Programme Structure

There are two options to complete the MA degree: thesis or art practice thesis:

This option is mainly for students who are planning to continue their research at the doctoral level and wish to build a university teaching career in the areas of Art History, Media Studies, Cinema, Animation, Photography, Design, Game, Interactive Media, and Critical Cultural Studies. The M.A. requires only three courses to take so that students can devote more time for the chosen research topic while working intensively with individual members of the faculty. Students will produce a research work of 40,000 words written under the supervision of an advisor.

The M.A. Art Practice option is appropriate for 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. Students are chosen for this option based on artistic potential and theoretical imagination. This option encourages innovative and experimental thinking to integrate an interdisciplinary approach to art practice driven by theoretical arguments and debates. The research will culminate in a thesis of 30,000 words with a practical artwork under the supervision of an advisor.

MA (Research) students who are admitted into the programme from August 2019 onwards 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 course is:

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.

To graduate, MA (Research) students are required to submit their thesis for assessment by examiners from NTU (or other universities) by the end of their candidature.

MA (Research) students who are admitted into the programme from August 2019 onwards 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.

 

MA (Research) students who are admitted into the programme before August 2019 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. This comprises 2 core graduate courses and 1 elective course which can be taken at ADM or other Schools within NTU. They should be relevant to the student’s thesis and approved by their respective supervisors.

The two core graduate courses are:

  • Graduate Seminar 1: Academic Research Skills (AP9031)
    This course is designed to introduce new students to the basic themes and methodologies associated with research at graduate level.

  • Graduate Seminar 2: The Aesthetic (AP9019)​
    The topic of the aesthetic is of prime value to students within the graduate program of ADM. In the first part of the course, a series of seminars introduces the history and practice of various traditions in the aesthetic. The second part is devoted to students' presentations, in which they are asked to develop their own aesthetic or investigate the aesthetic of a particular artist or art movement.​

Qualifying Exam and Thesis Examination

After fulfilling their coursework requirements, MA (Research) students are required to take a Qualifying Exam during the 12th or 13th month of their candidature. 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.

To graduate, MA (Research) students are required to submit their thesis for assessment by examiners from NTU (or other universities) by the end of their candidature.