Duration1.5 years full-time, 3 years part-time
Location
Online
Next start termTerm 1, 2025
Study modeOnline
Course codeCM63
Two students sitting together and smiling outside on lawn on CQU Mackay campus with study material and laptop bag.

Overview

Study the Master of Arts and take a deep dive into an arts or humanities discipline of your choice. This is an ideal course to explore your passion, advance your skills and knowledge and deeply explore your specialist area.

In this coursework master's degree, you will complete a literature review of an arts or humanities-related issue and create a plan for how that issue will be investigated in a dissertation. You will build on your undergraduate knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in a humanities or arts discipline by selecting a specific research topic and consulting with an academic advisor. 

By pursuing the Master of Arts degree, you will not only gain practical research skills but also develop a deep understanding of your chosen research topic. This postgraduate degree will equip you with advanced cognitive skills, enabling you to review, analyse, consolidate, and synthesise knowledge. You will also learn to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence. The culmination of your studies will be a dissertation that demonstrates your mastery in your chosen arts or humanities discipline.

Pathways into this degree

If you have completed CQUniversity's Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Digital Media, Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Theatre, the Master of Arts is the perfect postgraduate degree for you to advance your skills and knowledge. The Master of Arts recognises the value of your previous studies and allows for credit for the four AQF level 8 units embedded within these undergraduate degrees. If you follow this study pathway, you'll accelerate the duration of your studies from 18 months to one year full-time.

If you haven't completed a Bachelor of Arts, Digital Media, Music or Theatre with CQU (and the relevant AQF level 8 units), this course is an ideal option to deepen your skills and knowledge in your chosen field. Any credit options, however, will be assessed as part of the audition/interview process.

Study experience

Career Opportunities

CQUniversity's Master of Arts provides the opportunity to build on your undergraduate arts-related studies at a higher level, specialising in a particular area of interest. Our Master of Arts program is not just a destination but can be your stepping stone to further research and academic pursuits, including PhD study.

A Master of Arts degree is a rigorous and scholarly course that develops your ability to generate new knowledge and distil new ideas out of existing knowledge. As a graduate of a masters-level qualification, you'll be particularly sought after by employers and may enjoy more interesting research and development positions because of your advanced skills and proven abilities.

Structure & Availability

Course structure

You are required to complete four core units and four units from a select list of discipline units. 

For information on the units you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.

Discipline units

The list of discipline units comprises a range of AQF level 8 units that are available within the following undergraduate degrees at CQUniversity:

  • Bachelor of Arts (CA10), 
  • Bachelor of Digital Media (CC24), 
  • Bachelor of Music (CG51), and 
  • Bachelor of Theatre (CG72). 

Credit transfer information

If you have completed the relevant four AQF8 discipline units within one of the above degrees or a cognate discipline, you will be eligible for credit for these units upon successful admission to the Master of Arts.

If you have not completed any of the AQF8 units from the discipline units list as part of your undergraduate qualification at CQUniversity or from an undergraduate arts/humanities degree at another university, you may still be eligible for credit. However, the head of course will assess this on a case-by-case basis as part of the interview/audition application process. 

If you are not eligible for credit from the discipline units, you must complete the four discipline units before commencing the final four core units of the Master of Arts.

Online Availability

IntakeLocations
Term 1, 2025Available Online
Term 2, 2025Available Online

Majors and minors are not applicable to this course.

This course has no residential schools.

Requirements

To be eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements. 

During your study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies. 

Fees & Scholarships

Indicative First-Year Fee

Not Yet Available
Please check back later or visit our fees webpage for more information.

The Indicative First-Year Fee for a Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one full-time academic year (this is usually eight units studied over two terms). Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Understanding your fees.

You may be eligible for FEE-HELP, an Australian Government loan scheme that helps eligible students pay their tuition fees. Provided you meet the FEE-HELP eligibility criteria, you can choose to use FEE-HELP to cover all or part of your tuition fees. 

Learn more about paying for university or view the FEE-HELP information booklet on the Australian Government’s Study Assist website.

Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.

We believe a quality education can be for everyone – regardless of background, location, or life circumstances. That's why we offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries that can give you a helping hand with a range of expenses and enhance your employability.

Explore scholarships.

How to apply

How to apply

Check what you need to do to apply to study this course. 

Your application options

Follow these steps

  1. 1
    Check you meet the course requirements
  2. 2
    Get a Unique Student Identifier

Extra admission information

Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.

Start your application

Use the Apply button below to access our Apply Online portal and start your application.