Art and Design

Master of Arts (Fine Art)

The Master of Arts in Fine Art at Kenyatta University is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced training in fine art practice, theory, and research. The programme prepares graduates for careers in professional art practice, art education, curation, arts management, and academia.

The curriculum covers advanced studio practice, art theory and criticism, art history, research methods in art, creative project development, and specialised study in painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, or graphic design. Students develop advanced artistic skills through studio work and research capabilities through thesis or creative project work.

Admission requires a Bachelor of Education or Bachelor of Arts with specialisation in Fine Art or Art and Design with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from Kenyatta University or equivalent. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree and at least two years of relevant work experience may also be considered. A minimum grade of B in the area of specialisation is required.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the Department of Fine Art and Design at Kenyatta University. The programme offers two modes: a studio option (coursework, examination, and creative project) and a theory option (coursework, examination, and thesis), over a minimum of two years.

Career prospects include roles in professional art practice, art education, gallery curation, arts management, illustration, design, cultural administration, and academia. Graduates work as independent artists, in educational institutions, galleries, museums, cultural organisations, design firms, and media companies.

The programme addresses Kenya's growing creative economy and the need for advanced fine art education to support the country's cultural industries. With expanding opportunities in visual arts, galleries, cultural tourism, and creative entrepreneurship, demand for advanced fine art qualifications continues to grow in both the cultural sector and creative industries.

Skills Required

Advanced studio art practice
Art theory and criticism
Art history and research
Creative project development
Curatorial practice
Arts management
Visual communication
Portfolio development
Research methodology in art
Professional art practice

Key Subjects

Advanced Studio Practice
Art Theory and Criticism
Art History
Research Methods in Art
Creative Project Development
Painting
Sculpture
Printmaking
Ceramics
Graphic Design

Certifications

International Association of Art (IAA) Membership
Kenya Visual Artists Association Membership
Adobe Creative Suite Certification
Circle Art Agency Affiliation

Specializations

Painting

Focuses on advanced painting techniques, contemporary painting practices, and development of personal artistic expression in painting.

Sculpture

Covers advanced sculptural techniques, three-dimensional design, installation art, and contemporary sculpture practices.

Printmaking

Examines advanced printmaking techniques including relief, intaglio, lithography, and experimental printmaking processes.

Ceramics

Focuses on advanced ceramic techniques, glaze formulation, ceramic sculpture, and studio pottery practice.

Graphic Design

Covers advanced graphic design, visual communication, digital design, and contemporary design practice.

Art Theory and Criticism

Examines art theory, critical theory, aesthetics, and contemporary art criticism in African and global contexts.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 247,400
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 12 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Studio Practice
Art Theory and Criticism
Art History
Research Methods in Art
Creative Project Development
Painting
Sculpture
Printmaking
Ceramics
Graphic Design

Modules

11 in the programme

Advanced Studio Practice
Year 1Semester 16 creditsCore
Advanced studio-based artistic practice in the student's chosen specialisation, developing technical skills and personal artistic expression.
Art Theory and Criticism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced art theory, critical theory, aesthetics, and contemporary art criticism in African and global contexts.
Research Methods in Art
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for art research, including visual research methods, practice-based research, and academic writing.
African Art History
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of African art history, including traditional, modern, and contemporary African art movements and practices.
Contemporary Art Practices
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examination of contemporary art practices, including installation, video art, digital art, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Advanced Specialisation Studio
Year 1Semester 26 creditsCore
Continued advanced studio practice in the student's specialisation, developing a body of work for exhibition or portfolio.
Curatorial Practice and Arts Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of curatorial practice, exhibition design, arts management, and the professional art world.
Digital Art and New Media
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Digital art techniques, new media art, digital fabrication, and technology in contemporary art practice.
Professional Art Practice
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Professional development for artists, including portfolio development, gallery relations, art marketing, and career management.
Art and Society
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Relationship between art and society, including public art, community art, art and identity, and art as social commentary.
Creative Project / Thesis
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Final creative project (studio option) or research thesis (theory option) in the student's area of specialisation, assessed through exhibition/presentation and written documentation or oral defence.

Specialisations

Painting
Focuses on advanced painting techniques, contemporary painting practices, and development of personal artistic expression in painting.
Sculpture
Covers advanced sculptural techniques, three-dimensional design, installation art, and contemporary sculpture practices.
Printmaking
Examines advanced printmaking techniques including relief, intaglio, lithography, and experimental printmaking processes.
Ceramics
Focuses on advanced ceramic techniques, glaze formulation, ceramic sculpture, and studio pottery practice.
Graphic Design
Covers advanced graphic design, visual communication, digital design, and contemporary design practice.
Art Theory and Criticism
Examines art theory, critical theory, aesthetics, and contemporary art criticism in African and global contexts.

A day as a student

A typical day centres on studio practice and creative research. Mornings involve lectures on art theory, criticism, or art history, followed by studio sessions where students work on individual creative projects in their chosen specialisation. Afternoons include research methodology sessions, critique sessions with faculty and visiting artists, or gallery visits. Students spend significant time in the studio developing their artistic practice, experimenting with materials and techniques, and building their portfolio. The programme offers both studio and theory options, with studio students producing a creative project and theory students writing a thesis. Access to painting studios, sculpture workshops, printmaking facilities, and ceramic kilns supports practical artistic development.

The trade offs

In its favour

Two study options (studio or theory) accommodate different career goals and artistic interests.
Studio-based learning provides intensive practical artistic development alongside theoretical study.
Access to KU's fine art facilities including painting studios, sculpture workshops, and printmaking equipment.
Relevant to Kenya's growing creative economy and cultural industries.

Against it

Only offered at one institution, limiting choice for prospective students.
Fine art careers may be financially unpredictable compared to other professional fields.
Studio materials and equipment costs are additional to tuition fees.
Limited exhibition and gallery infrastructure in Kenya compared to more established art markets.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public216k to 216k

216k at Kenyatta University216k at Kenyatta University

Private161k to 247k

161k at KCA University247k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 216K/yr(webhostingvoice).Priv:Daystar~247K/yr(daystar.ac.ke),KCA unverified

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. Kuona Artists Collective may provide grants and studio space for emerging artists. KU may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit. International arts organisations may offer residency and fellowship opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Kuona Artists Collective Grants
KU Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
Kuona Artists Collective Grant
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Kuona Artists Collective may provide grants, studio space, and professional development support for emerging contemporary artists in Kenya.
KU Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 216,000Kenyan
Kenyatta University may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact the School of Graduate Studies for details.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Applicants should have an average minimum grade of B in the area of specialisation. The programme is offered full-time over a minimum of two years at Kenyatta University, Department of Fine Art and Design, with intake in September and January.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through studio projects, portfolio reviews, research papers, seminar presentations, and critique sessions throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Written examination conducted at the end of each semester for theoretical course units.
Studio Portfolio Assessment
Practical50% of the mark
Assessment of studio work through portfolio submission, exhibition, and critique by faculty and external reviewers.
Creative Project / Thesis
Project100% of the mark
Final creative project (studio option) assessed through exhibition and written documentation, or research thesis (theory option) assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. Kenyatta University is a CUE-accredited public university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. Kenyatta University is a CUE-accredited public university.
International Association of Art (IAA)
Professional alignment
Global organisation representing visual artists. Graduates may access IAA professional networks, exhibitions, and professional development opportunities.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Professional Artist
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 400,000
Creates and exhibits artwork independently or through gallery representation, developing a professional artistic practice in chosen specialisation.
Art Educator
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches art at secondary schools, colleges, or universities, developing art curriculum and mentoring emerging artists.
Gallery Curator
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Curates exhibitions, manages gallery collections, and develops public programmes for galleries, museums, and cultural institutions.
Arts Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages arts organisations, cultural programmes, and creative projects for cultural institutions, NGOs, and government agencies.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches fine art at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises studio and thesis projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in professional art practice, art education, gallery curation, arts management, illustration, design, cultural administration, and academia across the creative and cultural sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Creative Suite
Design softwarePrimary
Design software suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for digital art, graphic design, and visual communication.
Procreate
Digital art softwarePrimary
Digital painting and illustration app for iPad, supporting digital art creation and concept development.
CorelDRAW
Design software
Vector illustration and page layout software for graphic design and print production.
Blender
3d modelling software
Open-source 3D creation suite for 3D modelling, sculpting, and animation in contemporary art practice.
Wacom Tablet
Digital drawing hardware
Digital drawing tablet for precise digital art creation, illustration, and design work.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fine art is not a serious career.
Fine art is a professional field with career paths in education, curation, arts management, design, cultural administration, and professional artistic practice.
Art degrees lead to unemployment.
Kenya's growing creative economy, cultural tourism, and design industries create diverse career opportunities for fine art graduates.
Fine art is only about painting.
Fine art encompasses painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, graphic design, installation, digital art, and interdisciplinary practice.
A master's in fine art is unnecessary for artists.
The MA provides advanced technical skills, theoretical grounding, research capability, and professional development that enhance artistic practice and career prospects.
African art is only traditional crafts.
Contemporary African art is a dynamic field engaging with global art discourse, including installation, video art, digital media, and conceptual art.
Art theory is irrelevant to studio practice.
Art theory and criticism provide critical frameworks that inform artistic practice, contextualise work, and enable artists to articulate their creative vision.