Fine Art: Digital MA

Postgraduate

Two realistic forearms and hands, one with a sticking plaster, fixed to a metal structure with wires

Interrogate the interfaces between fine art and emergent technologies, using playful approaches to hacking, collaboration, and immersion to develop a creative practice that explores the multifaceted connections between contemporary life and digital culture.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

CAST007

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

This course explores the creative potential of digital technologies in fine art, examining contemporary life and digital cultures through critical and contextual exploration.

Engage with digital technologies to enhance and innovate your artistic practice.
Investigate key debates and ideas about digital interactions and their impact on society.
Create proposals for exhibitions, projects, or further education, supported by Coventry University's resources.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Innovative modules: shape and develop your creative practice through innovative modules.
Access to specialist facilities: benefit from access to well-equipped creative workshops and spaces, such as our immersive studios, hack spaces, computer labs, and contemporary fabrication workshops featuring 3D printing facilities and laser cutters.⁴
Dynamic creative community: join a dynamic creative community, forging productive interdisciplinary collaborations and professional networks helping to sustain future careers in the creative and cultural industries.

Collaborations

Endorsement by the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)

Coventry University and the RSA have collaborated on a module concerning social and ethical responsibility. On successful completion, you will be entitled to a 12-month fellowship of the RSA so you can access all RSA resources and platforms during your period of study. Once you have successfully passed the Professional Practice and Innovation module, you will receive a digital credential from the RSA.

What you'll study

Examine and question the relationship between digital tools and communication. Explore various mediums including wearable tech, AR/VR, interactive and immersive experiences, apps, sculpture, painting, sound, games and community projects.

Modules

Artist as Player - 30 credits

Discover applications of emergent and digital technologies and how these might be used to reach potential audiences. Explore how altering, repurposing, or transforming existing concepts, materials, objects, artworks or technologies can create new meanings or experiences, through coded or physical exploration.

Compulsory

Co-Create - 30 credits

Collaborate on a simulated or real-life project created by industry experts with students from other postgraduate courses in the School of Arts and Creative Industries, applying your specialist discipline knowledge to form an essential part of a wider team. You'll explore design theory and practice, research methodologies, and build professional development skills like project management, delegation and problem-solving. You should build strong relationships, foster a supportive community and develop a resilient skillset based on agility, flexibility and emotional intelligence.

Compulsory

Artist in Space - 30 credits

Creatively consider digital spaces and how they are experienced. Through exploring the contexts in which people encounter digital environments, the module will help you to question ideas and theories about different spaces and how contemporary audiences might encounter these.

Compulsory

Professional Practice and Innovation - 30 credits

Explore ecologies of the creative industries, considering the interrelations between independent, commercial, and public sectors. The module is designed in collaboration with The RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) from which you’ll have 12 months Fellowship so you can access all RSA resources and platforms during your period of study. Receive an RSA digital credential once you have successfully passed the module.

Compulsory

Artist and the Future: Major Project - 60 credits

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical laboratory sessions.

Teaching and learning hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent learning

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent learning which will make up the required study hours per module. You will be undertaking a variety of activities, learning through guided background research, planning and preparation, studio activity, creative practice and making, reviewing what you have learned and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress towards the end of your studies, you will spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
essays
practical coursework
assignments
viva
presentations.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a related discipline, or demonstrable experience at an appropriate professional level.

At the point of application, you will be asked to have a conversation with the staff team to highlight your ideas, interests, and experience to date. During this conversation, you will be encouraged to share relevant works in person or online to determine your suitability and form the basis of a longer dialogue.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a related discipline, or demonstrable experience at an appropriate professional level.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Get a feel for large-scale projects with our 3D workshop. Filled with professional equipment, including a robotic milling arm and a large-scale 3D printer, bring your designs to life and discover the world of production.

The Delia Derbyshire Building offers spacious and flexible environments for creating work in various media and at any scale. Our foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate students all work together to collaborate and share ideas in these spaces.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

create a dynamic and responsive practice that critically capitalises on current and emerging contexts and technologies (including frameworks and key debates)
critically evaluate creative methodologies and apply them in the development of an original creative practice exploring the connections between contemporary life and digital culture
contribute to creative opportunities to work collaboratively, developing considered and articulate responses to emerging issues and topical debates to generate social change
demonstrate professionalism in the production of innovative solutions and outcomes to creative briefs, issues and problems
evidence approaches to communication that demonstrate nuance and consideration of contemporary, historic and professional practices
synthesise complex ideas, issues and approaches, and communicate these effectively to targeted or appropriate audiences.

Successful graduates may seek positions as:

digital artists
creative technologists
creative developers
directors of creative technologies
exhibit designers
visual designers
event designers
creative developers
creative producers
educators
creative directors
designers
photographers
videographers
social media managers
user experience designers
immersive content creators
curators
immersive designers
freelancers.

How to apply

UK students

Express your interest now, and we'll notify you when applications open for this new course!

Coventry University continuously innovates to create courses that prepare our students to be at the forefront of their chosen careers. The course you've selected is new, and we anticipate opening it for applications from April 2025. Please register your interest, and we'll let you know as soon as you can apply.

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Express your interest now, and we'll notify you when applications open for this new course!

View our International hub

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.