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Graduate Programs

Düsseldorf

The Division of Drawing, Painting and Photography offers an international MFA Program in Painting. The program operates jointly in the School of Art and Design at Alfred University and at our studio facility in Düsseldorf, Germany. Graduate students work with American and European artists and scholars, gaining an international perspective while interacting with art communities on two continents. Through concentrated studio time, significant research opportunities, and mentoring from art world professionals, this program offers a graduate experience that prepares students to become the next generation of professional artists and arts practitioners.

Applicants must be committed to extended international study and the practice of painting. Graduate students spend three months of each academic year in Dusseldorf engaging in intensive studio work, research, and professional practices. The program encourages a diversity of approaches within the unique language of painting, and fosters critical dialogue addressing contemporary global perspectives.

Why Düsseldorf

Since the founding of its Art Academy in 1773, Dusseldorf has been a leading center of painting. The “Düsseldorf School” of painting attracted many notable artists to study in the city, including Albert Bierstadt, Georg Caleb Bingham, Eastman Johnson and William Morris Hunt. These artists went on the form the “Hudson River School” of American painting.

In the twentieth century major artists such as Paul Klee, August Macke, Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Gunter Grass and Nam June Paik were associated with the Art Academy, putting Dusseldorf in the vanguard of the development of Modern and Contemporary Art. Today internationally recognized artists such as Tomma Abts, Katharina Grosse, Peter Doig,  Andres Gursky, Rosemarie Trockel, Rita McBride and Tony Cragg continue to work and thrive in the city.

Düsseldorf has twenty world-class museums and over fifty Contemporary art galleries and non-profit exhibition spaces. In addition to the Art Academy, Düsseldorf is home to the Heinrich Heine University and the Robert Schumann University Music School. Düsseldorf attracts artists from across the globe, and is home to one of the largest Japanese communities outside of Japan. The city is both a hub and a crossroads for artists and students seeking a creative and supportive experience.

TUITION: $25,800 per year

STUDIO FEES: $1,900 per year.  Includes Visiting Artists, select museum entrance fees, local field trips, Transportation pass in Düsseldorf, art shipping at the end of the third semester, some common studio supplies like gesso, thinner, etc.

Dusseldorf Fees: $750 per year. Includes three month housing in Dusseldorf private apartment with kitchen, two day Paris excursion (Spring), two day excursion to Amsterdam(Spring), three day excursion to Berlin(Fall), museum passes, six hours German language class(Spring), a welcome dinner in Dusseldorf(Spring).

Alfred University Student Activities Fee: $1380 per year

Graduate Assistantship: All accepted applicants are awarded assistantships for each of the 4 semesters. The graduate assistantship can be in the form of a teaching assistantship, teaching internship, or social media and facilities coordinator. In all cases, the student receives a stipend of $7000 for each academic year. All assistantships have a commitment of approximately 10 hours/week to meet the requirements of the stipend.

AIRFARE: Flight costs to and from Germany are the student’s responsibility.

PASSPORT:  Students must have a valid passport. Non-US citizens must be able to obtain a tourist visa for travel to Germany.

HOUSING:  Students will be responsible for making their own housing arrangements while in Alfred. Housing in Dusseldorf (included in Düsseldorf fee) will be provided by our partner provider, which includes furnished single student apartments with private bathrooms and small kitchenette, free internet access, utilities, laundry facilities on site. Linens and towels are provided in the Düsseldorf Apartments.

TRAVEL:  Students will be responsible for travel expenses to and from Dusseldorf.

ARTWORK SHIPPING: The cost of shipping artwork back to Alfred for the final thesis semester will be covered by the program up to a certain amount.

 A six hour German Language course is included the first week of class in Germany, as well as an orientation session covering health and safety, culture and living in Düsseldorf.