Programme Structure

There are two options to complete the MA (Research) degree: thesis or art practice thesis.

Thesis Option
This option prepares students to continue their research at the doctoral level and thereafter seek an academic position at the university. Students will produce a 40,000-word thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor in their chosen research area.

Art Practice Option

This option allows students who want to apply theoretical inquiries to art practices in the form of film, animation, photography, design, interactive media, exhibitions/installations and new art forms. It encourages innovative and experimental thinking, integrating an interdisciplinary approach to art practice that is driven by theoretical arguments and debates. The research work will culminate in a 30,000-word thesis and a practical artwork under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

To graduate, students in the MA (Research) programme are required to obtain the following:

  1. Pass 3 graduate courses (or earn 9 Academic Units) with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 within 12 months of the candidature
    1. Comprise 1 core graduate course* and 2 elective courses (1 elective must be taken within ADM)
    2. Both electives must be relevant to the thesis and approved by the supervisor
  2. Pass the Qualifying Exam# by the 12th or 13th month of their candidature to continue with the programme
  3. Pass the thesis exam

*AP704 Proseminar in Art, Design and Media
This course equips all graduate students (research) with the required skills to undertake academic scholarship in Art, Design and Media.

#Qualifying Exam
The key objectives of the Qualifying Exam are to ascertain that the thesis is a distinct addition to the knowledge in the chosen field and that the candidate possesses the level of competency required to proceed to the next stage of the candidature.

Required Coursework

MA (Research) students are required to pass 3 graduate courses (or earn 9 Academic Units) with a minimum CGPA of 3.00 within 12 months of the candidature. These comprise 1 core graduate course, and 2 elective courses, at least one of which must be taken within ADM, and the other from ADM or other Schools within NTU. Both electives should be relevant to the student’s thesis and approved by their respective supervisors.

The compulsory core graduate courses are:

  • AP7049 Proseminar in Art, Design and Media

With this course, the Graduate Programmes by Research ensure that all our candidates embark on their graduate studies with the requisite level of advanced knowledge and research competence to undertake research at graduate level.

  •  Qualifying Exam and Thesis Examination

After fulfilling their coursework requirements, MA (Research) students are required to pass take a Qualifying Exam by during the 12th or 13th month of their candidature or earlier. The key objectives of the Qualifying Exam are to ascertain that the thesis is a distinct addition to the knowledge in the chosen field and that the MA (Research) student possesses the level of competency required to proceed to the next stage of the candidature. MA (Research) students who pass the Qualifying Exam will continue with their candidature.