Master of Fine Arts (Indigenous Arts & Culture) (MR-FAIAC)

Masters (Research)Year: 2020 Delivered: On Campus

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Overview

Award titleMaster of Fine Arts (Indigenous Arts & Culture)
Year & campus2020
CRICOS code093576A
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Research
AQF level 9
Duration2 years full-time, or equivalent part-time

The Master of Fine Arts (Indigenous Arts and Culture) is now offered in the consolidated Master of Fine Arts course.

Information on the Master of Fine Arts can be found in the Handbook here.

If you wish to apply for entry to the Master of Fine Arts, information on admissions is on the Study Hub here.

You can find details of our discipline areas and all the courses offered by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music here.

The Master of Fine Arts aims to provide the opportunity for candidates to engage in independent research in their field of artistic practice. The degree will enable student researchers to develop mastery and advance the practice and theory in their field. The degree seeks to develop graduates who have a capacity for defining and managing a research project characterised by originality and independence. It provides training for more sustained and original work at the doctoral level or for applied research positions in a wide variety of contexts.

Links to further information

Currently enrolled students

Future students

Entry requirements

Specific Course Entry Requirements
The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant's ability to pursue the course successfully using the following criteria.

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

  • an honours degree with at least an H2A (75%) weighted average, including a major relevant to the stream to which entry is sought, or equivalent; or
  • a relevant undergraduate degree with at least an H2A (75%) weighted average and two years of documented work experience relevant to the stream to which entry is sought; or
  • an undergraduate degree in any discipline and five years of documented work experience relevant to the stream to which entry is sought; or
  • at least five years of documented relevant work experience related to the stream to which entry is sought and demonstrating outstanding artistic ability, together with evidence of ability in academic writing and research or scholarship appropriate for postgraduate study;

and

  • performance in one or more of an audition, test, interview, workshop, portfolio or folio presentation, as prescribed by the Academic Board for the stream to which entry is sought.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the selection committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance and/or the professional experience; and
  • the performance in audition, test, interview, workshop, portfolio or folio presentation.

3. The selection committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Selection and Admission into Graduate Research Courses Policy.

4. The minimum English language requirements for this course are Band 6.5.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Communication: Students must be able to participate in and produce performances and exhibitions as required; they will also need to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms. Communication with fellow students, professional and academic staff, and the wider public about their knowledge and application of practising Arts disciplines is essential.


Creative, Intellectual and Organisational Abilities: Students require the capacity for high-level creative performance or production. They are also expected to have the ability to develop problem-solving skills and to comprehend disciplinary and cross- disciplinary information. Students must have the ability to establish study plans and prioritise training objectives and outcomes.

Behavioural and Social Attributes: Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. They must take full responsibility for their own participation and learning. Students also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative environments and must therefore demonstrate a wide range of interpersonal skills which consider the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

Disability: Students who have a disability which may prevent them from participating in tasks involving these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability; however, students will need to participate in the course in an independent manner.

Intended learning outcomes

The Master of Fine Arts develops the following skills in its graduate researchers:

An understanding of cultural safety and effective ways to work and conduct research within cultural frameworks

  • the ability to engage in independent and contextually-informed artistic practice;
  • an ability to initiate research projects and to formulate viable research questions;
  • a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report independent and original research on a closely-defined project;
  • an ability to manage time to maximise the quality of research;
  • an understanding of the major contours of international research in the research area;
  • a capacity for critical evaluation of relevant scholarly literature and artistic practice;
  • well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities appropriate to the discipline;
  • the capacity to communicate effectively the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication;
  • an understanding of and facility with scholarly conventions in the discipline area;
  • a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship;
  • a capacity to cooperate with other researchers;
  • an ability to manage information effectively, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to the student's field of study:

Graduate attributes

On the completion of the degree candidates should be able to:

  • - Demonstrate advanced learning in research skills and mastery of appropriate techniques, such as the use of archival or primary evidence, analysis of data, judgement of conflicting evidence
  • - Demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of their research
  • - Present the results of their research in publishable quality or work towards incorporating their findings in further research
  • - Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to research ethics and codes of practice.

The Master of Fine Arts (Indigenous) enables our graduates to be:

  • Academically excellent
  • Knowledgeable across disciplines
  • Attuned to cultural diversity, particularly in cultural safety and cross-cultural dialogue.
  • Active global citizens

Course structure

The Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree consisting of 200 points normally taking two years of full-time study or part-time equivalent. The degree requires the completion of two coursework subjects - a research methods and a research seminar subject - along with an individual supervised project of research and practice in the area of along with an individual supervised project of research and practice in Indigenous Arts and Culture.

Subject options

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FINA90002 Research Methods
March (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FINA90003 Research Seminar No longer available
MULT70005 Research Project (Indig. Arts & Culture) No longer available

Further study

Successful completion will enable enrolment in a PhD degree. Alternatively, students may apply to convert to a PhD at the end of the first year of study.

Application Procedure
Detailed information for prospective MFA students regarding the application process, including application deadlines and the application form is available at http://vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees

Last updated: 21 February 2025