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History of Art
Entry requirements.
A UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline (pass of 68% or better), or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Students are normally required to have achieved an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s or its overseas equivalent at first degree level.
Months of entry
Course content.
UCL History of Art is a leading research department. Our staff are prominent researchers in diverse fields and there is a thriving graduate community. On graduating, students pursue successful positions in academia, curating, and related careers. Graduate students participate in our regular research seminars, and write, edit and produce the journal Object. We also offer opportunities for students to work as Teaching Assistants in the department.
The PhD in the History of Art requires independent, self-motivated research and will teach students to formulate and convey their ideas both to specialised as well as to broader audiences. It will enable students to develop original thinking on all aspects of visual culture, drawing on historical and contemporary cultural debates. Students gain experience of working in different kinds of archives and with different approaches to visual material. PhD students are trained to work as teaching assistants in the department, and the combination of research and teaching skills prepares them for the diverse demands of an academic career.
Department specialisms
Art theory and the history of the discipline, European art and architecture c. 1700–1945, Art, architecture, and aesthetics of the Global South, Cross-cultural studies and globalisation, Materials, objects and practices of art history, Modern and contemporary art, Medieval and early modern studies, The history of the body and the relationship between art and science, The history of visual technologies (print, photography, time-based media)
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- Campus-based learning is available for this qualification
Research degrees may start at any time of the year, but typically start in September.
Course contact details
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History of Art, PhD
University College London (UCL), the United Kingdom
- Study options for History of Art
- About History of Art
Courses you may be interested in at other institutions
Other courses at university college london (ucl), study options for this course, about history of art, phd - at university college london (ucl).
Please visit the University College London (UCL) web site for further information.
Entry requirements for this course
Contact University College London (UCL) to find course entry requirements.
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Slade School of Fine Art
- MPhil/PhD Fine Art
We offer a supportive, stimulating and creative environment in which to develop your doctoral research. We welcome applications from students with a wide range of backgrounds, here in the UK and internationally.
Key information
- Full-time or Part-time
- Programme starts: September 2024
- Application deadline - 2 October, 5pm
- Application portal open - 28 August - 2 October 2023 - applications closed
AHRC-Open day split
The Slade is part of the AHRC funded London Arts and Humanities Partnership . The LAHP annually awards up to 90 studentships for postgraduate research students studying arts and humanities disciplines at eight leading UK research organisations. Please check the LAHP website for details of the award and to check eligibility.
Please read the information below in conjunction with the main UCL prospectus information:
MPhil/PhD Slideshow
©the artist
Arsenal Gallery, Poznan, Poland 2013
- Malgorzata Dawidek
Reece Straw
Shao-Jie Lin
Javier Artero
The aims of the MPhil/PhD programme are to:
- advance the highest quality of research in Fine Art that demonstrates ambition, breadth of vision and creativity
- enable you to further your aspirations as a practising artist, and, or, writer
- encourage your practice, art and writing, to make an original contribution to knowledge, and to further understanding through the processes of research
- encourage a diversity of research outputs including the visual and verbal (exhibitions, events, performances, collaborations, publications, conferences)
- affirm the importance of Fine Art research while also exploring the possibilities of interdisciplinary research with other departments and faculties at UCL
- ask you to contribute to the research culture of the Slade and the wider UCL community and to exchange ways of working, thinking, doing and being
- encourage the sharing of research with national and international research institutions and the wider publics
MPhil/PhD Programme
The Slade offers a choice between the following three options within the PhD programme:
- Practice-led: a thesis of studio practice that makes an original contribution to knowledge plus a written report of normally between 15,000-30,000 words (maximum 40,000) and normally 10,000 to 15,000 words for the MPhil (maximum 20,000).
- Practice-related: a written thesis of 60,000-80,000 words with studio practice that together make an original contribution to knowledge (or 35,000-45,000 words for the MPhil).
- Written thesis only: a written thesis of 80,000-100,000 words that makes an original contribution to knowledge (or 50,000-60,000 words for the MPhil).
The MPhil/PhD programme has strong links to the taught programmes at the Slade and you will also have access to the across-School lecture and visiting artists’ programme. The Slade provides excellent workshop and research facilities (access subject to Covid regulations). Current Slade research themes include: Materials and Materiality; Histories and Cultures; Media and Performance; and, Environments and Publics.
As part of UCL we offer an extensive range of research skill courses through UCL Doctoral School plus support from the Arts and Humanities, Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) and London Arts and Humanities Research Partnership (LAHP).
In addition to personal supervisions, students participate in:
- relevant research skills courses organised by UCL Doctoral School and London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP);
- a Forum/Exchange for the presentation of research by Slade and other UCL researchers;
- regular seminars responding to your research interests;
- workshops on writing and research;
- exhibitions, events, symposia, conferences at the Slade;
- the organisation of an annual students’ event which can take the form of an exhibition, conference or symposium.
Students are also expected to attend:
- discipline specific MA/MFA studio seminars within the Slade painting, sculpture and fine art media areas;
- seminars and lectures given by Slade and UCL staff and invited artists and speakers: Slade staff talks, the Slade Contemporary Art Lecture Series and the UCL History of Art Centre for Contemporary Art lecture series.
In addition we would expect our students to be active participants in exhibitions, performances, events, conferences, and publishing both within and beyond UCL.
Staff and Supervisors
Head of the Doctoral Programme: Prof. Kristen Kreider Doctoral Research Tutor: Dr Hayley Newman
Due to the number of applicants we are unable to advise on proposals before you submit your application. We are also unable to discuss who to nominate as a supervisor. However, you may add names of potential supervisors to your application form and, if shortlisted, we will also suggest possible supervisors. Please look at the Slade website for staff research profiles .
Your primary supervisor will be a member of Slade staff , all of whom are practising artists or scholars in the history and theory of art, with national and international profiles.
Secondary supervision is also available from renowned scholars and specialists from a range of departments at UCL. Second supervisors currently include: Dr Chiara Ambrosio (Philosophy of Science), Prof. Daniel Brett (Engineering), Prof. Robyn Carston (Linguistics), Dr. Marquard Smith (IOE), Prof. Penelope Haralambidou (Bartlett), Prof. Rodney Harrison (Archaeology), Prof. Mark Midownik , (Institute of Making, Engineering), Prof. Sophie Page (History), Dr. Aaron Parkhurst (Anthroplogy). External supervisors include: Dr Jeff Scheible and Dr Lara Shalson (Kings College London) and Prof. Ger Duijzings (Universitat Regengsburg).
There are also opportunities for interdisciplinary supervision across the London Arts and Humanities Partnership.
Outlines of current and archived MPhil and PhD research are in the MPhil/PhD pages of our Research section .
Application deadline
Deadlines for applications for 2024-25 are as follows:
- Application portal opens via UCL SELECT - 28 August
- Applications Deadline (UCL Select): Monday, 2 October 2023, 17.00 BST
- Applications Deadline (Portfolio): Wednesday, 4 October 2023, 17.00 BST (via SharePoint)
- Interviews: Monday 30 October – Friday, 3 November 2023 (inclusive)
MPhil/PhD Open Day
Dates for the next MPhil/PhD Open Day are to be confirmed.
Entrance requirements
Applicants will hold a good first degree and will normally be expected to have studied to MA or MFA level.
English Language requirement
All students whose first language is not English must reach a satisfactory level of proficiency in English language before starting their studies at the Slade. Various English language qualifications are acceptable. For the MPhil/PhD the Advanced level is required.
Registration
Successful applicants normally register in September.
Supervision
You are not expected to approach potential supervisors in advance of making the application to undertake research. However, Slade tutors’ profiles and research interests are listed on our people pages . It is strongly advised that applicants read our staff members’ profiles before your application is submitted. If there is a member of staff with whom you would particularly like to work, you may name them on the application form. Supervision by a specific tutor cannot be guaranteed at the application stage.
Secondary supervision is also available from renowned scholars and specialists from a range of departments at UCL.
For admission enquiries please email the Slade PGR Administrator, ( [email protected] ). Please note that, due to the number of applicants, we are unable to advise on proposals before you submit your application or to discuss who to nominate as a supervisor.
Application procedure for MPhil/PhD And Graduate Affiliate Research
All applicants for MPhil/PhD and Graduate Affiliate Research should apply online. Please note: applications are now closed for entry in Sept 2024.