Master of Design (Contemporary Art)
Degree Level Postgraduate
Year 2025
You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
Degree Level Postgraduate
Year 2025
Mode
On-campus
Successful completion of a Bachelor degree or Graduate Diploma from a recognised higher education institution, or equivalent, in a related discipline. Applicants must also submit a portfolio of work, curriculum vitae and a written statement of intent.
Applicants who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Design from the University of South Australia are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study, and are not required to submit a portfolio of work and statement of intent.
Applicants who have completed a Bachelor (Honours) degree in a related discipline are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study. Applicants must also submit a portfolio of work, curriculum vitae and a written statement of intent.
Related design disciplines include: visual art; contemporary art; illustration and animation.
1Ranked #3, ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2021-22, Creative Arts – Learning Resources Indicator (Postgraduate). Public universities.
2Results in Visual Arts and Crafts, and Creative Arts and Writing - Contemporary Art - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
3UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.
This Master degree will not only help to further extend practical skills in your chosen specialisation, but it will also provide you with valuable business management skills.
The specialised fields you are able to choose from include:
A key focus of this degree is on the development and application of research practices and methodologies. You will graduate with the creative and critical thinking skills needed to review and analyse information. You will also develop skills in marketing and critical analysis.
Advanced Standing
Applicants who have completed a Bachelor (Honours) degree in the same specific discipline may be eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full-time study or equivalent part-time study. Applicants must submit a portfolio of work, curriculum vitae and a written statement of intent.
This qualification provides graduates with advanced practical and theoretical skills and knowledge, and invaluable research and business skills.
A key focus is on research as it relates to your chosen specialisation. You will also study marketing and business, covering areas such as:
You will also acquire the creative and critical thinking skills needed to conduct and analyse research, and will explore online art and design practice, online marketing, business management and self-employment practices related to the art and design industries.
In your final year, you will work towards the creation of a body of work for exhibition.
This qualification not only provides you with advanced practical and theoretical skills and knowledge related to individual specialisations but also ensures you have the necessary business management and marketing skills needed to succeed after graduation. It will also provide you with advanced research skills.
With access to facilities in custom-built studio spaces and workshops, you will learn first-hand how to turn your creative ideas into reality. You will also benefit from our strong industry links (with the potential to undertake industry placements), industry-experienced teaching staff and academics, and national and international artists who visit as guest lecturers.
Our teaching staff are professional artists and designers, so the curriculum is practice-based and industry-relevant. You will also work alongside world-class researchers in contemporary art1 when you embark on an individual research project as part of your studies.
The Master of Design is located at the centre of Adelaide’s City West cultural precinct with easy access to cutting-edge galleries and arts organisations, including the Samstag Museum of Art, SASA Gallery, MOD. and JamFactory.
Now is a perfect time to choose UniSA for your postgraduate study in art and design.
1Results in Studies in Creative Arts and Writing - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
This degree was the only one available in SA and had a good reputation. The external mentoring program was amazing. I was able to get feedback and support from people I really admired that I otherwise wouldn’t of felt able to approach. This pushed me to produce better work and really strengthened my approach to making and writing about my work.
Awash, 2016-2017, sugar, cotton, plywood
Image credits:
Installation view, Firstdraft, Sydney. Photo: Tamara Baillie
Tamara won the annual Helpmann Academy British School at Rome Residency, valued at $25,000.
Tamara Baillie
Master of Visual Art and Design *now Master of Design (Contemporary Art)
Visual artists are highly creative, highly motivated, disciplined and committed. To succeed in this creative profession, you need to be willing to take risks, push boundaries and experiment with concepts, contexts and materials. If you think you've got what it takes, the job prospects for visual artists in Australia are looking great1.
Careers to consider:
1Australian Government, Job Outlook 2020
Applying to study with us:
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
This degree is part of a nested suite of degrees, which means you may be able to exit early and graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Design.
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.
Available for students who are interested in undertaking specified activities with the aim of enhancing the overall student experience at UniSA.
Travel Grants are available to participate in our Study Overseas Programs. UniSA has agreement with over 80 institutions globally.
Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and spaces that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.
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.
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying.
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or 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. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.
Tamara Baillie