The Master of Creative Practice aims to qualify people who are looking to become leaders of
creative practice. Students will be enabled to extend their domain of creative practice through
enacting an advanced, sustained and sophisticated body of independent original practice-based
research, which conforms to internationally recognised standards.
It aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge to extend their domain of practice
through the undertaking of independent original research. This programme of study is
designed to engage students in understanding, investigation, and intervention within their
chosen domain in academic or professional contexts.
This programme is intended for postgraduate qualified people from Ara or other institutions, and highly-experienced current practitioners with extensive and recognised independent creative practice outside of tertiary study. These may include musicians, dramatists, performing and visual artists, designers, film makers, writers, directors or any others engaged in creative pursuits.

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
1. Critique and communicate a systematic account of the relevant knowledge, principles, research
methods and problem-solving techniques applicable to a specific domain of creative practice.
2. Demonstrate intellectual independence, critical thinking, analytic rigour and self-directed
learning in the design and execution of a self-directed creative project.
3. Apply knowledge to practice-based research; analyse and develop arguments from primary
evidence.
4. Apply cross cultural perspectives which embrace understanding and engagement with
indigenous bodies of knowledge, practices and worldviews with a key focus on Te Ao Maori and
bicultural Aotearoa New Zealand.
5. Demonstrate mastery and work independently to undertake sustained and substantial, original
practice-based research in a specific domain.

Graduates may enrol in further postgraduate qualification programmes such as the following:
PhD
DMus/DPhil/DocFA
Teacher Education qualifications

Academic Requirements
A Bachelor's degree or Postgraduate Diploma in a relevant subject area with a B+ average, or a
higher qualification.
Or
A Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject area with an established profile of professional practice or
experience.

Additional Requirements
Applicants are required to undertake course advisement with an Ara staff member and complete a
for postgraduate study application form (refer appendix 2.8).

Alternative Requirements
Applicants unable to evidence that they meet Academic Entry requirements, but who can
demonstrate relevant skills and knowledge acquired through appropriate work or professional
experience, may be approved for alternative entry.

English Requirements
If English is not the applicant's first language, applicants will need to provide a result from a test or
qualification on the acceptable alternatives English Proficiency Outcomes Chart.
Applicants who do not have evidence of English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or
permanent resident, may contact Ara for an assessment.
IELTS 6.5 Academic (no lower than 6.0 in any subtest).
Note:
IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form and are valid for two years
from the date of the test.
Applicants who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements are not required to
provide evidence of English language skills.