Details

Thesis or Practice?

You have a choice. You can follow a more traditional programme of research assessed by thesis only. This means that you'll work towards the submission of an 80,000 word thesis. Alternatively you can undertake practice-based research integrating your own creative practice with theoretical or historical work. The beauty of our system is that we're flexible enough to get the right balance between the two for you.

The split between practical and written work will be decided by you and your supervisory team and ratified by a Learning Agreement when you commence your studies. The split can be in favour of your practice, potentially up to 80%, with 20% given to a written thesis of 16K words, or in favour of written work/reflection with an aspect of practice, i.e. 20/80 in favour of reflection, in which case you would produce a more contained practical project and a 60-70K word thesis or equivalent. Of course, any split between these two extremes is also possible.

Students embarking on doctoral research are, in the first instance, registered as 'probationary PhD students' and, subject to satisfactory progress, are later upgraded to full PhD candidates.

Training & Support

We are justifiably proud of the quality of support and research training that we offer all our postgraduate students. In addition to regular one-to-one tutorials with your primary supervisor and more occasional tutorials with a secondary supervisor, you'll also receive research training in the use of electronic bibliographic resources and software, and audiovisual material; contemporary aesthetics; and practical and analytical methods of research and interpretation. Our research students also participate in the Research Training Programme of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences which is geared towards providing generic research skills to support your research throughout your time at Lancaster . Students taking the doctoral programme are often, but not definitely, invited to teach first years on the undergraduate degrees.

Entry Requirements

• PhD: Upper second class honours degree AND a research-orientated masters degree in the chosen discipline pathway or a cognate discipline.
• PhD by practice: Applicants wishing to undertake practice-based research should also be prepared to demonstrate a high level of attainment in practice via a portfolio (in the case of computer music, design, visual art and music pathways), or via a DVD of excerpts of time-based art or performance works (in the case of dance, digital art, live art and theatre pathways), or exceptionally via an audition. Applicants for practice-based doctoral research in the dance, and theatre and performance pathways will be expected to provide clear evidence that their expertise and experience is already of an appropriate professional level, for instance by drawing attention to Arts Council grants, previous contracts with recognized and funded touring theatre companies, etc.

Language Requirements

Please note that if English is not your first language you are required to obtain an English language qualification that demonstrates ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Details of the English Language requirements can be found on the Lancaster University Postgraduate website.

Applicant Profile

The scheme will appeal to:

• students who are currently taking or who have already completed a master's degrees who want to progress to a doctoral scheme, typically with a view to developing careers as professional academics and lecturers.
• professional practitioners wanting to undertake high level cutting-edge practice-based research in a safe and virbrant 'laboratory' environment.
• staff in FEIs and the newer universities wanting to develop a research profile.

How to Apply

Applications to undertake a PhD at Lancaster are made directly to the university via our dedicated postgraduate admissions website. Online applications are available at MyLancaster admissions portal which provides full details of what you need to include with your application. These will usually include:

• transcripts of previous higher education (college/university) degrees or other courses that you have completed/for which you are currently studying. Note that, for transcripts in languages other than English, a certified English translation will be required.
• references.
• for those for whom English is not their first language, copies of English language test results.

Before you apply for a PhD, we are happy for you to get in touch with us and discuss your research ideas. A member of staff will talk about your research proposal with you, and advise you whether we have a member of staff with the appropriate background and expertise to supervise your research. Contact

Email address unavailable

for further information.

A crucial part of a PhD application is your research proposal. This helps us to identify appropriate supervisor(s) for your specialist area of research and assess your suitability for doctoral study. We have developed a PhD in Contemporary Arts Proposal Form which provides guidance and support for the development of your research proposal. This form enables you to specify which of the following discipline pathways you wish to pursue: Computer Music; Drama, Theatre and Performance; Dance; Design; Digital Arts; Fine Art; Interdisciplinary Arts; Live Art; Musicology, Music Performance and Composition.

Please complete the proposal form from and email to:

Email address unavailable

or post it directly to: Postgraduate Admissions, The LICA Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, United Kingdom.

Once your application has been reviewed and assessed for suitability to study at Lancaster, you will be contacted to discuss your application further. This usually takes the form of a formal interview with two or more staff where you will have the opportunity to discuss your research proposal, research training requirements, tour facilities, meet with current postgraduate students and explore funding opportunities. If you are an overseas applicant we can set up alternative interview arrangements (via telephone for example).

If you are applying for a PhD with practice-as-research (PaR), you must also submit with your proposal two copies of one of the following:

• a CD of art works lasting no more than 15 minutes (in the case of the Computer Music, Design, Fine Art, and Music performance pathways)
• a DVD lasting no more than 15 minutes of excerpts from time-based art or performance works (in the case of Dance, Digital Art, Live Art, and Theatre and Performance pathways)
• a short portfolio of compositions or scripts (in the case of the Music composition pathway or applicants wanting to pursue play- or performance writing within the Drama pathway). Please note that applicants for practice-based doctoral research in the Dance, and Theatre and Performance pathways will also be expected to provide clear evidence that their expertise and experience is already of an appropriate professional level, for instance by drawing attention to Arts Council grants, previous contracts with recognised theatre companies, etc.

Profiles