Program Requirements
The Masters of Contemporary Practices in Art and Design requires completion of 96 units, which must consist of:
24 units from completion of the following introductory component:
6 units from completion of a foundational theory course from the following list:
ARTH6004 City Sites: studies in art, design and urbanity
ARTH6043 After the Bauhaus: Design from the Interwar Period to the Age of Climate Crisis
ARTH6044 Art and Its Context: Materials Techniques Display
ARTH6050 Photography and Art
ARTH6050 Art of the Modern Print
ARTH6056 Art and Architecture of Southeast Asia: Tradition and Transformation
ARTH6059 Art of Asia: Histories and Traditions
ARTH6061 Postmodern and the Contemporary: World Art, 1970 to the Present
ARTH6080 Art and Visual Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century, 1660-1815
ARTH6082 Art, War and Conflict
ARTH6097 Victorian and Edwardian Art: Australia and Europe 1837-1914
ARTH6161 Contemporary Australian Art
ARTH6162 Art in the Digital Age
ARTH6164 Theories of the Object
ARTH6167 Issues in Contemporary Craft and Design
ARTH6168 Renaissance and Baroque Art
ARTH6169 Introducing Asian Modernisms
ARTH6170 Contemporary Asian Art
ARTH6173 Art and the Moving Image
ARTH6174 Art, Medicine, Gender from the Renaissance until Today
ARTH6175 Across the Pacific: Australian Interactions with American Art and Art-Worlds
ARTH6176 Cross Currents in First Nations and Non-Indigenous Art and Culture
ARTH6598 Australian First Nations Art and Culture
HIST6233 How the Camera Changed History: A century of photography and cinema
18 units from completion of foundational studio and design courses from the following list:
ARTV6020 Figure and Life
ARTV6027 Professional Practice: Economies and Ecologies in the Australian Cultural Sector
ARTV6032 Demonstrating research methods for a studio practice in art & design
ARTV6057 Hands On: Material Language
ARTV6059 Immersive Media
ARTV6508 Painting: Materiality and Meaning
ARTV6601 Hyperanalogue: the alchemy of darkroom photography
ARTV6610 PhotoVideo: Interrogating the Camera
ARTV6612 Video Art: Editing and Montage
ARTV6613 Foundations of Animation
ARTV6614 Post-Digital Photography: bending the image
ARTV6703 Drawing into Print: Etching and Relief
ARTV6704 Drawing into Print: Screen Printing and Stencils
ARTV6823 Supports: concept & material
ARTV6824 Place, Time and Wood
ARTV8038 Practice-led Research Project
DESN6001 Digital Form and Fabrication
DESN6002 Foundations of Creative Code
DESN6006 Front-End Web: Crafting Online Experience
DESN6012 The Ethics of Making: Design for Reuse and Repair
24 units from completion of disciplinary courses from the following list:
ARTV6020 Figure & Life
ARTV6027 Professional Practice: Economies and Ecologies in the Australian Cultural Sector
ARTV6032 Demonstrating research methods for a studio practice in art & design
ARTV6057 Hands On: Material Language
ARTV6059 Immersive Media
ARTV6060 Contexts of Making: Globalisation and Change
ARTV6061 Contexts of Making: Materiality and Value
ARTV6100 Typography: Textual use in Visual Arts
ARTV6507 Painting: Open to Influence Studio Research
ARTV6508 Painting: Materiality and Meaning
ARTV6510 Painting: Critical Analysis and Reflection in the Studio
ARTV6601 Hyperanalogue: the alchemy of darkroom photography
ARTV6605 The Photographic Document: Materiality and Form
ARTV6607 Photomedia: Large Format Photography
ARTV6608 Photomedia: Experimental Processes
ARTV6610 PhotoVideo: Interrogating the Camera
ARTV6611 Constructing Worlds: Expanded Studio Practice
ARTV6612 Video Art: Editing and Montage
ARTV6613 Foundations of Animation
ARTV6614 Post-Digital Photography: bending the image
ARTV6703 Drawing into Print: Etching and Relief
ARTV6704 Drawing into Print: Screen Printing and Stencils
ARTV6717 Printmedia and Drawing: The Book as Art
ARTV6810 Politics of Bodies: Sculpture, Figure Modelling, Performance and Choreography
ARTV6811 Socially Engaged Art Practice: Authorship, Dialogue and Community
ARTV6820 Politics of Spaces: Installation, Sculpture and Spatial Practice
ARTV6821 Posthuman Sculpture Practice with Active Materials: Bronze Casting, 3D Modelling and Bio Art
ARTV6822 Politics of Memory: Video Installation, Sculpture, Documentary and Monuments
ARTV6823 Supports: concept & material
ARTV6824 Place, Time and Wood
ARTV6830 Automation and Autonomy
ARTV6921 Environment Studio: field based research and studio practice in visual arts
ARTV8038 Practice-led Research Project
ARTV8039 Practice-led Research Project - Major
ARTV8040 Practice-led Research Project - Extended
COMP6720 Art and Interaction in New Media
DESN6001 Digital Form and Fabrication
DESN6002 Foundations of Creative Code
DESN6003 Creative Data Visualisation: Representing Data in Visual and Material Form
DESN6004 Dynamic Design and Generative Systems
DESN6006 Front-End Web: Crafting Online Experience
DESN6010 Design Practice: Engagement, Internship and Entrepreneurship
DESN6012 The Ethics of Making: Design for Reuse and Repair
MGMT7161 New Venture Creation
MUSC8018 Exhibition Design and Delivery
24 units from completion of the following research component:
12 units from completion of research training course from the following list:
ARTH8022 Points of View: Independent Creative Art and Media Practice
ARTH8020 Arguing Objects
ARTH8021 Writing About Art and Creative Practice
12 units from completion of research project courses from the following list:
ARTV8039 Practice-led Research Project - Major
24 units from elective courses offered by ANU
The following courses are repeatable for credit, up to a maximum of 36 units each, and if repeated must be repeated with a different topic each time. Each instance of a course may only be counted towards one list.
ARTV8038 Practice-led Research Project
ARTV8039 Practice-led Research Project - Major
ARTV8040 Practice-led Research Project - Extended
Unless otherwise stated, a course used to satisfy the requirements of one list may not be double counted towards satisfying the requirements of another list.
Admission Requirements
At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry.
Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0.
Entry into the Master of Contemporary Practices in Art and Design requires completion of an interview, and successful assessment of a portfolio of works and other supporting material.
Once an application has been lodged, applicants are required to register for an interview and upload a portfolio on the ANU School of Art & Design website at: http://soad.cass.anu.edu.au/students/apply/postgraduate-coursework-applications
In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.
Academic achievement & English language proficiency
The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0.
However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes.
If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of:
• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or
• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.
Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.
Further information: English Language Requirements for Admission
Diversity factors
As Australia’s national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.
Assessment of qualifications
Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.
Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au
ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications
Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.
Applications for course credit
Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units (one semester) of credit. Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Bachelor degree with Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 48 units (one year) of credit.
Indicative fees
Domestic Tuition Fees (DTF)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $39,794.00
For further information on International Tuition Fees see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/international-tuition-fees
Fee Information
All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)
The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.
For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments
Scholarships
ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.
Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
NOTE: This program has the last admit term of Semester 1 2022 and will be replaced by the new 48 unit program. Details of the new program can be found at : https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2022/program/mcap
The Master of Contemporary Practices in Art and Design is aimed at artists and designers who want to develop a more ambitious, independent creative practice, learn new skills and incorporate research methodologies. The program extends a student’s practical, theoretical and conceptual knowledge in order to develop a deeper understanding of contemporary practices in context of how artists and designers work in a range of disciplines. Contemporary artists and designers respond to the challenges and questions that arise in an increasingly global and technologically advanced world. Their approaches are diverse, combining materials, methods and subjects that extend their chosen field of practice. Artists and designers today increasingly problem solve, collaborate with a variety of partners, and think and work outside of the traditional boundaries that distinguish a creative practice.
This graduate program is unique as it supports hands on learning development in workshop, studio and digital environments by progressing students through a range of courses and individual practice-led research opportunities. Students are encouraged to undertake a range of approaches to contemporary practice, including focusing on specialist knowledge of materials and skills, testing new conceptual methodologies, and/or solving problems through cross-disciplinary or hybrid experiences. Studio disciplines supported by the program include Design, Jewellery and Object, Textiles, Furniture, Sculpture and Spatial Practice, Painting, Photography and Media Arts, Ceramics, Glass, and Print media and Drawing. Students are supported with writing by the Centre for Art History and Art Theory, benefiting directly from the research environment found within the School of Art and Design.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
This program is available for applications until first semester, 2022
Learning Outcomes
demonstrate a critical understanding of contemporary art and design practices, including knowledge, concepts, skills, techniques and contexts relevant to their own practice;
plan and execute independent practice-led research utilising methodologies that test and investigate substantial art or design projects at an advanced level;
critically reflect upon, evaluate and apply theoretical, conceptual and aesthetic elements of creative practice in the production of creative works and/or professionally relevant projects; and
communicate theoretical, aesthetic, conceptual and imaginative propositions to a range of audiences through independent practice-led research.
