“Studying for my PhD prepared me for my current position as curator of contemporary art at the Museum of African Art in New York. The interdisciplinary nature of the graduate program in the School is unparalleled.”

Lisa Binder, Associate Curator, Museum of African Art, New York

The excellence of the School was recognised in the Government’s most recent Research Assessment Exercise, which placed the School first in the UK for its world-leading research.

Research degrees

There are 3 research degrees. The Masters by Research and the MPhil are taken over 2 years full-time (4 years part-time) and the PhD over 3 years full-time (6 years part-time). The School offers a lively and supportive environment.

Research and supervision

A multidisciplinary community of art historians, archaeologists, anthropologists and museum professionals span research subjects from prehistory to the present. The School’s distinctive concerns include the study of art, material and visual culture, as well as cultural heritage and museology. We welcome research applications in any of the areas represented by the faculty interests. Approaches may be established or innovative, with a focus on artefacts and/or theory.

Research culture

The School is located in the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. Designed by Norman Foster, the Sainsbury Centre is ‘perhaps the greatest resource of its type on any British campus’ (Times Good University Guide, 2005). Under one roof, it provides a range of resources for students in the School, including the Robert Sainsbury Library, an extensive photographic collection, the renowned Sainsbury collection of art, dedicated student computing facilities, and relaxing light-filled communal areas which bring students and staff together in an informal environment. There is a weekly World Art Research Seminar, and regular conferences addressed by speakers from around the globe. Graduate students in the School also organize an annual 1-day symposium in the spring semester.

The School is a member of the Sainsbury Institute for Art which is dedicated to the study and appreciation of art across time and cultures and comprises the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, the Sainsbury Research Unit for the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, and the School of World Art Studies and Museology. Together they provide a unique and dynamic combination of disciplinary perspectives, expertise and activities that are at the forefront of research, innovative approaches to education, and public engagement.

The School also has active links with Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service. It benefits from the thriving arts and culture scene in Norwich, which hosts the largest contemporary art festival outside London (Contemporary Art Norwich) and the annual Norwich and Norfolk Festival. Norwich has a number of museums, galleries and arts centres, including the Castle Museum and Art Gallery located in the city’s Norman castle. The Norwich University College of the Arts is a leading educational centre for fine arts, design and media, which has many links with the School. And Norwich is home not only to the 12th-century cathedral but also to 36 medieval parish churches – more than any other city in northern Europe.

Enquiries and how to apply

The School welcomes research enquiries from prospective students. Please contact individual academics or Professor Sandy Heslop, the School’s Postgraduate Research Director, to discuss your proposal.

For admissions enquiries and general information contact the PGR Office:
Telephone: +44 (0)1603 591709; pgr.enquiries.admiss@uea.ac.uk 

How to apply
Studentships