Master of Creative Arts

The Master of Creative Arts at the University of the Sunshine Coast is a postgraduate degree for people who want to push their creative practice further, usually after completing a bachelor degree in an arts discipline. It runs for two years full time and sits at master's level on the Australian Qualifications Framework. That places it above a bachelor degree (normally three years) and an honours year (one extra year), and below a doctorate, which takes three or more years.

How the degree is structured

Like most Australian master's degrees, this one is built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You accumulate credit points across semesters or trimesters until you meet the total required for the award. Expect a mix of coursework units and a substantial independent project or creative work, a capstone, exhibition, performance, publication or research thesis depending on your discipline. Your exact unit list depends on the specialisation you choose and on what the school approves, so check the official course page for the current structure.

What you actually do

You spend your time making work and talking about it with people who make work. That means studio practice, seminars, critiques and one-to-one supervision with an academic who knows your field. You read theory and criticism, but the point is to apply it to what you are producing. Assessment is typically by portfolio, creative output, written exegesis or a combination. Where your discipline uses placement or industry projects, screen, design, community arts, gallery and museum work, the degree can include work-integrated learning, and you should confirm what is available in your specialisation.

Skills and who it suits

You finish with a body of creative work at a professional standard, the ability to research and write about your practice, and the habits to keep producing after you leave. It suits practising artists, designers, writers, performers and arts workers who want a formal qualification, a supervised stretch project, or a pathway toward further research. It also suits graduates from other fields who have a serious creative practice and want to develop it properly. English proficiency is required for international applicants, with IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 the usual coursework-postgraduate standard and higher scores needed in some fields; the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. International students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 041913G.

• Professional artist, designer, writer, performer or filmmaker
• Arts administrator or arts project manager in local government, festivals and arts organisations
• Gallery, museum or cultural heritage roles, curatorship, collections, public programmes
• Creative producer or production coordinator in screen, media and events
• Community arts and cultural development worker
• Arts educator in schools, TAFE, community settings or private studios
• Further study toward a doctorate and an academic or research career

Australian employers in these areas include state and local government arts agencies, regional galleries and museums, performing arts companies, screen production houses, design studios, publishing, festivals and community organisations. Many graduates also run their own practice or small business.