MFA Art and Art History at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Programme overview

The MFA in studio art is a two-year, 60-hour programme for students aiming to become professional artists. Credits come mainly from studio practice, with seminars, art history and electives.

Faculty: The Graduate School | Department: Department of Art and Art History | Duration: 2 years (60 credit hours) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States

What you will study

The majority of credits are studio practice, alongside two three-credit graduate seminars, six hours of art history, six hours of electives and the master's thesis. The thesis comprises a group exhibition curated at the Ackland Art Museums, a solo show in the Allcott Gallery, a thesis statement and a visual lecture defense.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School minimum (applies to all graduate programmes): a four-year bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) from an accredited institution completed before graduate study begins and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better; application via the Graduate School online application with transcripts, three recommendation letters, statement of purpose and CV, plus any programme-specific tests/materials; international applicants add a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test score; admission decisions are made by each programme. Programme-specific: For further information, the applicant should write to the Director of Graduate Studies for art history. While the majority of applicants hold a bachelor's degree in art, we also welcome applications from students who hold undergraduate degrees in other fields and can present a strong art portfolio. Applicants to the M.F.A. program are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants apply for a start term; fall is the main start term. Very few programmes admit new students for spring or summer terms.

Graduate applications and payment must be received by the deadline of the academic programme applied to, which varies by programme; the application closes at 11:59pm Eastern Time on the deadline date. The Graduate School recommends complete applications by December 15, 2026 for full fellowship consideration. The GRE is not required for the Master of Applied Professional Studies.

Apply through the official page: https://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions/

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities