Graduate Certificate in Visual Art (842AA)

Graduate CertificateYear: 2025 Delivered: On Campus (Southbank)

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Overview

Award titleGraduate Certificate in Visual Art
Year & campus2025 — Southbank
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Coursework
AQF level 8
Credit points50 credit points
Duration12 months part-time

This course is designed for students who have completed a degree and wish to further develop interests and skills in the visual arts. It will also serve as a refresher course for some professionals (e.g. teachers) and improve the competitiveness of those seeking entry to the Master of Contemporary Art.

The course will provide appropriate practical and theoretical coursework elements through studio workshops and studies in art history and theory.

Entry requirements

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

  • undergraduate degree or equivalent, or
  • five years of documented relevant work experience; AND
  • a portfolio.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic achievement, or
  • documented relevant professional or work experience; AND
  • the portfolio.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Notes:

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. 

Students who have a disability which may prevent them from participating in tasks involving these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Services: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/student-support/student-equity-and-disability-support 

Intended learning outcomes

The objectives of this course are to:

  • provide students with an opportunity to extend their critical interest and technical skills in the disciplines of visual art;
  • develop student facility with their selected visual art materials and methods appropriate to postgraduate entry level through studio workshops and supervised studio practice;
  • develop awareness of professional studio and critical practices that comprise the contemporary art profession;
  • demonstrate through critical writing and discussion the capacity to articulate judgements and opinions that reflect an understanding of the field.

Generic skills

At the completion of the course students should be able to:

  • demonstrate capacities for artistic imagination, creativity, transformation and interpretation;
  • demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to the national and international challenges for the professional visual artist in the 21st century;
  • demonstrate an open, independent and inquiring attitude towards contemporary cultural developments and new ideas.

Course structure

50-point program of compulsory subjects.

Students may complete this course over 12 months, or 24 months part-time. 

Sample course plans can be viewed here.

Subject options

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FINA60008 Studio Materials and Methods A
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 6.25
FINA60010 Studio Materials and Methods B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 6.25
FINA60011 Contemporary Art Practice A
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 6.25
FINA60012 Contemporary Art Practice B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 6.25
FINA60013 Critical Issues in Contemporary Art A
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FINA60014 Critical Issues in Contemporary Art B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5

Further study

Students who successfully complete this course will be eligible to apply for the Master of Contemporary Art (coursework).

Last updated: 27 February 2025