Master of Fine Arts

University of Melbourne

Australia, Melbourne

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University of Melbourne

Australia , Melbourne

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

099324F

Campuses

Southbank

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesMarch-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 2 year(s)

Tuition Fee

AUD 42,976 / year

Next Intake March-2026

Master of Fine Arts

About

Overview

Online information session: Meet your future Academics (Thursday 26 June)
Join us for our online information session to gain further insight into the post-graduate programs available in your area of interest. You will have the chance to meet, interact and ask questions with our academics and immerse yourself in the world of the VCA.

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Course Description

The Master of Fine Arts aims to provide opportunities for suitably qualified candidates to develop their potential for research, develop mastery in their field of practice and contribute to understandings of contemporary artistic practice and theories of arts and culture. High quality research subjects and independent supervision ensure artistic and intellectual excellence and leadership potential, and learning and training takes place in an international context.

Completion of the Master of Fine Arts signifies that the holder has undertaken a substantial piece of original research, which has been conducted and reported by the holder under proper academic supervision and in a research environment for a prescribed period.

The duration of Master of Fine Arts candidature is two years for full-time candidates, with no extension allowed.

Candidates submit a written thesis of approximately 30,000 to 40,000 words or a thesis comprising a combination of creative work and written component to the equivalent of 40,000 words. The written component must be of at least 25% (10,000 words) of the final submission.

The creative work may take the form of performance, exhibition, writing (poetry, fiction, script or other written literary forms), design, film, video, multimedia, CD, DVD or other new media technologies and modes of presentation, subject to the capacity of the faculty to resource the proposed creative work. The creative work must be comprehensively documented and either the documentation or the creative work itself submitted with the written component.

The thesis will be assessed at the end of the candidature.

The Master of Fine Arts is offered in the following discipline areas:

Dance
Design and Production
Film and Television
Indigenous Arts and Culture
Music Theatre
Theatre
Visual Art

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum eligibility

You’re considered an international student based on your citizenship – even if you're studying in Australia.

Masters

You must have completed an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institution. Most Masters degrees also require a minimum WAM (Weighted Average Mark)based on your previous studies for entry. You can use our graduate coursework grade conversion eligibility calculator to get an indication of whether you’re eligible for a specific Masters degree.

Depending on your previous studies and experience you could also be eligible for credit towards your studies at the University.

Find Masters by coursework degrees

Doctorates

If you go on to a doctorate, you need to have completed an Honours and Masters degree in the relevant discipline. Additional qualifications and work experience is also taken into consideration.

Go to Graduate research study for more information

To find out about assessment and our admissions criteria, see How you're selected.

Course-specific requirements

Graduate coursework degrees may have specific interviews, portfolios and supplementary tests you need to do before you can be accepted into a degree.

To find out about specific requirements, review the entry and application information for the course you're interested in to find out what these are.

English Program Requirements

English Language Criteria

Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, the following performance bands are required: Master of Fine Arts: Band 6.5

Career

The Master of Fine Arts provides you with the opportunity to further develop your artistic practice and can lead to PhD study.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Fine Arts, the graduate researcher will be able to:

demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge that includes recent developments in one or more disciplines
independently investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice
demonstrate advanced knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of work or learning
independently design and execute a substantial piece of research that makes a contribution to knowledge within their field
disseminate research findings effectively in the professional arena
demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics and integrity.