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3rd
Cycle

3rd Cycle in the Arts

This is an international database of 3rd cycle awards in the European Higher Arts Education Area, developed within the Creator Doctus project (2018-2021), to identify possible examples of practice in developing and supporting artistic research.

in
the
Arts

Dublin School of Creative Arts, Technological University (TU) Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Awards

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Established

2008

Research Policy & Strategy

The Technological University (TU) Dublin regards itself as a global, practice-based, research-informed institution. It defines research as ‘creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge of humanity, culture and society and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications’. Research many be orientated towards commercial, industrial and third sector needs, generating new ideas and insights, images, performances, artefacts, materials, products, pedagogies and processes. The public dissemination of the results of research is implied. It has a comprehensive research strategy which has benefitted from EU funding through, for example, Horizon 2020, Marie Curie ITN, Minerva, Erasmus + and support from, for example, Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Research Council. TU Dublin has four main research themes – Information, Communication, Technology & Media (ICTM) ; New Materials; Environment, Energy & Health; Society, Culture & Enterprise (SCE). Research in the Dublin School of Creative Arts itself is structured around ICTM and SCE. Its 3rdcycle provision is administered through the Graduate School of Creative Arts & Media (GradCAM) and it hopes to establish a Research Centre in Creative Arts. GradCAM works in close collaboration with international networks and institutions such as Nordic Artistic Network, Institut de Recherche et Innovation Paris. It sees itself as a ‘permeable institution of enquiry that facilitates, promotes and leads the interaction between cultural practice, educational practice and the everyday world of work and innovation beyond the academy.’ It is a framework for interdisciplinary dialogue, and a shared space of structured doctoral studies and research support – something it terms ‘fourth level’ education.

Awards Offered

PGDip

MPhil

MRes

PhD

Degrees are validated by the Technological University of Dublin.

Assessment

Thesis (80,000 words)

Artwork (including performance)

Viva

An external examiner is involved in assessment and will be a subject expert and experienced supervisor.

Forms of Output

Exhibition, Performance, Film, Concert

Programme Structure

MPhil Full-time 2 years

PhD Full-time 4 years

Part-time study is offered on a modular basis.

Students may transfer from MPhil to PhD following a successful confirmation examination. Formal annual reviews characterise the programme structure for both MPhil and PhD. The programme is structured around research seminars, research training (skills workshops and a workshop series on ‘epistemic practices’ and ethics); master-classes with international scholars and visitors; collaborative projects, placements and internships; symposia; international exchange programmes.

Undergraduate & Masters Research

BA includes a compulsory module in Dissertation Preparation that includes research methods.

MA includes a specific Research Methods module.

Qualification Framework

National

Quality Assurance & Enhancement

Governed by the regulations of TU Dublin.

Supervision

Students work with 2 supervisors.

Full-time supervisors are allocated 2 hours/week for supervision.

Supervision includes group seminars and reading groups.

Staffing

DSCA provides a PhD supervision module for staff. 25% of staff engaged in supervision hold a 3rdcycle award, and 50% of academic staff in the institution are engaged in both teaching and research.

Student Admissions

Prospective students submit a research proposal and undertake an interview.

There are approx. 90 3rdcycle students across Art, Media, Music & Design, with 12 students in the last 5 years completing.

Student Funding

State Scholarships

Institutional Scholarships

Student Support

Aside from scholarships covering tuition and fee waivers, students are offered support to travel to conferences.

Additional Information

Practice-based research is fully supported.

Links

3rd Cycle in the Arts

This is an international database of 3rd cycle awards in the European Higher Arts Education Area, developed within the Creator Doctus project (2018-2021), to identify possible examples of practice in developing and supporting artistic research.