Graduate

The Master of Arts in Contemporary Arts (MA) is at the forefront of an emergent intermedial approach to the arts. A radical mutuality characterizes the relationships among the visual arts, visual culture, performing arts, and art forms that incorporate reproducible and digital media. This program thinks across the media arts in a comparative perspective that synthesizes the historical and theoretical approaches of art history, performance studies, and studies of computer-based arts.

The Master of Fine Arts in Fine Arts (MFA) program provides advanced, professional interdisciplinary training for artists in the fields of music, dance, theatre, film, video and visual art. The program develops student's individual artistic practice, creativity, interdisciplinary research, technical skill and critical awareness of art's relationship to contemporary society.  

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Contemporary Arts is a research-intensive program focused on scholarly and practiced-based approaches to the fine and performing arts. Students may undertake comparative scholarly approaches to visual culture, media arts, sound studies, and performance studies, culminating in a substantial written thesis, or pursue a mix of studio, curatorial, and community-based research, resulting in the creation of an original artwork or a public presentation supplemented by a substantial written body of work incorporating students’ reflection and commentary.

MA PROGRAM APPLICATION

Please refer to the MA program application procedures to review what you will need for your application.

The SFU Graduate Studies application portal for prospective students opens October 1, 2026. The application deadline is January 8, 2027.

We strongly encourage those MA applications for whom a Visa application process is necessary to get their applications in as early as possible. 

Please click HERE for further information about the MA program.

Read the MA Graduate Handbook online HERE.

MFA PROGRAM APPLICATION

Please refer to the MFA program application procedures to review what you will need for your application.

The SFU Graduate Studies application portal for prospective students opens October 1, 2026. The application deadline is January 8, 2027.

We strongly encourage those MFA applications for whom a Visa application process is necessary to get their applications in as early as possible.  

Please click HERE for further information about the MFA program.

Read the MFA Graduate Handbook online HERE.

PhD PROGRAM APPLICATION

Please refer to the PhD program application procedures to review what you will need for your application.

The SFU Graduate Studies application portal for prospective students opens October 1, 2026. The application deadline January 31, 2027.

Please click HERE for further information about the PhD program.

Read the PhD Graduate Handbook online HERE.

Questions?

For further inquiries about the SCA's Graduate Programs, please send an email to the Graduate Program Coordinator: sca_gpa@sfu.ca.

Tour the SCA

We'd love to show you around! A tour is a great opportunity to ask questions about our Areas and the application process. Please fill out our Tour Request Form with your contact information and we'll get back to you to set something up.