The Professional Doctorate in Fine Art is a practice based Research Degree programme. With its greater emphasis on practice it is more appropriate for many artists than a PhD. The aim of this programme is to enable students to develop and to demonstrate a high level of professional practice through their research and creative practice. The programme provides a critical dialogue linking theory with creative practice. The written element supports and reflects on the practice, which represents the main part of the original research.

• The Professional Doctorate in Fine Art is a unique programme in the UK which offers, beyond MA level, a higher degree in Fine Art research with the emphasis on studio practice with professional outcomes.
• The early part of the programme, as in a PhD, focuses on the registration of the student’s research proposal. The proposal underpins creative practice research, resulting in a final examination by exhibition, with a written report critically reflecting on the practice. The student is encouraged and expected to combine this research with professional practice in the public domain.
• The programme lasts 4 years (f/t) or 6 years (p/t).
• The student is supported throughout their programme of study by the programme leader. Each student is allocated a Director of Studies and a 2nd supervisor who have expertise in the student’s research field.
• The programme has a dedicated staff team who are all practicing artists or theoreticians, and the visiting artists programme draws upon artists of international reputation based in London.
• Students also receive tutorials from any member of the Fine Art staff team and, where appropriate, as part of the visiting artists programme and are encouraged to attend any part of the University’s many BA and MA lecture programmes relevant to their research.
• The doctorate is part of the Fine Art subject area, which is located at the Docklands Campus, close to City Airport. The Campus is visually and architecturally stunning and is served by the Docklands Light Railway, with Cyprus station being right on campus.

Students will need to attain a first degree to enter onto this programme; this should be a first or 2:1 degree classification. 
Students are accepted onto the programme with evidence of significant advanced and continuing sustained professional practice. Prospective students are also required to submit a proposal of study for their research at Doctoral level.

All applicants are interviewed with a portfolio of work by two members of staff. 

The same admissions criteria apply for part time students.

Exceptionally, applications are considered from overseas students without interview. In this case the application should be submitted with all necessary references, CV, clear research outline with evidence of practice in the form of a CD or electronic portfolio submission, and a telephone number so that a telephone interview can take place/application can be discussed if there are any points that need clarifying. At least two members of academic staff will review each application before a decision is made.

Applicants with either prior-certified learning or prior-experiential learning that closely matches the specified learning outcomes of the taught part of the programme may be able to claim exemption via agreed university procedures. No exemption can be claimed against the research part of the programme or in situations where a professional body excludes it.

Where English is not the applicant’s first language, a minimum IELTS Academic English, or such qualifications as our University deems comparable, score of 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in all components, is required at entry.  Such assessment of English language competence must normally have been undertaken no more than two years prior to application, though relevant and more recent study in a United Kingdom Higher Education Institution may be accepted as sufficient proof of ability.

Seminars, tutorials, workshops, visiting artists talks, technical demonstrations and exhibitions all support the student’s independent research and development of critical theory and practice.

Students undertake their independent research and studio practice and present work at work in progress seminars for discussion and debate.

External theorist, gallerists and artists contribute to seminars based around student work at exhibitions during the year.

Full time students are provided with studio spaces in the AVA building. Part-time students are not allocated studio space. All students have access to a full range of workshops including woodwork, sculpture, printmaking, Mac and PC labs, digital and analogue photography and film. Within Fine Art there is a thriving exhibition culture, centred on the AVA Gallery but including regular external student shows at a range of professional venues. There is an excellent library on the Docklands site, and all the other Learning Resources provided by UEL are available by negotiation.

The studio accommodation is in the purpose built School of Arts & Digital Industries (AVA) Building. The Campus is located close to the vibrant East London gallery scene, and East London’s renowned concentration of artist studios.  It is also within easy reach of Central London and its major international galleries and museums.

This Docklands area of London is also one of the liveliest examples of urban development in Europe, and our campus and the AVA building are a significant part of it.

FAM001 Fine Art Research Methodologies
Assessment of this 60-credit module is through submission of an essay (3,500 words) – 40% weighting and a portfolio/PowerPoint presentation – 60% weighting.  The pass mark is 50%.

FAM002 Personal & Professional Practice
Assessment of this 60-credit Personal Creative Practice module is through presentation of portfolio/PowerPoint presentation – 50% weighting and submission of a Professional Practice Project which is assessed by viewing the completed project and the report (2,000 words and images and supporting material) – 50% weighting.  The pass mark is 50%.

FAM005 Research Methodologies
Assessment of this module is through the presentation of the Research Proposal of 3 – 5,000 words plus visual material. This is confirmed by the MA Assessment Board after scrutiny by the external examiner for MA Fine Art. This proposal forms the basis of the registration document that is presented to the Research Degrees Subcommittee leading to registration on the Professional Doctorate

FAD001 Advanced Professional Practice
Assessment of this module is by oral presentation to the programme Leader, Director of Studies and 2nd supervisor. The pass mark is 60%.

Research undertaken in Years 3 and 4  is assessed by the final exhibition examination and the Doctoral Report (min 4000 word – max 8,000 words) at the end of Year 4. Each student has an oral examination (viva voce) with the external and internal examiners in the assessment exhibition.

Students who fail a module twice will be withdrawn from the programme. (Manual of General Regulations Part 3C)

All students must submit an Annual Monitoring Report. The progression of all Professional Doctorate students throughout their registration period is formally reviewed annually. The continuation of enrolled status as a student is dependent on the successful completion of an annual review.

Students who achieve 120 credits at Level M or D are eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art.

Professional practice is seen as an essential aspect of studio research and in the development of a career related to fine art practice.  It is an integral part of the doctorate and students undertake professional practice at points throughout their research programme.  Students undertake their professional practice in every area of professional activity; gallery exhibition and site-specific, residency, commission, publication and education. Students are encouraged to work independently in the public domain. All students complete the programme with professional profiles related specifically to their own research project and career ambitions.

Registration of the research component can only take place following a recommendation from the relevant School Research Degrees Sub-Committee to the university Research Degrees Subcommittee of the suitability of the candidate to undertake research, of the programme of research, of the supervision arrangements and of the research environment.  These approvals require appropriate academic judgement to be brought to bear on the viability of each research proposal. 

Candidates for a Professional Doctorate must successfully complete all assessed elements of their programme before the award of the degree can be made.

Once the research stage of the programme is reached progression will be formally reviewed annually by a Panel comprised of staff with appropriate academic and professional expertise who are independent of the candidate’s supervisory team.  The School Research Degrees Sub-Committee and the university Research Degrees Subcommittee monitor the reports from these Panels.

The examination of the research component of the Professional Doctorate has two stages: firstly the submission and preliminary assessment of the research; and secondly its defence by oral examination.

Through continuing professional practice students develop a wide understanding of the relationship between studio practice and professional activity. There are also opportunities to involve mentors and work-based experience during the research programme.

Frequently a Doctorate qualification is a requirement for University teaching, and the Professional Doctorate fulfils this requirement. Graduates have successfully taken academic positions at universities and colleges both in the UK and overseas. Graduates exhibit their work internationally and have received recognition in a large number of international competitions and exhibitions. Links, relevant to the student, are undertaken with institutions, museums, galleries, universities and schools during the programme of research.

The development of the proposal is supported by the Fine Art Research Methodologies module leader and tutor, the Programme Leader and supervisors. Research methods are consistently the subject of tutorial dialogue with the supervisors in the studio. Further support is offered by the visiting artists programme and external critique. Each student’s research is addressed individually and as it develops during the period of study. Technical support is either by workshop or by individual consultation.

Regular and planned individual tutorials take place with the Director of Studies, the 2nd Supervisor and students can request a tutorial from any member of the Fine At staff team

There is a timetabled seminar programme where students present work in progress and gain feedback from both their peers and members of staff.

All students present work at mid-year exhibitions and at an end of year Showcase exhibition.  Crits take place – often facilitated by an outside artist, curator, gallerist or critic.

There is a specialist subject librarian to support student’s research.

English Language and Dyslexia support is available as well a support for other learning needs.

The Graduate School is responsible for providing a focus to the support of our postgraduate research students and for our institution’s research and scholarly strategy.

Professional Doctorate students will have at least two and not normally more than three supervisors, who together demonstrate an appropriate range of academic and professional experience. One supervisor shall be the Director of studies, with responsibility to supervise the candidate on a regular and frequent basis.

There are opportunities to meet and discuss contemporary art with practitioners and theorists as an integral part of the programme in a number of locations and contexts; conferences, studio visits, gallery talks, visiting artist presentations, seminars and symposiums.

There are opportunities to show work in group exhibitions.