MPhil/PhD
Art Practice & Learning

You'll research

The outcomes of the practice research will consist of a practice component with a written thesis of which together articulate a coherent and integrated research study in which both components are viewed equally as contributing to the research. The written component must be able to demonstrate a clearly articulated research project and a rigorous theoretical engagement with the research focus, drawing upon, analysing and applying relevant literature.

The practice component must demonstrate an exploration and articulation of the practice research focus that draws upon domains of practice including visual or other practices to inform the research. The practice is not an 'illustration' to the written thesis.

The practice and written thesis should be appropriate to the inquiry and should be considered to complement and support each other and the research question(s) that govern the submission as a whole, including the length of the written thesis and the presentation of the practice.

The written thesis and the practice will be submitted concurrently and examined as a whole. The practice component could, for example, take the form of an exhibition(s), a film/video (approximately one hour in length), an installation, a web-based production, a performances, socially engaged work, sonic work or performance.

Supervision

You will be allocated two supervisors within the Department of Educational Studies but joint supervision with colleagues in other departments who have expertise relevant to your research may also be possible.

You'll be expected to attend Department research training and College research training and to participate whenever possible in Department research centre meetings.

Resources

The Department of Educational Studies has the theoretical and practical resources to support research, and it is able to draw upon important alliances and relations with cultural institutions that it has worked over many years, including, for example, Tate, Whitechapel Gallery, Showroom Gallery, 198 Gallery and Iniva.

The programme draws upon a team of dedicated staff in the Department of Educational Studies that is committed to developing this research.

Assessment

You will be assessed on a written thesis of between 30,000-70,000 words with practice, negotiated with the supervisor(s) and approved by Departmental PGR Committee, appropriate to the terms of the research.

The practice is not an 'illustration' of the written thesis. The practice and written thesis should be appropriate to the inquiry and should be considered to complement and support each other and the research question(s) that govern the submission as a whole, including the length of the written thesis and the presentation of the practice. The written thesis and practice will be submitted concurrently and examined as a whole.

How to apply

Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system

Before submitting your application you'll need to have: 

• Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
• The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
• Contact details of a second referee
• A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
• If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
• Details of your research proposal

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Before you apply for a research programme, we advise you to get in touch with the programme contact, listed above. It may also be possible to arrange an advisory meeting (if appropriate).

Before you start at Goldsmiths, the actual topic of your research has to be agreed with your proposed supervisor, who will be a member of staff active in your general field of research. The choice of topic may be influenced by the current research in the department or the requirements of an external funding body. 

If you wish to study on a part-time basis, you should also indicate how many hours a week you intend to devote to research, whether this will be at evenings or weekends, and for how many hours each day.

Research proposals

Along with your the application details requested and an academic reference, you should also upload a research proposal and a portfolio as a PDF or URL of your practice.

This proposal should be in the form of a statement of the proposed area of research and should include:

• Delineation of how you would approach the research topic, with reference to both academic sources and art works providing context to your practice
• Your rationale for the proposal - why you are interested in researching this area
• An initial focus, problem you wish to explore or research question
• How practice with theory are appropriate to your inquiry and how they will complement and support each other in benefitting learners at the gallery
• References to academic sources including practice research
• Up to 10 images, sound, film etc of your practice as part of your application. The images can be of present and/or past work/events/installation etc that are relevant to your research proposal

See our guidance on writing a research proposal.

When to apply 

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification. 

If you're applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the deadline they've specified. 

Selection process 

You may be invited to an interview where you will be asked to further expand on your practice research focus and its theoretical framing as well as your recent arts practice of applicants.

Find out more about applying.