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Camberwell College of Arts

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MA Visual Arts: Book Arts

College
CAMBERWELL
Course length
2 years (extended full time)

Course suspended

MA Book Arts at Camberwell will not be taking applications.

If you are interested in Fine Art take a look at the other UAL postgraduate Fine Art courses.

MA Book Arts at Camberwell College of Arts focuses on debates about the cultural, creative and individual functions of the book.

The course engages with aspects of the book such as sequence, poetry, structure and materials; encompassing printed multiples and sculptural one-offs.

Student work

  • Photo documentation of sun burning a hole throw book performance by Althea Grau Vidal.
    Althea Grau Vidal - MA Book Arts
  • Pop up illustration book by Danielle Scott.
    Danielle Scott - MA Book Arts
  • Shredded book sculpture by Egidija Ciricaite.
    Egidija Ciricaite - MA Book Arts
  • Group performance piece activating the book by Janine Harrington.
    Janine Harrington - MA Book Arts
  • Typographical book by Jingyun Shu
    Jingyun Shu - MA Book Arts
  • Bronze sculpture based on book gutters by Rosanna Sherwood.
    Rosanna Sherwood - MA Book Arts
  • Pop up cut out book by Runjing Wang.
    Runjing Wang - MA Book Arts
  • Black and white book series by Ziyan Lu.
    Ziyan Lu - MA Book Arts

Course overview

What you can expect

  • To develop a project from proposal to final exhibition
  • To research content, materials and technical skills
  • To produce written and practical work that explores a subject in relation to contemporary practice
  • Support and supervision throughout the course from specialist academic staff. This will be through workshops, individual tutorials, seminars and lectures
  • Staff and student-led seminars to help promote debate
  • Work-in-progress sessions that allow for supportive critique
  • To develop research skills, professional practice and an understanding of the wider context of book arts as an area of fine art and design practice
  • A shared lecture programme
  • To get involved in artists book fairs
  • To visit special collections in London, such as the Tate and the National Art Library at the V&A Museum
  • You will have the chance to explore the expanded book in a display or installation by showing your work in exhibitions
  • To have access to Camberwell's shared workshops. View the Camberwell facilities

Course units

Extended Full-Time Study Mode

The MA is taught over 2 years in 6 blocks of 10 weeks. Extended Full-Time mode is a hybrid of part time and full time study.

By teaching in this mode we aim to give you the opportunity to benefit from undertaking a full time Masters degree while also pursuing and other commitments. These might be part-time employment, gaining other experience in the creative industries or maintaining care responsibilities.

Unit 1 - Research, Development and Practice

You will explore, experiment and research to further develop your project proposal. The unit introduces you to subject specific issues and topics, research methodologies and techniques. It aims to orientate you and your practice within the course. It will develop your contextual, critical and research skills.

Unit 2 - Reflection and Presentation

A symposium will provide the opportunity to present your research and provide further peer feedback. At this stage your practice should combine your practical, conceptual and professional abilities. You will consider your future practice, audience and context of your work in contemporary practice.

The intention and context of your work will inform the decisions you take in relation to a final exhibition. You will work with your peers to plan, organise and install an exhibition. This will be part of your continued personal and professional development.

Learning and teaching methods

  • Blogs and wikis
  • Collaborative projects
  • Lectures, seminars and tutorials
  • Peer-lead events, critical engagement and feedback
  • Personal and professional development
  • Personal projects
  • Research methods
  • Study visits
  • Workshop inductions

Assessment methods

  • Contextual and evaluative writing
  • Exhibition
  • Presentations
  • Project proposal
  • Reflective journal
  • Research portfolio
  • Writing on critical practice - including blogs

Staff

How to apply

Opportunities for all

We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.

Entry requirements

  • BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
  • Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken into consideration
  • Personal statement
  • Portfolio of work

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

Personal statement

This should be about 500 words long and include:

  • Your reasons for choosing the course
  • Your current creative practice and how this will help with your future plans
  • If you do not have any formal academic qualifications please describe your relevant education and experience

Portfolio advice

  • Approximately 10 to 20 images of your work that provide a good overview of your creative practice
  • Show a selection of your work that is relevant to your application. This can include both finished work and examples of your research and development
  • For video, sound or web based work please provide links
  • Where appropriate include captions or short explanations that give context for your work. If you have worked on any group projects explain your role
  • Provide indications of the size and media used. If you are invited for interview you will need to show original work

At interview and portfolio review

We look for:

  • An interest and involvement in visual arts
  • Demonstrable skills in your existing practice
  • The ability and capacity for self-reflection
  • Ambition and research interest
  • Aspiration for a higher level of practice
  • Quality of work

Applicants may be offered a place on an alternative MA or Graduate Diploma course at Camberwell, Chelsea or Wimbledon. This decision will be based on our assessment of an applicants' creative potential and interests.

Deferred entry

This course will give consideration to deferred entry application.

Making your application

Course suspended

Fees & Funding

Home / EU fee

£4,750 per year (Extended Full Time - 2018/19 fees).

International fee

£10,920 per year (Extended Full Time - 2018/19 fees).

Course fees may be paid in instalments.

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.

Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) fee - Home / EU students whose chosen course is at a level equivalent to, or lower than, a qualification that they already hold, will be charged the fees shown above, plus an additional £1,100 ELQ fee. Students in receipt of Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) are exempt from ELQ fees and will pay the original fee, regardless of the highest qualification held.

Accommodation

Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.

Scholarships and awards

Use our search tool to find out more about the scholarships and awards available to students.

Scholarship search

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Careers and alumni

Our MA Book Arts graduates typically go on to careers as book artists, curators, freelance designers, workshop leaders and teachers, with some now working at the National Art Library as well as Ewha Women's University in Seoul.

Successful alumni from this course have also won prizes including the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, Craft Council Development Awards, the Seoul Book Fair Prize and the London Book Fair Prize.

Alumni

Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.

View college guides

Contact

  • Telephone: +44 (0)20 7514 6302

Address

  • Camberwell College of Arts
  • 45 - 65 Peckham Road
  • London
  • SE5 8UF

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