Master of Fine Arts
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Fine Arts |
| Deakin course code | A759 |
| Course credit points | 16 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2027 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Alternative exits
- Research information
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
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.
Career opportunities
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.
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.
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Fine Arts (A559) | |
| Graduate Diploma of Fine Arts (A659) |
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).
Course learning outcomes
| 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
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Master of Fine Arts you must pass 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 your first study period
- 4 credit points Fine Arts Discipline Core
- 4 credit points of specialisation/discipline units from Master of Arts (Writing and Literature), Master of Communication, Master of Film and Television, Master of Artificial Intelligence for Design and Creative Practice
- 4 credit points of research units
- any remaining credit points can be chosen from course electives.
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.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Fine Arts Discipline Core
| ACA701 | Materiality and Practice |
| ACA702 | Situating Practice |
| ACA712 | Site, Audience and Community |
| ACI700 | Digital Practices and the Creative Arts |
Specialisation/discipline
Choose 4 credit points specialisation/discipline units from Master of Arts (Writing and Literature), Master of Communication, Master of Film and Television, Master of Artificial Intelligence for Design and Creative Practice.
Research units
| ACA711 | Methods and Design for Creative Arts Research |
| ALX723 | Masters Research Project B |
| ALX724 | Masters Research Project C |
| ALX725 | Masters Research Project D |
ACA703 Advanced Creative Research Project A [No longer available for enrolment]
ACA704 Advanced Creative Research Project B [No longer available for enrolment]
Course electives
Electives can be a combination of any units from 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.
The internship unit ACC700 is also available.
Please Note: Course elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
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.
Other learning experiences
There are options for WIL and study tours across many of the SHSS courses.
Research and research-related study
Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.