Practical experience in weekly studio workshops
Learn from professional practitioners
Industry studios for creating and showcasing
Why choose fine arts at Deakin
Realise your full potential as a creator with Deakin’s Master of Fine Arts. Built around studio practice, creative research and a major final project, this course helps you refine your creative voice and graduate with a standout portfolio.
Be supported by discipline experts in areas such as dance, theatre, new media, photography, visual arts or visual communication design. Build transferable skills valued across the creative industries, including imaginative thinking, problem solving, collaboration, adaptability and research capability. The multidisciplinary aspect of the course means you might study dance, choose an elective in film writing and combine them for your final project and create a dance film. Through industry-relevant projects, internship opportunities and access to professional facilities, you will gain practical experience to shape your creative career or pursue higher degree by research.
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Top-rated creative spaces
Study at the #1 university in Melbourne for facilities and resources, with TV broadcast, dance, drama, photography, visual arts and design studios.
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Multi-disciplinary approach
Build transferable skills and be supported by leading experts in areas such as dance, theatre, new media, photography, visual arts, or visual communication design.
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Graduate with a standout portfolio
Build an eye-catching portfolio and industry experience for roles in design, production and freelance practice.
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Build industry connections
Gain internship opportunities through strong partnerships and build networks with like-minded colleagues.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Develop specialist creative skills for careers across design, multimedia production and creative leadership. You may build a professional portfolio and contribute to projects across the creative industries.
Creative director
Lead the creative vision for festivals and projects, shaping visuals, messaging and design while guiding creative teams, budgets and timelines from concept through delivery.
- $130k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 9.7%
Projected job growth in 5 years
Digital designer
Create digital content using text, imagery, animation, video and sound. You may interpret briefs, develop concepts and produce engaging work for digital platforms, creative agencies or screen studios.
- $105k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 1,173
Jobs advertised
Professional areas
- Creative arts management
- Video production
- Sound production
- Multimedia production
- Art production and curation
- Creative consulting
FAQs
The cost of studying at Deakin depends on your degree, units and study load – tuition fees are listed on degree pages under the fees and scholarships tab. Beyond tuition, you will need to budget for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), accommodation, transport, groceries and textbooks. Find out more about the cost of living in Australia, use the Study Australia calculator to estimate living expenses and explore international scholarships which may help to reduce your tuition costs.
Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your postgraduate tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.
It depends on the degree and how you study. Graduate certificates typically take six months full time or one year part time. Graduate diplomas usually take one year full time and masters degrees typically take one to two years full time. Recognition of prior learning can reduce your study time. Check the degree page for full details.
Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.
We value your experience and qualifications. That is why every new degree application at Deakin is assessed for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Through RPL, Deakin can assess your previous study and life experience and may award course credit that could reduce your study duration, as well as the cost of your study. Qualifications from universities and private tertiary institutions worldwide are considered, as is informal learning related to your degree. Use the RPL calculator to see how much credit you may be eligible for.
Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.
To enrol in a postgraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores, so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.
Deakin’s postgraduate degrees are designed to advance your career, whether you want to deepen expertise in your field, move into a specialist role or shift direction entirely. All our degrees are shaped by industry partners, so what you learn reflects what employers need now and into the future. We’re proud to be the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. With flexible study options and financial support available, Deakin helps you gain the skills, recognition and confidence to reach your next professional goal.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Master of Fine Arts?
Combine core creative study, flexible electives and research-led project work, with room to shape the degree around your interests while building skills that translate across creative careers.
Build your creative foundation
Shape your creative direction
Begin with core creative study that sharpens your practice and helps you define the ideas and methods that matter most in your work.
Broaden your practice
Electives let you extend your strengths or build capability in a complementary area, so your learning stays focused without becoming narrow.
Develop research-ready capability
Learn how to investigate creative questions, connect theory with making, and prepare for more advanced independent project work in second year.
Research, refine and present
Develop a major creative project
Undertake substantial practice-led work that turns your ideas into a polished outcome, supported by critical reflection and a clear research framework.
Apply learning
Work on industry-relevant and collaborative projects that help you test your practice in authentic settings and strengthen your professional portfolio.
Graduate
Finish with advanced capabilities in creative problem solving, communication and collaboration that can travel across a wide range of creative roles.
Course structure
To complete the Master of Fine 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.
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.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Choose 4 credit points of units from ONE specialisation/discipline within the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature), Master of Communication, Master of Film and Television or Master of Artificial Intelligence for Design and Creative Practice.
Electives are to be chosen from units within the specialisations/disciplines of the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature), Master of Communication, Master of Film and Television or Master of Artificial Intelligence for Design and Creative Practice.
Course electives may be used to form a specialisation/discipline by selecting 4 credit points from the ONE specialisation/discipline.
The internship unit ACC700 is also available.
Please Note: Course elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
What to expect while studying
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.
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
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).
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Draw on, analyse, and assess digital technologies to produce, document, present, and publish in the creative arts. |
| Evaluate, interpret, and synthesise complex ideas within creative arts drawing on discourse and practice. |
| 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. |
| Develop systematic and episodic reflective approaches to creative work practices. |
| Apply advanced interpersonal and communication skills to participate effectively in the critical culture of production, completion, and presentation of creative arts projects. |
| 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
- Award granted
- Master of Fine Arts
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- A759
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 121189J Burwood (Melbourne)
- 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
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$40,800
for 1 yr full-time AUD
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning.
Save 10% as a Deakin alumni
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.
Scholarships
Deakin scholarships recognise your hard work and achievements. Our support can ease the financial pressure of studying in Australia so you stay focused on your success. Numbers are limited, so apply early for the best chance.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.