KuvA Admissions Guide 2015

ACADEMY OF
FINE ARTS
UNIVERSITY
OF THE ARTS
HELSINKI
ADMISSIONS
GUIDE
2015
Main Admission,
Application period 7.27.1.2015
Taideyliopiston Kuvataideakatemian valintaopas 2015

Academy of Fine Arts
Admissions 2015
Masters Admission,
INDEX
WHEN TO APPLY
TO THE APPLICANT
ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
DEGREES
10
11
12
Bachelor of Fine Arts

Master of Fine Arts
Doctor of Fine Arts
13
TEACHING STAFF
15
STUDY PROGRAMMES
16
17
19
20
21
22
Sculpture
Painting
Printmaking
Time and Space Arts
Art Theory and General Studies
Praxis Masters Programme for
Exhibition Studies
Doctoral Studies Programme
24
MAIN ADMISSION 2015

27
28
28
28
BACHELOR AND MASTER OF

FINE ARTS
Admission criteria
Admission procedure
Application procedure
31
31
31
32
32
32
33
Special arrangements
Announcing the results
Appeals
Accepting the study place
One-place-per-student provision
Enrolment for the first year
Admission course assignments 20072014
37
MASTERS ADMISSION 2015

MASTER OF FINE ARTS
37
38
38
40
40
40
41
41
41
42
Admission criteria
Admission procedure
Application procedure
Special arrangements
Announcing the results
Appeals
Accepting the study place
Enrolment for the first year
Frequently asked questions about the Masters
admission
Frequently asked questions about applying and
about studying in Academy of Fine Arts
43
APPLICANTS AND STUDENTS

ACCEPTED INTHE ACADEMY OF
FINE ARTS 20072014
44
SORA LEGISLATION
45
FURTHER INFORMATION
WHEN TO APPLY
Applications to the University of the Arts Helsinkis
Academy of Fine Arts are submitted in the Main
admission and Masters admission procedures via the
electronic Studyinfo service.
1. MAIN ADMISSION
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS AND
MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREES
(210 + 120 credits, 3.5 + 2 years)
The application period begins on 7 January and ends on 27 January
2015, at 3 pm Finnish time. Fill out and submit the electronic
application form at www.studyinfo.fi.
The artistic work samples and appendices will be submitted separately, during the period of 20 and 21 April 2015. Please check the delivery address and times on the student
admissions site of the University of the Arts Helsinki (www.uniarts.fi)! Work samples
must reach the Academy no later than Tuesday 21 April 2015 at 4.15 pm Finnish time in
cases when they are sent by post as well.
2. MASTERS ADMISSION
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
(120 credits, 2 years)
The application period begins on 7 January and ends on 27 January
2015, at 3 pm Finnish time. Fill out and submit the electronic
application form at www.studyinfo.fi.
A copy of the electronic application, with appendices, and the portfolio are to be submitted directly to the Academy of Fine Arts by Tuesday 10 February 2015, no later than at
4.15 pm Finnish time.
3. DOCTORAL STUDIES PROGRAMMES ADMISSION

(240 credits, 4 years)
The application period for studies starting in autumn 2015 was 1.9.-13.10.2014.
4

Admissions 2015
TO THE APPLICANT
Main Admission,
Masters Admission,
The Academy of Fine Arts trains free

artists in the fine arts. The goal of our
training is to provide comprehensive practical
and theoretical knowledge in the field of fine
arts, contributing to the students development
into an artist. Thus, the purpose of the education is to offer an understanding of the qualities
needed for artistic activities. The Academy of
Fine Arts is part of the University of the Arts
Helsinki, which comprises the Academy of Fine
Arts, the Theatre Academy Helsinki and the
Sibelius Academy.
The Academy offers the possibility to
complete the degrees of Bachelor, Master and
Doctor of Fine Arts. Our teaching is based
on the tradition of fine art academies, whose
roots run to 15th century Europe. This means
that a comprehensive idea of todays globality as well as the history of our imagery and
a profound awareness of its cultural significance nourish the conceptions of art and
being an artist conveyed at the Academy. This

means that studies at the Academy of Fine
Arts include the element of combining practical work with conceptual consciousness of the
dialogue between the classical tradition of fine
arts education and the ever-extending field of
contemporary art.
Studying at the Academy of Fine Arts
means having the courageto take on the
unknown with open arms and without any certainty of self-evident results. Good self-knowledge, bravery and commitment combined with
artistic talent are a good starting point for the
studies. In addition to them, you need the will
to interact with the world through art and to be
prepared to find out that this relationship may
evolve into a demanding and lifelong one.
Markus Konttinen
Dean of the Academy of Fine Arts
5
Masters Admission,
provide the student with the artistic, cognitive and theoretical basic abilities and skills
required from a visual artist. After completing
their degree, the students have the resources
they need to work as visual artists and to carry
on to the studies leading to a Masters degree
and lifelong learning.
The Master of Fine Arts degree (higher
university degree) aims to offer the students
the resources to function as an independent
and analytical artist in society and the world.
Masters of Fine Arts have a thorough command of the instruments of fine arts and an
understanding of the current significance and
history of those instruments. They are qualified to act as experts and developers of fine
arts and are ready to continue to postgraduate
education in art.
The objective of the Doctor of Fine Arts degree (postgraduate degree) is that the students
have a profound understanding of their own
field of interest and achieve the qualifications
needed to create high-level, artistically mature
work and that they are able to carry out independent, innovative research in their own field.
There are three separate admission procedures for the Academy of Fine Arts. In the Main
admission procedure, students are selected to
complete the Bachelors and Masters degrees,
which total in 5.5 years of study. In the Academy
of Fine Arts Masters admissions, students are
selected to complete the two-year programme
leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree.
Applicants with a lower university degree or
equivalent competence are eligible to apply in
Main Admission,
The Academy of Fine Arts is an academy

that concentrates on education in the
contemporary arts. The students graduate
with a Bachelors, Masters or a Doctorate
degreein Fine Arts. For 160 years, the Academy of Fine Arts has offered the highest level
of education in the fine arts in Finland. The
Academy of Fine Arts is part of the University of the Arts Helsinki; the operation of the
University of the Arts began with the merger of
the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, the Theatre
Academy Helsinki and the Sibelius Academy
on the 1st of January 2013.
Studies leading to the Bachelors and
Masters degrees are provided by the study
programmes of Sculpture, Painting, Printmaking and Time and Space Arts (moving image,
photography and site specific arts) study
programmes. In addition to these, a new twoyear Masters programme Praxis Exhibition
Studies was initiated in the autumn of 2012.
It offers education focusing on art theory and
methods of presenting and mediating art and
leads to a Master of Fine Arts degree.
The Academys curriculum, which emphasises individuality, and its small number of students (ca 270) offer the students a unique opportunity to get long-span personal study guidance
and a chance for independent work during their
studies. The teachers of the Academy are active
artists, who carry out their artistic work alongside their teaching and thus maintain a living
contact with the field of fine arts.
The studies leading to the Bachelor of Fine
Arts degree (lower university degree) aim to

Admissions 2015
ACADEMY
OF FINE ARTS
the Masters admission procedure. Students

who have completed a higher university degree
in an applicable field or hold an equivalent competence are eligible to apply for the four-year
Postgraduate Studies Programme leading to the
Doctor of Fine Arts degree.
The Academy of Fine Arts does not organise
a separate international admissions procedure
or studies in foreign languages; nevertheless,
international students make up approximately
15 per cent of the student body, with both degree
students and exchange students represented. As
a student of the Academy of Fine Arts, you can
pursue international experience by, for instance,
completing a part of the study programmes
study requirements at one of the Academys
international partner universities.
The Academy of Fine Arts works in active

cooperation with other institutions in the field,
both within the study programmes and as a
part of the Academys exhibition activities.
Every year, the Academy of Fine Arts hosts a
great number of international visiting lecturers, teachers and exhibitions. Studio flats in
Berlin and New York City are also available for
students use.
In 2015, the maximum number of new
basic degree students to be accepted for
study at the Academy of Fine Arts will be 55
(the total number of students accepted in the
Main and Masters admissions procedures.)
There will be no student admission procedure for Praxis Masters Programme of
Exhibition Studies in 2015.
7

Admissions 2015
DEGREES
Main Admission,
It is possible to complete the following degrees

at the Academy of Fine Arts: Bachelor of Fine Arts
(KuK/BFA), Master of Fine Arts (KuM/MFA) and Doctor
of Fine Arts (KuT/DFA).
One credit (cr) equates the workload of

approximately 27 hours. The fulltime studies
of one academic year correspond to in average
60 credits. The scope of the BFA degree is 3.5
years of fulltime studying. The MFA degree can
be finished in two years. The DFA degree can be
finished in four years.
Masters Admission,
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA)

210 credits,
3.5 years
The BFA degree aims to provide the student

with the artistic and cognitive abilities and
skills as well as theoretical basic abilities required for work as an artist. The students who
have completed the degree possess an insight
into the field of the fine arts and a command of
the techniques of sculpture, painting, printmaking or the time and space arts. In addition, the
student will also specialise in one of the fields
DEGREE STRUCTURE
Basic Studies 40 cr
Orientation 2 cr
Introduction to Study Programmes 20 cr
Art History 10 cr
ICT studies 8 cr
Language Studies 8 cr
Intermediate Studies 162 cr
Major Subject Compulsory Studies 45 cr
Independent Studio Work 30 cr
Theoretical Studies: Art in Contemporary
Society I 17 cr
Drawing and Perception 10 cr
Elective Studies 50 cr
Bachelors Thesis 10 cr
10
of fine arts mentioned above. These qualifications will enable the student to keep abreast of
the development of fine arts as well as apply
the knowledge and skills they have gathered to
their work. Completion of the BFA degree also
offers the students suitable qualifications for
the studies leading to a Masters degree and
for lifelong learning. It also provides them with
good communication and language skills.

Admissions 2015
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (MFA)

120 credits,
2 years
Main Admission,
The MFA degree aims to offer the student resources for acting as independent and analytical
artist in society and the world. The Masters of
Fine Arts have profound command of the artistic
media and understand their contemporary significance as well as their history. They can set goals
and objectives for themselves and are qualified to
act as experts and developers of fine arts. In addition, they have the necessary qualifications for
postgraduate studies in fine arts as well as good
communication and language skills.
DEGREE STRUCTURE
Advanced studies 120 cr
Artistic Studies: Critical Studies
and Practice 50 60 cr
Theoretical Studies: Art in
Contemporary Society II 20 30 cr
Masters Thesis 40 cr
If the student has not completed the language studies required for the Bachelor of
Fine Arts degree at an earlier stage,
he/she must complete them in addition to
the Advanced studies (120 study credits)
described above.
Masters Admission,
11
240 credits,
4 years
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
(240 CR.)
170 cr
Postgraduate studies in Fine Arts

Research seminars
Working seminars 18 cr
Essay seminars 18 cr
Theory seminars 18 cr
Symposium 7 cr
Alternative studies 9 cr
70 cr
Doctoral thesis in the Finnish Academy of

Fine Arts consist of a visual art production
12
Masters Admission,
Doctoral thesis in Fine Art
component and a theoretical written component. A thesis can also be entirely theoretical.
The production component comprises
one or more demanding visual art productions that demonstrate the authors artistic
maturity. The productions are presented or
performed publicly. Exhibition curating is also
accepted as a production component.
The theoretical component is an independently prepared work, published as a book
or in some other format (e.g. electronically),
which has not been published earlier in its
entirety. The theoretical component can be a
monograph or it can consist of several publications or manuscripts accepted for publication (cf. integrated article thesis). The texts
must be part of the same thematic whole and
satisfy the quality criteria for doctoral theses. In the theoretical component, the author
analyses his/her own artistic practice and/
or produces new knowledge on the research
topic by means of some other practice-based
method.
The application period for studies starting
in autumn 2015 was 1.9.-13.10.2014.
Main Admission,
The aim of doctoral studies is for the student

to have a profound understanding of their own
field and the capacity to produce high-quality
work that demonstrates their artistic maturity,
and engage in independent, innovative artistic
research in the field of their choice. Studies follow a personal research and study plan, which
is drawn up together with the professor in
charge and the students personal supervisor.
The minimum extent of the doctoral studies is 240 study credits (ECTS). The education is intended to be completed in four (4)
years, which presumes fulltime dedication to
the work.

Admissions 2015
DOCTOR OF FINE ARTS (DFA)
TEACHING STAFF
The teaching staff of the Academy of

Fine Arts is composed of distinguished
artist-teachers who are actively involved in
expert and reviewer responsibilities both in
Finland and internationally.
Tuition at the Academy of Fine Arts is
based on the realisation that constant change
affects contemporary art and the essence of
artistic work, influenced both by domestic
and international factors. The teachers at the
Academy work as professional artists and are
actively involved in the field of art and convey
their experiences to the students.
Tuition at the Academy of Fine Arts accentuates individual, one-to-one instruction
that takes place in the students studio and in
the common studio and work facilities. In the
students own study programme, each student

is appointed a tutoring teacher, who keeps a
close eye on the student.
The instruction at the Academy is complemented by the expertise of its visiting professors, both Finnish and international. The
visiting teaching staff hosts thematic workshops and special courses and their instruction
offers the students opportunities for expanding
their technical skills. Visiting teachers can also
take on responsibilities of thesis supervisors,
examiners and experts.
Through their expertise and professional
networks, the teaching staff is able to introduce
the students to the field of fine arts in Finland
and internationally and also offers an excellent
professional basis for working as an artist.
13
14

Admissions 2015
STUDY PROGRAMMES
Main Admission,
The studies leading to the Bachelors

and Masters degrees are organised in
study programmes. The programmes focus on
specific disciplines of fine arts requiring
artistic talent and expertise and seek to
develop these further. The Academy offers
study programmes in Sculpture, Painting,
Printmaking and Time and Space arts.
Masters Admission,
15
of public space and works placed in public

spaces.
The main emphasis of the studies is in
the independent artistic work of the student,
advised through discussions, critique sessions
and seminar work. The objectives of independent artistic work are to support the expression
and concepts of the student and the development of creative problem solving abilities.
Thematic lectures in sculpture as well as artist-led projects and workshops organised both in
Finland and abroad contribute to the studies on
the basics of artistic tools and methods, intended
for all students, introducing the materials, techniques and working methods in sculpture.
Main Admission,
The study programme in Sculpture

examines the use of three-dimensional
space in artistic work. Studies are founded on
hands-on work and keeping the traditions of
sculpture alive. The focus is also on the command of various approaches in contemporary
sculpture, an in-depth understanding of the
techniques available and utilising these in the
students own artistic work
The instruction in the Sculpture study
programme contains, in addition to installations and works of art located in galleries or
museums, the exploration of time, space and
situation specific processes. Furthermore,
the programme emphasizes understanding

Admissions 2015
SCULPTURE
Masters Admission,
16
PAINTING
The study programme in Painting has

two professors and three lecturers and a
number of highly professional visiting teachers
who are recognised artists. The contents of the
workshops, studio visits and study trips reflect
the perspectives of the teaching staff as well
as the fields of art of their expertise. In other
words, no philosophers stone can be offered on
the contents of contemporary painting; instead,
they reflect the artists cultured and varied
insights. A common denominator can be found
in the background of the individual themes in
the form of the general features of contemporary art, such as its site-specificity and interpretation of the works of art in the framework of
society and the theories from different scientific
disciplines. Painting, furthermore, has a much
longer history than, for example, moving image,
and this is visible in the instruction in the great
number of points of comparison brought up in

the history of art.
The instruction in the study programme of
Painting focuses, alongside other themes, on the
individual interests of the Professors of the study
programme, Tarja Pitknen-Walter and Silja
Rantanen. Tarja Pitknen-Walter approaches
painting as an action and a process; the material
qualities of the painting, multisensory perception
and the extended field of painting. She addressed
these themes in her doctoral thesis in Fine Art,
Liian haurasta kuvaksi (2006). Tarja Pitknen-Walter organises study modules related to
these themes. The courses include visitor lectures by both Finnish and international experts
in the field and international study visits are also
organised under these themes.
Silja Rantanens interests lie in the history
of art, composition and the importance of form
17
in contemporary art; i.e., the visual characteristics of works with conceptual meaning and
how their visual structures express meaning.
She discusses these topics in her doctoral
thesis in Fine Arts (Ulos sulkeista Nykytaiteen teosmuotojen tulkintaa) to be reviewed in
November 2014. In her lectures, Silja Rantanen
interprets works by modern and contemporary
artist from the artists perspective. The goal is
to introduce culture to students of painting in
its broad, general sense, without restricting the
perspective into artistic or intellectual moulds.
Lecturer Harri Monnis theme, extending
over a number of years, is the connection
between the imagery and material aspects
of moving image and painting and its theory.
In his study modules, Harri Monni further
explores the concept of painting by drawing
parallels between it and other methods of
expression, such as printmaking and written
texts and examines the influence of performance practices in new painting.
Lecturer Pivi Takalas instruction focuses
around the analysis on the language of painting.
She addresses the basic elements of painting,
including the surface and visual representations
on the basis of art history, yet constantly search18
es for new perspectives. Ms Takalas instruction

emphasises painting as a way of thinking; the
actual artistic work in painting can take place
using any medium available.
In other words, tuition in the study programme has constant connections to other
fields and disciplines in the arts as does contemporary painting. The instruction aims at
extending the students views on what painting
could be, what it might mean and all the ways in
which it is connected to all those things that are
not painting. Regardless of the research interests of the professors and lectures in the study
programme, instruction in Painting is not, for
the main part, theoretical: the primary focus is
on seminars, where student works are discussed
in small groups every week, and the importance
of independent artistic work is considered the
to be the first and foremost priority, including
studio work and teachers renowned artists
visiting the studios. Instruction in the study
module of Material Studies, organised by Lecturer Malla Tallgren, is renowned for its high
quality. Ms. Tallgren has modified the contents
of Material Studies and improved its standards
substantially over the years to comply with the
requirements set for comprehensive painting.

Admissions 2015
PRINTMAKING
Main Admission,
The instruction in the Printmaking

study programme explores the methods
of print media, printmaking, in relation to its
tradition, reinterpretations and its significance
as a part of contemporary art.
The processes of artistic activities are
approached as an attitude and outlook that take
into consideration the duality of the art of printmaking. The printing block and the imprint created are both present in the process. Traditionally, the imprint has referred to a paper print,
but in contemporary printmaking it can refer to
various other forms. The duality of the approach
also results in new practices of contemporary
art in the exhibition of printmaking, such as
installations, animations and experimental film.
A major part of the studies is made up of the

students own individual artistic work, with the
interaction between the student and teachers
and personal discussions as essential features.
The objective is to develop the students own
vision in such a manner that the expression is in
control of the method, not vice versa.
The purpose of the study programme of
Printmaking is to provide the student with
comprehensive skills and knowledge of the
expressive possibilities, various methods and
material basics of printmaking. Students are
challenged to seek their own artistic solutions
and expressions. Exhibition visits, lectures and
artist introductions, meetings with critics and
studio visits are all part of the instruction.
Masters Admission,
19
TIME AND SPACE ARTS
The instruction in the study programme

of Time and Space Arts focuses on the
spatial, conceptual and bodily dimensions of artistic activities. The starting point is that art is,
by nature, processes and events. The Time and
Space Arts have a tendency to reach outwards
and they contain the element of constant exploration and experiments. The artistic work has
strong connections to media and visual culture
and to the extending field of the fine arts, in
which the artists role can take many forms.
The student can place emphasis on one of
the three specialisations of the study programme: Moving Image, Photography, or
Site and Situation Specific Art. The objective
of this study programme is to provide the
students with a thorough understanding of
these fields of art as well as provide insight to
the manners in which they are interconnected
and linked to the general history and theory
of art. Instruction in the Time and Space Arts
is composed of courses, workshops, seminars
and independent artistic work supported and
monitored during individual contact sessions
of instruction. In addition to the permanent
teaching staff, instruction is given by a number of visiting artists.
Students are encouraged to find their own
approach and to experiment with new methods
of expression as well as to explore the possibilities that time, space and installations offer. The
work can also have performative, inclusive and
social elements. The final work of art can take
20
the form of an intervention, installation, performance or a video, photography or audio work,

among other possibilities. The objective of the
work is to render the sensitivity of observation
and develop critical thinking. Through practice
and theory, students are encouraged to find
their own strengths, methods and contents of
their artistic work. This is a way to promote
the students artistic work and thinking.

Admissions 2015
ART THEORY AND GENERAL STUDIES
Main Admission,
General studies provide the students with

an opportunity to explore questions that
are important to their individual artistic work.
Art Theory and General Studies are composed of instruction in art history and art theory, drawing and perception and the studies in
the As an artist in society study module. The
Centre of General Studies is also responsible
for the instruction in the autumn term of the
first study year and the language studies and
information and communication technology
studies included in the degrees.
The objective of the instruction is to provide the student with the conceptual tools of
understanding the various fields and working
methods in the contemporary arts. A command of the history and theory of contemporary art is a prerequisite for being able to
examine not only current art trends but also
the contemporary world in a broad, independent and critical manner.
Instruction in Art Theory and General
Studies opens up connections and builds bridges between various matters and perspectives.
The instruction deals with a diversity of questions connected to art history and philosophy.
Attention is also paid to points such as practicing written skills and understanding the ways
in which the art world functions, both essential
to professional work as an artist.
Masters Admission,
21
PRAXIS MASTERS PROGRAMME IN

EXHIBITION STUDIES
The Praxis Masters

Programme is targeted
at artists who have an
interest in curating art
exhibitions and students
of theoretical disciplines
interested in the exhibition
practices of contemporary
art. The students who
complete the programme will
graduate with a Master of
Fine Arts degree.
22

Admissions 2015
OBJECTIVES
AND CONTENTS
Main Admission,
The Praxis Masters Programme in Exhibition

Studies provides students with tools needed
for exhibiting art in different contexts and for
understanding an exhibition as a medium in
its own right. The programme explores the
ever-changing contents of the artists profession and the artist as a curator or a member of
the exhibition team. The programme provides
the students with the theoretical and practical
abilities needed for discussing art and for the
methods of presenting and mediating art.
The students gain knowledge of the different aspects of the theory of contemporary art,
writing about art and organising art exhibitions in practice. The Praxis Masters Programme addresses the many contexts where
curators work in the field of contemporary art.
The objective is to offer the students new kinds
of possibilities for professional opportunities.
The contents of instruction take into account

the increasing need of artists and other experts
in the field of the arts to participate in work
opportunities and discussions in their field,
both in Finland and internationally. An additional purpose of the Masters Programme is to
promote the realisation of student exhibitions
and artistic projects and to establish contacts
in the field of fine arts both with institutions
and parties in the free field of arts.
The programme works in cooperation
with museums and other exhibition venues,
various art institutions, arts and science universities in Finland and abroad and organisations in the field.
The language of instruction of the Praxis
Masters Programme is Finnish.
There is no student admission for Praxis
Masters programme in 2015.
Masters Admission,
23

Admissions 2015
DOCTORAL STUDIES PROGRAMME
Main Admission,
24
in society. The goal is for the student to attain the

abilities needed in order to complete top quality
works of art that reflect artistic maturity and to be
able not only to work independently in the field in
question, but also to apply the methods of artistic
research in the development of the field.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Professor (100%) Anita Sepp,
anita.seppa@uniarts.fi
Professor (50%) Jan Kaila,
jan.kaila@uniarts.fi
Research Coordinator Michaela Brnn,
tel. +358-40-631 3553, michaela.brann@uniarts.fi

Study Coordinator Henri Wegelius,
tel. +358-45-6578656, henri.wegelius@uniarts.fi
Masters Admission,
Since 1997 it has been possible to complete a postgraduate degree, Doctor of

Fine Arts (DFA), at the Finnish Academy of
Fine Arts. The doctoral studies at the Finnish
Academy of Fine Arts are coordinated by the
Doctoral Studies Programme.
Students in the Doctoral Studies Programme are experts in their own field, artists
whose work is characterised by a research-oriented approach. Their approach to their own
language of expression is labelled by awareness
and they aspire to analyse and develop the
operational methods and strategies connected
to artistic work.
The objective of the doctoral studies is to
provide the students with in-depth expertise
for research in the fine arts and its significance
25

Admissions 2015
Main Admission,
Masters Admission,
26
MAIN ADMISSION
2015 BACHELOR
AND MASTER OF
FINE ARTS
The students admitted in the

Main admission are accepted
for studies leading to the
Master of Fine Arts degree,
taking a total of 5.5 years
and including the Bachelor
of Fine Arts degree. The
study programme is chosen
after being admitted to the
Academy, during the first
year of studies.
27
ADMISSION CRITERIA
An applicant who demonstrates talent in fine
arts and has an eligible educational background
can be accepted to the Academy of Fine Arts
to pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and
carry on to the Master of Fine Arts degree.
The following degrees make an applicant eligible to apply to the Academy, as indicated by the
Universities Act (558/2009, 37): matriculation
examination, a polytechnic Bachelors degree,
a higher vocational qualification, a vocational
upper secondary qualification, a vocational
qualification awarded on the completion of
education of at least three years in duration
or a foreign education entitling the applicant
to apply for equivalent university studies. The
Academy can also decide to accept an applicant without a degree if the Academy deems
the applicant to possess suitable cognitive and
practical skills for the studies.
The artistic abilities expressed by the applicant, the basis for admission in addition to
the eligible background studies, are examined
through the work samples the applicant presents and the work he/she demonstrates at the
admission course.
ADMISSION PROCEDURE
The basic degree student admission procedure
of the Academy of Fine Arts is conducted by
the Admission Board and the admission juries,
made up of professors and Lecturers of the
Academy together with student representatives.
The composition of these organs varies from
year to year. Members can also be invited from
outside the Academy for the admission juries.
The admission procedure for the regular
admission is divided into two phases. The
admission jury for main admission chooses
28
(in the first phase) the applicants to be invited

to the admission course, based on the work
samples and the applications and their appendices submitted by the applicants. After the
admission course, the admission jury selects
(in the second phase), the applicants it will
propose to the Admission Board, based on
the work samples and the work demonstrated
by the student at the admission course. The
Admission Board then makes the final proposition to the Dean on who should be selected as
students for the basic degrees, and the Dean
then approves the new students to be admitted
at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Points are not issued for the work samples or
the work during the admission course.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The Main Admission of Academy of Fine Arts are
organised as a part of the nation-wide Joint Application to Universities.
FIRST PHASE
1. Fill out and submit the
electronic application form at
www.studyinfo.fi. Print out a paper
copy of your electronic application
form. The application period begins
on 7 January 2015 and ends on 27
January 2015 at 3 pm Finnish time.
If for some reason you cannot fill out the electronic application form on the online service, you can requesta paper
copy of the form from the Academy of Fine Arts by phone
+358-45-1393624 or by mail (Academy of Fine Arts P.O. Box
10. FI-00097 UNIARTS, indicate Order for application form
on the envelope) or by e-mail kuva.hakijapalvelut@uniarts.fi
(write application form order to the subject field). Indicate
your name, specific postal address and your telephone

Admissions 2015
number with the order. The paper copy of the application

form shall be submitted to the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts,
no later than 3 pm Finnish time on 27 January 2015.
2. Submit separately during

the period of 2021 April 2015:
A paper copy of the electronic
application form
The original work samples (no more than
five, more detailed instructions below)
And the following appendices to the
application:
Description form for the work samples (you
Main Admission,
can print out a copy of this form on the

student admissions site of the University of
the Arts Helsinki, www.uniarts.fi.)
A short motivational letter, in which you
describe why you wish to study at the
Academy of Fine Arts and what you expect
from the studies.
NB! You do not need to submit copies of any
certificates at this stage. In the Academy of
Fine Arts Main Admission only those applicants who get accepted to second phase/invited
to the admission course have to deliver certificate copies. Applicants who get invited to the
admission course are to bring the certificate
copies with them to the admission course.
Masters Admission,
Please note! Check the exact delivery

address and delivery times for the work
samples and appendices on the student
admissions site of the University of the Arts
Helsinki www.uniarts.fi
If you submit your work samples by post, they must
arrive at the address indicated by the Academy of Fine
Arts no later than 4:15 pm (Finnish time) on Tuesday 21
April. A postal stamp of that date will not suffice. Should
the work samples be sent by post or using a courier
service, the sender must see to it that the work samples
are delivered at the address provide by the Academy
of Fine Arts (home delivery). The Academy of Fine Arts

will not pay the postage due if home delivery has not
been paid for. You must indicate Main admission on the
envelope/package of any work samples sent by post/
courier service.
Please note! Applications or parts thereof sent by
e-mail will not be processed.
WORK SAMPLES
The artworks must express the applicants
aspirations in fine arts. You must include
original artworks to allow the admission jury
to get the best possible feeling of and insight
into the works
You can submit up to five (5) works. The works
can be drawings, paintings, sculptures, prints,
and works of photography, video, conceptual or
media art. Do not send images of your works,
send the original works. Only submit moving
image in digital format!
Mark your name on every work and detail
your work samples on the separate description form for the sample works. (You can
print out a copy of this form on the student
Helsinki www.uniarts.fi)
MOVING IMAGE / VIDEOS

Edit your material so that the length of all of
your works does not exceed three minutes
and that all the works can be viewed on a
single device.
The accepted format for moving image/video
works is:
A digital file, in H264 compression,
saved on a USB device.

Please make sure that there is no material saved
on the USB device other than your work sample.
29
MULTIMEDIA AND ONLINE WORKS

Edit demos of these works in moving image.
The total length of all the moving image works
must not exceed three minutes.
The works must be original artworks. If you

decide to present printouts of large-scale installations or other three-dimensional work, the
maximum number of printouts is 10 (this does
not affect the maximum number of 5 works).
Make sure you note the number of works and
the number of printouts on the description form
for the sample works. Every printout must indicate the name of author and the title of work.
HOMEPAGES
The admission jury will not have the opportunity to look at the applicants homepages.
The Academy is not responsible for the sample

works and will not insure them. The Academy
is not liable for any possible damage to the
works. If you want to insure your work, you
must do it at your own expense.
Applicants invited to the second phase/admission course will collect their sample works and
art works done during the admission course
only after the final results of the student admission are published (check the address and dates
and times on the student admissions site of the
University of the Arts Helsinki, www.uniarts.fi).
If you wish the Academy to mail the works
back to you, you must state so in your form
for the artworks. You are responsible for the
postage (include a sufficient number of stamps
in the original delivery). If the works are delivered by airmail to the Academy, they must
be packed so that the original package can be
reused for mailing the works back. Otherwise
the Academy will charge you with the packaging costs (20/package).
If it is not possible to include postage for returning the works samples, the return freight
must be paid, in advance, to the bank account
of the University of the Arts Helsinki:
Paid to: Taideyliopisto
Bank details: FI16 1745 3000 1578 77
BIC/SWIFT: NDEAFIHH
Reference code: 15354.
An invoice or other means of proof of the completed bank transfer must be included with the
work samples.
The work samples will be returned in June,
after the student admission results have been
published.
30
Masters Admission,
INSURING THE ARTWORKS
If you are not accepted to the second phase

(admission course), you must collect your sample works after the names of the invitees are
published (check the address and times on the
student admissions site of the University of the
Arts Helsinki, www.uniarts.fi).
Main Admission,
LARGE INSTALLATIONS AND OTHER

THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORKS
RETURNING OF THE WORK SAMPLES

Admissions 2015
Please note! The applicants name must be

clearly indicated on the USB flash drive; other
required information about the work (name of
the applicant, completion date, running time,
participants and any other important information) can be recorded on a separate document
that the applicant encloses with the form
listing the sample works.
The Academy cannot store the works. Any

uncollected works or works without sufficient
reply postage will be destroyed. Check the last
returning date and address on the student
Helsinki, www.uniarts.fi.
SECOND PHASE
ADMISSION COURSE
Information about those accepted into the next
phase/invited to the Admissioncourse will be
published on Monday 11 May 2015 on the out
door of Academy of Fine Arts (Elimenkatu 25
A, Helsinki, Finland) and on the student admissions site of the University of the Arts Helsinki
(www.uniarts.fi) for those applicants who have
authorised the publication of their name on the
website. The applicants selected for the Admission course will also be sent an invitation to the
course by e-mail and by post. Other applicants
will not receive an e-mail/ letter informing
them of the matter.
The admission course will begin on Monday
18 May 2015 and end on Saturday 23 May
2015. It is an all-day course with working
hours usually from 9 am to 5 pm daily.
The attendants must bring the equipment they
need (drawing and painting equipment at the
minimum). There may be a small fee for the
course arrangements and additional materials.
During the admission course the attendants
are given assignments, whose nature and content change yearly. (You will find examples of
Admission course assignments below).
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
If the applicant requires special arrangements at
the entrance examination because of a sensory
or physical disability or other corresponding
reason, he or she must get in touch with the
Academy of Fine arts Admissions Office before
the end of the application period. To clarify
for the need of special arrangements and the
nature of the disability or other condition, the
applicant must submit a medical certificate
by a specialist or other corresponding expert
statement to the Academy of Fine arts Admissions Office. To verify a case of dyslexia, a
statement by a special needs teacher, psychologist, or a speech pathologist is sufficient. A decision by the Matriculation Examination Board
about special arrangements is also sufficient to
verify the need for special arrangements.
ANNOUNCING THE RESULTS

Names of the new students admitted to University of the Arts Helsinki will be published
on 3 June 2015. Names of the new students of
the Academy of Fine Arts will be published on
the out door of Academy of Fine Arts (Elimenkatu 25 A, Helsinki, Finland) and on the student
Helsinki (www.uniarts.fi) for those applicants
who have authorised the publication of their
name on the website. After this, you can also
enquire about results of the student admission
procedure by phone, by calling +358-45-139-3624.
All accepted students will also be sent a notification of receiving the study place by post.
Other applicants will not receive an e-mail/
letter informing them of the matter.
APPEALS
In case an applicant is not satisfied with the
results of the student selection, she/he may
31
appeal in writing to the Dean of the Academy

of Fine Arts within 14 days of the announcing
of the results of the admission procedure.
ACCEPTING THE STUDY

PLACE
You can accept a study place using the Studyinfo service, or with the notification included in
the letter of acceptance; the latter must be submitted to the Student Admissions Service of
the University of the Arts Helsinki. The study
place must be accepted no later than 15 July
2015 by 3 pm Finnish time. More information
is available at: www.studyinfo.fi. The contact
information and opening hours of the Student
Admission Service of the University of the Arts
Helsinki for the summer of 2015 will be posted
together with the admissions procedure results
at the University of the Arts Helsinkis student
admissions site at www.uniarts.fi.
Notifications that arrive after the deadline will

not be considered. The notification regarding
accepting a study place is binding and cannot
be changed or cancelled.
A student may, at any given time, have only
one right to pursue a degree at the University.
When a student accepts a new right to pursue
a degree at the University of Arts Helsinki, he
or she forfeits any prior study right at the University of the Arts Helsinki. Only for a special
reason may the Rector grant an exception to
the rule for one study place. (University of the
Arts Helsinki Education guidelines, Article 13).
The application for the exception is to be
submitted together with the application. If
necessary, contact the Head of Study Affairs of
the University of the Arts Helsinki. This rules
is only applicable for study rights granted after
1 August 2014.
32
ONE-PLACE-PER-STUDENT
PROVISION
An applicant may accept only one study
place in one main subject leading to a higher
education degree during any one semester
(this provision is for those admissions procedures that are part of the Finnish Joint Application to Universities; the Main Admission
to the Academy of Fine Arts is a part of the
Joint Application to Universities). A semester is defined as either the autumn semester
or the spring semester, the autumn semester
starting 1 August and ending 31 December
and the spring semester starting 1 January
and ending 31 July (The Universities Act,
Section 38).
ENROLMENT FOR THE

FIRST YEAR
The enrolment instructions are sent to new
students together with the material on being
accepted to study. During the first academic year, it is possible to enrol as an absent
student only with permission granted by the
university. Enrolment as an absent student
for the first year is possible only under certain
circumstances, such as compulsory or voluntary military service; maternity, paternity
or parental leave; illness or other compelling
circumstances (study at another educational
institution or abroad does not qualify). The
right to be absent must be applied for in writing from no later than 15 July 2015.

Admissions 2015
ADMISSION COURSE
ASSIGNMENTS 20072014
2007
The written assignment What I Saw is compulsory and carried out on Tuesday. Choose two
or three other assignments and carry them out
during the admission course. You can make one
or more works on each assignment you choose.
1. What I Saw. Two short films are screened a
couple of times on Tuesday. Write a commentary
on what you saw. The assignment is compulsory.
Main Admission,
2. Something Familiar, Something Strange.

Begin the assignment by visiting the nearby
cemetery and beach. Treat your experience
with the title in mind. The technique and material are free.
3. Yesterday Now Tomorrow. Carry out
the theme in two works that interpret the title
in different ways. Both works can consist of one
or more parts.
4. Colour. Make a work that analyses colour.
Use a disposable camera and integrate one or
more photographs into the work.
5. From Material To Image. Interpret sensation freely with the materials and technique of
your choice.
Masters Admission,
2008
1. Man and Space
2. Hernesaari
3. Dialogue
4. Nature Morte
The participants are asked to complete works

about the themes below. The amount and the
medium are free. However, there must be one
work, where you have used painting or drawing
medium, one work done by using photo or video and one three-dimensional work (sculpture/
installation/performance).
Advance assignment: Why do I want to become
artist? Max one A4 sheet.
2009
1. Approaching painting. Consider the essence of painting.
2. Create/mark/point out a space or react to
a space. You are free to explain your solution.
If the space is physical, it must be situated in
the Kaikukatu 4 facilities. Present the documentation if the space is somewhere else.
3. Use the text enclosed as starting point for
an art piece/art pieces. The participants are
required to carry out at least one work for each
assignment. You can also choose to make several works for an assignment. The technique
and the medium are free.
2010
1. Surprising combination. Combine two
things normally not associated with each other.
They can be things of whatever status: characteristics of form, concrete things or abstract
phenomena. To elaborate: density refers to
form, a French horn is a concrete thing and
xenophobia is an abstract phenomenon. The
distinctions are not clear-cut. A tulip and a
farewell are concrete things but a tulip is
more concrete than a farewell. yet a farewell is less abstract than xenophobia. Sameness can be formal, concrete or abstract.
33
Here are some examples from poetry. One of

Saila Susiluotos poems is called Rooms of
water. Juhana Vhnen poses the question:
What is the equivalent of rocket launcher in
my everyday surroundings? Karri Kokko has
come up with new compound words: a rose
loan/moose fingers/scream granny/carousel
rust/fixed beast/abstinencetrap.
2. Define place/space and your

relationship to it.
1. Draw. Freely chosen tool.

2. Recognize the method you use. Choose one
of your work samples and do it some other way
(with regard to the method, atmosphere, etc.).
3. Create a connection. The teachers in the
admission jury will provide more detailed
instructions for this assignment orally.
2013
During the admission course, carry out 13
of the following assignments. Free choice of
medium.
1. Look around
2. A change
3. About sensing
2014
During the admission course, carry out series
of works about 13 of the following topics
1. Look around you
4. Your take on society as an artwork.

2. Change
2011
3. Draw (Free choice of medium)
1. Viivana Online
4. Surprising combination
2. Light
34
Masters Admission,
3. Following theme in a freely

chosen method:
blackwhite
black white
black, white
black-white
black/white
Even the smallest thing can change the meaning of the whole, e.g. punctuation in the above.
Visualize something that depicts different
relations and proportions.
2012
Main Admission,
This exercise measures the ability to associate.

In the assessment attention will be paid to how
unexpected the combination is and on how
interesting the results of the comparison are.
Creating is about making unexpected comparisons. Show your ability to create something
new by juxtaposing old things.
3. Here
Complete works on at least two (of the aforementioned) themes. use at least two techniques
that you can choose freely. At least one of the
works must be a drawing.

Admissions 2015
You can combine things of the same or different level, for example an outcast with Friday or angular with moist.
35

Admissions 2015
Main Admission,
Masters Admission,
36
MASTERS ADMISSION 2015

MASTER OF FINE ARTS
In the Masters admission
you apply for 2-years studies
leading to a Master of Fine
Arts degree (120 cr). The
studies are organised in the
following study programmes:
Painting, Sculpture,
Printmaking and Time and Space
Arts. In Time and Space Arts,
you can specialise either
in Moving Image, Site and
Situation Specific Arts,
or Photography.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
The following degrees make an applicant
eligible to apply for studies leading only to the
Master of Fine Arts degree: an eligible Bachelors degree, an eligible polytechnic Bachelors
degree or an eligible foreign education entitling
the applicant to apply for equivalent university
studies. The Academy can also decide to accept applicants without a degree if they deem
the applicant to possess suitable cognitive and
practical skills for the studies. The Academy
can require a person accepted as a student
to augment their qualifications to acquire the
skills necessary for the MFA studies.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND ELIGIBLE

FOR THE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS,
MASTERS ADMISSION
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree awarded from
a Finnish or foreign university

Polytechnic Bachelors degree in arts
The Academy assesses the adequateness of

other cognitive and practical skills individually.
In the Masters Admission procedure, the
criteria are, in addition to the completion of
the eligible education indicated above, the
artistic abilities demonstrated by the applicant and suitability for the Academy of Fine
Arts studies leading to a Masters degree. In
the first phase, the assessment is based on the
application, appendices and portfolio and, in
the second phase, the interview and possible
supplementary demonstrations of work.
37
ADMISSION PROCEDURE
The student admission procedure for basic students of the Academy of Fine Arts is conducted
by the Admission Board and the admission
juries, made up of professors and lecturers of
the Academy together with student representatives. Members can also be invited from outside
the Academy for the admission juries.
The admission procedure of the Masters Admission is divided into two phases. The Master
admissions jury chooses (in the first phase) the
applicants to be invited to the interview, based
on the applications, portfolios and appendices
submitted by the applicants. After the interviews, the admission jury selects (in the second
phase), the applicants it will propose to the
Admission Board, based on the interviews and
possible supplementary demonstrations of
work submitted. The Admission Board makes
the final proposition to the Dean on who should
be selected as students for the basic degrees,
and the Dean then approves the new students
to be admitted at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Points are not issued for the applications,
appendices, portfolios or interviews.
The admission jury can propose an applicant to
be admitted without an interview. The admission jury may suggest that the applicant be
placed in a study programme different to that
of the applicants own preference.
mitted via the electronic Studyinfo service

(www.studyinfo.fi).
The student must indicate, on the application
form, the study programme for which he/she
is applying (students may apply for only one
study programme).
1. Fill out and submit the electronic application at www.studyinfo.fi.
You should also print out a paper
copy of the electronic application.
Application period begin 7 January
and ends on 27 January 2015 at 3 pm
Finnish time.
If for some reason you cannot fill out the electronic application form on the online service, you can requesta paper
copy of the form from the Academy of Fine Arts by phone
+358-45-1393624 or by mail (Academy of Fine Arts P.O. Box
10. FI-00097 UNIARTS, indicate Order for application form
on the envelope) or by e-mail kuva.hakijapalvelut@uniarts.fi
(write application form order to the subject field). Indicate
your name, specific postal address and your telephone
number with the order. The paper copy of the application
form shall be submitted to the Academy of Fine Arts, together with the appendices and the portfolio/work samples
no later than 3 pm Finnish time on 27 January 2015.
2. Submit the following to the

Academy of Fine Arts no later
than 10 February 2015 at 4.15 pm
Finnish time.
A paper copy of the electronic application.
Portfolio, maximum size A3 (detailed
instructions below)
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
FIRST PHASE
Applications for the Masters Programmes
at the Academy of Fine Arts shall be sub38
And the following appendices to the

application:
A freely compiled motivational letter, where
you describe your artistic work and explain

why you want to pursue a Masters degree at
the Academy of Fine Arts. You should also
mention which areas of the studies you find

Admissions 2015
most important. The maximum length of the

application is 4 pages (A4, spacing 1.5).
CV (including personal information,
education, work experience, exhibitions,
publications, awards, grants and study trips).
Copies of certificates of completed art
studies and any other certificates to
which you wish to refer. Also an account
of the structure and content of the BFA
Polytechnic Bachelors degree studies from
the institute awarding the degree if the
information is not set out on the certificate.
Delivery addresses:
Main Admission,
Post Address: Academy of Fine Arts P.O. Box 10.

FI-00097 UNIARTS.
Visiting address: If you submit your application and portfolio
personally or send them using a courier service, use the
visiting address: Academy of Fine Arts, Elimenkatu 25 A,
00510 Helsinki, Finland.
screening of your works, indicate this clearly in

connection to the works.
MOVING IMAGE/VIDEOS
Edit the material submitted so that the length
of all of your works does not exceed five minutes and that all the works can be viewed on a
single device.
The accepted format for moving image/video
works is:
A digital file, in H264 compression, saved on
a USB device. Please make sure that there

is no material saved on the USB device
other than your work sample.
Masters Admission,
Should you submit the portfolio and appendices by post,

make sure that they arrive at the Academy of Fine Arts no
later than 4:15 pm (Finnish time) on 10 February 2015 a
postal stamp of that date does not suffice! Late applications/ portfolios will not be processed. The Academy of
Fine Arts will not pay the postage due for applications/ appendices/portfolios with insufficient postage. Record the
following on the envelope/package: Masters Admission.
Please note! Applications or thereof sent by e-mail
will not be processed.
Please note! The applicants name must be

clearly indicated on the USB flash drive; other
required information about the work (name of
the applicant, completion date, running time,
participants and any other important information) can be recorded on a separate document
that the applicant encloses with the form
listing the sample works.
PORTFOLIO
MULTIMEDIA AND ONLINE WORKS
Carefully consider what to include in your portfolio. The size of the portfolio may not exceed A3
paper size. Present your artistic works in you
portfolio do not deliver original art works to
Academy of Fine Arts.
Edit demos of these works in moving image.

The total length of all the moving image works
must not exceed five minutes.
Only moving image can be submitted in digital

form. Do not present the same work of art in
more than one form.
The admission jury will not have the opportunity to look at the applicants homepages.
The name of the artist and the details of the

work must be clearly indicated on the portfolio: name, size, technique and year. If there are
technical tricks related to the presentation/
INSURING PORTFOLIOS
HOMEPAGES
The Academy is not responsible for the works

and will not insure them. If you want to insure
your works, you must do so at your own expense.
39
RETURNING THE PORTFOLIO
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
The portfolios can be picked up from the
If the applicant requires special arrangements

at the entrance examination because of a sensory or physical disability or other corresponding
reason, he or she must get in touch with the
Academy of Fine Arts Admissions Office before
the end of the application period. To clarify for
the need of special arrangements and the nature
of the disability or other condition, the applicant
must submit a medical certificate by a specialist
or other corresponding expert statement to the
Academy of Fine arts Admissions Office. To verify a case of dyslexia, a statement by a special
needs teacher, psychologist, or a speech pathologist is sufficient. A decision by the Matriculation
Examination Board about special arrangements
is also sufficient to verify the need for special
arrangements.
Academy of Fine Arts information desk,

at the earliest on 18 June 2015, but no later
than 14 August 2015. Check the updated
visiting address and opening hours on the
student admissions site of the University of
the Arts Helsinki (www.uniarts.fi).
If you want your portfolio returned by mail,
you must include a postage-paid envelope in
your application. Then the portfolio will be
returned after the application procedure.
Other application documents will not be
returned.
Any uncollected portfolios or portfolios
without sufficient reply postage will be
destroyed after 14 August 2015. The
Academy is not liable for any possible
damage to the works.
ANNOUNCING THE RESULTS
SECOND PHASE
INTERVIEWS FOR APPLICANTS IN
THE SECOND PHASE
Interviews will be carried out during weeks
14, 15 and 16 in March and April 2015. Information about those accepted into the second
phase/invited for an interview will be published
on Friday 13 March 2015 on the out door of
Academy of Fine Arts (Elimenkatu 25 A,
Helsinki, Finland) and on the student admissions site of the University of the Arts Helsinki
authorised the publication of their name on
the website. All applicants in the second phase
are also submitted a separate invitation for the
interview by post or e-mail indicating the exact
time and place of the interview. Other applicants will not receive an e-mail/letter informing them of the matter.
40
Names of the new students admitted

to University of the Arts will be
published on 3 June 2015.
Names of the new students of the Academy of

Fine Arts Helsinki will be publishedon the out
door of Academy of Fine Arts (Elimenkatu 25
A, Helsinki, Finland) and on the student admissions site of the University of the Arts Helsinki
authorised the publication of their name on the
website. After this, you can also enquire about
results of the student admission procedure by
phone, by calling +358-45-1393624. All accepted students will also be sent a notification of
receiving the study place by post. Other applicants will not receive an e-mail/letter informing them of the matter.
APPEALS
In case an applicant is not satisfied with the
results of the student selection, she/he may

Admissions 2015
appeal in writing to the Dean of the Academy

of Fine Arts within 14 days of the announcing
of the results of the admission procedure.
ACCEPTING THE STUDY

PLACE
Main Admission,
You can accept a study place using the Studyinfo service, or with the notification included in
the letter of acceptance; the latter must be submitted to the Student Admissions Service of
the University of the Arts Helsinki. The study
place must be accepted no later than 15 July
2015 by 3 pm Finnish time. More information
is available at: www.studyinfo.fi. The contact
information and opening hours of the Student
Admission Service of the University of the Arts
Helsinki for the summer of 2015 will be posted
together with the admissions procedure results
at the University of the Arts Helsinkis student
admissions site at www.uniarts.fi
Notifications that arrive after the deadline will

not be considered. The notification regarding
accepting a study place is binding and cannot
be changed or cancelled.
Masters Admission,
A student may, at any given time, have only

one right to pursue a degree at the University.
When a student accepts a new right to pursue
a degree at the University of Arts Helsinki, he
or she forfeits any prior study right at the University of the Arts Helsinki. Only for a special
reason may the Rector grant an exception to
the rule for one study place. (University of the
Arts Helsinki Education guidelines, Article 13).
The application for the exception is to be
submitted together with the application. If
necessary, contact the Head of Study Affairs of
the University of the Arts Helsinki. This rules
is only applicable for study rights granted after
1 August 2014.
ENROLMENT FOR THE

FIRST YEAR
The enrolment instructions are sent to new
students together with the material on being
accepted to study. During the first academic
year, it is possible to enrol as an absent student
only with permission granted by the university.
Enrolment as an absent student for the first
year is possible only under certain circumstances, such as compulsory or voluntary military service; maternity, paternity or parental
leave; illness or other compelling circumstances (study at another educational institution or
abroad does not qualify). The right to be absent
must be applied for no later than 15 July 2015.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS ABOUT MASTERS
ADMISSION
I will get my BFA degree in early
summer. Can I still participate in
the Masters admission of the same
spring?
Yes, you can. If you are admitted to study, you

will have to submit a copy of your BFA (or
University of Applied Sciences) certificate to
the Academy of Fine Arts no later than when
submitting the notification on accepting the
study place, i.e., 15 July 2015.
Do I have to state which courses I
intend to take in my motivational
letter?
You arent meant to write a list of courses, and

it would be impossible to name them because
you get the syllabus only at the beginning of the
term. Your application should state the things
you feel are important and interest you in
your studies, as well as the things you want to
concentrate on and examine more closely. For
example, do you want to continue in the direction you have chosen or conquer new areas?
41
The portfolio may not be larger than paper size

A3, but the scale of the portfolio is not restricted
in any other way. Please do take into account,
however, that we receive a lot of applications and
going through the portfolios is a time-consuming
process. Consider how you can use your works
to give the best idea of yourself and the aims you
set out in your informal application. It is also a
question of you deciding what is central in your
work and how you show it. We are also interested
to see where you are as an artist now and how
you intend to continue, and how the portfolio you
enclose in the application backs up these points.
The specific educational criterion is a BFA

degree or a polytechnic degree with a major in
arts or an equivalent foreign degree. Various
art courses or even other educational institutes do not usually give sufficient cognitive
and practical skills for studies leading to a
Masters degree. The best option for you is to
apply for a study place in the main admission,
and if you are admitted to the Academy, have
some of your previous studies accepted as a
part of your BFA.
Can I study in English?
The Academy of Fine Arts provides several

courses taught in English. Also some of our seminars and lecture series are taught in English on
42
How much do studies cost?
There are no tuition fees for degree students

in universities in Finland education is subsidised by the State through the Ministry of
Education and Culture. This applies also to
the international degree students. The student
unions in universities, however, charge a compulsory annual membership fee. At the Academy of Fine Arts, the fee is approx. 100 per
academic semester. Student health services are
included in this fee. All students have to pay
for their accommodation and living expenses.
The average monthly living expenses of a single
student vary from 700 to 900. The rents in
student dormitories and residence halls vary
from 300 to 850 per month.
Is there any scholarship programme
for international applicants?
The Academy of Fine Arts does not offer

scholarships for international applicants.
It is highly recommended that you arrange
adequate funding for your entire study period
before leaving your home country.
More information about studying in Finland
Please visit: http://www.studyinfinland.fi/
Masters Admission,
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS ABOUT APPLYING
AND ABOUT STUDYING IN
ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
Finnish language courses are highly recommended for foreign degree students who wish
to acquaint themselves with the Finnish language, culture and the country.
Main Admission,
I have a university degree and I

have taken many art courses and
been actively making art for a long
time. Can I participate in the
Masters admission of the Academy
of Fine Arts?
a regular basis. Even when teaching in English

is not available, it is often possible to complete
courses through independent study. You can
write your essays and exams in English.

Admissions 2015
Are there requirements for the minimum or maximum size of the portfolio?
APPLICANTS AND
STUDENTS ACCEPTED
INTHE ACADEMY OF FINE
ARTS 20072014
Main Admission
Masters Admission
Admitted / Applicants
Applicants / Admitted
17 (4%)
485
2007
165
24 (5.5%)
441
2008
186
1007
2009
231
20 (8.7%)
23 (2.5%)
892
2010
241
22 (9.1%)
25 (2.8%)
883
2011
265
23 (2.7%)
863
2012
230*
21 (9.1%)*
24 (2.8%)
869
2013
247**
24 (9.7%)**
596
2014
205*
25 (2.4%)
25 (4.2%)
28 (17%)
21 (11.3%)
20 (7.5%)
24 (11.7%)*
*The figures for the 2012 and 2014 Masters admission do not include the figures for the Praxis Masters Programme.
**In 2013 there were no admission in Praxis Masters programme
43
The new SORA legislation came into effect

on 1 January 2012.

Admissions 2015
SORA LEGISLATION
Restrictions on student admission
Please note! The Academy of Fine arts will not apply any of the above mentioned restrictions
to student admissions.
Drug tests during studies and an extract from the criminal records
In certain limited cases, students may be obligated to present a drug test certificate. This
primarily concerns situations where testing is necessary to ascertain a students ability
to function, provided that certain additional conditions specified in detail by law are met.
Students admitted to the university in 2012 or later may be requested to provide an extract
from the criminal records for the assessment of their ability to study. Such an extract may
be requested only from students whose studies include practical training or other activities
involving work with minors. The extract will be requested before the beginning of the practical
training or other activity. To ensure the safety of minors, it is necessary to ascertain that the
student about to begin practical training has no criminal record of certain serious crimes
(sex offence, murder, aggravated assault and battery, aggravated burglary and robbery and
narcotics offence).
Main Admission,
In order to promote patient and client safety as well as the safety of minors, restrictions will
be applied to student admission starting from the beginning of 2012. Such restrictions will
pertain to the following fields: medicine, dentistry, logopedics, psychology, pharmacy, social
work and teacher education. Admission to the above fields requires that the applicants state
of health and ability to function allow them to complete practical tasks and training related
to studies. Limitations related to health or the ability to function are not an impediment to
admission if their effects can be eliminated through reasonable measures such as special
arrangements. In any case, the purpose is not to unnecessarily hinder the access of disabled
persons or persons suffering from physica or mental limitations to education. Restrictions on
student admission will be applied only in cases where it is evident that the applicant cannot participate in education due to his or her state of health or ability to function. Check for
field-specific restrictions, if any, set by each university. Further information is also available
from the admission services and academic affairs offices of universities.
Masters Admission,
44
FURTHER
INFORMATION
ON STUDENT ADMISSION AND STUDIES

CAN BE OBTAINED FROM:
Elimenkatu 25 A, 00510 Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358-45-1393624
www.uniarts.fi
www.kuva.fi
kuva.hakijapalvelut@uniarts.fi
Academy of Fine Arts Admissions Guide 2015

Editor: Study Affairs Unit | Layout: Byfar | Photos: Mikko Ryhnen and Petri Summanen
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ACADEMY OF

Taideyliopiston Kuvataideakatemian valintaopas 2015

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Bachelor of Fine Arts

MAIN ADMISSION 2015

BACHELOR AND MASTER OF

MASTERS ADMISSION 2015

APPLICANTS AND STUDENTS

3. DOCTORAL STUDIES PROGRAMMES ADMISSION

Academy of Fine Arts

The Academy of Fine Arts trains free

being an artist conveyed at the Academy. This

The Academy of Fine Arts is an academy

Academy of Fine Arts

the Masters admission procedure. Students

The Academy of Fine Arts works in active

Academy of Fine Arts

It is possible to complete the following degrees

One credit (cr) equates the workload of

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA)

The BFA degree aims to provide the student

Academy of Fine Arts

MASTER OF FINE ARTS (MFA)

Postgraduate studies in Fine Arts

Doctoral thesis in the Finnish Academy of

Doctoral thesis in Fine Art

The aim of doctoral studies is for the student

Academy of Fine Arts

DOCTOR OF FINE ARTS (DFA)

The teaching staff of the Academy of

students own study programme, each student

Academy of Fine Arts

The studies leading to the Bachelors

of public space and works placed in public

The study programme in Sculpture

Academy of Fine Arts

The study programme in Painting has

number of points of comparison brought up in

es for new perspectives. Ms Takalas instruction

Academy of Fine Arts

The instruction in the Printmaking

A major part of the studies is made up of the

TIME AND SPACE ARTS

The instruction in the study programme

the form of an intervention, installation, performance or a video, photography or audio work,

Academy of Fine Arts

ART THEORY AND GENERAL STUDIES

General studies provide the students with

PRAXIS MASTERS PROGRAMME IN

The Praxis Masters

Academy of Fine Arts

The Praxis Masters Programme in Exhibition

The contents of instruction take into account

Academy of Fine Arts

DOCTORAL STUDIES PROGRAMME

in society. The goal is for the student to attain the

tel. +358-40-631 3553, michaela.brann@uniarts.fi

tel. +358-45-6578656, henri.wegelius@uniarts.fi

Since 1997 it has been possible to complete a postgraduate degree, Doctor of

Academy of Fine Arts

The students admitted in the

(in the first phase) the applicants to be invited

Academy of Fine Arts

number with the order. The paper copy of the application