Research Policy & Strategy
Le Fresnoy is a postgraduate art and audio-visual school, in addition to being a production studio and a research centre. Research is prioritized within the institution’s aims but is not defined with reference to any specific discipline: rather methods and themes emerge from, and suited to, individual projects. Le Fresnoy describes this as ‘an ecosystem of initiatives. The institution has worked to find synchronicities between art, science and society, attracting funding to support this from several state and national bodies. Le Fresnoy works with a considerable number of associated laboratories and other partners, including those in the private sector. Research may result in new technological applications as well as artistic outputs. In its research, Le Fresnoy advances the role for new technologies in contemporary art, disseminating the results of research by its students and associated artists through public exhibitions, lectures and events.
Key research themes
Cinema, Digital arts, Digital technologies, Photography, Video
Awards Offered
Diploma of Le Fresnoy
Doctorate in création artistique (Phd in Artistic Creation)
Doctorat in études pratiques des arts (PhD in Arts Studies & Practices)
Degrees are validated by the Université de Lille, Université de Paris 8, Université de Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Assessment
Artwork (publicly exhibited in the annual ‘Panorama’)
Thesis
Defence in front of a jury of mixed constitution (academics/artists) (governed by regulations of partner universities)
External Examiners are appointed by supervisors
Forms of Output
Artwork
Short Thesis (to 150 pages)
Programme Structure
The standard postgraduate curriculum is 2 years.
For doctoral students, the programme is adapted as follows: the second year is postponed by one year, in order to produce a Fresnoy / University / Fresnoy / University alternation during the 4 years. Each year on the new incoming postgraduate programme (24 students), only 2 students will follow the doctoral course.
Whilst PhD research is structured according to the individual needs of particular projects, PhD students at Le Fresnoy have access to all the pedagogical support available to Diploma students and can participate in all scheduled events and seminars (including those on research methodologies).
Ethics and research methods classes are usually taken during the second year of doctoral study.
Undergraduate & Masters Research
Le Fresnoy is a research-led postgraduate institution and the curriculum reflects the embedded approach taken.
Qualification Framework
Provided by Partner University
Quality Assurance & Enhancement
Provided by Partner University
Supervision
Students are supervised by an academic member of staff at a partner University and at least one guest artist or external consultant engaged by Le Fresnoy.
Staffing
Student supervision is provided by guest artists and external consultants rather than permanent staff (students can have more than one supervisor with this profile).
Students are co-supervised by a member of staff at one of the partner Universities, who is expected to hold an HDR (Habilitié à Diriger des Recherches).
Student Admissions
The doctoral programme is only open to candidates who have passed the regular, competitive postgraduate admission examination: anyone (up to the age of 35) can submit an application for the entrance examination with a view to pursuing doctoral research. Candidates will have normally worked with the proposed teaching team to develop an application before submitting it. Proposals for Doctoral research at Le Fresnoy are expected to manifest a ‘speculative’ approach.
Those that are selected through Le Fresnoy’s internal process pass through the partner University’s standard selection procedure. The Université de Lille expects prospective students at Le Fresnoy to contact any potential co-supervisors directly.
There are currently 6 doctoral students.
Student Funding
Le Fresnoy funds a proportion of some doctoral students’ costs from a Ministry of Culture subsidy.
Doctoral students partnered with the University of Lille can apply for grants from the Ecole Doctorale and Région des Hauts-de-France.
Doctoral students partnered with UQAM receive a stipend and expenses to cover 8 months study in Montreal.
Student Support
Students use professional/commercial grade equipment under the direction of established artists. Residencies for scientific researchers allow them to work alongside students and embed their advice within the curriculum.