Interactive Media and Environments, MFA – (M.A.)

Contents

MFA Interactive Media and Environments provides a two-year study programme consisting of four consecutive terms. The first two form a knowledge-acquisition year, whereas the second half of the programme is an output year primarily oriented toward the final review and the theoretical thesis.

Three thematic areas

In the vision of FMI Masters, the artistic practice consists of three thematic areas: the categories of ‘work, ‘think’ and ‘share’.

Work

In the category of work we refer to the studio and/or design practice of the artist. The production and development of the student’s own work is the starting point of the research process. The starting points, the context and the research framework with the accompanying methods are formulated by the student himself in the studio programme. In this context, the student is supervised by a team of core tutors, term tutor(s), theory tutors, and guest tutors. A staff of technical instructors provides technical supervision.

Key words: make, design, medium, experiment, act, empirical, processes, procedures, artwork, performance, technology, technique

Think

The Think category includes the reflective and theoretical part of artistic practice, reflection on and analysis of one’s own work, the development and formulation of an own artistic system, reflection on the theoretical context of one’s own research.

The reflective and theoretical part consists of the ArtPrac lecture series, seminars, round table discussions (MOHRaliveTHANdeadSOCIETY), tutorials, theoretical supervision in the studio and individual in-depth studies. The issues arising from one’s own artistic practice and the topicality of one’s own work domain are directive in this context.

Key words: analysis, reflection, knowledge, language, writing, interpretation, literature study, source study, thesis

Share

The Share category includes doing or presenting (the results of) research in a specific project-oriented context. Presentation forms a part of the study and may assume the form of an exhibition. This part concerns the way in which the student’s work is displayed and articulated.

In the project part of the educational programme, under the ‘share’ denominator, the students develop projects based on their own programme (such as guest tutor programme, excursions and symposiums, for example) as well as projects set up covering the entire FMI Masters. In addition, they can participate in research workshops or projects initiated by the lector / lectors and the AMP project office.

Key words: collective, presentation, context, critical, workshop

For the entire duration of the FMI Master’s degree programme, the three thematic areas are part of the research and development process.

Artistic development and research

Besides the three thematic areas, the FMI Masters has four distinct research and development stages:

play and experiment; collection of meaningful material; formulation of the artistic system; communication and presentation of research results.

In all semesters, all these components are covered to a greater or lesser extent, but the programme is structured in such a way that, in each semester, special emphasis is placed on one of the stages. This global division does justice to the notion that artistic research processes often do not have linear progression but are typified by a circling or network character.

First year

Semester 1: play and experiment

In this term, the emphasis lies on play and experiment and on reflecting on the results obtained. In various parts of the programme, the student puts his own starting points and beliefs up for discussion, both in relation to his own work and with respect to the role of art in society. By laying and experimenting with new contexts and conditions, by speculating on the possibilities available, and by reflecting on the outcomes, the student can ultimately determine his own field of research.

Semester 2: collecting, combining and transforming meaningful material

By playing and speculating in the first semester, a provisional research framework is formed. The student continues the research in the second semester, in which information relevant to the defined domain (visual, theoretical or otherwise) is compiled. This material encircles, as it were, the questions and issues formulated in the research proposal. The collected material is subjected to transformations, combinations and analyses, with the aim of developing one’s own theme and vision.

Semesters 1 and 2: study modules

The first year offers a programme with practical and theoretical workshops in the domain of Interactive Media & Environments, and includes themes such as: computer technology, software programming, 2-D and 3-D and media theory. The number of workshops and courses gradually decreases in the second term, and the formulation of the final graduation project is initiated. The first year is concluded with a clear presentation of the plans for the final graduation project.

Second year

Semester 3: formulating an artistic system

In the first year of study, the student is challenged to put his own vision on his artistic premises up for discussion, and to seek new meaningful material. In the third semester, this research must take shape in an own artistic system. The student develops the germ of an artistic theory that is visible in a recognizable, associative and poetic coherence in the work.

Semester 4: communication and presentation

The last semester is largely devoted to the development of the final exam work. In this semester, work and artistic theory are formulated and the form in which these are to be presented to the public is decided upon. This means that, in this semester, more emphasis lies upon communication and the presentation of work and research results.

Semesters 3 and 4: study modules

In the third and fourth term, students work on their final graduation project and thesis under the supervision of core and term tutors. The necessary technical support usually takes place in the lab.

The thesis helps formulate and sharpen the students’ artistic vision in terms of content. An optional subject at the University of Groningen, specifically aligned with the chosen final graduation project, ensures theoretical deepening.

The students present their work (work in progress) to fellow students at regular intervals. They are expected to present their work on internet and, if possible, also in an exhibition.

The programme of workshops and lessons is obligatory. Besides this, there is an optional-subject programme of lectures in art and media history, projects at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen (Hanze UAS)”, and workshops or projects organized by the advanced programmes of MFA Painting and MFA Scenography. In consultation, a part of this programme may replace a part of the obligatory programme.

The obligatory workshops cover the competences and content-related areas relevant to the study programme. The workshops are always oriented toward practical skills and the acquisition of in-depth knowledge and insight. In addition to the obligatory programme, there is also scope for participation in master classes and (joint) visits to at least two media festivals.

The programme is concluded with the result of the studio research project and a theoretical thesis.

During the final review, the students give an oral elucidation of their work to the exam committee. An exhibition of the work of graduates from the FMI Masters is presented after the final review.

Accreditation

The programme is formally accredited by the Dutch government (NVAO).

Funding details

Grants and Scholarships

Dutch national grant system ('Studiefinanciering')

There is a national grant system in the Netherlands, called 'studiefinanciering', for students who are enrolled with a Dutch higher education institution. To be eligible for such a grant you:

• have to have the Dutch nationality and

• have to be younger than 30

Foreign students are generally not eligible for such a grant. Only EU-students under certain conditions can make use of ‘studiefinanciering’.

Grants for EU/EEA students

Fee-paying EU/EEA students who will start their degree programme in the academic year 2012/2013 may apply for a so-called "collegegeldkrediet" (tuition fees credit).

This is an interest-bearing loan from the Dutch government to cover the costs of the Dutch higher education tuition fees. The loan will have to be repaid (in instalments) after the student has graduated.

Students can apply for a 'collegegeldkrediet'' with the IB-Groep, the Dutch organization that is responsible for student loans and grants. The IB-Groep provides information in English at www.ib-groep.nl. We advise you to check the site regularly for up-to-date information.

The authority responsible for this grant is the IB-Groep. We try to provide you with the correct information on the conditions for obtaining the grant. However, no rights can be derived from the information given here.

Huygens Scholarship Programme

The prestigious Huygens Scholarship Programme of the Dutch Ministery of Education, Culture and Science is open to excellent students from all countries. It is aimed at talented students who want to come to the Netherlands in the final phase of their bachelor’s studies or during their master’s studies.

The scholarship covers:

• a generous reimbursement of tuition fees
• a monthly allowance of € 1,380 (this includes a standard contribution towards healthcare insurance);
• visa fees (standard contribution);
• a one-off payment towards international travel costs (standard contribution based on nationality);

Applicants first need to be accepted by the study programme of their choice. They can apply for an Huygens scholarship through Nuffic (Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education), on the basis of a nomination by Hanze (UAS). As the Huygens Scholarship Programme is aimed at highly talented students, Hanze (UAS) will normally only nominate students that have obtained excellent results in all their previous studies.

Currently, no applications can be submitted because the issuance of new grants is put on hold due to the fact that measures of austerity have been implemented by the Dutch government following the negative global economic climate.

The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes

Hanze (UAS) also participates in the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP), which supports students from developing countries. The fellowships are granted for the duration of the programme and cover the tuition fees and the costs of international travel, subsistence, books and health insurance.

China Programme

China Programme scholarships are meant for outstanding Chinese students who have completed a Bachelor’s programme and want to come to the Netherlands to do a Master’s programme. Students who wish to be considered for a China Programme scholarship must apply to the China Scholarship Council in Beijing. The programme is highly competitive; only 25 scholarships are awarded each academic year. A national selection committee decides which candidates will be awarded a scholarship.

StuNed scholarships

StuNed scholarships are available for Indonesian professionals with at least two years work experience in a development-related organisation who want to come to the Netherlands to do a Master’s programme or a short course.

Emergency fund

Hanze (UAS) has set up an emergency fund for students who are forced to stop their studies because they have run into financial difficulties through no fault of their own. They can appeal to the Emergency Fund for an interest-free loan or a gift. Students who want to apply for a contribution from this fund should contact the student counsellor.