Art and Design

Entry requirements

For MPhil

• First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or an approved equivalent award

or

• Research or professional experience which has resulted in appropriate evidence of achievement

For PhD

• Postgraduate Masters Degree in a discipline which is appropriate to the proposed programme of study

or

• First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent award in an appropriate discipline

or

• Research or professional experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of achievement

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

We welcome applications to undertake research towards MPhil and PhD degrees in Art and Design.

Research at Worcester has grown significantly in recent years. We aim to produce research that is distinctive, socially and culturally relevant, and that influences national agendas. We continually strive to develop new areas of research excellence while, in certain areas, our work has already been acknowledged as world-leading.

The Illustration team have wide ranging expertise in illustration and popular image culture, including book illustration, street literature, narrative illustration and the cultural history of illustration. Our staff have particular expertise in Performance, Sound Art, and Installation.

Key features

• Benefit from the International Centre for the Picture Book in Society and the peer reviewed Journal of Illustration, which are both based at the University of Worcester
• Available as a full-time or part-time course (completed over a maximum of six years)
• Students are allocated a pathway appropriate to their research experience and background
• All students are offered a wide range of optional training workshops throughout the programme, focused around a range of themes

The School of Arts

The School of Arts has a strong mix of academics with a high degree of professional and personal experience, enabling you to get the most out of your programme. Our staff have particular expertise in Performance, Sound Art, and Installation. The International Centre for the Picture Book in Society and the peer reviewed Journal of Illustration are both based at the University of Worcester. The Illustration team have wide ranging expertise in illustration and popular image culture, including book illustration, street literature, narrative illustration and the cultural history of illustration.

Current MPhil/PhD research projects in Art include an investigation into the application of systemized colour arrangements to apprehend visual structures in narrative painting.

Careers

All students engage with our Researcher Development Programme (RDP). The RDP aims to develop and enhance the skills, both generic and specific, that you will need to complete your research degree but also to become an effective researcher. The RDP is organised around thematic clusters, consisting of modules, and workshops, delivered face-to-face by subject specialists from across the University and the dedicated Researcher Development Team, or online through our virtual learning environment.

As part of the RDP, you will complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods (PG Cert). All students must complete the PG Cert in order to progress on their MPhil/PhD Programme. The PG Cert is strongly focused on developing your programme of research, starting from establishing your development needs, and preparing you for the planning and subsequent delivery of your programme of research.

Full-time students will complete the PG Cert in 12 months and part-time students in 24 months.

Information for international students

Any applicants whose first language is not English or who have not been educated wholly or mainly in the medium of English must reach a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 with a score of 7 in writing (or equivalent in an approved test in English) or otherwise demonstrate that they have an adequate command of both written and spoken English before starting a programme.