About

About the MPhil and PhD programmes

MPhil

The MPhil is a research degree in its own right and is examined wholly by a dissertation of not more than 60,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of two years' study, by part-time students after four years of study.

PhD

The PhD requires a dissertation of not more than 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study, by part-time students after six years of study. PhD students are initially enrolled provisionally, and confirmation of PhD enrolment will be considered by the Thesis Advisory Panel within eighteen months (for full-time students) or within three years (for part-time students).

Current research students

We have more than 40 research students in the Department of History of Art studying a wide variety of topics:

• Research students

Applicants

Applicants

Background

We welcome students from all backgrounds, with a great range of intellectual interests: students who seek an academic career, and those who require a further professional qualification; applicants who wish to extend their art-historical interests while pursuing other kinds of employment; and those who are seeking to develop an academic interest in their retirement.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a good 2.1 or 1st-class undergraduate degree, or equivalent; applicants for the PhD should also have or be currently completing an MA degree, and we normally require an MA dissertation mark, where one is awarded, of at least 65 or equivalent (where 50 is a bare pass and 70 or above is a distinction).

Exceptions can be made for mature applicants with substantial related experience.

Registration

Research students may register full-time (three years) or part-time (six years).

Residency

There is no residential requirement at York. PhD students who need to undertake research abroad or away from York may readily do so.

Most PhD students however choose to base themselves in York in order to participate in the wide range of research activities the department offers. These include research seminars, conferences, activities organized by our departmental research schools, study days and reading groups.

Students in York also take full advantage of resources such as the Raymond Burton Humanities Research Library and Borthwick Institute for Archives.

• Read more about resources available to students

Funding

A wide range of funding opportunities includes AHRC-funded studentships, departmental studentships, overseas scholarships, travel fellowships, and funding for students with specific research interests.

• Read more about available funding

Applying

Applying

Before applying

Prior to making an application, applicants are expected to consult other sections in this website for information on our areas of research and to contact potential supervisors to discuss the topic.

General enquiries are welcome at any time to the postgraduate administrator or the director of PhD studies, as appropriate.

Submitting an application

1. Application form

Applications can be submitted to the university online.

• Apply for graduate study

2. Transcripts and references

Beyond the application form, you will need to obtain official transcripts of any previous or current university-level study, plus two academic references, which may be included with your application or sent separately.

3. Research proposal

The most important aspect of the research degree application is the research proposal of around 350 words. Applicants should discuss their topic and proposal with potential supervisor(s) prior to submitting an application, to establish whether the topic appears viable and a supervisor is available. The potential supervisor may require written work or request a meeting with the applicant either prior to or after a formal application. Preliminary support from a potential supervisor is normally a prerequisite for application, although it does not guarantee admission.

Interview

Research degree applicants will normally be called for an interview at York with their potential supervisor and/or the director of PhD studies, either before or after submission of the application.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss the research proposal in depth, although the specific details will not be regarded as binding: applicants should be prepared to be flexible in adapting their interests to the sources and expertise available to them.

Overseas applicants may be asked to submit additional pieces of written work as an alternative to attending an interview, or they may be interviewed over the phone.

Deadline for applications

Research students normally begin their studies in October, but it is possible to commence at other points in the academic year, such as January, depending on circumstances. Thus the deadline for research degree applications is flexible.

Applicants planning to apply for AHRC or other funding should aim to submit their departmental application at least four weeks before the grant application deadline. Bear in mind that you may need to supply a more developed research proposal for grant applications than for admission to the department.

• More information on AHRC grants