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What will I learn?

We welcome applications for PhD artistic research study in practice and theory. We can offer you an intellectually stimulating environment through the subject clusters of Media, Performing Arts, Art and Design. Our PhD programme gives you a freedom to pursue new and innovative ideas within and beyond these areas, guided by experienced and leading academics in the field and sector.

Why study for a research degree at Derby?

We are committed to research-led teaching and supporting the professional development of our students and academics at all stages of their career.

By joining our active and growing research community, you will be supported throughout your doctoral journey with our comprehensive training programme and a supervisory team from a relevant discipline allocated to you.

If you are a graduate with a strong interest in a chosen subject, you can undertake original research leading to the award of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. Our research degrees are awarded in recognition of a successful period of research training that normally culminates in the production of a thesis.

We offer different routes to a research degree:

PhD and PhD by published works
Full-time and part-time degrees
Online learning opportunities for some of our research degrees
Funded PhDs, which are advertised on our studentships page
We also offer professional doctorates

Studying for a PhD

To achieve your PhD, you will undertake independent research that makes a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding in your chosen field.

You will be matched with a minimum of two supervisors, forming your supervisory team, who are experienced in the field of your research interests. They will help you to refine your research project and produce a realistic research plan.

How long will a PhD take?

A PhD usually takes three years full-time and up to six years part-time. A PhD by published works is studied over one year full-time or two years part-time. In either case, you will graduate with the degree title Doctor of Philosophy.

The MPhil (Master of Philosophy) is a postgraduate research masters, which is essentially a smaller-scale PhD. It can be part of a PhD or a step toward one, but you can also study it as a standalone qualification. It usually takes a maximum of two years full-time or three years part-time for students to complete their research and submit their thesis for examination.

Which department am I in?

Humanities

Study options

Full Time (3 years)

Tuition fees
£14,500.00 (US$ 18,726) per year
The mentioned fee is for 2023/24 year entry. There might be a slight increase in 2024/25 year entry.

This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

September 2025

Venue

University of Derby

Kedleston Road,

Derby,

DE22 1GB, England

Entry requirements

For international students

We would normally expect you to have a First or Upper-Second (2:1) honours degree - and preferably a masters degree - from a UK university for entry on to our PhD programmes. We also accept qualifications and relevant experience that we consider to be equivalent. For research programmes, we require a minimum of IELTS (International English Language Testing System) level 7, with level 7 writing and a minimum level 6.5 in other elements (reading, speaking and listening). Please note that English language certificates are only valid for two years. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 100 overall, minimum 25 in writing and minimum 23 in each of the other skills

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About University of Derby

Students who choose the University of Derby receive an outstanding education delivered by expert academics, and a fantastic student experience.

  • Top 50 UK University (Guardian University Guide 2023)
  • Top 20 in the UK for teaching quality
  • Top 20 in the UK for overall student satisfaction (CUG 2024)
  • Best University Housing UK & Ireland

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