The Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (BCA) is an exciting program that provides a stimulating foundation for those seeking a career in the arts. This broad-based program allows you to specialize in theatre, visual arts or cultural theory, or to take advantage of the cross-disciplinary opportunities existing between these areas.
Specific areas of study include acting, directing, spoken voice, scriptwriting, stage management, lighting design, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, painting, photomedia (photography, computer imaging and digital media), drawing, printmaking, gallery practices, video, screen studies, environment studies and cross-disciplinary projects. It is possible for you to also take a number of elective units from other degree programs in the University of Tasmania or cross-institutional modules with Tasmanian Polytechnic in order to build on skills that best suit your needs.
Please visit the Course & Unit Handbook to see all of the units available to study.
Study Abroad students can take a selection of units from the BCA. Most units in the BCA are also available as elective units to students enrolled in other degrees.
Graduates of the BCA will possess relevant technical skills that are underpinned by the ability to apply rigorous theoretical critique and sound judgment in studio and/or performance practice.
The Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Honours) is designed to be taken as a fourth year of study after completion of a relevant three-year undergraduate degree, and can be studied full-time for one year or part-time over two years.
The Honours course gives you the opportunity to study at advanced, research training level in either theatre, two-dimensional studies, three-dimensional studies or theory. It provides specialised experience in visual arts studios or performing arts study, in the context of a challenging theoretical program.
For further course information please visit the University Course & Unit Handbook.
Study in the Master of Contemporary Arts (MCA) can be undertaken at the School of Visual and Performing Arts, Academy of the Arts at the Launceston campus or by distance education.
This challenging and creative program provides professional studio/workplace-oriented experiences that will extend your understanding and appreciation of arts-related concepts, propositions and contemporary professional practices.
It is also possible to take a cross-disciplinary approach to your post-graduate studies.
For further course information please vith the University Course & Unit Handbook.
The Master of Fine Arts (Research) is a two year research degree program administered by the University's Research Higher Degrees Unit and supervised by the School of Visual and Performing Arts. In the first instance you should discuss your proposal with staff at the School of Visual and Performing Arts before submitting a formal application. We will assist you in the preparation of your application.
Your research proposal should delineate the intended direction of enquiry, be concise and well written, clearly define its methodology, and indicate its form of documentation. Students can undertake enquiry of a visual or written nature, or a combination of both.
Once your candidature has been approved by the Research Higher Degrees Unit, you will be appointed a supervisor in the School of Visual and Performing Arts who will work with you for the duration of your research. You will also have an associate supervisor and a research supervisor. Your supervisor will arrange critiques and reviews of the project throughout the course of the research.
The School of Visual and Performing Arts promotes a vibrant research culture through a range of activities including: seminars, critiques, guest lectures, conferences, exhibitions and performances for graduate students and other researchers in the School during the year. We offer supervision in the following areas: art theory, arts management, ceramics and glass, curatorship, digital art, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and textiles.
Our special relationship with the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery also enables approved Masters research projects to be undertaken. These could include the theory of conservation management, public arts management and cultural collection practices. You will be given a studio space, or office space if the project is in art theory, and you will have the opportunity to access the Schools facilities, either in a cross-disciplinary or discipline-specific mode. Twenty-four hour access to studios and most facilities is available.
To be eligible to apply you should hold an Honours degree in visual arts. Special arrangements are possible for those outstanding applicants without the normal Honours qualification. Further details of this entry pathway are available from the Research Higher Degrees Unit.
Assessment is by external examination. You arrange with your supervisor the form of presentation that the examination submission will take. This will vary depending on the research project. For example, studio/performance based candidates will present their research outcomes in visual form. This will be supported by a 12,000 word exegesis demonstrating the theoretical premises upon which the research is based, as well as other appropriate documentation (journals and sketchbooks). Art theory candidates will present three bound copies of a thesis which is to be no more than 40,000 words in length.
Application Process and Enrolment Form
To download a copy of the application form please visit the UTAS Graduate Research website.
For further information please visit the UTAS Research website.
The School of Visual & Performing Arts is able to provide supervision for PhD candidates. Supervision depends on the research project and can be accommodated either solely through the School of Visual and Performing Arts or as a joint arrangement with another School.
The thesis for a PhD in visual arts may be presented in one of two forms:
For further information please visit the Research website.
To view our course costs and enrol, please visit the Future Students website.
Should you be interested in enrolling and require any further information, please contact Carol Searson or email TCotA.Admin@utas.edu.au
BCA Honours Co-ordinator - Dr Troy Ruffels
MCA Co-ordinator - Dr Wayne Hudson
Graduate Research Co-ordinator - Dr Deborah Malor