Apply to MFA Programme in Photography

How to apply

You need to complete the following three steps:

1. Apply to the programme

Apply to the MFA Programme in Photography on universityadmissions.se.

Application deadline: 15 January 2027

2. Submit your portfolio

Submit your portfolio through SlideRoom.

Portfolio deadline: 15 January 2027

3. Document your eligibility

Submit the required documents through universityadmissions.se to show that you meet the entry requirements. Make sure your documents are correct and submitted by the deadline. 

Provide application documents

Documentation deadline: 2 February 2027

If you have studied in Sweden, you normally do not need to upload documents. Check that your qualifications are correctly registered under My pages on universityadmissions.se.
 

Entry requirements

To be eligible for the MFA Programme in Photography, you must have:

• a Bachelor's degree in Photography or other relevant field within art and design, of at least 180 credits or equivalent.
• English 6 or equivalent.

You can apply even if you have not yet completed your Bachelor's degree. 
Final year of Bachelor's studies 

Prior learning

If you don't meet the formal entry requirements, you may be considered eligible through the following:

• other relevant educational qualifications  
• relevant work experience or other practical experience
• relevant artistic skills and abilities

Submit official, certified documentation of your qualifications or experience on universityadmissions.se by the application deadline: 15 January.

Exemptions are not granted for the English language requirement (English 6).   

Portfolio instructions 

Your portfolio must include:

1. Background and Experience
2. Description of your practice
3. Motivation Letter
4. Work samples 

Important things to consider

• Your application must be written in English.  
• Your application must be anonymous. Do not include your name or contact details in your portfolio or texts.
• If you include projects or work in your portfolio created in collaboration with others, briefly describe the nature of the collaboration and your individual contribution.
• If you have used generative AI to create or process images, sound, or text we ask that you describe how you used it.  

Instructions 

1. Background and Experience – 3000 characters including spaces.
   In this section, we would like to understand the educational, artistic and professional experience that forms the basis of your application.
   
   Describe your previous education and relevant artistic and professional experience within photography, visual arts or other relevant fields. Examples may include independent artistic work, exhibitions, projects, publications, grants and collaborations. Briefly describe your role where relevant. 
    
2. Description of your practice – 3000 characters including spaces. 
   In this section, we would like to understand your current artistic practice, your working methods and the thinking behind your choices.
   
   - State what subjects, themes or areas of photography you are interested in.
   - Describe your artistic process and / or method.
   - Reflect on how your practice has developed over the last three years.
   - Place your practice in relation to other artists / photographers / subjects in the field of visual art. 
    
3. Motivation Letter – 3000 characters including spaces.
   In this section, we would like to understand your reasons for applying, what you hope to develop in your artistic practice, and how your aims relate to the programme.
   
   - Motivate your application to the MFA in Photography at HDK-Valand in relation to the profile of the programme, with reference to the programme description and programme syllabus.
   
   - What are your expectations of the programme, and are there any particular areas within your practice (practical and/or theoretical) you would like to develop? Explain how the programme's content and ways of working could support this development. 
    
4. Work Samples – limited to 3–7 projects. 
   Limited to 3–7 projects. Each project can consist of one or more images. You are free to upload any desired combination of video, sound, stills and text, but limit the duration of eventual videos to 15 minutes. Any videos beyond this limit will not be considered, as the jury will only review the first 15 minutes.  
    
   Don't forget to indicate title, medium, dimensions, year of production and other relevant information for each uploaded work.  

Submit your portfolio

Submit your portfolio through SlideRoom

Before the deadline

• You can start your application at any time during the application period.
• You can save your progress, log out and return later.
• SlideRoom closes at midnight (CET) on the day of the application deadline.
• You will receive a confirmation email when your portfolio has been submitted.
• We recommend uploading your materials at least 24 hours before the deadline.
• Portfolios cannot be submitted after the deadline.

Assessment

Your application will be assessed based on the following criteria: 

1. Artistic ability and technical skills  
2. Knowledge of the subject photography and its contexts
3. Ability to present, reflect and argue for their own artistic choices
4. Relevance of study aims to the programme   

Your work samples must meet the assessment criteria to be approved. If your work samples are not approved, you will be considered unqualified for the programme. 

Interviews

The highest-ranked applicants will be invited to a digital personal interview. Invitations will be sent to the email address registered with universityadmissions.se.

The final assessment is based on the application and the interview.

Key Dates