
Updated on May 10, 2025
Shibam Kumar
Updated on May 10, 2025
Shibam Kumar
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a 2-year Postgraduate program focusing on visual arts, performing arts and creative writing. The course emphasises practical skills and artistic development along with theory and research. This course covers various specialisations such as visual arts (painting, photography, sculpture), performance arts (dance, theatre, film) and creative writing.
The eligibility criteria for admission to a Master of Fine Arts course is a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or a relevant discipline with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised university. Candidates applying for this course must also qualify for entrance exams such as CUET-PG, MAH AAC CET, LPU NEST, BHU SET and others.
The average fee for studying for a Master of Fine Arts degree in India ranges between INR 600-3,70,000 depending on the university affiliation, whether private or public. Some top universities are Jamia Millia Islamia, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Delhi University (DU), LPU, Amity University, Shiv Nadar University, Chitakara University and. Master of Fine Arts graduates can work in various fields of Arts; typical job roles are Art & Craft Teacher, Product Designer, Painter, Graphic Designer, Jewelry Designer, Art Expert, Visual Arts Teacher and many more. The average salary of MFA graduates ranges between INR 2.4-3.6 LPA for freshers and INR 4-8 LPA for experienced.
Given below are some of the key highlights for the MFA Course:
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Course Name | Master of Fine Arts (MFA) |
Level of Study | Post-graduation (Master's) |
Duration | 2-year |
Eligibility Criteria | Have a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or related with 50% marks from a recognised university. Qualify for applicable entrance exams depending on the college or university selected for admission. |
Entrance Exams | CUET-PG, MAH AAC CET, BHU SET, LPU NEST, DUET, JMI EE |
Admission Process | Merit-Based/Entrance-Based |
Course Fee | INR 4,600-3,70,000 |
Colleges/Universities | Jamia Millia Islamia, BHU, LPU, Delhi University, Shanmugha Arts Science Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA), Manipal University |
Average Salary | INR 2.4-3.6 LPA (Freshers) INR 4-8 LPA (Experienced) |
Job Roles | Art & Craft Teacher, Art Curator, Graphic Designer, Jewelry Designer, Art Expert, Visual Arts Teacher |
The eligibility criteria for admission into the Master of Fine Arts program are as follows:
Some of the national, state and university-level entrance exams for enrolling on a Master of Fine Arts course are:
Exam | Level | Registration Date (Tentative) | Exam Date (Tentative) | Application Fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
CUET-PG 2025 | National | 2 Jan-8 Feb 2025 | 13 Mar-1 Apr 2025 | INR 1400 (Gen.) INR 1200 (OBC/EWS) INR 1100 (SC/ST/TG/PwD) |
BHU SET 2025 | University | 20 Feb-20 Mar 2025 | 8 May Jun 2025 | INR 750 (Gen.) INR 700 (OBC/EWS) INR 650 (SC/ST/TG/PwD) |
MAH AAC CET 2025 | State | 15 Jan-27 Feb 2025 | 5 Apr 2025 | INR 1900 (Gen.) INR 1400 (Res.) |
JMI EE 2025 | University | 5 Mar-10 Apr 2025 | 26 Apr 2025 | INR 700 |
DUET 2025 | University | 1-22 Mar 2025 | 15-31 May 2025 | INR 750 (UR/OBC) INR 300 (SC/ST/PwD/EWS) |
LPU NEST 2025 | University | 26 Jan-10 Mar 2025 | 15-31 Mar 2025 | INR 1000 (SCK) INR 1500 (PCK) |
A few of the top colleges in India offering Master in Fine Arts courses have been listed below:
University | Specialisations | NIRF Ranking (University) | Average Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Jamia Millia Islamia | Art History | #13 (Overall) #3 (University) | INR 7,300 |
Banaras Hindu University | Applied Art, Painting, Textile Design, Plastic Art (Sculpture), Pottery Ceramics | #48 (Management) #11 (Overall) | INR 4,620 |
Delhi University | Painting, Sculpture, Fine Arts | #6 (University) | INR 12,400 |
LPU | Painting, Applied Art, Sculpture | #27 (University) #50 (Engineering) #16 (Pharmacy) #38 (Management) | INR 2,00,000 |
Shanmugha Arts Science Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) | Bharatnatyam | #14 (Law) #28 (University) | INR 1,04,000 |
Amity University | Applied Art | #29 (management) #49 (Overall) | INR 82,000 |
Mumbai University | Painting, Applied Arts, History of Arts | #61 (University) | INR 1,16,000 |
Shiva Nadar University | Art History, Art Theory, Photography, Moving Image, Painting, Sculpture, Mixed Media | - | INR 1,92,000 |
Manipal University, Jaipur | Applied Art | #64(University) #73 (Management) | INR 2,25,000 |
Chitakara University | Painting, Printmaking, Art History, Sculpture | - | INR 3,70,000 |
The admission process for the Master of Fine Arts course at Lovely Professional University (Phagwara) is given below:
The syllabus of the MA in Fine Arts course may vary depending on the course curriculum and specialisation offered by the universities. The syllabus for the Master in Fine Arts course at Amity University (Gurugram) has been listed below:
Semester-1 | Semester-2 |
---|---|
Advertising & Marketing Research-I | Report & Viva |
Creative Painting-I | Advertising & Marketing Research - II |
Drawing-I | Creative Painting - II |
Graphic Designing-I | Drawing-II |
History Of Art (20th Century)-I | Graphic Designing - II |
Visualization-I | History Of Art (20th Century) - II |
Basics Of Communication | Visualisation - II |
Foreign Business Language | Corporate Communication |
Open Elective Course | Behavioural Communication And Relationship Management |
Outdoor Activity-Based Course | Foreign Business Language |
- | Open Elective Courses |
- | Outdoor Activity-Based Course |
Semester-3 | Semester-4 |
---|---|
Dissertation & Viva - I | Dissertation & Viva - II |
Advertising & Business Organization-I | Advertising & Business Organization - II |
Art Criticism (Painting)-I | Art Criticism (Painting) - II |
Creative Painting-III | Creative Painting - II |
Drawing-III | Drawing-IV |
Graphic Designing-III | Graphic Designing - IV |
Visualization-III | Visualisation - IV |
Interpersonal Communication | Cross-Cultural Communication |
Leading Through Teams | Professional Excellence |
Foreign Business Language | Foreign Business Language |
Open Elective Courses | Open Elective Courses |
Outdoor Activity-Based Course | Outdoor Activity-Based Course |
The advantages of studying for a Master of Fine Arts are:
MA Fine Arts graduates can work in various fields related to the arts; some of the job roles available on job portals like Naukri.com and Indeed are given below:
Job Role | Recruiter | Experience Level | Average Salary |
---|---|---|---|
Teacher-Graphics | Image Creative Education | 0-1 year | INR 2.4-3 LPA |
Art Expert | Art Beat | 0-1 year | INR 3-3.6 LPA |
Visual Arts Teacher | Redbricks Education Foundation | 1-2 years | INR 4.8-5.4 LPA |
Jewellery Designer | Lalit Gems | 2-4 years | INR 5.4-7.2 LPA |
Graphic Designer | Janrise Advertising | 3-5 years | INR 6-8 LPA |
Although both are master's degrees, the Master of Art focuses on subjects related to humanities and social sciences. On the other hand, the Master of Fine Arts program is a practice-based program that focuses on one artistic specialisation and is more about hands-on experience.
Generally, a Master of Fine Arts is considered a terminal degree, the highest degree in this discipline. However, one can take specialised certification courses or any other skill-development course to enhance one's knowledge and expertise in particular fields of art.
Yes, it is possible, and it is one of the common paths for MFA graduates to take to start their businesses. They can begin to create and sell their art or paintings, provide freelance artistic services, open photography studios, start an art supply business, and open event design and decoration centres.
Yes, an MFA graduate can get government jobs in public-funded cultural institutions, art galleries or museums, and various government organisations for roles related to developing public policy, communication, or cultural initiatives.
How would you rate your experience with this page up to now?
Get Expert Guidance Now! ✨
Built in India
© 2025 INDO INTERNET PRIVATE LIMITED