How to Apply to the UK Art Department
Applications for admission to the M.F.A. program are reviewed only once per year, for Fall semester entrance. The application deadline is February 1st.
Application for the M.F.A. program is a two-part process; some materials go directly to The Graduate School and some materials go directly to the Department of Art according to the following outline:
The Graduate School:
- 1. Complete and email the online application at The Graduate School web site.
- 2. Have G.R.E. scores sent directly to The Graduate School.
- 3. Have all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts sent directly to the Graduate School.
The Department of Art:
- 1. A letter of intent stating why you wish to attend graduate school at the University of Kentucky.
- 2. A current resumé.
- 3. An artist statement about your work.
- 4. Twenty (20) slides of your best work. CDs, DVDs, or VHS videos are also acceptable.
- 5. A list of works sheet with the following information for each slide:
Title- Date
- Dimensions
- Media
- 6. Have three letters of recommendation sent directly to the Art Department.
The mailing address for the Department is:
- Director of Graduate Studies
- Department of Art
- Room 207, Fine Arts Building
- University of Kentucky
- Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0022
Teaching Assistanceships
The Department of Art awards one teaching assistantship in Art Education, one in Art History, and 5 in Art Studio each year. Students wishing to be considered for assistantships and fellowships should discuss their interests with the Art Education graduate advisor.
Assistants receive a stipend. In-state assistantships also include a tuition remission. Out-of-state assistants are required to pay in-state tuition, although this can be remitted by means of petition.
Detailed information about assistantships and instructions for applying may be obtained through the Graduate School.
Fellowships
The Graduate School offers a variety of competitive university-wide fellowships and sources for external funding.
Each of these fellowships has its own set of criteria. Incoming and continuing graduate students are advised to identify those for which they may be eligible and to apply. Some university-wide fellowships require a Departmental nomination and these often have early deadlines. If students identify such a fellowship, we request they bring this to the attention of the art education graduate advisor.
All new non-resident students enrolled in a University of Kentucky graduate degree program may be eligible for tuition scholarships, the Kentucky Graduate Scholarships, based on their prior academic performance. These scholarships allow the candidate to attend the University of Kentucky at the in-state tuition rate.
Graduate students may also apply each year for Student Support Funds to help support research, research related travel, or travel to professional meetings/conferences.
The Art History and Art Studio faculty nominate one entering graduate student who does not have additional funding sources such as an assistantship or fellowship for a Millennium Award each year.
Departmental Scholarships
Kim Adler Memorial Scholarship
Provides one or more scholarships to cover MFA thesis exhibition costs. Recipients should be third-year MFA students who are concentrating in sculpture.