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Master of Creative Arts

Postgraduate coursework

Build transferable skills that prepare you to be flexible across the creative arts industry and graduate with an eye-catching portfolio.

6 creative specialisations to choose from

Build practical experience in world-class creative studios

Graduate with an impressive portfolio of work

Key facts

Duration

This course is 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent duration.

Key dates

Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 1 2025 close 16 February 2025

Current Deakin Students

To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook

Course overview

Realise your full potential as a creator while specialising in an area of passion with a Master of Creative Arts. Graduate with an eye-catching portfolio and build transferable skills that prepare you to be flexible across the creative jobs of the future.

Want to push your creative practice to new heights?

The Master of Creative Arts allows you to focus your studies on one of six creative areas: animation and motion capture, dance, drama, photography, visual arts, or visual communication design. But that doesn’t mean your knowledge will be limited to your specialisation. Throughout the course, you will be studying complementary disciplines and practising alongside creative thinkers from different backgrounds, broadening your understanding of creativity and arming you with transferable skills that prepare you for any creative pursuit.

The multidisciplinary aspect of the course could see you specialising in dance while taking an elective unit in film writing, ultimately leading to the production of a dance film for your final creative project.

While core study areas will be tailored to your specialisation, there are common threads throughout each pathway that set you up to be a versatile creative practitioner. Build transferable skills that employers value, like imaginative thinking, problem solving and creative collaboration, and discover what it takes to be adaptable and resourceful – two key attributes of the modern creative.

Strengthen your creative repertoire with elective units. Your electives can play to your strengths, or help you upskill in an unfamiliar discipline. Some of your elective options include:

  • Writing with the Camera
  • Documentary Production Practice
  • Art Marketing
  • Introduction to Digital Photography
  • Design Thinking and Problem Solving

The course provides lots of practical experience, including sought-after internship opportunities, allowing you to hone your creative craft in real-world settings. You’ll work on industry-relevant creative projects, applying theoretical frameworks in teams and as an individual. And you will complete a major creative work in professional standard facilities, including TV broadcast studios, dance and drama studios, a professional photographic light studio, visual arts and design studios and dedicated gallery spaces. On top of that, your creative research projects will train you in practical research skills that benefit your everyday life, as well as your career.

While many of our graduates go on to secure exciting roles in creative industries, there are also opportunities for further study upon successful completion of the course. If you want to become a subject matter expert in your creative area, connect with leading researchers and access unique professional development opportunities, you might like to progress into a Higher Degree by Research.

Read More

Course information

Award granted
Master of Creative Arts
Year

2025 course information

Deakin code
A759
CRICOS code?
083981D Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Level
Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9

Course structure

8

Course work credit points

4

Elective credit points

4

Research credit points

16

Total credit points

Course Work Units

  • Creative Studio A (2 credit points)
  • Creative Studio B (2 credit points)
  • Contemporary Debates in the Creative Arts ^
  • Methods and Design for Creative Arts Research ^
  • Transgressive Acts in Cinema, Art, Performance ^
  • Creating Your Arts Business
  • ^ Units offered online only

    Research Units

  • Advanced Creative Research Project A (2 credit points)
  • Advanced Creative Research Project B (2 credit points)
  • Electives

    Choose 4 credit points of electives from within the Master of Communication or Master of Arts (Writing and Literature)

    Other units that may be counted as electives are:

  • Writing with the Camera
  • Documentary Production Practice
  • Design Thinking and Problem Solving
  • Introduction to Digital Photography
  • Arts and Sports-based Approaches to Community Development
  • Social Media Content Creation
  • Creativity and the Arts
  • Arts Marketing
  • Arts Management
  • Intakes by location

    The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.

    Trimester 1 - March

    • Start date: March
    • Available at:
      • Burwood (Melbourne)

    Trimester 2 - July

    • Start date: July
    • Available at:
      • Burwood (Melbourne)

    Disciplines on offer

    Burwood (Melbourne) - Animation & Motion Capture, Dance, Drama, Photography, Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design

    Waterfront (Geelong)* - Photography, Visual Communication Design and Visual Arts

    Please note: *This course will not be offered at Waterfront (Geelong) from Trimester 1 2023.

    Additional course information

    Course duration

    Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

    Participation requirements

    Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

    Work experience

    Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

    Entry requirements

    Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

    Academic requirements

    To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:

    • completion of a bachelor degree or higher in a related discipline*

    *Examples of related disciplines: Animation, Motion Capture, Dance, Drama, Acting, Theatre, Film, TV production, Screen production, Drawing, Directing, Performance, New Media Production, Creative Arts, Visual Arts, Visual Communication Design, Design, Graphic Design, Photography, Fine Arts, Installation Art

    English language proficiency requirements

    To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

    Admissions information

    Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

    Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.

    Recognition of prior learning

    The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

    You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.

    Fees and scholarships

    Fee information

    Estimated tuition fee - full-fee paying place
    $24,600for 1 yr full-time - Full-fee paying place
    Learn more about fees and your options for paying.

    The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

    One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.  

    You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.  Learn more about fees and available payment options.

    FEE-HELP calculator

    What is FEE-HELP?

    FEE-HELP loans cover up to 100% of tuition fees for eligible students. By taking out a FEE-HELP loan, the government pays your tuition fees directly to Deakin, and the balance is repaid from your employment income - but only once you're earning over $51,550.

    Please note: fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and based on 2024 rates. Actual fees may vary. We advise confirming fees with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.

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    • $* is the estimated full cost for a Master of Creative Arts (16 credit points), based on the 2024 fees.
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    *Disclaimer

    Deakin University (Deakin):

    • gives no warranty and accepts no responsibility for the currency, accuracy or the completeness of the information provided;
    • advises users that no reliance should be placed upon on the information provided, and;
    • instructs users that they should confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.

    This tool provides indicative information about the fees that will be payable in respect of courses and subjects offered to prospective students domiciled in Australia during the periods indicated.

    Please note that the fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and actual fees may vary. Users are advised to confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.

    The estimated course fee is based on the tuition fee costs applicable to a domestic full time student commencing the course in Trimester 1 and studying full time for the duration of the course but:

    • does not include non-tuition costs that may apply, such as Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF);
    • does not take into account any scholarships or bursaries awarded to the student (including the 10% Deakin alumni discount);
    • assumes the maximum number of units that need to be successfully completed actual number completed may be reduced if recognition of prior learning is granted;
    • assumes that no exceptional, or non-typical, circumstances apply to the proposed course of study;
    • assumes that the options that the user selects are appropriate for the course of study that they intend to undertake;
    • where fees are estimated for future years those fee will be subject to annual increases in accordance with increases in the cost of course delivery.

    Scholarship options

    A Deakin scholarship might change your life. If you've got something special to offer Deakin – or you just need the financial help to get you here – we may have a scholarship opportunity for you.

    Search or browse through our scholarships

    Postgraduate bursary

    If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.

    Learn more about the 10% Deakin alumni discount

    Apply now

    Apply directly to Deakin

    Some of our courses have limited places available - to browse those still open for application, visit courses by trimester.

    To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.

    Need more information on how to apply?

    For more information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage. If you're still having problems, please contact us for assistance.

    Research Information

    Students will undertake 6 credit points of research units consisting of research methods, theory and research-based project units where they will be required to undertake practice-led research, and traditional research in one of the creative arts disciplines incorporating a Creative Research Thesis and a Creative Practice Research project consisting of a major creative production (16,000-word equivalent) AND a critical exegesis (4,000-words).

    Contact information

    Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.

    Careers

    Career outcomes

    Graduate with specialist knowledge, transferable creative skills and real-world experience that prepares you for a diverse range of creative roles in areas such as:

    • entrepreneurship and management in the creative arts
    • design
    • video, sound and multimedia production
    • freelancing as a creator or artist
    • art production and curation
    • consulting

    Your skills will be sought-after in museums and galleries, all levels of government, boutique art companies and design agencies. You can also explore opportunities in festivals, community events and curatorial projects typically funded by government and philanthropic entities.

    For more information go to DeakinTALENT.

    Course learning outcomes

    Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.

    Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes
    Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities Apply and extend specialist knowledge and technical and creative skills in creative arts practice in one or more disciplines or areas of creative arts including drama, dance, photography, visual arts, animation, film and television and design.
    Communication Use specialist creative arts technologies and skills including writing, movement, film, image, and voice to interpret and communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences in academic and non-academic contexts. p>Harness specialist creative arts technologies, skills, and discourse to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences in academic and non-academic contexts.

     

    Digital literacy Draw on, analyse, and assess digital technologies to produce, document, present, and publish in the creative arts
    Critical thinking Evaluate, interpret, and synthesise complex ideas within creative arts drawing on discourse and practice.
    Problem solving Address theoretical and methodological challenges in the creation of work that is discursive and reflective and engages in creative decision-making processes within the relevant field.
    Self-management Develop systematic and episodic reflective approaches to creative work practices.
    Teamwork Apply advanced interpersonal and communication skills to participate effectively in the critical culture of production, completion, and presentation of creative arts projects.
    Global citizenship Establish ethical approaches that interrogate the value of art and performance in diverse communities and cultures and transfer creative practice outcomes into real world contexts.

    Approved at Faculty Board November 2018