MA (Specialist Title) via Creative Practice

If you've been struggling to find a postgraduate course that exactly matches your ambition then the University of Bolton's MA (Specialist Title) via Creative Practice could be the answer. Our expert team will work with you to devise a series of projects that enable you to develop your creative practice. You may choose to focus on a single discipline, such as Animation, Illustration, Art and Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Media, Performance, Dance, Photography, Textiles and Surface Design, Fashion, Creative Writing, Live Events Design and Production, or an associated subject. Alternatively, you may combine several areas of practice to follow an interdisciplinary route. When you successfully complete the master's, your degree title will be chosen to reflect the focus of your studies.

We'll support you to develop a unique body of creative work through a series of negotiated projects that will be underpinned and informed by industry practice. You'll work with a specialist supervisor who will provide support and guidance throughout the developmental process. Alongside this, you'll undertake two taught modules. The first investigates current contexts for creative practice and offers you the necessary skills to undertake research at an advanced level. The second invites you to place your practice within a professional landscape to help you gain the skills to develop your industry profile and ensure your work reaches your desired audience.

With a strong theoretical underpinning, this MA is designed to develop your skills in research, critique and synthesis. We’ll guide you as you learn to work with self‐direction and originality and develop your analytical and critical competencies. This combination of academic, creative and professional skills development helps to prepare you for a career in the creative industries, as well as providing a sound basis for doctoral-level study.

Normally, you should have at least an upper second class (2.1) honours degree in a subject relevant to the creative discipline(s) you wish to study during this course. Relevant subjects include (but aren’t limited to) Animation, Illustration, Art and Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Media, Performance, Dance, Photography, Textiles and Surface Design, Fashion, and Creative Writing. If you have expertise in another creative discipline and wish to combine this with the one you studied at degree-level, we may be able to accommodate you, however, you’ll need to attend an interview and present a portfolio of evidence. If English isn’t your first language you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). Internet based TOEFL with an overall score of 80 for postgraduate including 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking.