Master of Fine Arts in Creative Media (MFACM)

WHAT IS THE MFACM

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Media (MFACM) programme is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. The MFA is a degree with a long history in many prestigious European and North American universities and is commonly regarded as the highest level of academic qualification available in the creative arts. While the MFA once was primarily associated with the traditional fine arts, such as music and painting, it has since the 1960s become the standard “terminal” degree in programmes specializing in more technology-intensive creative fields, including computer-based media production.

The Degree

MFACM emphasizes the integration of the Arts, Science, Culture and Technology. As an internationally-recognised terminal degree in the creative arts, MFACM provides intensive and advanced training in Digital Audiovisual Media Cultures, Animation, Computer Graphics, Film & Video Production, Interactive Media, New Media Art and Digital Fabrication. A cutting-edge art programme with a global vision, MFACM is a hub and a laboratory for creative exchanges and professional collaboration regionally and internationally.

Our students come from all over the world including Canada, Mainland China, France, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal and the United States. Non-local students are encouraged to apply since we are strongly committed to artistic and cultural diversities.

mfacm

Programme Aims

To develop the artistic and intellectual competence required for contemporary artists and future leaders of the creative industry
To nourish a critical and cross-disciplinary understanding of issues in contemporary art-making and creative industries
To equip students with knowledge of artistic, scientific, and technological development in relevant areas with an emphasis on the creative processes involved
To provide the local and overseas industry with graduates who demonstrate a high level of originality and a commitment to the highest standards of professional ethics, and who are capable of taking on significant responsibilities and leadership roles in the industry

Please click here for the details of the programme in the University’s Admission Information.

Period of Study

Normal

2 years

Maximum

5 years

Programme Leader

Prof Tobias KLEIN

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Dip.Arch. (Dist.), MArch (University College London)
PhD (RMIT University)

VIEW PROFILE

Deputy Programme Leader

Prof Ryo IKESHIRO

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

BMus (Hons) (Kings College London)
MPhil (Cambridge University)
PhD (Goldsmiths, University of London)

VIEW PROFILE

Programme Structure

MFACM is designed as an intensive, project-based programme. The programme consists of 54 credit units, and will be offered in a full-time mode over two years. The curriculum includes 24 credit units of required courses and 30 credit units of elective courses.

Out of the 24 credit units of required courses, a total of 18 credit units are dedicated to studio classes for the thesis project, which will be concluded in the MFACM thesis exhibition. The other required courses within the curriculum are SM5303 Technofutures: Critical Approaches to the Metaverse, AI, and Blockchain and SM5345 Introduction to Digital Processes: From Creative Computation to Fabrication. SM5303 intends to provide students with a contextual foundation in aesthetic, cultural, and theoretical principles relevant to the programme. SM5345 is structured as a series of interlocking lectures, workshops and hands on, in-class exercises, introducing students to the basics of digital manufacturing.

The elective courses are organized into three different clusters, namely: Interaction, Media Worlding and Fabrication, and two areas, Media & Culture and Independent. Students must declare two clusters and take at least nine credit units in each of the chosen clusters. The remaining 12 credit units can be selected from any clusters / areas. For 2023 cohort onward, students must declare one cluster and take at least nine credit units in the chosen cluster. The remaining 21 credit units can be selected from any clusters / areas.

Assessment in all classes normally will be entirely through coursework, which will consist primarily of practical and creative projects.

Sample Study Path for Prospective Students

Minimum for graduation: 54 credit units including the following:

PROGRAMME REQUIREMENT
Core Courses
— SM5303 Technofutures: Critical Approaches to the Metaverse, AI, and Blockchain	3 credit units
— SM5345 Introduction to Digital Processes: From Creative Computation to Fabrication	3 credit units
— Studio courses	18 credit units
Elective Courses	30 credit units
— Clusters: Interaction, Media Worlding, Fabrication
— Areas: Media & Culture, Independent
Total	54 credit units

Curriculum for Prospective Students

For students admitted in 2020 and before, click here for the curriculum of your cohort to learn more about the sample study path and graduation requirements.

Works

Bystander

LIU Chang (MFACM 2019)

I am a ball, please play with me

CHAN Ka Kiu (MFACM , 2018 Cohort)

Perpetual

HUANG Xuanyang (MFACM 2018)

Doomsday Party

HO Hong (MFACM 2012)

A Portrait Of Sun Wah Kee

Tian Macleod Ji (MFA 2014 Cohort)

Alumni

LEE Kai Chung
MFACM 2014
Media Artist

Kathleen MCDERMOTT
MFACM 2014
Interdisciplinary Artist & Designer

Tian Macleod JI
MFACM 2016
Film Maker, Producer

Vvzela KOOK
MFACM 2015
New Media Artist

FellowshipS Scheme

Fellowship awards are available for local students admitted to this programme under the Fellowships Scheme supported by the HKSAR Government. Selected local students admitted to the programme will be invited to submit applications for the fellowships.

Learn More