MRes Arts

The Arts MRes course offers you the opportunity to undertake a closely-supervised piece of original research within the broad spectrum of visual and material culture, including Fine Art practice, historical or theoretical studies in art, design, architecture, fashion, film, television, visual digital media or performance, while developing the skills to become an independent, critical, and innovative thinker, maker, and Arts researcher.

You will undertake a specialist research project, based upon your own focused proposal, which may be subject-specific or span multiple arts disciplines.

The centrepiece of the Arts MRes is an 20000-word Dissertation or body of practical work + 10000-word Dissertation.

This is supported by a framework of three modules, which provide expert knowledge and understanding of appropriate research methods to employ in your project, the wider critical contexts relating to your subject, and how to develop and communicate your research. The programme will enable you to position your research within a wider scholarly field, and furnish you with professional skills such as communication, self-management and planning, preparing you for doctoral study or further career advancement.

Graduates of the Arts MRes have proven that they can undertake independent research to a high academic standard. They have demonstrated intellectual curiosity, sophisticated critical thinking and discernment in their investigation, evaluation and interpretation of many types of research materials.

A Masters of Research also develops transferable professional skills of communication, the ability to present intellectually complex information over written, verbal or visual platforms, time and resource management, and professional independence. In directing an individual research project from initial proposal to finished thesis, and through organising an academic symposium with others from different disciplines, MRes students develop a host of skills relating to project organisation, teamwork, marketing, using communication platforms, and event management.

The Arts MRes is an ideal way to develop a set of impressive outlooks, attributes and skills, which are directly transferable, whether you wish to pursue further academic research at doctoral level, or build a career in the cultural professions or education.

The Arts MRes is well established as a bridge between undergraduate or postgraduate study and focussed Doctoral research. It can also stand alone as an important step in career development.

Through carrying out a focused project of independent research, MRes Arts students develop skills ideally suited to careers in the contextualisation, communication or promotion of visual and material culture. Whether developing careers in academia, education, curating, cultural management, community engagement, traditional and digital media publishing, or creative practice, MRes graduates possess a directly relevant qualification and skill set to push their ambitions forward.

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject. Applicants with appropriate work experience and/or a relevant professional qualification will be considered. 

Applicants are required to submit a statement of their proposed area of study in order to identify a suitable supervisor.