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Graduate Program in Visual Art Faculty of Graduate Studies
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Awards and Other Support Funds

Many graduate students at York are successful in winning prestigious external or internal scholarships and you are encouraged to seek eligible opportunities. The university also offers bursaries and other support funds to assist with your scholarly and research activities. Common types of funds include the following: 

External awards such as SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR doctoral and CGS-Masters programs, as well as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship;

Bursaries that are allocated based on demonstrated financial need;

Research support funds to cover expenses related to scholarly and research activities;  

Donor-supported internal awards: To find internal award opportunities, please use the award search.

Information about graduate funding as well as tuition fees are available here.  Visit also this page to learn about graduate student employment types, including the Teaching Assistantship (TA), Graduate Assistantship (GA) and Research Assistantship (RA).  

For further information, please visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies scholarships and awards page or please contact the Graduate Program Assistant.

Graduate Program or Faculty-Specific Awards

Samuel Sarick, a noted philanthropist and longstanding supporter of York University, established the Purchase Award in the Graduate Program in Visual Arts in 1976. This award is given annually to a graduate of the MFA program whose thesis work demonstrates outstanding achievement. The award is valued at $2,500.

Each year, students submit images of work from their thesis exhibition for consideration. The annual award of work from the MFA thesis exhibition is chosen by a selection committee comprised of members of the graduate faculty in the Department of Visual Arts. The Samuel Sarick Purchase Collection is on display throughout the Joan & Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts and provides an excellent opportunity for members of the community to see a history of works by graduates of the Visual Arts MFA Programs.

Awards in Fine Arts The W. Lawrence Heisey Graduate Awards in Fine Arts recognize outstanding ability and achievement in scholarly and/or creative work. Five awards valued at $4,000 each are given annually to students entering their second or higher year of study in any Fine Arts graduate program. Eligibility criteria include financial need, Ontario residency and Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status. The Awards were established by W. Lawrence Heisey, Chairman Emeritus of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. and a long-serving member of York University’s Board of Governors.

The graduate programme in Visual Arts in collaboration with the Schulich School of Business, York University jury submissions for art @ suite 500.

The selection committee is comprised of faculty members, York University’s MFA program and the Schulich School of Business and art professionals.

The Miles S. Nadal Management Centre (NMC), located on the fifth floor of the Ernst and Young Tower, is an executive education centre for the Schulich School of Business attended by professionals in business and administration. A contemporary corporate facility, the NMC has designated public areas for the display of art. Submissions by alumni and current graduates of the M.F.A. Programme in Visual Arts may be in the form of a proposed artwork for the NMC or work that has already been created.

Each artist whose artwork is chosen will receive an honorarium of $200.00 in accordance with the Canadian Artist Representation (CAR) fee structure for a group exhibition. The workers are on loan for 1 year. Each year, a work from the exhibition is purchased to become part of a permanent collection for the Schulich School of Business.

The Visual Arts Graduate Bursary is awarded to each year to students registered in their first year of graduate studies in the MFA Program in Visual Arts. In 2006, 3 students were each awarded $578.60.

Applicants must demonstrate artistic excellence through their portfolio submission.</p?

The recipient will also demonstrate financial need, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person, and be a resident of Ontario.

Applicants must be:

  • in their first year of study in the Graduate Programme in Visual Arts
  • a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant who meets OSAP residency requirements

Learn More

The Graduate Program in Visual Art at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

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