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Art, Design and Architecture

Discover your research degree options, including areas of expertise for our academic supervisors.

Why you should join us

Our research degrees will help you advance or change your career, deepen your expertise, and expand your research and practical skills.

Work with renowned experts

In art and design, we are second in the UK for the power of our research (REF21).

Choose from flexible pathways

Study full or part-time, on campus or as a distance learner.

Undertake personal and professional training

The Postgraduate Arts and Humanities Centre has a tailored development programme for research students.

Benefit from our industry links

We have close relationships with galleries, museums, archives and creative professionals.

Join a thriving research community

We’ve pioneered practice-led research degrees since 1968.

Create with our outstanding facilities

Our multi-million pound facilities combine state-of-the-art and traditional techniques.

Our research areas

Discover our areas of expertise and browse our experts. We encourage you to discuss your research ideas with us – even if your topic is not listed.

  • Architecture and urbanism
  • Arts for health
  • Asian cultures
  • Contemporary ceramics and textile practice
  • Cultures of conflict
  • Curatorship
  • Design innovation and design futures
  • Digital arts and design
  • Drama, dance and performing arts
  • Heritage
  • Histories and theories of fine art
  • Interdisciplinary and collaborative industry approaches to practice
  • Photography
  • Short film
  • Socially and politically engaged cultural practices
  • Visual cultures
  • Visual social media

Qualifications you can study

You can do a research degree on campus or remotely through distance learning. Choose from one of these programmes:

  • PhD Art — three years full-time, six years part-time
  • PhD Design — three years full-time, six years part-time
  • PhD Architecture — three years full-time, six years part-time
  • MA by Research Art — one year full-time, two years part-time
  • MA by Research Design — one year full-time, three years part-time

Find out about the research degrees we offer.

Start dates

Most of our postgraduate researchers enrol in October. You can also join us in January and April.

Research with real-world impact

Discover our five research missions.

Go to research missions
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Application information

Entry Requirements

To apply, you’ll need a first or 2.1 honours degree, or an equivalent qualification.

International postgraduate researchers must have strong English language skills.

We welcome applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We’ll take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other relevant achievements into consideration.

Find out more about our standard entry requirements.

How to apply for a research degree

Discover the key steps in the application process.

Go to application guidance

Scholarships, fees and funding

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Scholarships

Discover financial support available to help with study costs.

Go to scholarships

Postgraduate research fees

What will your research degree cost?

Go to fees

Postgraduate research funding

Find out how to fund your research degree.

Go to funding

Speak to us

Contact us

About this subject

For an initial discussion, contact the relevant research degrees co-ordinator:

General admissions

For further information on the application process, contact the admissions team at pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk