Key facts
Duration
This course is 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent duration.
Locations
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: dance, drama, new media, 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.
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 2 2026 close 21 June 2026
Current Deakin students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
- Award granted
- Master of Creative Arts
- Year
2026 course information
- Deakin code
- A759
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 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
ACHIEVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE AT THE #1 VICTORIAN UNI FOR COURSE SATISFACTION
Course structure
To complete the Master of Creative Arts, you must pass 8, 12 or 16 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
A 16-credit point Master of Creative Arts includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 6 credit points of core units
- 6 credit points of course electives
- 4 credit points of research capstone
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
Units
^ Units offered online only
Choose 6 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:
ECP711 Creativity and the Arts [No longer available for enrolment]
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.
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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 or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum 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 discipline areas include, but not limited to: 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.
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
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
$24,600 for 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.
Higher Education Loan Program
Take the next step towards your ultimate degree with a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan to help pay your tuition fees.
You may be eligible for a HELP loan – including FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP – depending on your course, type of fee place, and your citizenship or residency status. Check your eligibility and learn more about Government HELP loans.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship can open the door to new opportunities. Whether you have something unique to offer or simply need a bit of extra support to reach your goals, we’re here to help. Scholarships can assist with course fees, living costs and study materials – so you can focus on achieving your best. Explore the range of opportunities and find the right fit for you.
Postgraduate bursary
We love welcoming Deakin alumni back to continue their journey with us. If you're starting a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount on your enrolment fees, applied per unit. It's our way of supporting your next step.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
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).
Pathways
Alternate exits
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.
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. 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
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
