artists II (3 cr)
- K-M24151 Master of Fine Arts thesis seminar (3 cr)
- K-M24152 Introduction to writing a Master of Fine Arts thesis (1 cr)
- K-M24154 Master of Fine Arts thesis project: The project continues:
- choosing examiners for the thesis project
- public presentation of the artistic component of the thesis project
- seminar connected to Kuvan Kevät exhibition
- K-M24153 Examination events of thesis projects: following the examination events of thesis projects
The student completes a total of 3 credits of independent artistic work and optional studies.
The study workload equals 30 credits.
2nd year studies of Master’s degree: Autumn semester
The student completes a total of 5 credits of compulsory studies included in the Master of Fine Arts degree:
- K-M24145 History and theory of exhibition practices (3 cr)
- K-M24154 Master of Fine Arts thesis project (40 cr)
- finishing the written component, preliminary examination, and submittal for final examination
- public examination event
- K-M24153 Examination events of thesis projects (2 cr)
The student completes a total of 5 credits of independent artistic work and optional studies.
The study workload equals 30 credits.
To note about the study path of Master of Fine Arts
Artistic studies, independent artistic work
MFA students must carry out a minimum of 15 credits worth of independent artistic work as compulsory studies. The studies can be completed over several academic terms. To carry out independent artistic work, the student must register for the course unit named K-KM24ITT Artistic studies, independent artistic work.
Elective studies in the Master of Fine Arts degree
Elective studies may include independent artistic work and studies that support it, as chosen by the student. The studies may include courses offered by the Academy of Fine Arts and Uniarts Helsinki, as well as other university-level studies. Students must complete at least half of their elective studies at the Academy of Fine Arts or at an exchange institution abroad, as approved by the Academy of Fine Arts.
Master of Fine Arts thesis project
The workload for the Master of Fine Arts thesis project is divided into 3 semesters. The credits for the Master of Fine Arts thesis project (40 cr) are registered after the thesis has been accepted.
During study unit K-M24153 Examination events of thesis project the students attends 16 Master´s of Fine Arts examination events over several semesters. Students can also compensate the examination events by participating in the Kuvan Kevät seminar (whole seminar attendance equals 8 events / 1 cr) and by following doctoral thesis examinations events.
Thematic theoretical studies
Thematic theoretical studies are included as compulsory studies in all degree programmes at the Academy of Fine Arts. For the Master of Fine Arts degree, the scope of compulsory thematic theoretical studies is 5 credits.
Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree: study path
Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art
The degree of Master of Fine Arts consists of 120 study credits and the duration of studies is 2 years. It is recommended that the student’s workload corresponds to 30 credits per academic term.
1st year studies of Master’s degree: Autumn semester
The student completes a total of 23 credits of compulsory studies included in the Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree
- :K-MP25110 Introduction to master’s studies I (2 cr)
- K-MP25131 Praxis practicum (3 cr)
- K-MP25133 Curating I (5 cr)
- K-M24141 History and theory of contemporary art II (5 cr)
- K-M24143 History and theory of exhibition practices (3 cr)
- K-MP25144 Thematic theoretical studies (teaching: K-KM24TT) (5 cr)
The student completes a total of 7 credits of alternative modules and optional studies.
In total 30 credits.
1st year studies of Master’s degree: Spring semester
The student completes a total of 24 credits of compulsory studies included in the Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree:
- K-MP25120 Introduction to master’s studies II (1 cr)
- K-MP25131 Praxis practicum (3 cr)
- K-MP25132 Seminars for the subject areas of fine arts (2 cr)
- K-MP25134 Critical writing I (5 cr)
- K-M24142 Art and philosophy II (3 cr)
- K-MP25144 Thematic theoretical studies (teaching: K-KM24TT) (5 cr)
- K-MP25151 Praxis thesis seminar (2 cr)
- K-MP25152 Research competence (3 cr)
- K-MP25153 Master of Arts (Art and Design) thesis project: The project starts:
- drawing up a thesis project plan
- choosing supervisors for the thesis project
The student completes a total of 6 credits of alternative modules and optional studies.
In total 30 credits.
2nd year studies of Master’s degree: Autumn semester
The student completes a total of 15 credits of compulsory studies included in the Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree
- K-MP25131 Praxis practicum (3 cr)
- K-MP25135 Traineeship (10 cr)
- K-MP25151 Praxis thesis seminar (2 cr)
- K-MP25153 Master of Arts (Art and Design) thesis project: The project continues:
- choosing examiners for the thesis project
- practical part of the thesis project
The student completes a total of 6 credits of alternative modules and optional studies.
The study workload equals 30 credits.
2nd year studies of Master’s degree: Spring semester
The student completes a total of 33 credits of compulsory studies included in the Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree
- K-MP25132 Seminars for the subject areas of fine arts (2 cr)
- K-MP25151 Praxis thesis seminar (1 cr)
- K-MP25153 Master of Arts (Art and Design) thesis project (30 cr)
- finishing the written component, preliminary examination, and submittal for final examination
The student completes a total of 5 credits of alternative modules and optional studies.
The study workload equals 30 credits.
To note about the study path of Master of Arts (Art and Design)
Elective studies in the Master of Arts degree
The studies may include courses offered by the Academy of Fine Arts and Uniarts Helsinki, as well as other university-level studies.
Master of Arts (Art and Design)
The workload for the Master of Fine Arts thesis project is divided into 3 semesters. The credits for the Master of Fine Arts thesis project (30 cr) are registered after the thesis has been accepted.
Thematic theoretical studies
Thematic theoretical studies are included as compulsory studies in all degree programmes at the Academy of Fine Arts. For the Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree, the scope of compulsory thematic theoretical studies is 10 credits.