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CUA51120 Diploma of Visual Arts

National ID
CUA51120
WA Course Code
BGR9
CRICOS code
108215K
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Why choose this course?

Elevate your creative skills with this qualification. Develop your talent and knowledge in selected areas of visual art and craft, with options to focus on painting, print media, ceramics, sculpture and digital art. You will have the opportunity to refine these skills in studio classes designed to bring your ideas to reality.

This course enables you to take on complicated art projects with a developed skill set and knowledge of various materials and mediums.

During your studies you will be exposed to state of the art facilities and an inspiring environment, right in the heart of Perth’s Cultural Centre, home to the Art Gallery of WA(opens in a new tab), Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)(opens in a new tab) and many other smaller galleries.

A successful career in visual arts will require you to promote yourself and look outside the square when it comes to gaining employment. You can work on small or large scale public art projects or work as a freelance artist. You can also combine your studies with other courses and become a teacher or work in arts administration.

  • An IELTS score (academic) of 6.0 with no band score less than 5.0 or equivalent.

  • Completion of CUA41320 Certificate IV in Visual Arts is required for entry into this course.

​Please view Admission requirements for your country of origin.

Your study options

Semester 1, 2025

Duration | 2 semesters
When | Semester 1, 2025
Where | North Metropolitan TAFE (52786)

Location map

How | On campus, to a minimum of 20 contact hours per week
Fees (total indicative for course)
  • Tuition fee: $12,480
  • Resources fee: $1,390
  • Materials fee: $250

Tuition fees are reviewed annually. If tuition fees are increased, you will be required to pay the new fees as they are introduced. You will be provided with an indicative schedule of fees in your Letter of Offer.

Resource fees are for consumables you use in your course e.g. paint, internet etc. You pay this fee to your college at enrolment. If your course goes longer than one semester, the resource fee may not need to be paid in one amount but may be spaced out over the duration of your course. Your college will advise you of the payment amount each semester.

Material fees are for items that remain your property after the course has been completed e.g. personal protective equipment, tools, text books etc. You pay this fee to your college at enrolment.

Work placement

There is no work placement requirement for this course. 

To achieve this qualification, students must demonstrate competency in 15 units. These 15 are comprised of 5 core units and 10 elective units. Elective units listed below have been selected in consultation with industry.

Students who enrol into this qualification will be eligible for credit transfer of the units that they have already achieved. Fees paid by international students are set on a commercial basis and are paid as a whole of course fee - no refund will apply to credit transfers. Please refer to your letter of Offer for detailed duration and costings for your enrolment.

Core units
    National ID
    Unit title
  • CUAACD531 Refine drawing and other visual representation tools
  • CUAPPR511 Realise a body of creative work
  • CUAPPR512 Develop sustainability of own professional practice
  • CUAPPR513 Present a body of own creative work
  • CUAPPR515 Establish and maintain safe creative practice
Elective units
    National ID
    Unit title
  • BSBMKG546 Develop social media engagement plans
  • BSBWRT411 Write complex documents
  • CUAACD511 Make moulds and casts
  • CUAACD522 Work with photomedia in creative practice
  • CUAACD534 Research and apply light and colour
  • CUAACD535 Work with the human form in creative practice
  • CUACER511 Refine ceramics techniques
  • CUAILL401 Develop and refine illustrative work
  • CUAPRI512 Investigate printmaking materials and processes
  • CUARES503 Analyse cultural history and theory

Assessment methods

The methods of assessment used in this course includes major folio assessments which will be undertaken as a critique, where students will be expected to appropriately install their body of work and explain their conceptual development and how ideas have evolved. They will also be able to respond to questions and constructive feedback from the lecturer and peers at the time to clarify ideas. Students will also be required to also support their assessments with submissions of the underpinning research of each body of work, with examples of visual diary ideation planning, mind maps, artist research to inform ideas, written reflections based on feedback received from previous assessments to develop and refine ideas.

These assessment strategies and evidence gathering are in accordance with the relevant training package or accreditation guidelines. Detailed Information is available in the assessment matrix, learning plans and assessment tools for each of the units of competency. Assessors use the matrix to ensure assessments, are undertaken across the duration of the course, rather than clustered together at particular times.

Learning resources, facilities and equipment

The following learning resources, facilities and equipment are available at each campus so that you can achieve the skill and knowledge requirements of this course.

 

Learning resources may include access to Blackboard, learning plans, assessment tools, PowerPoints, previous student examples, work books for drawing, lecture notes and visual diaries.

 

Facilities and equipment may include access to a allocated studio space, desk and wall space, a fully equipped tool store and woodwork and metal facilities so that you can borrow tools to complete projects, painting and drawing studios with desks, easels, drawing boards and sinks, printing presses suitable for etching and relief processes, benches for ink and rollers, Computer MAC labs with specialised software, sculpture studios with access to a plaster wet area and the wood and metal workshop with associated technician, ceramic studios equipped with work benches, pottery wheels, slab roller, extruders, and sinks with appropriate drainage and the campus library which is stocked with a range of visual art and design books.

 

Key dates

Semester and holiday dates are included in your Letter of Offer. View upcoming semester start and end dates.

Semester 1, 2026

Duration | 2 semesters
When | Semester 1, 2026
Where | North Metropolitan TAFE (52786)

Location map

How | On campus, to a minimum of 20 contact hours per week
Fees (total indicative for course)
  • Tuition fee: $12,480
  • Resources fee: $1,390
  • Materials fee: $250

Tuition fees are reviewed annually. If tuition fees are increased, you will be required to pay the new fees as they are introduced. You will be provided with an indicative schedule of fees in your Letter of Offer.

Resource fees are for consumables you use in your course e.g. paint, internet etc. You pay this fee to your college at enrolment. If your course goes longer than one semester, the resource fee may not need to be paid in one amount but may be spaced out over the duration of your course. Your college will advise you of the payment amount each semester.

Material fees are for items that remain your property after the course has been completed e.g. personal protective equipment, tools, text books etc. You pay this fee to your college at enrolment.

Work placement

There is no work placement requirement for this course. 

To achieve this qualification, students must demonstrate competency in 15 units. These 15 are comprised of 5 core units and 10 elective units. Elective units listed below have been selected in consultation with industry.

Students who enrol into this qualification will be eligible for credit transfer of the units that they have already achieved. Fees paid by international students are set on a commercial basis and are paid as a whole of course fee - no refund will apply to credit transfers. Please refer to your letter of Offer for detailed duration and costings for your enrolment.

Core units
    National ID
    Unit title
  • CUAACD531 Refine drawing and other visual representation tools
  • CUAPPR511 Realise a body of creative work
  • CUAPPR512 Develop sustainability of own professional practice
  • CUAPPR513 Present a body of own creative work
  • CUAPPR515 Establish and maintain safe creative practice
Elective units
    National ID
    Unit title
  • BSBMKG546 Develop social media engagement plans
  • BSBWRT411 Write complex documents
  • CUAACD511 Make moulds and casts
  • CUAACD522 Work with photomedia in creative practice
  • CUAACD534 Research and apply light and colour
  • CUAACD535 Work with the human form in creative practice
  • CUACER511 Refine ceramics techniques
  • CUAILL401 Develop and refine illustrative work
  • CUAPRI512 Investigate printmaking materials and processes
  • CUARES503 Analyse cultural history and theory

Assessment methods

The methods of assessment used in this course includes major folio assessments which will be undertaken as a critique, where students will be expected to appropriately install their body of work and explain their conceptual development and how ideas have evolved. They will also be able to respond to questions and constructive feedback from the lecturer and peers at the time to clarify ideas. Students will also be required to also support their assessments with submissions of the underpinning research of each body of work, with examples of visual diary ideation planning, mind maps, artist research to inform ideas, written reflections based on feedback received from previous assessments to develop and refine ideas.

These assessment strategies and evidence gathering are in accordance with the relevant training package or accreditation guidelines. Detailed Information is available in the assessment matrix, learning plans and assessment tools for each of the units of competency. Assessors use the matrix to ensure assessments, are undertaken across the duration of the course, rather than clustered together at particular times.

Learning resources, facilities and equipment

The following learning resources, facilities and equipment are available at each campus so that you can achieve the skill and knowledge requirements of this course.

 

Learning resources may include access to Blackboard, learning plans, assessment tools, PowerPoints, previous student examples, work books for drawing, lecture notes and visual diaries.

 

Facilities and equipment may include access to a allocated studio space, desk and wall space, a fully equipped tool store and woodwork and metal facilities so that you can borrow tools to complete projects, painting and drawing studios with desks, easels, drawing boards and sinks, printing presses suitable for etching and relief processes, benches for ink and rollers, Computer MAC labs with specialised software, sculpture studios with access to a plaster wet area and the wood and metal workshop with associated technician, ceramic studios equipped with work benches, pottery wheels, slab roller, extruders, and sinks with appropriate drainage and the campus library which is stocked with a range of visual art and design books.

 

Key dates

Semester and holiday dates are included in your Letter of Offer. View upcoming semester start and end dates.

There may be further semester intakes available for enrolment. You can view any further intakes when you submit your online application(opens in a new tab).

For information about pathways from TAFE to university, view our Pathways to university page.

How to apply

Apply to study at TAFE in six steps:

  1. find a course;
  2. check entry requirements;
  3. submit an application;
  4. accept your offer and pay;
  5. apply for your student visa; and
  6. receive your visa and come to Australia for your studies.

View our TAFE application process page for detailed advice

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TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA) is the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) provider, for the delivery of training to international students, enrolled in a TAFE course in Western Australia. This nationally recognised course is delivered by a Western Australian TAFE college on TIWA's behalf. TIWA retains responsibility for the quality of the training and assessment delivered by the TAFE colleges and for the issue of certification documentation to students.

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Last updated on November 30, 2022