About Master’s Program,
The MFA program fosters a transformative, interdisciplinary education for makers and scholars who aspire to explore ideas that are hospitable for the well-being of individuals, communities, and the planet. Our faculty encourages students to engage in clearly articulated, specific contexts so that their work will find relevance in the world. In our supportive yet challenging community of makers and thinkers, we collectively engage in art practice as an essential human endeavor, questioning and exploring what it means to be an artist and how to be in our times.
The program is well-positioned for students to benefit from the academic excellence UMass and the Five College consortium offer. Students are encouraged to take courses in the other colleges, university departments, and programs that deepen their research interests. The three-year MFA program also offers a comprehensive overview of teaching art in higher education settings, an introduction to critical pedagogy, and a solid teaching experience.
We are a highly competitive program accepting approximately six students per year. To defray the cost of tuition, teaching assistantships are awarded to all accepted students. Graduate students have 24-hour access to their studios, equipment, and facilities.
As our graduate program is interdisciplinary, students are not admitted into nor expected to work within one particular discipline. The ability of our MFA students to explore broadly reflects the current art world and is a highlight of our contemporary curriculum.
We do not have a rolling deadline. All applicants must hold an undergraduate degree or be in their final year of an undergraduate degree program before applying.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
- Bachelor’s degree:Prior to their anticipated start date, applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association; or complete an international degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education or commission responsible for higher education in the country where the degree is earned. If you obtained your degree from a university outside the United States, please consult the International Applicants page for more information.
- English Proficiency:Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. For more details consult the International Applicants page.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The University provides an array of funding in the form of assistantships, fellowships, research and travel grants.
- In Fall 2022, 82% of doctoral students, and 41% of master’s students had an assistantship or fellowship.
- Funding offers are made by the student’s graduate degree program at the time of admission. Full details on the amount and duration of funding are provided in a letter to the applicant.
The Graduate School and some Colleges have a limited number of fellowships to recruit outstanding graduate students. Students are typically nominated by their graduate program and notified if they are selected.
Our funding policies page has everything you need to know about assistantships, employment, and tuition credits.
Application Requirement,
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Creative Work Statement that includes the following: (maximum of 600 words) A description of your current practice(s) and what other fields of inquiry inform it. Why you are pursuing an MFA and what you hope to achieve while at UMass.
- Personal Statement that includes the following(maximum 600 words) A discussion of your background and lived experiences. What you have been doing since completing your undergraduate studies that has led you to want to pursue an MFA at this time.
- Graduate School Short Essay Requirement: At UMass Amherst, no two students are alike. Our communities and groups often define us and shape our individual worlds. Community can refer to various aspects, including shared geography, language, religion, race/ethnicity, income, ideology, ability, sexuality, gender, and more. Please choose one of your communities or groups and describe its significance. Explain how your experience in this community or group would enable you to enrich the following: a. Your department/program/our campus b. Your field/discipline. Please take the time to answer all parts of the following question. 600 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don’t feel obligated to do so.
- Two Letters of Reference. Your references will be contacted by email with a link to upload their letter.
- Submit Your Portfolio
- TranscriptsTranscripts can be sent to the graduate School electronically, or sealed official undergraduate transcripts should be mailed directly
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2025
Application Fee,
The nonrefundable $85 application fee is payable online via credit card.
