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Slade School of Fine Art MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

£6,035

£3,015

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)

£28,100

£14,050

Duration

3 calendar years

5 calendar years

Programme starts

September 2024

Applications accepted

All applicants: 28 Aug – 02 Oct 2023

Applications closed

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree or its overseas equivalent and will normally be expected to have studied to UK Master’s level, or its overseas equivalent, in either fine art or in art history/theoretical studies.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

All Slade staff supervisors are practising artists or writers involved in research. An account of their research interests and expertise is available on the Slade website where you will also find the Slade research strategy and our research priorities for the next five years.

We also encourage cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary research with other faculties and departments across UCL and external institutions, including those within the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP), through research clusters, events and joint supervision. Slade doctoral students actively extend the remit of fine art research through institutional collaboration and contribute to the wider culture through their public art practice, writing, curating and academic careers.

Doctoral researchers also benefit from the Slade's central London location and proximity to other external research institutions, galleries and museums. Practice-led students in full-time attendance are allocated shared studio space and all students have access to workshop facilities.

The Slade sits within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, ranked 6th in the THE World University Rankings 2023 by subject: arts and humanities.

Who this course is for

The Research Degree: Slade School of Fine Art is for applicants who have completed a period of postgraduate study and practice in fine art and are now seeking to develop their practice as research at an advanced level in a specific area of fine art.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

Primary supervisors are drawn from school 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 across UCL and partner LAHP institutions.

Students have access to the School-wide lecture and visiting artists programme, and research groups across UCL, including the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), plus doctoral events organised by LAHP institutions.

The Slade offers PhD students the opportunity to work as postgraduate teaching assistants (PGTA) on the BA Fine Art, BFA Fine Art and the interdisciplinary BASc programme in UCL Arts & Sciences. These Teaching Assistantships are supported by training and mentoring at the Slade and UCL Arena. They are available to apply to on a competitive basis.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

The UCL Slade School of Fine Art doctoral programme aims to develop research potential and graduates go on to further their careers as professional artists, many receiving important public and private commissions, gaining gallery representation, winning major prizes and international artist residencies, as well as developing new artist-led initiatives worldwide. Others have published their thesis as a monograph and taken on roles in related careers, including curating, museum and gallery management, education, and many other roles within the creative industries both within the UK and internationally.

Employability

Students graduating from the UCL Slade School of Fine Art doctoral research programme during the last ten years have furthered their careers in the following ways: as professional artists through exhibiting and taking up residencies internationally; establishing profiles as curators; publishing their writing as monographs and journal entries; continuing on to postdoctoral fellowships and progressing in academic careers. News and achievements of current doctoral students and alumni are detailed on the news section of the Slade website.

Networking

Final-year PhD researchers are offered the opportunity to take part in the UCL Slade School of Fine Art Graduate Degree Shows, which are very well attended by gallerists, curators, critics and art collectors, providing an excellent public exhibition forum for graduates to showcase their work. The Slade is a member of the European Art Research Network (EARN) of fine art doctoral programmes, allowing research students the opportunity to attend annual events and engage in EARN research themes, in particular issues of sustainability.

Teaching and learning

Doctoral research is independent and driven primarily through the work you do with your supervisory team. You are required to meet with your supervisory team regularly.

Supervisory Team

Practice-led: A primary supervisor is appointed from among Slade staff to direct the research project and a secondary supervisor is appointed to co-supervise. This secondary supervisor may be from the Slade, another department within UCL, or a London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) institution where appropriate. We may also appoint a third supervisor where a further specialist is required.
Practice-related: A primary supervisor is appointed from among Slade staff to direct the research project and a secondary supervisor is appointed to co-supervise the written thesis. This secondary supervisor may be from the Slade, another department within UCL, or a LAHP institution where appropriate. A studio supervisor is also appointed from within the Slade.
Written thesis only: A primary supervisor is appointed from among Slade staff to direct the research project and a secondary supervisor is appointed to co-supervise the written thesis. This secondary supervisor may be from the Slade, another department within UCL, or a LAHP institution where appropriate.

Throughout your degree, you are required to do the following:

Continually update and maintain your UCL Research Log
Regularly engage in PhD Supervision with members of your supervisory team
Complete a Supervision Report after each supervisory session, uploading this to your Research Log
Complete appropriate Doctoral Skills Training, including (but not limited to) the training provided by the UCL Doctoral School Skills Programme
Complete an Annual Progress Report and Related Submission, uploading this to your Research Log.

Alongside your independent research and programme of supervision, full-time doctoral researchers and part-time doctoral researchers (pro rata) are required by UCL to attend, take part and engage with the skills training programme organised by UCL Doctoral School.

The UCL Doctoral School Skills Development Programme offers a range of courses that address the following: research skills and techniques, management of the student’s research, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and team working and career management.

Upgrade: Initially doctoral researchers are registered for the MPhil degree. If they wish to proceed to a PhD, the registration must be changed accordingly through a process of upgrading from MPhil to PhD.

Move to Completing Research Status (CRS): Doctoral researchers must be registered for at least three calendar years full-time, or five calendar years part-time, before they will be eligible to adopt CRS.

Final Examination: A doctoral researcher must submit their thesis for examination before the end of their CRS period. The examination will then be conducted by viva.

Research students’ attendance is not formally monitored; however, it is expected that their research time mirrors that of staff engagement as closely as possible. It is therefore recommended that full-time research equates roughly to 36.5 hours per week; this should be pro-rata for part-time research students, which is not normally less than 50% of the full-time equivalent (FTE). If a student has external funding, they should also ensure they meet the Terms & Conditions of their funder in this regard.

Research areas and structure

The Slade School of Fine Art offers a choice between the following three options within the PhD programme:

Practice-led: a thesis of practice-based work and a written report of 15,000–40,000 words
Practice-related: a written thesis of 60,000–80,000 words with practice-based work
Written thesis only: a written thesis of 80,000–100,000 words.

Our focus is on the main research themes within the Slade School, as indicated by the range of supervisors’ research, and on interdisciplinary research between fine art and other disciplines. Students are encouraged to explore a diversity of research outputs including exhibitions, events, performances, collaborations, publications and conferences and to share their work with researchers across UCL and LAHP, and the wider public at both a national and international level.

Research environment

We aim to enable doctoral researchers to carry out advanced practice-based research in fine art. We place great emphasis on interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary connections, and Slade researchers network regularly with doctoral researchers across UCL and the London Arts & Humanities Partnership (LAHP). You will also be encouraged to join research centres and networks relevant to your specific topic within and external to UCL, and to organise research events using funding through UCL Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) and the Global Challenge Scheme.

You will initially register for an MPhil with a team of two or three supervisors, depending on the option followed and the specialist supervision required. The Slade offers three options:

1) written only thesis (80,000-100,000 words)

2) practice-related: studio work and written thesis (60,000-80,000 words)

3) practice-led: a thesis of studio work plus a written report (15,000-40,000 words).

You will be required to attend a bi-weekly PhD Forum that concentrates on the communication of your research and to make a formal presentation three times during the course of your research, including upgrade. In addition, there is the opportunity to attend seminars, workshops and reading groups, focusing on different research themes organised by students or staff and responding to critical issues.

You will have access to all workshop facilities at the Slade and may join any visitor’s talk across the School, including Slade staff talks. We recommend that you attend the weekly all-School Contemporary Art Lecture. You will be actively encouraged to seek out research events across UCL and LAHP that are relevant to your specific research and also to engage in Slade cross-School events.

You will be invited to apply for Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA) positions on a competitive basis, working with Slade undergraduates, and we aim to give every doctoral researcher experience of teaching. Feedback and peer review of your teaching is conducted by the Head of Undergraduate Studies, Head of History and Theory of Art, and the PGTA tutor.

You will register for an MPhil with a team of two or three supervisors, depending on the option followed and specialist supervision required. The Slade offers three options:

1) written only thesis (80,000-100,000 words)

2) practice-related: studio work and written thesis (60,000-80,000 words)

3) practice-led: a thesis of studio work plus a written report (15,000-40,000 words).

You will be required to attend (pro-rata for part-time) a PhD Forum that concentrates on the communication of your research and to make a formal presentation three times during the course of your research, including upgrade. In addition, there is the opportunity to attend seminars, workshops and reading groups, focusing on different research themese organised by students or staff and responding to critical issues.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£6,035	£3,015
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£28,100	£14,050

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

The Slade has a media store where media equipment can be borrowed. You will need to supply your own materials, including for the final viva examination and materials for the degree show, if you choose to take part. You will also need to pay for entry to any galleries or shows.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

As a member of the London Arts & Humanities Partnership (LAHP), funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), applicants may be able to apply for funding for studentships. For further information and eligibility requirements, please see the LAHP website. Slade students may also be nominated for UCL's Graduate Research Scholarship (GRS) and the Overseas Research Scholarship (ORS).

Each year, the Slade offers several Jean Spencer and Malcolm Hughes Bursaries. These awards of up to £500 enable students to further their research by funding travel and participation in projects and conferences. Awards are made on a competitive basis. More information about funding opportunities can be found on the Slade website.

Doctoral students may also apply to UCL Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) and UCL Grand Challenges for funding for interdisciplinary research and to hold associated events.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: Quirk PhD Scholarship

Deadline: 26 January 2024

Value: Fees and maintenance (3yrs)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Applicants will be asked to upload the following supporting documentation:

Applications will be evaluated on the following basis:

Clear Research Project - does the research proposal demonstrate a clear and definable research project that can be realised within 3 years (full-time) or 5 years (part-time)?

Question, Concern, Problematic + Method - does the project demonstrate the ambition to identify and address a question, deep concern or problematic, and propose a convincing method for pursuing this?

Contribution to Knowledge - will the proposed research make an original contribution to knowledge and/or will it challenge existing knowledge formations?

Practice - are the examples of high quality practice?

Writing - is the writing sample of high quality?

Supervisory Match - is there a clear supervisory match with available supervisors?

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.