We're continuing to review applications! You're going to love being a Saxon, and we would be so happy to have you.
The Division of Drawing and Painting offers an international MFA Program in Painting. The program operates jointly in the School of Art and Design at Alfred University and at our studio facility in Düsseldorf, Germany. Students work with American and European artists and scholars, gaining an international perspective while interacting with art communities on two continents.
School/Division
School of Art and Design
Campus Locations
Main Campus - Alfred, NY
Degrees
Painting (MFA)
Each year, candidates of the Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) and Master of Fine Art (MFA) degrees showcase their work in a series of culminating thesis exhibitions.
See Student WorkThrough concentrated studio time, significant research opportunities, and mentoring from art world professionals, this program offers a graduate experience that prepares students for leadership roles in the next generation of professional artists and arts practitioners.
This two-year program is anticipated to be highly competitive; seven Painting students are admitted annually. Students spend two semesters at Alfred University's home campus, and two semesters at our studio facility in Düsseldorf Germany. Assistantships are awarded to each student. Visit alfredpainting.com to see current events and activities.
Applicants must be committed to extended international study and the practice of painting. Graduate students spend three months of each academic year in Düsseldorf engaging in intensive studio work, research, and professional practices. The program encourages a diversity of approaches within the unique language of painting, and fosters critical dialogue addressing contemporary global perspectives.
Düsseldorf has twenty world-class museums and over fifty contemporary art galleries and non-profit exhibition spaces. Visiting artists and critics, studio visits, lectures and field trips to Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne, New York City and other nearby collections offer even more opportunities to study work in person. Alfred University offers access to and engagement across disciplines through a robust visiting artist program and First Year Graduate Seminar.
Courses for the MFA program in Painting are listed in our digital Graduate Catalog.
In addition to studio courses, all graduate students take credits in a series of seminars, art history, studio electives, and technical courses relevant to their area of study.
In the second year, students write a thesis and present a MFA thesis exhibition in the School of Art and Design's Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, Robert C. Turner Gallery, or an approved alternate site.
Applicants must be committed to extended international study and the practice of painting. Graduate students spend half of each academic year in Düsseldorf Germany engaging in intensive studio work, research, and professional practices. The program encourages a diversity of approaches within the unique language of painting, and fosters critical dialogue addressing contemporary global perspectives. All courses are taught in English. A valid passport is required.
Applicants for admission should hold the baccalaureate degree with the equivalent of sixty credit hours in studio courses. A portfolio of completed works could be considered the equivalent of some studio courses.
In addition to the transcripts and letters of recommendation required of all students, applicants to the MFA program must present a portfolio showing competency in their art practice. When submitting the portfolio to Slideroom be sure to indicate the program for which you are applying and provide appropriate portfolio.
The School of Art and Design at Alfred University offers graduate study in multiple divisional areas: Ceramic Art, Electronic Integrated Arts, Sculpture/Dimensional Studies (concentration in either glass art or sculpture) and Painting. Applicants should make clear to which MFA program they are applying.
All applications are made through the Graduate Admissions Office and must include supporting documents and portfolio. Application deadline is February 2. Only completed applications will be forwarded to the Faculty Review Committee.
Accepted applicants must make a $200 deposit and return a signed contract as directed in the notification of acceptance or their acceptance becomes void.
The Alfred/Düsseldorf international painting MFA does not offer a full tuition waiver similar to other Alfred MFA programs. The tuition is based on SUNY guidelines and is less than half the cost of other highly ranked programs. All accepted applicants are awarded assistantships for each of the 4 semesters. The graduate assistantship can be in the form of a teaching assistantship, teaching internship, or social media and facilities coordinator. In all cases, the student receives a stipend of $7000 for each academic year. All assistantships have a commitment of approximately 10 hours/week to meet the requirements of the stipend.
You may also be interested in:
