Travel Opportunities for MFA Students
Hamburg Exchange Program
The University of Fine Arts, Hamburg (HFBK) created a semester exchange program for students from several international art schools, including SMFA at Tufts, where international MFA students travel abroad to live and work together in loft studio apartments in the creative hub of Hamburg, Germany.
During the program, students are taught by noted HFBK professors such as Werner Buttner, Thomas Demand, Jeanne Faust, Jutta Koether, Michaela Melian, Matt Mullican, Anselm Reyle, Andreas Slominski and Pia Stadtbaumer.
Each year, one SMFA student who has submitted a proposal is selected by faculty to enter the program and receive a scholarship from HFBK to cover rent and tuition fees. Travel funds are also available from SMFA.* Only First Year MFA students are eligible to apply and fluency in German is not a requirement to attend.
Upon their return, the selected student will give a public presentation to the SMFA community about their experience in Hamburg and its effect on their art practice.
Likewise, each fall semester a student from HFBK visits SMFA at Tufts, enrolls in classes, participates in all MFA related events, is given studio space, and a graduate faculty advisor.
*Note: housing in Hamburg is provided by HFBK. Students are expected to cover their day-to-day expenses. The HFBK term dates starts in early April and ends in July. However, students are welcome to take part in field trips the school organizes (i.e. excursion to the Venice Biennial) and/or pursue artistic projects in the studios or travel in Europe through August. Typically, US students leave in August for the beginning of the school year.
Montague Travel Grant
MFA students may apply for a Montague Grant to travel to international locations prior to the completion of their degree. Applications are reviewed twice a year by a committee of two graduate advisors, the Associate Director of Graduate Programs, and the MFA Program Director.
There Montague Travel Grant applications deadlines are:
- Deadline 1: October for travel to be completed by the following January
- Deadline 2: January for travel to be completed by the following April
*Exact deadlines are shared directly with MFA students each year.
Proposals should include:
- Letter of intent describing proposed project and research activity
- Travel location, itinerary, and dates
- Budget of related travel expenses