Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
Duration: 
2 years full time or longer for part time
Location: 
Footscray Park
Delivery mode: 
In person
Register your interest

Overview

Build on your knowledge in the arts and further your career prospects. VU’s Master of Arts develops your specialist knowledge and opens doors to opportunities in your area of interest and passion.

During your postgraduate study, you'll undertake a research project of your choice in the humanities, social sciences or creative arts.

You will make a valuable contribution to social knowledge, and improve your job prospects with professional skills that are sought after by employers in the sector.

This course requires a thesis on an approved subject, carried out under the supervision of both your principal supervisor and co-supervisor.

Our lecturers are renowned in their respective industries and draw on their wealth of experience to bring their teaching to life. They will also share their insights on managing research projects, presenting papers to international conferences and publishing academic journals and books.

Upon graduation, you’ll have gained advanced knowledge in one or more disciplines and will have the technical, creative and intellectual skills for further study of a PhD or professional doctorate, or to pursue work as a research assistant.

By studying at VU, you’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills that employers both value and need. 

Our strong industry networks mean our curriculum is informed by industry, offering insights into current industry practice and future needs.

Our postgraduate arts students and researchers have several workplace learning opportunities to apply their studies in a real-world context.

VU postgraduate arts students have collaborated with:

  • SBS Television
  • Australian Centre for the Moving Image
  • Malthouse Theatre
  • the Newport Islamic Society
  • Victoria Police
  • Footscray Community Arts Centre
  • Powerhouse Museum
  • Melbourne Rebels Rugby Team
  • Melbourne City Mission
  • the Australian Multicultural Foundation.

Victoria University has several generous research scholarships for successful applicants. There are also externally funded scholarships from dozens of organisations, some of which aimed at postgraduate students.

VU Research gives you opportunities to:

  • connect with other researchers
  • participate in research festivals and competitions
  • develop your research skills
  • get funding for your research
  • publish and promote your findings.

We offer support for graduate researchers including:

  • an orientation program
  • a specialised Graduate Research School
  • study spaces
  • units to help you conceptualise and contextualise your research
  • research ambassadors and student association.

Find out more about graduate opportunities at VU.

Students and staff involved in the Sport in Society Program at Whitten Oval.

Careers in policy, research and industry

Career opportunities include:

  • management-level positions in industry or government
  • research in government laboratories, research institutions or in industry
  • commissioning editor for a specialist academic journal
  • presenting at conferences
  • employment with a university conducting research
  • visiting key international research institutes.

Course structure

The standard duration of a Masters Degree (Research) is two years of full-time study or part-time equivalent, although in certain circumstances the degree may be completed in eighteen months.

In some cases the student may be required to complete approved coursework units such as laboratory skills or research design as part of the Masters Degree (Research).

The course objectives are to produce graduates who have the following knowledge and skills:

  1. a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in one or more discipline
  2. advanced knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of work or learning
  3. cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and its application
  4. cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice
  5. cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level
  6. cognitive and technical skills to design, use and evaluate research and research method
  7. communication and technical skills to present a coherent and sustained argument and to disseminate research results to specialist and non-specialist audience
  8. technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse, theorise and disseminate research that makes a contribution to knowledge

This knowledge and these skills will be demonstrated through the planning and execution of a substantial piece of research:

  • with creativity and initiative
  • with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability, demonstrating expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a learner

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admission & pathways

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Additional information

(a) Academic achievement and preparation to a level that is sufficient to undertake masters level research demonstrated in any one or more of the following:
i. Qualified, at minimum, for a bachelors degree at a standard considered by the University to be sufficiently meritorious (normally Distinction average in the final year); or

ii. Qualified for any other award judged by the University to be of a relevant and appropriate standard and have:
•Produced evidence of professional experience; and
•Fulfilled any other conditions relating to prerequisite studies which the University may impose.

(b) Demonstrated competency in English sufficient to work at research masters level, through meeting one or more of the following criteria:
i. Successful completion of one of the degrees stipulated under a) i) – ii) above with English as the language of instruction and assessment and undertaken in a predominantly English speaking context; or
ii. Been taught for two of the past five years at a tertiary institution where English was the primary language of instruction; or
iii. Achieved an overall band score of not less than 6.5 in an International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) test with no individual band score below 6.0; or
iv. Achieved a score of not less than 92 and no section score less than 22 in the internet-based Teaching of English Foreign Language (TOEFL) test; or
v. Documented evidence of English proficiency equivalent to the above.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Applications for this course are currently closed.

Please use the form below to enquire about application opening dates and anything else related to this course.

When applications are open, you will need to follow the six steps to becoming a research student.

There are steps you must take to prepare your application before it can be submitted. Visit how to apply for graduate research to find out more about preparing and submitting your application.

Enquire now

Please fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you shortly.

Information marked with an asterisk "*" is required.

Refer to our privacy policy and data collection notification statement for more information.

Get help

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.