24 monthsProgramme duration
16,700 GBPTuition Fee/year
02 Jul, 2026Application Deadline
Jan, Apr, SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Degree
PhD
Study Level
PHD
Study Mode
On Campus
Our research degree will allow you to explore your own interests in fine art - from history of art to painting and printmaking - supported by the expertise of our staff at Cambridge School of Art.
Informed by your particular discipline, you’ll critically contextualise your work, clarifying both theoretical and practical research-based enquiries, and producing distinctive contributions to the research field.
You’ll be allocated two supervisors, with additional staff members available if necessary. Our supervisors are experienced in most areas of contemporary fine art, including recent issues in painting and the expanded field of contemporary practice; objects, installation and the virtual; interdisciplinary work with sound and video; performance art practices and their relationship to liveness and documentation; the interdisciplinary nature of printmaking; and landscape, mapping and ambulatory practices.
At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll be part of a vibrant and growing community of researchers at PhD level. We provide various research forums that accentuate the discursive and interdisciplinary nature of research, including the Fine Art Research Unit (FARU), which holds regular seminars and informal presentations for postgraduate and research students, and the StoryLab Research Group.
At our FARU sessions you can present your work-in-progress, as well as hearing staff-led papers and engaging in discussions on our current research and related topics. You’ll benefit from our strong links with institutions in the UK and abroad, including Kettle's Yard, Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and the Cambridgeshire Film Consortium; Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Camberwell College of Arts and Central St Martins in London; ERBA Valence and ENSA Bourges, France. You’ll also have access to many exhibition and conference opportunities.
Informed by your particular discipline, you’ll critically contextualise your work, clarifying both theoretical and practical research-based enquiries, and producing distinctive contributions to the research field.
You’ll be allocated two supervisors, with additional staff members available if necessary. Our supervisors are experienced in most areas of contemporary fine art, including recent issues in painting and the expanded field of contemporary practice; objects, installation and the virtual; interdisciplinary work with sound and video; performance art practices and their relationship to liveness and documentation; the interdisciplinary nature of printmaking; and landscape, mapping and ambulatory practices.
At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll be part of a vibrant and growing community of researchers at PhD level. We provide various research forums that accentuate the discursive and interdisciplinary nature of research, including the Fine Art Research Unit (FARU), which holds regular seminars and informal presentations for postgraduate and research students, and the StoryLab Research Group.
At our FARU sessions you can present your work-in-progress, as well as hearing staff-led papers and engaging in discussions on our current research and related topics. You’ll benefit from our strong links with institutions in the UK and abroad, including Kettle's Yard, Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and the Cambridgeshire Film Consortium; Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Camberwell College of Arts and Central St Martins in London; ERBA Valence and ENSA Bourges, France. You’ll also have access to many exhibition and conference opportunities.
Programme overview
Degree
PhD
Study Level
PHD
Study Mode
On Campus
Our research degree will allow you to explore your own interests in fine art - from history of art to painting and printmaking - supported by the expertise of our staff at Cambridge School of Art.
Informed by your particular discipline, you’ll critically contextualise your work, clarifying both theoretical and practical research-based enquiries, and producing distinctive contributions to the research field.
You’ll be allocated two supervisors, with additional staff members available if necessary. Our supervisors are experienced in most areas of contemporary fine art, including recent issues in painting and the expanded field of contemporary practice; objects, installation and the virtual; interdisciplinary work with sound and video; performance art practices and their relationship to liveness and documentation; the interdisciplinary nature of printmaking; and landscape, mapping and ambulatory practices.
At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll be part of a vibrant and growing community of researchers at PhD level. We provide various research forums that accentuate the discursive and interdisciplinary nature of research, including the Fine Art Research Unit (FARU), which holds regular seminars and informal presentations for postgraduate and research students, and the StoryLab Research Group.
At our FARU sessions you can present your work-in-progress, as well as hearing staff-led papers and engaging in discussions on our current research and related topics. You’ll benefit from our strong links with institutions in the UK and abroad, including Kettle's Yard, Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and the Cambridgeshire Film Consortium; Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Camberwell College of Arts and Central St Martins in London; ERBA Valence and ENSA Bourges, France. You’ll also have access to many exhibition and conference opportunities.
Informed by your particular discipline, you’ll critically contextualise your work, clarifying both theoretical and practical research-based enquiries, and producing distinctive contributions to the research field.
You’ll be allocated two supervisors, with additional staff members available if necessary. Our supervisors are experienced in most areas of contemporary fine art, including recent issues in painting and the expanded field of contemporary practice; objects, installation and the virtual; interdisciplinary work with sound and video; performance art practices and their relationship to liveness and documentation; the interdisciplinary nature of printmaking; and landscape, mapping and ambulatory practices.
At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll be part of a vibrant and growing community of researchers at PhD level. We provide various research forums that accentuate the discursive and interdisciplinary nature of research, including the Fine Art Research Unit (FARU), which holds regular seminars and informal presentations for postgraduate and research students, and the StoryLab Research Group.
At our FARU sessions you can present your work-in-progress, as well as hearing staff-led papers and engaging in discussions on our current research and related topics. You’ll benefit from our strong links with institutions in the UK and abroad, including Kettle's Yard, Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and the Cambridgeshire Film Consortium; Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Camberwell College of Arts and Central St Martins in London; ERBA Valence and ENSA Bourges, France. You’ll also have access to many exhibition and conference opportunities.
Admission Requirements
176+
120+
6.5+
61+
88+
MPhil or PhD with progression from MPhil: You’ll need a Bachelors degree or equivalent with first or upper second class honours, in a related subject area.
PhD: You’ll need a Masters degree or equivalent in a related subject area.
Please note we consider candidates for PhD with progression from MPhil in the first instance. If you want to be considered for direct entry to the PhD route then this can be discussed at interview if you are shortlisted. Please note you’ll also need to provide academic justification for this request.
You'll be required to submit a portfolio of your practical work to date as part of your application.
If English is not your first language, you'll require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent test). If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.
PhD: You’ll need a Masters degree or equivalent in a related subject area.
Please note we consider candidates for PhD with progression from MPhil in the first instance. If you want to be considered for direct entry to the PhD route then this can be discussed at interview if you are shortlisted. Please note you’ll also need to provide academic justification for this request.
You'll be required to submit a portfolio of your practical work to date as part of your application.
If English is not your first language, you'll require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent test). If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.
02 Jul 2026
2 Years
Jan
Apr
Tuition fees
Domestic
5,005 GBP
International
16,700 GBP
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