Transart Institute - International low-residency MFA & PhD in Art & New Media

All research degrees will be assessed by means of a written thesis and an oral defence (viva voce examination). Candidates may undertake a programme of research in which creative work forms a significant part of the intellectual enquiry (practice-based). In such cases, assessment may include a presentation in addition to the other elements of assessment (thesis and viva voce examination) or candidates may undertake a programme of research of which the principal focus is the preparation of a scholarly edition of a text or texts, musical or choreographical work or other original artefacts. Candidates whose work forms part of a wider group project may register for a research degree but each registered project must be distinguishable for the purposes of assessment. All research students shall undertake a programme of related studies, where it is deemed necessary, in order to gain competence in appropriate research methods and related knowledge of the subject of the thesis.

MEMBERS

Professor Mick Fuller

Director of Graduate Studies and Head of the Graduate School

To ensure the effective application of quality assurance processes in relation to the supervision of research students, the monitoring of progression and completion of research degrees, liaison with University Support Services on postgraduate matters and Associate Deans (Postgraduate), management of facilities provided by the Graduate School for postgraduate students, provision of an induction and skills development programme, support for new graduate initiatives where appropriate.

Program Liaison (Link Tutors)

Dr. Sarah Bennett, Programme Leader MA Fine Art, Subject Leader Fine Art, University of Plymouth

Dr Geoff Cox, Reader in Art & Technology, School of Art & Media, University of Plymouth

Acting as a liaison between Transart Institute and University of Plymouth

Heads of School (Directors)

Klaus Knoll, PhD

Cella, MFA

The final decision concerning issues raised at local level normally rests with the Heads of School.

Director of Studies

Your Director of Studies are faculty from the Transart Institute who will be your main contact in all project-related matters. You will work under the guidance of your Director of Studies throughout your research programme but will be required to work independently for a substantial part of the time and ultimately you are responsible for the submission of your thesis. Your Director of Studies will aim to assist in every aspect of your work, to build your confidence in your work and support you in any other matters that might affect your studies.

Second Advisor(s) (Second Supervisors)

Your second supervisor is faculty from the University of Plymouth and is appointed to provide joint support with your Director of Studies to assist you on your research project. He/she may provide specialist knowledge in one particular aspect of your project and may also help to provide a balanced perspective. You, your Director of Studies and second supervisor(s) will be expected to work together as a team throughout your research degree programme.

Graduate Committee

Members of the Graduate School from the University of Plymouth.

Research Student Representative

Each year in the Program has one student representatives, elected at the beginning of the year, who are expected to participate in a range of activities such as attending the Collegium (Program Committee) and representing student views.

Collegium (PhD Program Committee)

Collegium Meetings will take place twice per year, with a further meeting optional. The first meeting will take place during the summer residency. The membership of the Collegium comprises: The Program Leader/s, all Module Leaders and optionally for the studio and research advisors, student representatives (1 elected member for each year), secretary and UoP Liaison) (Link Tutors).

CANDIDATE/ADVISORS RELATIONSHIP

Candidates normally have at least two advisors and not normally more than three advisors. One of the advisors is nominated as the Director of Studies and is a member of Transart Institute. The Graduate Committee may appoint a replacement or additional supervisor at any time if necessary. Advisors are responsible for the supervision of the design and progress of the candidate’s research project and provide academic advice. They report to the Head of School or his/her nominee on the candidate’s work and progress annually.

Director of Studies

The Director of Studies of a candidate leads the advisory team and provides support to the research student on a regular and frequent basis, at least four times a year, providing an encouraging and supportive environment including: introducing the candidate to external publications, professional bodies, contacts and sources in the related field; involving him/her in the activities of a research group and its workshops and conferences; planning of the research programme; advising on literature sources, investigative and analytical techniques; advising on timing for the various stages of work; and ensure the thesis is submitted within the required time period. Further the Director of Studies assists the research student in the self assessment of the personal and professional skills, requests written or creative work regularly, arranges for oral presentations of work and provide constructive criticism and feedback. Finally an appropriate examination team will be chosen by the Director of Studies and contact with the examiners will be made if needed.

Advisors

The Second Advisor and other advisors provide additional, often specialist, guidance, support and feedback, maintain an awareness of the status of the candidate's progress and assist in the progression of the candidate where possible. Advisors attend regular meetings with the candidate and Director of Studies, and can provide primary support on a temporary basis, in the absence of the Director of Studies. In order for students to have continuity throughout their studies as well as specialized advisement, the Institute additionally engages external advisors as needed with annual renewable contracts subject to satisfactory progress for the duration of the study.

Research Students

Research students are responsible for developing an effective working relationship with the Director of Studies and other advisors in pursuit of the research project. Students maintain records of regular advisory sessions, submitting written or creative work to the advisory team regularly, as required, and provide oral presentations at residencies. Students are required to make self-assessment per the University of Plymouth Logbook. Finally students make the ultimate decision to submit the thesis taking into consideration the Director of Studies' advice. Students are responsible for the preparation of the thesis, binding and submission and any corrections required post-examination and to ensure that the content is complete, accurate and the research students’ own work.

Progress

Concerns about progress may include: failure to meet deadlines, failure to produce work or provide work of a suitable standard or failure to attend supervisory meetings. A research student will initially receive a verbal warning from the Director of Studies if there is concern on progress. A written warning will follow a verbal warning if progress continues to give cause for concern. Candidates will be given the opportunity to discuss any difficulties they may have encountered in their research or outside the project environment which may be affecting performance and progress and may make a written plan for improvement of progress with appropriate milestones, targets and review dates. All advisors and Heads of School will be kept informed.

In consultation with the advisors, the Head of School with Faculty responsibilities for research students may recommend to the Graduate Committee that a candidate’s registration be terminated if he/she is dissatisfied with the candidate’s progress. In such case, the candidate shall be given notice of such dissatisfaction in writing at least one month in advance of making the recommendation.

Logbook

It is recommended that the candidate and supervisor work together to maintain and complete the Research Student Logbook here: >> http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=5281

Forms

Research Degree Candidate (RDC) forms are available here: >> http://intranet.plymouth.ac.uk/gradsch

Transfer from MPhil to PhD

Transfer from MPhil to PhD is made through advisors typically after one year with the completion of the transfer process. The confirmation of route process involves a report by the candidate (6,000 words) detailing: a literature review and description of methods or 2 or 3 draft chapters or draft research paper; a statement of progress against the project Gantt chart; the originality and contribution to knowledge that the project will make; the specific and generic research training undertaken so far and details of any planned future training.

THESIS SUBMISSION

The practical research will be accompanied by a written thesis which helps to substantiate the research outcome as a contribution to knowledge. The thesis will be a text which situates the creative and performing arts within an appropriate intellectual context.

Application may be made to the Graduate Committee for the UoP regulations if the normal form and format of the written component of the thesis is to be waived in whole or part. Request must be made by the Director of Studies before commencement of the final year of study and must also meet with the written approval of the appointed examiners. In agreeing to such a request the Graduate Committee will ensure that the proposed thesis form and format is: legible; a satisfactory record of the ‘practice’ element, contextualizes the practice; demonstrate its contribution to knowledge; is able to be stored reasonably in a library; is archive stable for a reasonable length of time; and makes clear what is being examined.

Work submitted for a research degree may not form part of any other degree either at the University of Plymouth or at another establishment. Contravention of this condition will mean that the degree will be revoked by the University. Copies of the thesis should be submitted to the Graduate School at least one month prior to the viva voce examination. One copy of the thesis should be submitted for each examiner. If a Chair has been appointed he/she should also receive a copy of the thesis. The thesis should be written in English. Any exception to this condition must be sought in writing to the Graduate Committee.

EXAMINATION AND OUTCOME

The regulations relating to the examination of M.Phil. or Ph.D. award require that two examiners are appointed for each research student. One of these examiners will be external to both Transart Institute and University of Plymouth and the other will be internal and independent of the research student and their project. If the candidate is a member of academic or technical staff of the University or Institute then two external and one internal examiners are required. The research student must not have been formally advised or supervised or had any close association with the examiners. The thesis is to be presented orally, the viva voce examination (normally 3 or 4 hours).

All examiners will have research experience in the student’s thesis area. Advisors may, with the consent of the candidate, attend the oral examination as observers. They may not participate in the discussion unless invited by the examiners. Exceptionally the examiners may request a discussion in private with the supervisor prior to making their final decision. The supervisor must withdraw with the research student prior to the deliberations of the examiners on the outcome of the examination.

If none of the advisors are present during the viva voce they will leave instructions as to how to be contacted by the examiners in case they are needed and normally they are required to accompany the research student to hear the decision of the examiners at the end of the examination.

Following the examination the examiners can make one of the following recommendations: 1. Pass: the degree be awarded, 2. Pass: the degree be awarded subject to corrections to the satisfaction of the internal/external examiner(s) by a fixed date, 3. Defer: the candidate be permitted to resubmit for the degree (with detailed advice) and be re-examined on one further occasion with or without an oral examination and with or without further research by a fixed date, 4. Compensatory Award: the degree for which the research student is examined is not awarded but a lower level research degree is awarded subject to amendments to the satisfaction of the examiners by a fixed date (MPhil instead of PhD), or 5. Fail: that the degree be not awarded and the candidate be not permitted to be re-examined.