Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava

Admissions – master level study

Conditions for admission and the course of the admission procedure in the academic year 2020/2021 for master's studies with the commencement in 2021/2022

Applicant to the master level study at AFAD can become a student of the chosen study programme, only based on a completed admission procedure. If a student has completed the bachelor study, i.e. the first level study programme of the field of study: Art and culture sciences, they can apply to admissions at AFAD as given by the admissions regulations. The admission procedure will be held between 24 June and 25 June 2021 and evaluate the electronically delivered portfolios with cover letters to test the candidate's individual abilities and prerequisites to independently and creatively master the requirements for a master level study at AFAD, outlook in the issue and in the given field, level of thinking, their knowledge of history and theory of art and aesthetics. 

After submitting the electronic application and annexes (see below) subsequently between 1 June 2020 from 6.00 am until 20 June 2021 until 8.00 am, the applicant enclose a portfolio with other documents required for admission procedure through web page https://obhajoby.vsvu.sk, acess data and manual will be send via e-mail.

In case of problems with enclosing of data, please send all required documents on e-mail kozakova@vsvu.sk in one joint PDF format (maximum up to 8 MB) titled name_surname_study program (painting, graphics, photography, intermedia, statue, applied_arts, design, textile, vis_ communication, architecture, restoration, history_practice);

Painting

  • applicant's portfolio  
  • applicant's cover letter 

Graphics and other media 

  • applicant's portfolio with annotations on works and individual projects 
  • cover letter with the applicant's vision of the content of the master level study

Photography and new media 

  • applicant's portfolio with annotations to works and written presentation of the most representative projects 
  • candidate's cover letter must contain answers on the following questions:

–– explain to us why you decided to study photography at the master level study and what photography means to you;

–– tell us what you expect from the master level study at the Department of Photography and New Media at AFAD and what topics you would like to study during your studies;

–– tell us your vision of what you would like to achieve after completing your master level study at the Department of Photography and New Media at AFAD.

Intermedia 

  • applicant's portfolio with annotations, notes on the works and individual projects
  • applicant's cover letter 

Sculpture, object, installation 

  • applicant's portfolio 
  • applicant's cover letter 

Applied arts 

  • applicant's portfolio with annotations on works and individual projects 
  • applicant's cover letter 

Design 

  • applicant's portfolio  
  • applicant's cover letter 

Textile 

  • applicant's portfolio with annotations on works and individual projects
  • applicant's cover letter 

Visual communication 

  • applicant's portfolio to the selection of works (approx. 15-20 pieces), include only those works related to your previous study and work in graphic design and visual communication and your works related to the topic and issue that you want to study at the master level study.
  • candidate's cover letter should justify your motivation for studying in a particular studio (Scripture Studio, Identity Studio, Space Studio, Multimedia-MediaLab Studio) and a description of the framework topic or issue you would like to address during your studies. 

Architecture 

  • applicant's portfolio with short annotations (brief description of the work with a maximum of a few sentences) 
  • applicant's cover letter 

Restoration 

  • applicant's portfolio

a) The photographic records of individual works must include: title, technique, year of origin, size, school name and name of the teacher under whose direction the work was carried out (if it was a copy or it was created within the prep school etc.) or it is a free creation.

b) The photographic record of restoration works shall specify: 

1. basic information, which shall include: title of the work, location, material, technique, dates, author, dimensions and name of the guarantor / responsible restorer; 

2. a short annotation, which shall include: restoration plan, a brief summary of the research results and a short description of the restoration implementation. In the case of collective work it shall include the exact scope of the applicant's work.

  • candidate's cover letter containing a brief summary of the issue which the candidate would like to address during their master level study.

History and practice of contemporary art

  • a written essay of at least 3 and at most 5 standard pages, which will include their opinion on the following topics: 

a) why they apply to the relevant field and study program
b) what works of art they consider close to their opinion of art
c) which books, including art-historical ones, or films about artists they have read or seen
d) which exhibitions they visited or remember, which attracted them in artistic and curatorial terms
e) which artists or periods and directions they would like to study and why
f) what meaning do they see in the work of a historian, theorist and curator of contemporary art in current world

In case when admission interviews to AFAD are conducted before applicant’s completion of the first level study, the applicant will be accepted to the master study program conditionally. Definite admission is possible only in case of a successful completion of the first level study programme.  The applicant will submit a document of completed first level study (bachelor’s degree) within 10 days of completion of bachelor’s studies, and no later than the enrolment closing date at AFAD. The applicant to the master level study at AFAD can only apply to two of the following study programmes (the applicant has to specify which studio they are applying to!), accompanied by the estimated number of applicants:

Field of study: Art

  • Study programmes:
  • Painting 6
  • Graphics and other media 11
  • Photography and new media 10
  • Intermedia 9
  • Sculpture, object, installation 8
  • Applied arts 4
  • Design 14
  • Textile 8
  • Visual communication 11
  • Architecture 11
  • Restoration 9

Field of study: Art and culture sciences

  • History and Praxis of the Contemporary Art 8

Estimated numbers of admitted students are not binding.

Applicants to the master level study at AFAD will fill in and send an online application, which will be placed at the AFAD web page no later than 24 May 2020. Applicants must submit their CV directly into the electronic application form.

The following attachments will be sent to :

  • electronic copy of the bachelor study diploma; in case of international diploma, official translation to Slovak is required
  • proof of payment for the admission fee
  • electronic copy of documents accompanying the diploma, or a transcript of completed subjects with weighted GPA (grade point average) (applicants from a university other than the AFAD) and in case of an international document, official translation to Slovak language is required. 
  • international applicants and applicants who studied abroad will, in case of being accepted to AFAD,  submit the official recognition of their education certificates/diplomas issued internationally no later than by the closing date for the enrolment to the study.
    https://www.slovensko.sk
    https://www.minedu.sk
    to the address:

Rektorát Vysokej školy výtvarných umení, študijné oddelenie (AFAD Rectorate, study department)
Hviezdoslavovo nám. 18
814 37 Bratislava

A fee of EUR 25 must be paid by bank transfer:

IBAN: SK42 8180 0000 0070 0007 2516
SWIFT: SPSRSKBAXXX
Variable symbol: 648 003
Specific symbol: six-digit number starting with 20 and followed by a four-digit number consisting of the application filing number, in front of which zeroes are to be added.
An example: if an application filing number is 37, specific symbol will be 200037
Additional information: applicant’s surname

In case of foreign payments, following information is required:
Account owner:  Vysoká škola výtvarných umení, Hviezdoslavovo nám. 18, 814 37 Bratislava, Slovenská republika
Bank: ŠTÁTNA POKLADNICA, Radlinského 32, 810 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
SWIFT: SPSRSKBAXXX
IBAN: SK42 8180 0000 0070 0007 2516
Purpose of payment: variable symbol 648 003

Specific symbol: six-digit number starting with 20 and followed by a four-digit number consisting of the application filing number, in front of which zeroes are to be added.
An example: if an application filing number is 37, specific symbol will be 200037
Additional information: applicant’s surname

Information on the master level study is provided by the AFAD study department:

The course of the admission procedure and admission criteria for the following study fields: Painting, Graphics and other media, Photography and new media, Intermedia, Statue, object, installation, Applied art, Design, Textile, Visual communication, Architecture, Restoration

The admission interview is to examine an applicant’s level of knowledge, talent, thinking, abilities and skills in terms of specific requirements given by the chosen master level study program. The admission interview is evaluated by the committee appointed by the AFAD Rector for each individual study program.

The committee evaluates the candidate’s individual abilities and prerequisites to independently and creatively master the requirements of the master level study program at AFAD, an overview of the issues and developments in the field, level of thinking, their knowledge of history and theory of art and aesthetics. The committee considers the achieved results in the completed bachelor level study program (weighed GPA).

Admission interview consists of the following parts:

  • applicant's portfolio with annotations on works and individual projects (portfolio is in electronic form) 
  • cover letter / written essay of the applicant for some study programs with published questions for the applicant  

Every member of the admission committee grades the portfolio and cover letter (in the range 0-5 points). According to the sum of the points by the individual committee members the ranking list of the applicants is created. Evaluation results and the ranking list are submitted by the admission committee to the AFAD Rector who decides whether the candidate is to be admitted to the AFAD study program or not. The applicant will receive the admission decision in accordance with the law and AFAD regulations.

The course of the admission procedure and admission criteria for the study field:
History and practice of contemporary art

The applicant for the master’s degree program in the study field History and Praxis of Contemporary Art can become a student of the chosen study program only by succeeding in an admission procedure.  If a student has completed a bachelor level study program, i.e. first level study program in the study field Art and culture sciences and in the study field Arts, only then s/he can apply for the admission procedure to AFAD as given in the standard procedure. The admission procedure includes a written examination of the candidate's interest in the study program and the study field they are applying for; furthermore, the examination of cultural orientation in general and general knowledge in the theory and practice of contemporary art, in the field of art and culture in the extent of the bachelor level study. After submitting the electronic application subsequently between 1 June 2020 from 6.00 am until 24 June 2020 until 8.00 am, each applicant sends a written essay to the email address kozakova@vsvu.sk  in one common PDF format marked as name_surname_study program name (history_practice), which will include their opinion on the following topics:

  • a written essay of at least 3 and at most 5 standard pages, which will include their opinion on the following topics: 

a) why they apply to the relevant field and study program
b) what works of art they consider close to their opinion of art
c) which books, including art-historical ones, or films about artists they have read or seen
d) which exhibitions they visited or remember, which attracted them in artistic and curatorial terms
e) which artists or periods and directions they would like to study and why
f) what meaning do they see in the work of a historian, theorist and curator of contemporary art in current world

In case, the admission interviews to AFAD are carried out prior to completing the bachelor’s study program, the applicant is admitted conditionally to master study program.  Definite admission is possible only in case of a successful completion of the first level study programme. The applicant will submit the proof of completion of the bachelor level study program within ten days after completing the first level study program yet no later than the date of enrolment for study.

The admission committee is appointed by the Rector of AFAD. The committee takes into account the results of the admission procedure, such as the written essay and its individual parts, which will be evaluated and scored, while also taking into account the learning outcomes during the bachelor level study.

Recommended literature for admission interviews:

CHATELET, Albert. Ed. Svetové dejiny umenia – maliarstvo, sochárstvo, architektúra, úžitkové umenie. Praha, Ottovo nakladatelství 2004

FOSTER, Hal – KRAUS, Rosalind – BOIS, Yves-Alain – BUCHLOH, Benjamin: Umění po 1900. Modernizmus, antimodernizmus, postmodernizmus. Praha: Slovart, 2007.

NELSON, Robert, SHIFF, Richard (eds.): Kritické pojmy dejín umenia. Bratislava: N-CSU – Slovart, 2004