Doctorate in Fine Art

About the course

The Doctorate in Fine Art (DFA) is aimed at practicing artists and art educators working in various Art & Design disciplines, including but not limited to:

• Painting
• Photography, film and video art
• Performance art
• Sculpture
• Applied arts
• Digital media art

The DFA is a structured doctorate that can be undertaken part-time using a combination of online and on-campus research activities and supervision. This allows candidates to study in their home countries and to attend at the University only once per year. Candidates can also choose to attend for blocks of full-time study at the University, thereby shortening the overall duration of their studies, and playing an active role in the university’s research community.

The course philosophy is that practice and research cannot be separated. Candidates will be expected to continue with their art practice and to bring this to bear upon the research questions in the professional doctorate. The research output will include a written thesis alongside an exhibited body of art practice.

The programme offers expert supervision for your personal projects, and leads to high level innovative practice and a sound understanding of the artist as researcher. Students will have access to fully equipped workshops and technical support, and will have opportunities to engage with established research communities while they are on campus. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Teaching methods

The course begins with a series of online study and research skills, which provide a thorough grounding in the philosophical and theoretical issues surrounding notions of so-called practice-based research and the relationship between academic and professional values. At the end of Year 1 when this Phase has been successfully completed, the candidate then undertakes an individual supervised research project in his or her own professional discipline. During this second Phase there are online study materials and structured learning experiences that guide the candidate towards the presentation of a comprehensive outline of the doctoral research. Once the second Phase has been successfully completed (normally during Year 3), the candidate focuses on the production of a written thesis and accompanying artefacts that communicate the content of the research project. Throughout the whole programme we expect both practice and theoretical research to be completely integrated.

Course experts

Dr Alana Jelinek

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Professor Grace Lees-Maffei

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Dr Laura Mee

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Dr Pat Simpson

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Rob Godman

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Ms Samantha Jury

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Dr Silvio Carta
Director of the Professional Doctorates in Fine Arts (DFA) and Design (DDes)

Professor Simeon Nelson

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Dr Steven Adams

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Professor Timothy Blinko

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What’s next for my career?

• Outcomes include both written thesis and artworks.
• Part-time doctorate that can be undertaken by candidates based overseas via a virtual research environment, with attendance on campus once a year.
• Directly addresses the international debate concerning the nature of research in creative areas.
• Equips candidates with a range of conceptual and practical skills.
• Structured assignments providing a thorough grounding in practice-led research and the relationship between academic and professional values individual supervised research in the candidate’s own area of professional expertise.
• Individual supervised research in the candidate’s own area of professional expertise.
• Leads to an internationally recognised UK doctorate in Fine Art.

Course fees

• Research degree fees for UK and EU students
• Research degree fees for international students