COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Fine Arts at UWA is a postgraduate research-intensive degree that combines supervised creative practice with a written research component, designed to develop advanced artistic expertise and independent research capability. The course structure is flexible and typically completed over two years full-time, involving a major creative project supported by critical reflection and academic research. Students work closely with academic supervisors to develop a focused area of studio practice aligned with their artistic interests, which may include disciplines such as painting, sculpture, photography, digital media, installation art, performance, or interdisciplinary contemporary practices. The program is structured around a combination of studio-based work and a thesis or exegesis, where students critically analyse their creative output within broader theoretical, historical, and cultural contexts. Rather than fixed coursework units like undergraduate degrees, the MFA emphasises independent research, with students expected to dedicate substantial weekly hours to studio production, experimentation, and writing. The program also provides access to specialist facilities, exhibitions, and professional mentorship within the School of Design, enabling students to refine technical skills and prepare for exhibition-ready bodies of work. Overall, the curriculum is designed to produce highly skilled contemporary artists capable of contributing to national and international art practice, research, and cultural industries, while building a strong professional artistic identity through sustained creative inquiry and critical engagement.