Programme Structure

There are two options to complete the MA (Research): Thesis or Thesis and Creative Component.

 

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

This course ensures 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.

Thesis Option

The theoretical component of the thesis should offer a substantial critical and/or technical contribution to the chosen field of inquiry. At the end of their programme, MA (Research) candidates will submit an approximately 40,000-word thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor in their chosen field of research. 

Thesis and Creative Component Option

Students could select this option if the intellectual investigation undertaken cannot be fully expressed in words. The creative component will be vital in complementing and developing the theoretical research undertaken. It should not merely be an illustrative of the thesis but also make an original contribution. MA (Research) candidates undertaking this option will submit an approximately 30,000-word thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor in their chosen field of research

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
    • Comprise 1 core graduate course* and 2 elective courses (1 elective must be taken within ADM)
    • Both electives must be relevant to the thesis and approved by the supervisor
  1. Pass the Qualifying Exam# by the 12th or 13th month of their candidature to maintain enrolment in the programme
  2. Pass the thesis exam

*AP7049 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.