Creative Research Methods
Postgraduate
MA
Creative Technology
Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Course
One year
Two year
Next enrolment
September 2024
In a nutshell
This course allows you to explore a subject-specific practice in the expanding creative industry and its wider confines. You will consider the role of technology in society, whilst developing projects that look to explore the relevance, importance and future of this industry through analysis, experimentation and implementation of creative ideas.
Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to undertake independent contextual and theoretical research that will improve your capacity for independent enquiry, creativity and professional practice. The course places an emphasis on problem setting rather than problem solving, through the development of self-initiated projects and briefs.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in live projects as we work closely with key cultural organisations within the North West.
This course is part of our suite of MA Art and Design programmes, which means you also get the opportunity to work collaboratively on a few modules with students from Socially Engaged Art, Socially Engaged Photography, Contemporary Fine Art, and Visual Communications. We welcome and support you to work in a cross-disciplinary with your peers, echoing the way professionals work within the creative industries today.
Find out more by signing up to an upcoming Open Day.
International applicants: Please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.
You will:
- Develop your creative thinking skills through practical and theoretical discourse
- Engage in the development of a high level, skills-based practice
- Capitalise on professional opportunities such as placements and freelance projects with key organisation
Placement
options available
International
students accepted
All about the course
The programme structure consists of five modules, three of which are delivered within a collaborative framework allowing all students across the Master's in Art and Design programmes (Contemporary Fine Art, Socially Engaged Arts Practice, Visual Communication and Socially Engaged Photography) opportunities to engage with your peers whilst working through individual assignments focused around each programme.
The remaining two modules are tailored to the specific programme learning outcomes.
Modules
This module focuses on the understanding of and the application of a range of practice based research methods. You are initially encouraged to develop an individual line of inquiry that will be explored through a variety of creative research methods of which you are supported through lectures, seminars and tutorials. This module has two assessment points at week seven and 12 and submissions will generally be project based (70%) with an underpinning written component (30%).
Exploring Theory and Practice
This module deals with the theoretical and practical issues faced by practitioners in the context of art and the creative and cultural industries. The module supports you in developing new ideas through research and practice and through an appraisal of the context in which they operate. Particular emphasis is placed on contexts that emerge from international perspectives and from contemporary debates around creativity.
Real World Context
Through the Real World Context module you will undertake a placement in a relevant work place to gain new experiences and test out developing ideas and activities. The creative and cultural industries embrace a range of professional subjects. Given the transversality of these industries, it is important for you to have sufficient knowledge about the sector and its wider contexts, enabling you to identify and acquire professional skills within and across relevant sub-sectors. It is also important to enable you to understand and have experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment and an international context.
Definitive Practice
The aims of the major project are to offer you the opportunity to critically engage in a major project in which the emphasis will be on defining and analysing through action research, and developing a constructive practical response to a line of inquiry or research question while formulating your own resolutions or conclusions from your body of work. The culmination of this module is an exhibition or other form of public exposition.
During the 'major project’ you are provided with a supporting supervisor, in developing concerns and practice-drivers accrued throughout the chosen programme of study, via a programmed series of tutorials. Individual tutorials and peer interaction/group discussions are integral to the development of the major project.
Applied Technology
The new MA Creative Technology will integrate artistic skills and expertise with applied technologies. You will research and discover emerging technologies around which an appropriate analysis will be applied to developed bodies of practice. You will engage with programming and coding tools, games design and software relevant to many forms of employment in the arts, allowing you to better understand, for example, how UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) are understood and enhanced in creative projects.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
BE A PART OF A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
All our Art and Design courses are delivered by the Salford School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technology. Our focus is to ensure that you have the skills you need to pursue your dreams, and we encourage our students, past and present, to collaborate with each other and achieve great things.
Each year - through the Create Student Awards – our School rewards the incredible achievements and successes of our final year and postgraduate students.
Whatever you choose to study with us, you’ll be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it won’t end there. You’ll join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond, meaning you’ll be supported professionally and personally whenever you need it.
Facilities
This course benefits from our fantastic facilities at MediaCityUK. These include a five-camera HD TV studio, a three-camera HD TV studio and a digital performance studio with full green screen capability. There are two radio/audio recording studios, and 5.1 surround sound audio post-production theatre, with Foley Booth. Audition v3 audio editing and Final Cut Pro and Avid software-enabled suites are throughout the building.
Also, this course makes extensive use of 'Maker Spaces' at our MediaCityUK and Peel Park campuses. In these spaces, students and staff have at their disposal a broad range of cutting-edge tools and technology for the production of digital and physical prototypes, turning their ideas into reality.
MEET THE ART AND DESIGN TEACHING STAFF
Are you looking to learn more about the background of our Art and Design tutors and technical demonstrators or put a face to a name?
Find out who'll work with you throughout your academic journey at the University of Salford.
Explore the Art and Design faculty at the University of Salford
What about after uni?
Innovative thinkers that are able to embed and apply new design-related ideas within the latest technological developments are highly regarded within the industry, particularly when educated at Master’s level. As a result, completing this course will open up a range of career paths to you.
Career Links
This course benefits from established partnerships and links with creative industries in the UK, which have been working with us at several levels, ranging from guest lecturers, live briefs, placement opportunities and extra-curricular activities. These include the BBC, Trunk Manchester, BigBrandIdeas, Yippee Entertainment and Carbon Digital, among others.
What you need to know
We welcome students from any background into this course. This programme is especially suited to creative people with an inclination to “think outside the box”, imagining the technology-mediated experiences of the future.
Students with a background in art and design will find multiple opportunities to gain a grounded experience with emergent technologies, exploring ways to integrate them into their practice. On the other side of the spectrum, students with a background in IT, engineering or software development, will encounter a safe space to experiment and develop their skills as creative practitioners.
As part of the application process you will need to submit a portfolio, which can include any:
• stills/ visuals or examples of creative technology-based work produced
• moving image/ GIF or animation-based works (you can include links to video-based works or can show a series of stills so we can get a sense of the imagery)
• if your work is based online only, you can just send us the links so we can view them
• examples of creative tech work such as motion graphics, VR, blender, etc
If you background is in wider visual arts or the software (back-end of Creative Tech) again just any visual examples which you can add into a PDF for us to view, or links.
Standard entry requirements
Standard entry requirements
A good honours degree, usually 2:2 or above in a relevant discipline.
International students
If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.5, with no element below 5.5. We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course. Or if you have finished high school in your country but don’t have the qualifications to gain entry to this course, you can take our International Foundation Year as a pathway to this degree.
Alternative entry requirements
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2024/25 | £8,820.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2024/25 | £16,380.00per year |
| Part-time | 2024/25 | Part time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for International Students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.