Research Degrees in
in the Manchester School of Art
Do you want to advance or change your career, deepen your expertise in a topic, or expand your research and practical skills?
With a PhD or other postgraduate research degree in the areas of Art, Design and Architecture you will:
We can supervise projects on the practices, professions, histories and theories of art, design, media and architecture. We have particular strengths in:
We particularly welcome projects that cross disciplines and approaches.
Research is an integral part of the School of Art and our thriving community of researchers consistently demonstrate how innovative research can engage with the major cultural and social issues of the day.
You will join a creative team of researchers who are practising professionals within their fields: exhibiting in major galleries worldwide; engaging with communities to enrich their lives; influencing national policy; and exploring new ways of expression through digital technologies.
Our postgraduate researchers are a key part of our social and intellectual environment. You will be a member of our Postgraduate Arts and Humanities Centre (PAHC). PAHC is a dedicated forum for postgraduate students in the Arts and Humanities. It provides:
Find out more about the different research degrees we offer
The majority of our students enrol in October. We offer further enrolment points in January and April.
Research degrees are available to study on-campus or through distance learning.
Postgraduate research allows you to enhance your own professional practice, or to develop the skills and expertise to pursue new creative pathways.
Our research programmes also equip you with advanced research skills and a deep understanding of how society and culture work. These skills and expertise enable you to pursue senior roles in academia, the cultural industries, the creative sectors, or a range of areas.
This course is research based. You will independently conduct research into your own topic or a topic that we advertise. Your supervisory team will offer expert guidance throughout your studies and review work in progress.
Each year, you will follow a programme of training and development to enhance your research methods, subject-matter expertise and professional skills.
Please refer to our Fees page for more information about tuition fees.
Many of our PhD and Professional Doctorate programmes are eligible for the government's Doctoral Loan Scheme. MPhil and MA/MSc by Research degrees are eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.
Each year we offer a number of competitive scholarships to support high quality research projects. Current scholarship opportunities in Art, Design and Architecture are advertised on our site.
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We are a member of the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership which allows us to offer fully funded scholarships in the Arts and Humanities. Contact us for more information.
You should, as a minimum, have a first or 2.1 honours degree or an equivalent qualification.
International students must demonstrate a sufficiently high standard of English language ability. In order to enter most postgraduate courses the English requirements are IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 575, and TOEFL computer-based 230.
We welcome interest from applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We will take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment into consideration.
See more about our standard entry requirements.
Before applying for a research degree, you should have a preliminary discussion with a member of staff about your project and ideas. To arrange this, please email:
For further information on the application process, contact PGR Admissions at pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk.
To apply for this degree, please select one of the study options below to begin your application.
Before you apply, you should discuss your project with a member of academic staff. You should also complete the postgraduate research degree thesis proposal form, which you will need to upload as part of your application. The document can be attached at the final checklist section after you’ve submitted your application.