Arts Management & Cultural Policy - Research

Overview
You'll be part of a growing doctoral research environment and will study alongside students Northern Ireland and abroad; we supervise students undertaking research in;

•The design and delivery of cultural policy and the interpretation of these processes by arts managers and
policy makers

•The attachment of social policy areas to cultural policy

•The social processes of cultural production within institutional settings

•Access, participation and audience development in the arts

•Issues of equality and diversity

•Internationalisation and transnational exchange

•Reception of art and culture

•Institutional, historical and social frameworks for the making and displaying of art and heritage

•Impact of arts and cultural work

We are also interested in projects developed through interdisciplinary approaches
and supervision teams:
•The management and governance of cultural sectors and institutions
•Sustainability and relevance of business models for arts management
•The impact of new technologies on arts management and cultural policymaking

Learning Outcomes
A research degree offers students an opportunity to foster their capacity for independent research and critical thought. It also allows students to explore an area of interest and so understand and solve theoretical and practical problems within the field. Undertaking a research degree can enhance a student's written and oral communication skills and a PhD is almost always a formal requirement for an academic post.

Course structure
Arts management and cultural policy are interdisciplinary areas of study. As such, there is no specific course content, but you are expected to take research training modules relevant to your area in this and other relevant Schools which focus on quantitative and qualitative research or humanities based methods. You are also expected to carry out your research under the guidance of your supervisor.

You will also be invited to take part in any research seminars associated with staff and other PhD students on the programme. Over the course of study you can attend postgraduate skills training organised by the Graduate School.

You will normally register, in the first instance, as an 'undifferentiated PhD student' which means that you have satisfied staff that you are capable of undertaking a research degree. The decision as to whether you should undertake an MPhil or a PhD is delayed until you have completed 'differentiation'.Differentiation takes place about 9-12 months after registration for full time students and about 18-30 months for part time students: You are normally asked to submit work to a panel of up two academics and this is followed up with a formal meeting with the 'Differentiation Panel'. The Panel then make a judgement about your capacity to continue with your study. Sometimes students are advised to revise their research objectives or to consider submitting their work for an MPhil qualification rather than a doctoral qualification. To complete with a doctoral qualification you will be required to submit a thesis of approx 80,000 words and you will be required to attend a viva voce [oral examination] with an external and internal examiner to defend your thesis. A PhD programme runs for 3-4 years full-time or 6-8 years part-time. Students can apply for a writing up year should it be required. The PhD is open to both full and part time candidates and is often a useful preparation for a career within academia or consultancy. Full time students are often attracted to research degree programmes because they offer an opportunity to pursue in some depth an area of academic interest. The part time research degree is an exciting option for professionals already working in the education field who are seeking to extend their knowledge on an issue of professional interest. Often part time candidates choose to research an area that is related to their professional responsibilities. If you meet the Entry Requirements, the next step is to check whether we can supervise research in your chosen area. We only take students to whom we can offer expert research supervision from one of our academic staff. Therefore, your research question needs to engage with the research interests of one of our staff.

Graduate
A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. While a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) is not essential, it is desirable and applicants without this qualification will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, is required. *Taken within the last two years

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

HOW TO APPLY
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal go.qub.ac.uk/pgapply and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a supervisor
If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.

To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.

You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.

Application Process
Please review the eligibility criteria on the webpages. If you believe that you meet these criteria then contact Dr Ali FitzGibbon,
Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries Management at
a.fitzgibbon@qub.ac.uk with the following information:

a brief CV (1-2 pages maximum)

a concise statement that you are interested in studying for a PhD, stating when you would start, and how you would plan to fund the research

a 3 - 4 page submission of your research question, its contribution to knowledge (discipline studies, the gap it addresses in existing research or knowledge), and how you think the question could be investigated.

Assessment processes for the Research Degree differ from taught degrees. Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback; a formal assessment process takes place annually. This Annual Progress Review requires students to present their work in writing and orally to a panel of academics from within the School. Successful completion of this process will allow students to register for the next academic year. The final assessment of the doctoral degree is both oral and written. Students will submit their thesis to an internal and external examining team who will review the written thesis before inviting the student to orally defend their work at a Viva Voce.

3 academic years full-time, 6 academic years part-time.

Entry year 2020

Career Prospects
We encourage applicants who are interested in further academic work or work within the arts and cultural or public policy sector. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability

Employment after the Course
For further information on career development opportunities at PhD level please contact the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Career Development Team on ahssdevoffice@qub.ac.uk / +44 28 9097 5175. Development Officers Cathy Wilson and Aileen Carson will be happy to provide further information on your research area career prospects

You'll be part of a growing doctoral research environment and will study alongside students Northern Ireland and abroad; we supervise students undertaking research in;
• The design and delivery of cultural policy and the interpretation of these processes by arts managers and
policy makers
• The attachment of social policy areas to cultural policy
• The social processes of cultural production within institutional settings
• Access, participation and audience development in the arts
• Issues of equality and diversity
• Internationalisation and transnational exchange
• Reception of art and culture
• Institutional, historical and social frameworks for the making and displaying of art and heritage
• Impact of arts and cultural work

We are also interested in projects developed through interdisciplinary approaches
and supervision teams:
• The management and governance of cultural sectors and institutions
• Sustainability and relevance of business models for arts management
• The impact of new technologies on arts management and cultural policymaking