The Master of Arts is made up of postgraduate courses that extend and deepen students' existing skills, knowledge and understanding in professionally relevant fields of study, as well as teaching advanced skills in research and analytical thinking. It is equally suitable for people wishing to switch to an academic or professional field different from the one they studied at undergraduate level. The MA can serve as a pathway to higher degree research for students who have not completed a four year BA(Honours) with a research component in the relevant area of study.

Students studying the Masters of Arts degree will extend their existing knowledge or update their skills in a selected area.

Six courses (48 units of credit) within a selected program need to be completed to satisfy the requirements for the award of the degree.

You must enrol in at least one course in each session. Progress will be reviewed at the end of each session, and students who have completed less than 8 units of credit or failed a course may be required to "show cause" why they should be permitted to continue.

1. The degree of Master of Arts may be awarded by the Council to a candidate who has satisfactorily completed a program of advanced study.

2. Candidates may proceed to the degree through part-time or full-time study.

Qualifications
2. (1) A candidate for the degree shall have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another tertiary institution at a level acceptable to the Standing Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Committee).

(2) In exceptional cases, an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be admitted to candidature for the degree.

(3) If the Committee is not satisfied with the qualifications submitted by an applicant the Committee may require the applicant to undergo such assessment or carry out such work as it may prescribe before permitting enrolment.

Enrolment and Progression
3. (1) An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Registrar at least two calendar months before the commencement of the session in which enrolment is to begin.

(2) To qualify for the award of the degree, candidates must obtain over a period of study of not less than two sessions (full-time) or three sessions (part-time), six courses in one of the majors offered within the Master of Arts program. The maximum period of candidature shall be four academic sessions from the date of enrolment for a full-time candidate and eight sessions for a part-time candidate. In special cases an extension of these times may be granted by the Committee.

(3) A student enrolling in a course must satisfy the prerequisite or corequisite requirements of that course. These requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Head of the School/Department/Unit concerned.

(4) The progress of a candidate shall be reviewed annually by the Committee, and as a result of the review the Committee may cancel enrolment or take such other action as it considers appropriate.

Fees
4. Candidates shall pay such fees as may be determined from time to time by Council.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html