MA Contemporary Crafts

The course will immerse you in exciting conversations about thinking and making. You will have the opportunity to build both your academic- and practice-based skills and see how they inspire and inform each other. Challenged to consider the context of your practice in terms of contemporary crafts you will be given the critical tools to extend your vision. 

The programme will encourage you to expand boundaries, think conceptually, and extend your own visual, technical and creative vocabulary. Your practice will be informed by rigorous research, experimentation and exploration, all designed to foster innovation in your thinking and your practice.

Modules are project-led and studio-based, supported by close supervision, group tutorials, lectures, seminars, and access to a wide range of workshops and facilities. There is an emphasis on the development of both professional and entrepreneurial skills that aim to ensure the viability, relevance and sustainability of your practice long after the course has finished.

• Applicants should have an personal understanding of their particular discipline and be able to demonstrate their ability to sustain research at MA level.

   

• Applicants should be (or about to become) graduates. Preference will be given to good honours graduates although exceptional applicants from a non-academic background will also be considered.

   

• Professional makers, designers, photographers, craftspeople and fine artists who wish to reposition their practice may also qualify.

   

• Applicants should submit a short proposal of up to 500 words, detailing why they are applying to the programme of study, supported by a portfolio of current practice, which will form the basis of discussion within the interview.

The course fosters post graduates in their realisation of their individual creative ambitions and goals. 

The programme provides a platform for the building of skills and confidence to nurture and drive independence, creative engagement and critical awareness, essential elements of contemporary designer-maker and artist-maker identities.

Many post-graduate students on completion of the course establish themselves as independent practitioners or creative professionals with portfolio careers. The broad range of transferable skills developed over the course allows graduate Master practitioners wide opportunities in the creative arts sector through consultancy, community arts, teaching and residencies whilst others want to further extend their research and practice by studying for a PhD.

You may be eligible for a Postgraduate Masters Loan.

Postgraduate Loans are available from Student Finance England as a contribution towards course and living costs. If you are studying over two academic years, the loan will be paid equally across 2 years (MA Contemporary Crafts). Each year’s amount will be paid in three instalments 33%, 33% and 34% directly to you.

Students must be aged under 60 years old at the start of the academic year to be eligible.

You should be able to apply for a Postgraduate Loan from the end of June 2022. For more information about Postgraduate Master Loans, please visit www.gov.uk/masters-loan

You can find more information on course fees and funding via the link below.

Open Evenings are a great opportunity to visit the campus, meet the teaching staff and get to know other students joining the course.

Postgraduate Open Events are informal in nature. They feature a campus tour from the course leader, followed by time in the studio space. 

We publish a list of dates for the upcoming year in October.

We encourage applications from students from diverse range of qualifications and life experience. 

We will take into consideration the knowledge and skills that you have developed inside and outside the classroom, as well as your previous qualifications. 

All applicants will interview with the course leader. The interview is an opportunity to demonstrate your passion and potential, and your reason for applying as well assessing whether this programme is appropriate to your interests and aspirations.

If you have any questions, you can arrange an informal chat with our admissions team by contacting registry@hca.ac.uk.

After applying, the admissions team will contact you to arrange an interview date.

They will also include guidance on what to include in a portfolio - which you will bring to discuss at the interview.

Portfolios are an opportunity to showcase what interests you, and what you would want to explore further on this course - and a jumping off point for discussion at interview.

There is an internal progression bursary that reduces tuition fees to £6,600 for HCA graduates.

To qualify, you need to have completed an undergraduate course at HCA within the last two academic years. 

If you want to check if you are eligible, you can email our Registry team at reigistry@hca.ac.uk.