The Master of Contemporary Practices in Art and Design is a postgraduate degree designed to extend students' practical, theoretical, and conceptual knowledge in order to develop a deeper understanding of contemporary practices in the context of how artists and designers work across a range of disciplines. The program supports hands-on learning in workshop, studio, and digital environments, progressing students through a range of courses and individual practice-led research opportunities. Studio disciplines typically supported include painting, sculpture, photography, media arts, printmaking, drawing, textiles, jewellery and object, ceramics, glass, furniture, and design. Students are encouraged to combine materials, methods, and subjects that extend their chosen field, tackle cross-disciplinary or hybrid experiences, and test new conceptual methodologies in response to the challenges of an increasingly global and technologically advanced world. The course is typically offered at AQF Level 9 (Masters by Coursework) and can run from one to two years full-time depending on prior qualifications and program structure.

This degree suits practising artists and designers who want to develop a more ambitious and independent creative practice, as well as graduates from other disciplines who wish to pivot into the creative arts sector at a high level. Graduates are prepared to participate competitively in the art and design sector — sustaining and developing an independent practice or business, or working within the creative industry sector — and typically graduate with new, distinctive bodies of work or designed products ready for exhibition, production, or commercial deployment. Employers of graduates include galleries, museums, design studios, advertising and branding agencies, educational institutions, cultural organisations, government arts bodies, film and television production companies, digital media companies, and a growing range of non-creative industries that embed creative professionals in strategic roles.

Most Australian universities offering this degree require applicants to hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification, typically with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of around 4.0–5.0 on a 7-point scale (equivalent to a Credit average or approximately 65%). Some programs also accept applicants without a bachelor's degree who can demonstrate at least three to six years of documented, full-time equivalent professional work experience in a relevant art or design field, provided they can supply evidence of artistic ability and achievement comparable to that expected of undergraduate degree holders. Where prior qualifications are in an unrelated field, applicants may be required to complete bridging study or enter via a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma pathway before progressing to full master's level.

Almost all programs require a portfolio of creative work as a central part of the application process, along with a curriculum vitae (CV) and a written statement of purpose or study proposal (typically 500–1,000 words) outlining the applicant's practice, interests, and intentions for the degree. Shortlisted applicants are frequently required to attend a formal interview — either in person or online — with academic staff before an offer is made. Simply meeting minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry, as admissions are typically competitive and assessed holistically across academic achievement, portfolio quality, the written proposal, and interview performance.

For international students, English language proficiency is mandatory. Common acceptable scores include IELTS Academic overall 6.5–7.0 (with no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT around 79–100, or equivalent. Some universities may waive the English language requirement if an applicant has completed a prior qualification taught and assessed entirely in English within a specified timeframe. Students are encouraged to check the specific requirements of each institution, as entry standards vary between providers.