Overview
Our Fine Art/Art History research degrees at Newcastle involve:
- studio-based practice and research in Fine Art,
or
- research in Art History.
You’ll engage in independent practice and research, with research support from our academic supervisor team. This team can also include academic supervisors from other areas of the university when appropriate.
To complete a practice-led based PhD, you’ll produce a body of creative practice, together with a written text between 20,000 and 40,000 words.
A solely text-based Fine Art or Art History PhD would entail a thesis of between 80,000 – 100,000 words.
Both forms of the PhD should show evidence of originality and be suitable for publication.
All our staff are practicing artists and art historians. We offer supervision in a wide range of contemporary art practices:
- fine art
- digital cultures
- art history
As a PhD student you’ll also be allocated office or studio space.
We’ll support you to produce work and research that makes an important contribution to your field of practice, including:
- painting
- sculpture
- digital, sound and time-based art
- drawing
- performance
- photography
- printmaking
- installation
- film/moving image/video
- art writing
- art history
We encourage you to take advantage of the research and practice expertise of our fine art staff. Please ensure your research proposal is compatible with our expertise by reviewing our academic staff research interests
At the School of Arts and Cultures you can collaborate with theorists and practitioners from disciplines including:
- music
- digital media
- museum and heritage studies
- media and cultural studies
- film practice
You’ll benefit from the resources and opportunities available through the Institute for Creative Arts Practice. You’ll also have access to the expertise within Culture Lab. This is a multi-user digital media facility that supports interdisciplinary research at the interface of art, digital cultures, computing, humanities and science.
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Important information
We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 – 50,000 word thesis.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
How you’ll learn
The Fine Art MPhil can be practice-led or theoretical, with a final text submission of no more than 40,000 words, or an equivalent combination of studio practice and text. You are expected to complete your submission within two years full-time or four years part time.
The Fine Art PhD can be practice-led or solely text-based. The final submission for a practice-led PhD is a combination of an exhibition of creative work made over the period of study and a thesis. The thesis would typically be between 20,000 and 40,000 words. A text based PhD is submitted as a thesis of 80,000 words. The submission is expected to take place between three or four years of study full time, or six years part time.
For both research degrees you’ll be supported by a supervisory team, comprising at least two members of staff with expertise in your area. Your supervisory team can include expertise from across a wide range of disciplines within the School and University, as appropriate.
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Design or creative project
- Thesis
- Viva
The creative project will be in the form of an exhibition
Our mission is to help you:
- stay healthy, positive and feeling well
- overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
- get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
- carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
- understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules
We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.
You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:
- research and professional skills
- careers support
- wellbeing
- health and safety
- public engagement
- academic development
Find out more about our postgraduate research student support
Your development
You’ll be encouraged to attend and make presentations at our regular fine art postgraduate seminars. These sessions aim to enhance research skills and encourage intellectual and practical exchange between you and our academic staff and visiting artists. You can also engage with research across the University to increase your awareness of cross-disciplinary potential and impact potential of your own research.
Fine art staff will encourage and support you to present at national and international conferences. You’ll also be able to maintain and develop your professional career through exhibiting, networking and other activities.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme
Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:
- perform better as a researcher
- boost your career prospects
- broaden your impact
Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.
You’ll cover:
- techniques for effective research
- methods for better collaborative working
- essential professional standards and requirements
Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.
Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme
Doctoral training and partnerships
There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:
- Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
- Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:
- they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
- you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
- they’re often interdisciplinary
- your PhD may be funded
If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.
The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:
- Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 125 for Arts and Humanities – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 200 for Art and Design – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Check the government’s website for more information.
Facilities
School of Arts and Cultures
Our School is in the top five of all UK art schools. We’re concerned with the education and training of artists, together with the associated discourses around the practice, exhibition, history and theory of art.
We’re home to a wide variety of courses from music, media and cultural studies, digital media, and museum, gallery and heritage studies. We can offer you exciting possibilities for:
- collaboration
- interdisciplinary practice
- research
Learn more about the facilities available to you
Based in the heart of the city centre campus, the is consistently rated in the top five of all UK art schools.
We’re specifically concerned with the education and training of artists, together with the associated discourses around the practice, exhibition, history and theory of art.
We’re part of the School of Arts and Cultures, which is home to a wide variety of courses including:
- music
- media and cultural studies
- museum, gallery and heritage studies
- film
There is the potential for interdisciplinary practice, research and engagement within the School of Arts and Cultures, and through university centres such as:
- the Culture Lab
- the Institute for Creative Arts Practice
We provide dedicated and well-resourced workshops (all with full technical support) and student studios. We offer:
- purpose-built painting, sculpture, printmaking and digital media studios
- 24/7 access to the studios
- Wood, Metal, Casting, Digital, and Ceramics workshops
Our facilities also include:
- designated gallery and project spaces
- seminar rooms
- large lecture theatre
All students have the use of the award-winning Peter Robinson Library and computer clusters around the University.
We’re based in the same building as the Hatton Gallery. This is one of the largest exhibition spaces in North East England. It accommodates both student shows and large touring exhibitions. The Hatton’s permanent collection consists of works of art from five centuries and includes the Elterwater Merzbarn construction by Kurt Schwitters.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree or higher (or international equivalent), in a related subject. PhD applicants also require a Master’s degree at Merit standard or higher (or international equivalent). This requirement, in exceptional cases, may be wavered if you can demonstrate you have equivalent research skills.
