Study Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Information for Australian students.

Entry requirements

Entry into the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) (DHAD) program will be available to students who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant creative discipline with an overall grade point average of 5 (credit level average) or above and who have obtained a credit level average in the final year in the discipline the candidate intends to pursue within the Honours program. Applications are considered on an individual basis and selection is competitive.

Essential requirements for admission

Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None

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Degree overview

Gain a comprehensive introduction to research training and advanced professional skills tailored to your selected UniSA Creative disciplinary focus, including Contemporary Art, Communication Design, Illustration Animation, Product Design, Cultural Studies, Film and Television, Journalism and Professional Writing, Communication and Media, Creative Writing, Social Media, Screen Studies and more.
This Honours degree is an additional qualification that provides graduates with advanced skills, research capabilities and the capacity to adopt leadership roles in their chosen discipline.
Access custom-built workshops and studios.
Benefit from our networks and relationships with industry – locally, nationally, and internationally.
Use this qualification as a direct pathway toward a PhD.
Learn from teachers and academics who are established researchers and creative practitioners.
Have access to a library with the largest collection of art, craft and design resources in South Australia.
UniSA is ranked #1 in South Australia for Learning Resources in Creative Arts¹ and also holds the top rank in the state for Art and Design Facilities².
UniSA, incorporating the former South Australian School of Art, has over 159 Years of experience teaching visual arts - our visual art and craft, and contemporary art research is ranked world-class³.

UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities⁴, we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.

¹ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2021-22, Learning Resources Indicator (Undergraduate). SA public universities.
²ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2021-22, Creative Arts – Learning Resources Indicator (Undergraduate). SA public universities.
³Results in Visual Arts and Crafts, and Creative Arts and Writing - Contemporary Art - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
⁴UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.

Snapshot

This one-year Honours degree (or two years part-time) will introduce you to high-level research and help you develop the skills necessary to engage in rigorous research and analysis in your selected creative discipline. It can be used in preparation for postgraduate and PhD studies or research and leadership roles.

You will be taught by leading researchers, academics and practitioners and have access to custom-built on-campus facilities and design studios. As part of your Honours studies, you will work on a year-long project that involves the development of a research proposal, which is then realised through investigation, exploration, experimentation, analysis and implementation. You will be equipped with research and theoretical skills, knowledge of academic writing conventions and advanced technical skills in your selected discipline, positioning you as an emerging leader in your field.

What you'll learn

You will learn skills necessary for conducting research in disciplines including Contemporary Art, Communication Design, Illustration Animation, Product Design, Cultural Studies, Film and Television, Journalism and Professional Writing, Communication and Media, Creative Writing, Social Media, Screen Studies and more. You will apply these skills to frame and develop your own research project, producing an outcome that responds to your research questions, project aims and objectives. Outcomes are visual and/or written, as appropriate for your disciplinary focus and project. Throughout your research studies you will be supervised by experienced research academics.

You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.

Degree structure

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Research Methods (Creative)	CREA 4004	4.5
Research Practices (Creative)	CREA 5001	4.5
Honours Research 1 (Creative)	CREA 4001	9
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Honours Research 2 (Creative)	CREA 4002	9
Honours Research 3 (Creative)	CREA 4003	9

Rules & notes

Notes

1. Students normally complete this program in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study.

2. All students enrol in the same courses.

Study hours

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment

Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

research proposals
creative artefacts
research presentations
a thesis or exegesis
literature/artefact review

Global opportunities

Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.

You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.

Take a look at the global opportunities available.

Honours

The Honours degree is one year of advanced studies in research and professional practice. You will receive First Class, Second Class or Third Class Honours, depending on your performance. You will graduate with strengthened critical, creative and research skills, and a higher-level qualification than a Bachelor’s degree. Your Honours year prepares you for future professional leadership roles and/or entry to Higher Degree Research study in your discipline.

Why Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours)

Graduating with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) degree will set you apart from the crowd, ensuring you have a competitive edge and are well-placed for a career in industry, research or further postgraduate study.

UniSA is an excellent choice for students with a specific interest in disciplines offered in the creative fields. You will have opportunities to engage with UniSA research centres and access dedicated workshops and design studios for opportunities to further develop valuable technical skills.

You will also benefit from our strong research and industry links with award-winning academics.

Graduates consistently demonstrate outstanding success in high-profile opportunities, including national and international prizes, scholarships, commissions, residencies and public exhibitions. These include the following: Helpmann Academy British School British School at Rome Residency, Guldagergaard International Ceramic Museum Denmark, National Museum of Women in the Arts Washington DC, National Gallery of Victoria, Bendigo Bank Art Prize, Institute of New Zealand Design Awards, AGDA Design Awards, and Research Training Program PhD scholarships.

Real-world connections

Our staff are highly trained industry professionals and academic researchers who bring with them years of experience, giving students opportunities to link with industry and build important networks. UniSA offers an extensive range of career-related events and workshops online, on campus and around Adelaide to develop your skills and increase your knowledge

Yusuf won the annual Helpmann Academy British School at Rome Residency, valued at $25,000.

The British School at Rome Residency (BSR) was an opportunity to reflect on what I had been doing and how I might take that forward on returning to Australia. My interest lay initially in Islamic geometric tile patterns such as the Cosmatesque tiles in Rome and other parts of Southern Italy. The live-in studio space at the BSR ensured that my creative practice was at the forefront of my thoughts.

After my Honours, I was awarded a scholarship for postgraduate research at UniSA and have started my PhD. The time to step away and reflect on my research interests, motivation and the intended outcomes has been invaluable.

Image credits: Mashrabiya by Yusuf Ali Hayat

Yusuf Ali Hayat

Bachelor of Art and Design (Honours)

Career outcomes

Your career

When you graduate with this Honours degree, you will have the advanced skills needed to take on a range of roles in creative arts, design and cultural sectors.

The Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) qualification builds on the career opportunities available in your specific undergraduate discipline area. However, an Honours degree is an additional qualification characterised by high levels of motivation, discipline and self-sufficiency, which are sought after by industry, government and professional organisations.

You will also have the necessary research skills to embark on a research career by undertaking a higher degree qualification such as a Master of Research or Doctor of Philosophy.

How to apply

Applying to study with us:

go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Credit Transfer

Get a head start on your degree. Find out if you're eligible for credit from previous studies.

Go to credit assessor

Entry pathway

We believe in equal access to further education, so we offer a range of pathways to university.

Find a Pathway

Scholarships

Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.

More scholarships

UniSA Excellence Scholarships

$5,000 scholarship for South Australian students with an ATAR of 99 who enrol to study a UniSA undergraduate degree.

Learn more

UniSA Outstanding Achievement Scholarship

Up to $10,000 per annum (full time) for South Australian students who obtain an ATAR of 99.95 or IB equivalent and enrol to study at UniSA.

Learn more

Your study experience and support

Our campuses are home to fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.

Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Student services

Our student services provide you with all the support you need at university. We want you to succeed, and if you need help, we're here to assist. You can access a full range of support services, including:

academic counselling
personal counselling
social support services, including family support and nearby childcare
common rooms
prayer rooms
security officers
career services and mentoring
Wirringka Student Services, offering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students a supportive place to study
as well as services offered through our student association, USASA.

When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.

24/7 digital environment

Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.

Your campus

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with modern facilities including lecture theatres, libraries and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments.

Your study spaces

As an Honours student you will have access to:

studios and workshops
experienced researchers including members of UniSA's research centres - Creative People, Products and Places (CP3), Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE) and Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI)
the University’s collection of art, craft and design resource materials, which is the largest in the state
Adelaide’s arts, culture and entertainment precinct, located close to our City West campus

Ask UniSA

How do I apply?

There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.

Applications for admission into the University of South Australia’s undergraduate and most postgraduate degrees are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Visit satac.edu.au and follow the links.

For the MBA degrees please apply through the UniSA MBA Application Portal. Applications for a small number of degrees are submitted direct to UniSA through our Apply Online portal. It will be noted on the degree page if you need to apply via Apply Online.

Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Master of Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.
Is there a closing date for applications?

Undergraduate
Yes. The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be given equal consideration is in early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers (mid January). Some degrees will not make any offers after the main offer round. Please click here find all of the key dates for applications here.

Postgraduate
Most postgraduate degrees do not have a closing date for applications. However, there are exceptions, so it is best to check – either on the SATAC website, Apply Online or the degree homepage. Postgraduate offers are normally ‘rolling’, meaning they may be sent out at any time up until the program starts. This also means that applications may close at any time without warning, if the quota is filled earlier. For this reason, postgraduate applications should be submitted without delay. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquiries team on (08) 8302 2376 or via the online enquiry form.
What credit can I receive for previous studies?

Credit transfer or advanced standing

You may be eligible to receive a credit transfer or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving a credit transfer will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.

Recognised prior learning

If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning for this experience. Receiving recognised prior learning will normally reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and can reduce the duration of the degree.

How do I get credit?

Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director who will discuss your prior learning and experience with you to ascertain what credit you may be eligible for.

Many of our credit transfer arrangements are listed on our online Credit Assessor.
Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?

UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.

Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.

If you are interested in studying an MBA please contact admissions@unisa.edu.au and our Future Student Enquiries team will contact you regarding your enquiry.

Alternatively, you can complete a MyCareerMatch career profile. MyCareerMatch is an online career profiling tool that you can use free-of-charge through UniSA. MyCareerMatch specialises in career profiles and provides you with a personalised career report outlining information about your personality style and a list of career options, which are complementary to your natural strengths and talents.

We have many events throughout the year where you can speak with a lecturer or tutor about your degrees of interest. You can find out what is happening at UniSA by visiting our events page or by signing up to our mailing list, so you're the first to know about careers events, information sessions, degree requirements, scholarships and more!

There are also many career counsellors external to the University that you can discuss your career options with. If you are unsure where to start your search, you can contact the Government's Work Ready team (formally Skills for All). Visit skills.sa.gov.au or call 1800 506 266.

You may also find Job Outlook a helpful resource in your decision-making.
Where can I get further information?

It can be difficult to decide what degree you would like to do and where. You might find information from government organisations will help to weigh up your degree and provider options.

Find a course or a provider

TEQSA is a regulatory body for higher education providers. Use the TEQSA national register of higher education providers to search for a course or a provider. Compare courses and providers for undergraduates and postgraduates using the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) online comparison tool.

More information on university admission

Visit the SATAC website to find out important news, events and information on applying to university in South Australia. Visit Study with Us to find out everything you need to know about studying at UniSA, admissions and the application process.

Questions about your application

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application you should contact the Future Students Enquiries team in the first instance.

More FAQs

What others are saying

During my Honours year I undertook an internship as a Curatorial Intern at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for the Arts in Health program. This experience allowed me to develop my skills and see myself as a professional.

Lizzy Emery

Bachelor of Art and Design (Honours)

Lizzy Emery

Bachelor of Art and Design (Honours)

Some of the most exciting South Australian artists are coming out of UniSA. I think it’s because the people who are teaching and mentoring us are so giving of their time and knowledge and have real-life experience to share.

Tara Rowhani-Farid

Bachelor of Art and Design (Honours)