Master of Design (Media & Communication)

The Master of Design by research provides the framework, the focus and the discipline necessary for participants to undertake research and develop mastery in their chosen field.

Candidates are supported and engaged in communities of practice where learning is fundamentally a social phenomenon, where knowledge is integrated in the life of these communities which share interests, discourses and ways of doing things.Upon graduation with a Master of Design from RMIT University you will be able to be employed in positions in universities, galleries, museums and non-government organisations.

You may also freelance as artists, curators and producers.Individually supervised research programs are available in media, communication, digital ethnography, games, advertising, marketing, communication design, journalism, cinema studies, cultural studies.

Applicants should visit the School of Media and Communication Research page and develop their proposal in relation to the existing research groups, centres and labs.The Master of Design may be undertaken in a project or thesis mode.

This decision is made in consultation with your supervisor.

If you are a full-time candidate you must enrol in exactly 48 credit points in total for each semester. If you are a part-time candidate you must enrol in exactly 24 credit points in total for each semester

All courses listed may not be available each semester

Coursework Courses

Complete One (1) of the following Course:

In consultation with your supervisory team, you may also elect to take either:

AND

Thesis Courses

The remaining allocation of credit points for each semester should be made up of the following Courses:

Applicants for masters by research programs must have completed one of the following from a recognised higher education institution:

• a four year bachelor degree with at least a credit average in the final undergraduate year;

or

• another recognised award deemed to be equivalent in character and standard to a four year undergraduate degree, with at least a credit average in the final undergraduate year.

Alternatively applicants may provide evidence of appropriate academic qualifications and experience that satisfies the Dean of the School of Graduate Research or nominee that the applicant has developed knowledge of the field of study or cognate field and the potential for research sufficient to undertake the proposed program.

For information on international qualifications and corresponding entry requirements that are equivalent to Australian academic entry requirements, see the Country equivalents webpage.

English Language Requirements

A minimum IELTS (academic module) overall score of 6.5, with no band below 6.0; or equivalent. For equivalents to English entry requirements, see the English equivalents webpage (unresolved).

Selection Tasks

These entrance requirements are the minimum academic standard you must meet in order to be eligible to apply for the program. You will need to complete a selection task as part of your application. See the Postgraduate Research Admission Application Form for more details.

Graduates of the Master of Design will have developed mastery in design research in their chosen field by undertaking a substantial and rigorous research project.

Graduates of a Master of Design by research will have:

• a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent development in one or more disciplines
• advanced knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of work or learning
• cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and its application
• cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice
• cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level
• cognitive and technical skills to design, use and evaluate research and research methods
• communication and technical skills to present coherent and sustained argument and to disseminate research results to specialist and non-specialist audiences
• technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse, theorise and disseminate research that makes a contribution to knowledge

Graduates of a Master of Design by research will demonstrate the application of these knowledge and skills:

• with creativity and initiative to new situations and/or for further learning
• with high level personal autonomy and accountability
• to plan and execute a substantial piece of research