Developing a PhD at Reading School of Art

How we help you

Whether you have a clear research direction or just some emerging ideas, we can help you shape, strengthen and refine a PhD proposal.

We generally offer feedback on your proposal and can meet with you to discuss the first draft if desired. We have many areas of expertise and specialism, and can support research in other areas as well. We also encourage practice-based PhDs.

Our areas of expertise and specialism

Key areas of focus include:

exhibition practice
curation
publication projects
critical art writing
experimental film and video
performance.

These are all underpinned by an emphasis on digital technologies as a format for the production, dispersion and interpretation of art.

Other specialisms include:

post-colonialism
de-colonisation
artist films
performance and subjectivity
theories of labour
feminism
radical art pedagogy.

While many students develop research proposals whose outcome will be a fully written thesis, we also support research that incorporates elements of art practice combined with critical reflection.

Get in touch with the School so we can help you develop your proposal. Find out how to apply for a PhD

PhD supervision

Through the expert PhD supervision we offer, we seek to ensure that the time you spend with us as a doctoral student is as rewarding as possible.

Our academic staff are leaders in their areas of research and many have extensive experience as art practitioners.

Find out more about our staff and the areas of postgraduate research that they supervise

Our research

The School makes a distinctive contribution to knowledge through practice-led, theoretical and art historical modes of enquiry.

Our doctoral students, academic researchers, research fellows and post-doctoral research assistants work on art research and knowledge transfer with everyday relevance.

Learn more about our research areas, and current and past projects