Creative Practice

Master of Arts

Course Details

Course Code	SG_GCREA_M09
Level	9
Duration	1.5 years
Credits	90
Method of Delivery	Blended
Campus Locations	Sligo
Mode of Delivery	Full Time

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Non-EU Applicants

Non-EU applications are currently closed. Register to be notified when applications reopen

Course Overview

Unlock Your Creative Potential
Are you a writer fascinated by performance? A designer captivated by sound? An architect drawn to visual storytelling? A performer dreaming in sculptural form?

At ATU Sligo’s MA in Creative Practice, the magic happens where disciplines meet. Writers, performers, designers, artists, and architects collaborate, challenge, and inspire each other, forging bold new creative directions.

With expert supervision and 60 credits dedicated to your creative practice, you’ll develop pioneering work in your field while drawing inspiration from cross-disciplinary conversations. Our students showcase their work to public audiences, turning Sligo into their creative laboratory.

Learn from leading industry professionals and engage with internationally acclaimed artists, designers, and performers—including past guest speakers like Aideen Barry, Richard Malone, and Celine Muldoon.

Set in Ireland’s culturally rich northwest, this MA is for practitioners ready to push their craft further while discovering unexpected creative dialogues. Your practice deepens. Your creative thinking expands.

Choose Your Pathway
Specialisms include:

Creative Writing, Playwriting & Screenwriting
Drama & Performance, Directing & Production
Film & Digital Media, Theatre & Performance Design
Interior Architecture
Fine Art, Design & Craft
Cultural & Creative Industries, Interdisciplinary Practice
English Literary Studies & more

You can complete your 90-credit MA in a minimum of 15 months (full-time) or take up to 5 years (part-time). You’ll undertake a blend of taught modules (30 credits) and supervised research (60 credits), choosing between:

Research-Led: A written dissertation (of up to 25,000 words) or a mixed dissertation (minimum 15,000 words) plus research artefacts.
Practice-Led: A combination of practice (60%) and written analysis (from 5,000 – 9,000 words).

Who Is This For?
Our MA is designed for those with an Honours Degree (2:2 minimum) in a cognate area who want to push creative boundaries, refine their practice, and innovate within the arts and creative industries.

Why Study at Yeats Academy?

Customisable Study: Shape your MA through research or practice.
Industry Connections: Work alongside creative professionals.
A Creative Hub: Study in Ireland’s ‘Creative West’, a region rich in artistic heritage.
Flexible Learning: Study full-time or part-time, with Friday on-campus sessions.

Ready to take the next step? Apply now and join a community of artists, thinkers, and innovators shaping the future of creative industries.

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Recommended Study Hours per week

Students can expect a total effort of 30 hours per week.

Examination and Assessment

Assessment is on-going throughout the year, however, there is a greater emphasis on the final module which is valued at more than half the overall credits for the MA, which sees the learner produce a substantial piece of practice, which is showcased at the end of the Summer in front of an audience of creative practitioners. Some of the rubric assessment for the practice includes knowledge breath, know-how, knowledge competence, and competence context.

On-Campus Attendance Requirement

Mandatory attendance all day on Fridays.
Note: Check programme Examination and Assessment requirements, as they may involve examinations to be taken on campus.

Download a prospectus

Postgraduate Prospectus Online, Flexible & Professional Development Prospectus

Entry Requirements

This MA is designed for those with an Honours Degree (2:2 minimum) in a cognate area who want to push creative boundaries, refine their practice, and innovate within the arts and creative industries.

All candidates are required to submit a brief 300-word Statement of Intent that outlines their motivation for applying, their engagement with their intended Pathway Specialism, and a preliminary topic for thesis study (bullet points are sufficient).

All Candidates must also upload either:

A) a portfolio of selected work which should include relevant previous work (eg. artwork, drawings, photographs, film, podcast, or evidence of work in a cognate area).

B) a sample of writing up to 1,000 words (eg. prose, poetry, academic assignment, etc.)

Please note: You may be called to an interview. We may ask you for additional information about your work.

The MA gave me time to really focus on developing my practice and provided the opportunity to refine my reflective process. I left with a better understanding of my work. The opportunity to work with practitioners across multiple disciplines was also beneficial.
Caroline Walsh

Fees

Total Fees EU: €6,300

Candidates will be required to provide their own materials for study and research. There will be several short study trips to Irish and other European cities that students will be expected to participate in. For this, you should allow €500 plus spending money.

Total Fees Non-EU: €14,000

Further information on fees

Careers

“Culture and creativity are the greatest assets of any society. It is our duty to do everything we can to unleash the full creative potential of our people.” Creative Ireland Programme 2017

Official statistics from the CSO indicate that a total of approximately 13,000 people were employed in Creative Sector in the West of Ireland in 2015. The industry consists of close to 5,000 companies, the large majority of which are small to micro in scale. The creative, cultural and craft enterprises in the western region have a value of €729 million. The results of the Economic & Social Impact Assessment: West of Ireland Creative Sector Report (May, 2018) suggest that employment in the overall creative sector has experienced healthy growth in recent years with more than half of all business less than five years old. It is predicted that this rate of growth will continue up to 2040. On this basis, employment in the creative sector of the west of Ireland could reach over 15,000 by the end of the decade. Our programmes are intended to support this growth and facilitate industry-led research that will promote the development of the creative industries from the region and beyond.

This course will support and encourage imaginative, experimental and interdisciplinary enquiry through a range of approaches that will enhance both your creative practice and your career opportunities.

Further Information

Who Should Apply?

This programme is suitable for anyone interested in Creative Practice in the Arts, Fine Arts, Writing and Literature, Screen Writing, Playwriting, Creative Design, Interior Design, Photography, Film Making, Theatre and Performance, Theatre Design.