Apply to Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art (Master of Arts (Art and Design))
Spring 2025 application period. Admission guide to the 2-year master’s programme: application instructions and admission criteria.
Key information
- Degree programme: Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art, Master of Arts (Art and Design), duration of studies 2 years
- Language of the degree: English
- Number of study places available: at most 8 new students
- Application period begins on 8 January and ends on 22 January 2025 at 3:00 p.m. EET (all times local Finnish time)
- Deadline for submitting application attachments: 29 January 2025 at 3:00 p.m. EET
- Second phase online interviews between 6 May and 8 May 2025
- Announcement of the admission result: 28 May 2025
- Deadline for accepting study place: 10 July 2025 at 3 p.m. EEST
- Annual tuition fee for non-EU/-EEA/-Swiss students: 12,000 euros
- possibility to get a 50 % tuition fee waiver
Applications to the Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art will be submitted through Studyinfo.fi portal.
Admission criteria
All applicants to the Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art are required to have a suitable educational background and language proficiency in English. In the entrance examination applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Interest in contemporary art
- Ability in theoretical thinking and writing
- Vision of their possible future roles in the field of contemporary art after completing the studies
- Experience in the field of arts, e.g. curatorial work, art mediation, research, writing, production, or previous studies.
- Suitability to undertake and complete theoretically oriented studies leading to a master’s degree. When applicant’s suitability is evaluated, the following factors are considered: motivation, ability to learn and collaborate, ability to listen, ability to reflect on one’s own work, and a readiness to develop.
In the first phase, the eligibility of all applicants is checked. Eligible applicants are evaluated based on their application and the required appendices (motivation letter, CV and portfolio).
In the second phase, the evaluation is based on an interview as well as the application and its appendices. The applicants may also be asked to provide further proof of their skills for evaluation.
Applying for transfer from another university
Applicants who are refugees or in a refugee-like situation
Educational background
General eligibility
According to the Universities Act (558/2009, 37§), a person is eligible to apply for the studies leading to a master’s degree in higher education if they have completed a relevant bachelor’s degree awarded by a university or a university of applied sciences or a relevant degree programme outside of Finland, which in that country grants eligibility to undertake studies at the corresponding level in higher education.
Suitable educational background required for eligibility in the Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art
You can apply to studies leading to a Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree if you have completed:
- an eligible bachelor’s degree awarded by a university; or
- an eligible bachelor’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences; or
- an eligible foreign degree that provides eligibility for corresponding higher education studies in the awarding country.
For the Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art a qualification in any field is applicable.
Language proficiency requirement
The language of instruction in the Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art is English. If the student so chooses, they may complete part of the studies in Finnish or Swedish. The student can apply to the Dean for the right to write their thesis in Finnish or Swedish.
Applicants are required to provide a proof of their language proficiency in English in the first phase of the application process in accordance with the requirements of the academy. Applicant who does not demonstrate their language proficiency cannot be deemed eligible.
Demonstrating proficiency in English
You can demonstrate your proficiency in English in one of the following ways:
Matriculation examinations
Applicants can demonstrate their language proficiency in the following ways also without completing the whole matriculation examination (except if the applicant demonstrates their language proficiency with the language used for their International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma):
- English test of the Finnish matriculation examination completed in the advanced syllabus level (A-level language) with a minimum grade of magna cum laude approbatur (M)
- IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma awarded by an IB World School
- diploma completed in English
- passing grade in the English test (literature / language and literature / literature and performance) on level A
- minimum grade of 5 (good) in the English language test on level B
- EB (European Baccalaureate) diploma awarded by a designated European School
- passing grade in English as the L1 language
- minimum grade of 7 in English as the L2 or L3 language
- A diploma completed at Deutsche Schule Helsinki:
- passing grade for written English or a minimum grade of 8 for oral English according to the advanced syllabus on a Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA)
Language proficiency certificates and tests
Acceptable language tests include IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, YKI, Cambridge English C1 Advanced and Cambridge English C2 Proficiency. If not otherwise separately mentioned in connection with the test, an online version of the test is not valid.
IELTS, TOEFL and PTE test results are valid for two years from the test date. The test result of a previously completed language test must be valid on the day the application period starts so that it can be considered proof of the applicant’s proficiency in English. Cambridge and National Certificate of Language Proficiency results are valid indefinitely.
Accepted language proficiency tests:
- TOEFL(IBT) with a minimum score of 92. Uniarts Helsinki also accepts the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition with the same scores. Uniarts Helsinki also accepts MyBest Scores for the Toefl test, as long as the results of all sections of the test are valid when applying (the result must not be expired by the start of the application period).
- IELTS (Academic) with a minimum score of 6.5.Uniarts Helsinki also accepts the IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online versions of the Academic test with the same test scores.
- PTE (academic) with a minimum score of 62. Uniarts Helsinki also accepts the PTE Academic Online test with the same score.
- Cambridge English C1 Advanced with a minimum grade C (other accepted grades are A and B).
- Cambridge English C2 Proficiency with a minimum grade Level C1 (other accepted grades are A, B and C).
- National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) in English awarded by the Finnish National Agency for Education where all subtests of the test completed on level 5 (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, speaking). Results from different test occasions may be used.
Other acceptable ways to demonstrate English proficiency
The language proficiency test is not needed if the applicant has attained qualification in upper secondary education in English in an EU or EEA country or in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, or Switzerland.
The language proficiency test is not needed if the applicant has completed a bachelor’s degree (or a corresponding degree that gives the eligibility to pursue master’s studies in the country in question), master’s degree, licentiate degree or doctoral degree with English as the language of the degree in an EU or EEA country or in one of the following countries: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Great Britain, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The language proficiency test is not needed if the applicant has completed a university or a university of applied sciences degree in Finnish or Swedish in Finland, which includes foreign language studies in English in accordance with the decree 794/2004 or 1129/2014. Foreign language studies in English that are included in an incomplete Finnish university/university of applied sciences degree, as well as studies completed in some other manner, can also be approved, provided that the studies comply with the decree. In this case, the applicant must send a transcript of study records to Uniarts Helsinki along with a copy of the degree requirements of the higher education institution in question or some other document that states which language studies are required for the degree.
Exchange students can also demonstrate their sufficient English skills during their exchange period at Uniarts Helsinki with language studies completed at Uniarts Helsinki:
- Courses in English leading to skill level B2 (English 1 and/or English 2; minimum scope of 2 credits, the courses include both written and oral exercises).
- Exchange students also have the possibility to demonstrate their proficiency by participating in an English language proficiency test during their exchange period at Uniarts Helsinki, and more detailed instructions are available from language teachers.
How to apply
You can apply to the study programme leading to Master of Arts degrees (2 y.) in the Finnish national joint application procedure for higher education in January. It is possible to apply for a study place in a maximum of six degree programmes. These programmes do not need to be listed in any order. The applicant can accept only one study place.
Student selection is based on all parts of the entrance examination (motivation letter, CV/résumé, portfolio, and interview).
Application fee for non-EU and non-EEA applicants
Information on a potential application fee for non-EU and non-EEA applicants will be updated here later, if needed. The implementation of application fees is dependent on a change of Finnish Universities Act. Read further information on the potential application fee.
First phase: electronic application and appendices
The application period begins on 8 January 2025 and ends on 22 January 2025 at 3:00 p.m. EET.
Fill in and submit an electronic application form in Studyinfo.fi portal during the application period and submit the required appendices. It is possible to submit the required appendices until 29 January 2025 3:00 p.m. EET.
On the application form, please select “Praxis – Master’s Programme in Curating and Writing in Contemporary Art” as the programme you are applying to. The application should be completed in English.
The application must include the following appendices:
- Documents demonstrating the required educational background (see Admission criteria, Educational background)
- A degree certificate
- A Transcript of Records
- A document demonstrating the required language proficiency (see Admission criteria, Language proficiency requirement)
- Required application materials (see instructions below)
Please check the acceptable ways of proving the required educational background and language proficiency from the admission criteria. If the copies of diplomas or transcripts of study records are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, the applicant must have them translated by an authorised translator.
Applicants who wish to demonstrate their language proficiency with Finnish Matriculation Examination that is completed in 1990 or thereafter do not need to provide certificates to the Admissions Services, as the information of their matriculation examination can be found in the admission register.
An applicant may be considered conditionally eligible if their prior studies have not been completed by the end of the application period (e.g. applicants who are about to complete their bachelor’s degree in the spring). In such cases, the applicant must provide the Academy with a study certificate of the education with a projected graduation date. The education must be completed by the deadline for accepting the study place. If the applicant has been deemed conditionally eligible, they must provide the Academy with the necessary certificate by the deadline for accepting the study place, or they cannot be accepted as a student.
Please submit your materials via Studyinfo.fi portal system as early as possible. It can take up to hours to upload larger files if there is a lot of traffic in the system. We recommend that you upload your materials to the system well before the final deadline so that you have time to access user support in case of technical problems. If you run into any problems, be sure to contact the academy’s admissions office before the closing of the application period or the deadline for submitting appendices. Late submissions will not be considered.
The applicant’s eligibility to apply will be assessed after the deadline for submitting application attachments. Applicants who have the required educational background and who have provided proof of their language proficiency according to the requirements and who have submitted all the required appendices with their application, will be deemed eligible to apply. Applicants will be informed of their eligibility on 28 February 2025. The applications of those applicants who have been deemed eligible to apply will be evaluated, and some of the applicants will be invited to take part in the second phase, i.e. an interview.
Required application materials
Please see below for instructions and the accepted file size and format. If you fail to submit the required application materials on time, or in an accepted format, your application will be rejected. No further instructions or a model for the application materials shall be provided.
The admission jury will not open any additional links, including links to the applicant’s personal website, that are included in the application.
Motivation letter. In their motivation letter, the applicant describes their views about artistic activities in society and elaborates upon their goals in working in the field of art. The motivation letter should specifically explain why the applicant wants to pursue studies in the Praxis Master’s Programme at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Your motivation letter 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.
The motivation letter should be no longer than 5,000 characters (with spaces) and it must be written in English.
File format: PDF. Maximum file size: 100 MB.
The name of the attachment shall follow the format: lastname_firstname_praxis_motivationletter.
CV/résumé. The CV should include the applicant’s contact information and information about the applicant’s education, work experience, exhibitions, publications, awards, grants, and study trips.
The CV must be written in English.
File format: PDF. Maximum file size: 100 MB.
The name of the attachment shall follow the format: lastname_firstname_praxis_cv.
Portfolio. In the portfolio, the applicant should present samples of their work and experience in the field of visual arts. For example, description and/or documentation of curatorial work, art mediation, research, writing, production, or previous studies. The maximum length of the portfolio is 8 pages.
File format: PDF. Maximum file size: 100 MB. The material that exceeds the limitations will not be evaluated.
The name of the attachment shall follow the format: lastname_firstname_praxis_portfolio.
Second phase: interview
The applicants who are invited to the second phase of the admission receive an invitation to an online interview by e-mail on 4 April 2025. Applicants who have not been invited to the interview will also be notified of the result by e-mail.
The second phase will be carried out between 6th and 8th May 2025. In addition to attending an interview, the applicants may also be asked to provide further proof of their skills for evaluation after the interview.
Individual arrangements
Individual arrangements in the entrance examination
Announcing the results
The results of the student admissions will be published on the website of the University of the Arts Helsinki on 28 May 2025. The published list will include the names of all the accepted students who authorised the publication of their name.
The Academy of Fine Arts of the University of the Arts Helsinki will send an e-mail to the applicants accepted as new students and those on the waiting list after the announcement of the results. Some e-mail clients may treat our messages as spam, so please check your spam folder as well.
Feedback
The Admission Jury will only provide feedback to applicants who took part in the 2nd stage of the admission, that is the interview, and were not accepted as students. Feedback will only be given by request, and information about how to ask for feedback will be sent to the applicants after the results of the student admissions have been published.
Other applicants will not be given feedback during the admission process or after its conclusion.
Rectification request
Applicants can apply for rectification of the admission decision from Uniarts Helsinki under the Universities Act (558/2009), section 82. The purpose of a written request for rectification is to give the applicant the possibility to appeal and request for rectification if there is a reason to believe that there has been an error in the decision-making process. The rectification procedure is not intended as a means for receiving feedback or asking for further information about the admissions process.
A written request for rectification should be submitted within 14 days of the publication of the admission result.
How to request for rectification
Accepting the study place
The offered study place must be accepted no later than 10 July 2025 3:00 p.m. EEST.
If the applicant has been deemed as conditionally eligible in the first phase of the admissions process, they must submit a degree certificate which proves that they will have the required educational background or language proficiency by the deadline for accepting the study place
If the confirmation arrives late, it will not be considered. The confirmation of acceptance is binding and irrevocable, and it cannot be cancelled. If you want to give up your study place after first accepting it, you are still considered to have accepted the study place for the semester in question (for more information, see the ‘one study place per term’ provision).
One study place per term provision
Enrolment for the first year
Enrolment for the first year must be done by the deadline for accepting the study place. The enrolment instructions are sent to new students together with the material on being accepted to study.
Registering as absent for the first year of studies
Tuition fees and scholarships
Uniarts Helsinki will charge an annual tuition fee of 12,000 euros from non-EU and non-EEA students studying in a bachelor’s or a master’s degree programme in English. The amount of the annual tuition fee will stay the same for the statutory duration of a particular student’s studies.
Uniarts Helsinki has a scholarship programme, which may grant relief from the full tuition fee to students who are liable for payment. The applicant liable for payment must mention in the application form if they wish to apply for a scholarship to cover the annual tuition fee if they are accepted as a student.
Contact
Academy of Fine Arts of Uniarts Helsinki admissions office
kuva.admissions@uniarts.fi