MPhil and PhD Degrees
(Art History, History of Photography, Museum and Gallery Studies)
The MPhil is a research degree based upon two years (4 semesters) of full-time study or four years (8 semesters) of part-time study. Students may apply for direct entry to the MPhil, requiring the acceptance of a suitable research topic and based upon prior degree marks. More usually, students apply to enter the MPhil degree following completion of the coursework for the MLitt (2 semesters) if satisfactory progress has been made and a suitable research topic is agreed upon with a prospective supervisor. The MPhil degree is examined on the basis of a thesis of not more than 40,000 words, which is expected to make an original contribution to knowledge in the field.
The PhD is a research degree based upon three years (six semesters) or full-time study or six years (12 semesters) of part-time study. Students are initially registered as General Research Students for a probationary period of twelve months. After a progress review, which includes the submission of a substantive piece of written work for evaluation, students are registered for the PhD. The degree examination is based upon a thesis of no more than 80,000 words, which is expected to make a significant and original contribution to the discipline.
A number of grants for financial assistance towards fees or research travel are available from the School and from exterior sources; see Postgraduate Information. Students are normally in residence for at least the first twelve months of their registration, however there is no strict residential requirement. The diverse community of doctoral students working on theses in Art History, History of Photography, and Museum and Gallery Studies, make a vital contribution to the research and teaching activities of the School. See the list of current Research Students and Thesis topics as well as the postgraduate journal:
Journal of Art History and Museum Studies.