Master of Visual Arts (Research)
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Master of Visual Arts (Research)
The Masters by research degree requires you to deepen your knowledge of your discipline area and develop advanced skills in the conduct of independent and sustained research. As a Masters by research candidate, you will undertake a supervised research project that culminates in the submission of a creative output (exhibition)…
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Masters by research degree requires you to deepen your knowledge of your discipline area and develop advanced skills in the conduct of independent and sustained research. As a Masters by research candidate, you will undertake a supervised research project that culminates in the submission of a creative output (exhibition) and a thesis for examination.
Upon completion of your candidature you must demonstrate through your creative output and thesis that you have acquired an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in one or more disciplines.
MASTER OF VISUAL ARTS (RESEARCH) COURSE AND CAREER OUTCOMES
However you choose to structure your study, La Trobe recognises your hard work. Here are the pathways you could follow as you move through your course.
Master of Visual Arts (Research) intended learning outcomes
Mastery of theoretical knowledge and ability to reflect critically on theory and its application
Ability to analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and apply to established theories from different bodies of knowledge or practice
Ability to generate and assess complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level
Ability to design, use and evaluate research and research methods
Advanced communication and technical skills to present coherent arguments and disseminate research findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences
Master of Visual Arts career opportunities
Graduates of the Master of Visual Arts by research will be prepared for a career in academic research, higher education, industry, and the community sectors. Completion of this degree can also provide you with opportunities for further study in a more specialised field, or as a pathway into a PhD.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
La Trobe, a top public university in Victoria, Australia, has been helping to lead the world in excellent standards of education and research since it first opened in 1967. Located mainly in the city of Melbourne, the university is proud of its varied student population and happy to welcome people of all backgrounds to its beautiful campus locations. Students at La Trobe speak over 100 different languages in total.To explain the numbers, there are over 36,000 undergraduates and graduates currently enrolled, and 9,000 of them are international students. Support services for these students are strong, as they make up about a quarter of all the people attending La Trobe, and the sense of community felt across the university should help them to settle in quickly.
La Trobe, a top public university in Victoria, Australia, has been helping to lead the world in excellent standards of education and research since it first opened in 1967. Located mainly in the city of Melbourne, the university is proud of its varied student population and happy to welcome people of all backgrounds to its beautiful campus locations. Students at La Trobe speak over 100 different languages in total.
To explain the numbers, there are over 36,000 undergraduates and graduates currently enrolled, and 9,000 of them are international students. Support services for these students are strong, as they make up about a quarter of all the people attending La Trobe, and the sense of community felt across the university should help them to settle in quickly.
La Trobe’s main Melbourne Campus covers 660 acres and is surrounded by one of the most famous cities in the world, with lots of landmarks and architectural masterpieces to see just minutes from the classrooms and lecture theatres. Anyone moving away from their home country to study in Australia will find they’re right in the middle of it all in this country, living in a modern and beautiful city with lots of like-minded people.
La Trobe has a vision and a strategic plan that will lead the institution through to 2030. It wants to emerge in the post-COVID world more resilient and more focused on the future, prepared for anything and prepared to meet the needs of the community in Melbourne through collaborative research.
The support services for international students have been mentioned briefly, but there are also lots of general support services for all students at La Trobe. No one is ever left behind. Plus, there are scholarships and funding assistance options available to international and domestic students. These are usually awarded to people who are achieving great things academically or people who have a strong financial need.
Based across seven locations (Melbourne, Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Melbourne CBD, Mildura, Shepparton and Sydney), La Trobe’s campuses welcome students from all over the world to continue their education, join in with important research efforts, and develop their personal and professional future. At La Trobe, everybody is given a chance.
Explore more about studying at La Trobe:
Teaching quality
Entry requirements
Scholarships & funding
University structure
Facilities
Student support
Graduate outcomes
Teaching Quality
La Trobe University’s shining reputation is thanks to the high-quality teaching available at this institution. The tutors and lecturers are dedicated to the success and development of their students, and for almost 60 years, they have helped to give the institution the good reputation it currently has.
The university ranked in the top one per cent of universities globally, according to Times Higher Education in 2019. And according to the QS World University Rankings 2023, La Trobe is in the top 350 universities. La Trobe recently rose 46 places in the rankings, showing that innovation, growth and development never stop for the institution. And showing that teaching quality remains as high as ever.
La Trobe is a good option for some specific subjects, too. The university has been placed in the top 100 institutions for archaeology, the top 150 for linguistics, and the top 50 for sport, to name a few. More information on how the university ranks in specific subjects can be viewed on the La Trobe website.
The range of areas that this brilliant institution does well in is very impressive, and it’s definitely a result of the decades of hard work put in by the academic staff and researchers, who keep delivering quality teaching and finding new ways to improve each academic year.
Entry Requirements
To enrol at La Trobe, applicants must meet minimum academic entry requirements. Some entry requirements will differ between programmes and courses, but generally, minimum university entry requirements for undergraduates ask that an applicant has completed the Australian Year 12 or the international equivalent.
For postgraduates, applicants will need to share their previous university qualifications, usually a minimum of an Australian BA or the international equivalent. They will usually need certain grades in this BA, which will be specified by their chosen course along with any other extra requirements.
As entry requirements vary between programmes, students are advised by La Trobe University to look at the institution’s website and find the exact university requirements needed for what they want to study.
English Score Required
To study at this university, a certain level of English language understanding is expected. International students who don’t speak English as a first language and don’t meet any of the agreed exceptions will need to prove their abilities and get a certain English score to be approved for admission. There are lots of different accepted tests at La Trobe, but the most popular option is probably the IELTS (the International English Language Testing System).
The minimum IELTS score a student will need to enrol on a course depends on their chosen programme of study, so students should visit the website to find their course and its specific language requirements. To give a general range, students will usually be asked for a minimum overall band score between 6 (with no individual band lower than 6) and 7.5  (with no individual band lower than 7).
Students who think they will struggle to meet their course requirements/who have failed to meet them should note that La Trobe offers English language tuition. Help is available when taking the first step towards an education in English.
Admission
International undergraduate students will begin the university admission process by deciding which of La Trobe’s beautiful campuses they want to study on. Each campus has a unique atmosphere and a welcoming feel, and each campus hosts courses from different subject areas.
The university also provides the option for students to study closer to home (or even in their home country, if they’re from China, Mauritius, Singapore, or Vietnam). La Trobe’s partner universities offer a variety of the same diplomas and degrees in the subjects of business, art, and science. To learn more about this opportunity, students can read about it on the La Trobe University website.
When they’ve decided where they want to learn, applicants must apply to the course they want to study. Tuition fees will vary between courses, so students are encouraged to pay attention to the cost of their chosen programme and make a fully informed decision. Then, once they’ve checked they meet all the requirements needed for student admission to the course, they can move to the next stage.
Stage two in the admission process is accessing the International Online Application System, submitting details to get a log-in, and making an online application. Applications can also be sent by post or through a La Trobe University representative. Each international applicant will need to provide the following documents with their application to be admitted to La Trobe:
Copies of academic qualifications (translated into English)
Evidence of English language understanding (like the IELTS)
Any other information specified in the course’s entry requirements
The course syllabus (if applying for Advanced Standing)
Any additional forms requested
Scholarships & Funding
La Trobe University understands how big a decision it is for an international student to leave their home country to study in a different part of the world. That’s why, to make it all as easy as possible, the institution offers lots of scholarships (and other forms of financial aid) to international students.
One example is the Destination Australia scheme, supporting new international students as they start their studies in regional Australia. Scholarships awarded through Destination Australia can have a value of up to AUD 15,000 per year and can be awarded for up to four years in total.
International students can also be rewarded for completing the admission process early. The Early Bird Acceptance Grant covers five per cent of an international student’s first-year tuition fees. As long as they have citizenship in any country (besides Australia and New Zealand) and are applying to study full-time at La Trobe, a student is automatically considered for this grant. No additional application is necessary.
La Trobe’s scholarships aren’t just offered to help with funding and cover tuition fees. They’re also offered to reward academic achievement and success. La Trobe University believes in encouraging brilliance every step of the way. That’s why La Trobe International Scholarships are given to high-achieving international students, reducing their course fees by up to 25 per cent.
Besides these university scholarships, there are also International Student Aid Bursaries available to help international students who need financial support. Depending on a student’s circumstances, the amount offered ranges from AUD 50 to AUD 750.
La Trobe believes in rewarding and supporting its students, giving equal opportunities and a good university experience to all and not letting funding issues or unfortunate circumstances get in the way. The full range of scholarships and financial aid options is available on the La Trobe website, and all the eligibility requirements and details for each option will also be listed.
University Structure
Offering over 150 degrees in a range of subjects, La Trobe is the perfect university for anyone who wants to pursue their passion in life and work towards a successful professional career. The university is organised into a dozen schools which each contain lots of different degree options:
The La Trobe Business School
The La Trobe Law School
The La Trobe Rural Health School
The School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment
The School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport
The School of Applied Systems Biology
The School of Cancer Medicine
The School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
The School of Education
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences
The School of Nursing and Midwifery
The School of Psychology and Public Health
In these schools, there are around 30 departments. In these departments, there are hundreds of courses being taught. International students enrolled at La Trobe have a lot of choices when it comes to their chosen programme.
There are also some world-class research centres at La Trobe, spread across the schools and campus locations. These centres allow collaborative research to happen in lots of different fields, like social change and equity, sustainable food and agriculture, and disease prevention.
Facilities
La Trobe’s campuses are full of useful, modern facilities. Students are never far away from somewhere to eat or get a drink, nor is a student recreation centre for exercise and fun ever out of reach. This university makes sure that the educational experience is as interesting and well-rounded as possible for students by providing lots of things to see and do on campus.
The Melbourne Campus is home to lots of restaurants and cafés, like Café Spice and Mamak Rice & Noodle. There is a variety of food and drink options from many different cultures, and everyone enrolled at La Trobe can try new things or enjoy familiar favourites. There’s also a convenience store on the Melbourne Campus to make student life even simpler.
All campuses have great learning and research facilities. The City Campus, for example, has a range of innovative study and teaching spaces, including modern lecture theatres and bookable meeting rooms for smaller breakout sessions and group projects.
Over on Sydney Campus, there are two high-tech IT labs as well as computer stations all around the campus. There’s also a quiet, modern library with a beautiful view, a unique student life centre for studying, working, reading, and relaxing.
On Bendigo Campus, anyone looking for a student activity centre where they can improve their fitness can train at the newest La Trobe gym. To help students reach their health and fitness goals, new and modern equipment is fitted in the facilities, including weight racks and cardio machines.
Accommodation
La Trobe University has lots of comfortable, accessible, and friendly student accommodation. International students even get 20 per cent off rent if they choose to live on campus, so the Australian university living experience is even more tempting. On Melbourne Campus, 35 per cent of students in residence are international and there are four available university accommodation options:
The modern North and South Apartments
Glenn College, the university’s most historic residence
Menzies College, home to almost 400 students
Chisholm College, overlooking native bushland and the La Trobe lake
Bendigo Campus offers the following accommodation options:
Hillside Apartments, home to around 200 students
The 21 furnished student houses that make up The Terraces, each with space for eight students
The Units community of 100 students
The furnished Villas with room for up to four students
On-campus living also gives students access to lots of activities and social events organised by the university staff. Making a home on one of La Trobe’s campuses is an amazing way to feel like part of a friendly community and a traditional way to experience university life.
Student Support
At La Trobe, student support services are a huge priority. The university wants everybody to feel comfortable and confident during their studies, so student services cover everything from counselling to academic coaching.
Student Health and Wellbeing, for example, offers student support for psychological, emotional and social problems that any student might be having. Individual counselling, group programmes, workshops and self-help resources are all available as they’re needed.
The online community known as the International Student Lounge has lots of tips and tricks for international students about studying, staying healthy and happy and adjusting to life in a new country. Anyone at La Trobe can join, and members share everything from hobbies to recipes.
One great part of the La Trobe University student support programme is ASK La Trobe, a student guide service that can offer one-on-one help in lots of different situations and solve lots of different issues (academic, financial, personal, and so on).
ASK La Trobe appointments can help students access volunteering/work placement opportunities, introduce them to community activities and advise them about university policies. All appointments are confidential, and this is a great option to turn to if, for example, a problem happens with a class/lecturer and a student isn’t sure how they should report it.
Graduate Outcomes
La Trobe is all about preparing its students for the future and the world beyond their studies. The employment services at this institution provide students with a fantastic career guide and offer help in a multitude of work-related topics, from exploring their career options to preparing well for a job interview.
The Career Ready Team at La Trobe is always happy to support the development of students’ employability. This means that anybody unsure about their career path, job prospects or skills has a place to go and people to talk to. Students always come out on the other side of an appointment with the Career Ready Team more confident about their future path, and the team can also help with interview prep and CV and cover letter improvement.
The Career Ready Team can also help international students and meet their unique needs. They can offer advice on looking for work in Australia and mention things to consider if a student is planning to move back to their home country after graduation.
Other programmes and employment services at La Trobe to help students leave ready for the working world include mentoring programmes, voluntary work experience opportunities and internships.
All the effort that La Trobe puts in, from keeping up high standards that match professional life in the classroom to providing lots of career services to students at every level of their studies (and to new graduates, as well) pays off. The employment rate for graduates from La Trobe University is great. In 2018, almost 90 per cent of undergraduate students were in work within four months of completing their course.
La Trobe sets every enrolled student up for success. With such great teaching on such well-equipped campuses and so much career advice to benefit from, international students couldn’t ask for a better place to start their overseas studies.
