Arts and Media MRes

The MRes in Arts and Media is a cross-departmental postgraduate research degree in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. It offers an exciting opportunity to undertake research within the disciplines of art and design, performing arts and media. This can be accomplished either through practice-led projects or more traditional text-based approaches.

You will begin your studies evaluating the tools of research design and methods through two taught modules, and then will apply these in an extensive research project in an area of arts and media in which you are passionate.

The programme is geared towards facilitating your research interests, and you will be matched with staff who share these and will be able to guide you in your explorations and discoveries. The course will prepare students for further postgraduate research at MPhil/Doctor of Philosophy level and beyond.

The course is taught through a combination of seminars, tutorials and the close supervision of written and creative work.

There is the option of taking the course as an online, distance programme, supported throughout by supervisory support and guidance as well as access to online lectures.

Learn more about applying for this course

International Applicants

The University is not currently accepting international MRes applications

Why You'll Love It

Focused and researcher-led, developing your skills and experience

Advice and guidance from expert tutors and specialised staff

Two students taking part in an art and design session

State-of-the-art equipment, studios, and workshop facilities

The MRes is comprised of 180 credits of Level 7 comprising 40 credits of 'taught' modules and 140 credits of a research project.

Module content:

This module provides an opportunity for the exploration of an area within Arts and Media realising an individual research project. This requires the presentation of a body of work that demonstrates autonomy of concept and realisation. The candidate is expected to critically evaluate the practice they investigate and deploy a wide range of techniques or research appropriate to the inquiry.

The outcome of this module will reflect the ambitions of the individual student as identified in a project proposal developed through discussion with the tutor and Programme Leader. Whilst the project proposal provides a useful framework, it does not prescribe the outcome and students are encouraged to experiment and be ambitious in terms of the content, form, and presentation of the work as it develops through the course of the module.

Module aims:

The aims of the module are as follows:

To facilitate the development of a large scale research-led project
To enable the student to interrogate relevant theory and/or practice within Arts and Media
To encourage the documentation of methods and processes in order to engender a thorough understanding of themselves as a practitioner within their chosen discipline.

Module content:

Module aims:

The aims of the module are as follows:

To facilitate the development of a large scale research-led project
To enable the student to interrogate relevant theory and/or practice within Arts and Media
To encourage the documentation of methods and processes in order to engender a thorough understanding of themselves as a practitioner within their chosen discipline.

Module content:

This module offers opportunities for students to critically appraise methods and subject-specific tools by which research projects are designed and formed. Using methods explored in the module, students will develop a research proposal of their own, which will provide the foundation for the major research project. Independent learning will be a feature of the module.

Module aims:

To equip students with an understanding of the value of effective research planning.
To establish appropriate parameters for research design, as relevant and applicable to the subject-discipline.
To provide students with the means to critically appraise research design and method, pertaining to their own research and of others.
To provide students with the skills to develop their own research proposal, which draws upon appropriate and subject-relevant methods and tools.

Module content:

Module aims:

To equip students with an understanding of the value of effective research planning.
To establish appropriate parameters for research design, as relevant and applicable to the subject-discipline.
To provide students with the means to critically appraise research design and method, pertaining to their own research and of others.
To provide students with the skills to develop their own research proposal, which draws upon appropriate and subject-relevant methods and tools.

Module content:

The module will offer a theoretical overview of research methods in Arts and Media. Students will engage with theories, concepts and subject-specific methodologies and conventions (pertaining to their discipline), from historical and current vantage-points in order to critically position their own research. Module content will include (but is not limited to):

Ethics
Bias and epistemological positioning
Discourse(s)
Research design: quantitative, qualitative and practice-based
Data collection and fieldwork
Ethnographic and auto-ethnographic approaches
Visual analysis and engagement with cultural, artistic events

Independent learning will be a feature of the module.

Module aims:

This module aims:

To provide students with a theoretical overview of historical and current approaches to research in arts-based disciplines
To equip students with the skills needed to engage with a range of research theories, concepts, conventions and methods
To develop the concept of 'positioning' in arts and media research
To ensure students are able to reference and synthesise academic theory and practice as appropriate and applicable to the discipline

Module content:

Ethics
Bias and epistemological positioning
Discourse(s)
Research design: quantitative, qualitative and practice-based
Data collection and fieldwork
Ethnographic and auto-ethnographic approaches
Visual analysis and engagement with cultural, artistic events

Independent learning will be a feature of the module.

Module aims:

This module aims:

To provide students with a theoretical overview of historical and current approaches to research in arts-based disciplines
To equip students with the skills needed to engage with a range of research theories, concepts, conventions and methods
To develop the concept of 'positioning' in arts and media research
To ensure students are able to reference and synthesise academic theory and practice as appropriate and applicable to the discipline

Module content:

Module aims:

The aims of the module are as follows:

To facilitate the development of a large scale research-led project
To enable the student to interrogate relevant theory and/or practice within Arts and Media
To encourage the documentation of methods and processes in order to engender a thorough understanding of themselves as a practitioner within their chosen discipline.

Module content:

Module aims:

The aims of the module are as follows:

To facilitate the development of a large scale research-led project
To enable the student to interrogate relevant theory and/or practice within Arts and Media
To encourage the documentation of methods and processes in order to engender a thorough understanding of themselves as a practitioner within their chosen discipline.

Module content:

Module aims:

To equip students with an understanding of the value of effective research planning.
To establish appropriate parameters for research design, as relevant and applicable to the subject-discipline.
To provide students with the means to critically appraise research design and method, pertaining to their own research and of others.
To provide students with the skills to develop their own research proposal, which draws upon appropriate and subject-relevant methods and tools.

Module content:

Module aims:

To equip students with an understanding of the value of effective research planning.
To establish appropriate parameters for research design, as relevant and applicable to the subject-discipline.
To provide students with the means to critically appraise research design and method, pertaining to their own research and of others.
To provide students with the skills to develop their own research proposal, which draws upon appropriate and subject-relevant methods and tools.

Module content:

Ethics
Bias and epistemological positioning
Discourse(s)
Research design: quantitative, qualitative and practice-based
Data collection and fieldwork
Ethnographic and auto-ethnographic approaches
Visual analysis and engagement with cultural, artistic events

Independent learning will be a feature of the module.

Module aims:

This module aims:

To provide students with a theoretical overview of historical and current approaches to research in arts-based disciplines
To equip students with the skills needed to engage with a range of research theories, concepts, conventions and methods
To develop the concept of 'positioning' in arts and media research
To ensure students are able to reference and synthesise academic theory and practice as appropriate and applicable to the discipline

Module content:

Ethics
Bias and epistemological positioning
Discourse(s)
Research design: quantitative, qualitative and practice-based
Data collection and fieldwork
Ethnographic and auto-ethnographic approaches
Visual analysis and engagement with cultural, artistic events

Independent learning will be a feature of the module.

Module aims:

This module aims:

To provide students with a theoretical overview of historical and current approaches to research in arts-based disciplines
To equip students with the skills needed to engage with a range of research theories, concepts, conventions and methods
To develop the concept of 'positioning' in arts and media research
To ensure students are able to reference and synthesise academic theory and practice as appropriate and applicable to the discipline

How You'll Learn

How we teach at the University of Chester

The learning within the course will be geared toward enabling you to develop an appropriate critical and analytical framework within which to place and evaluate your own concepts and practical work and the position of these within your research. With this in mind, assessment tasks will be designed to allow you sufficient opportunity to explore this framework.

The course will be taught through a combination of online seminars, tutorials and the close supervision of written and creative work. It is a feature of the learning and teaching strategy of the course as a whole that you are given as much freedom as possible to develop work, which is of direct relevance to your research interests.

Assessment will take the form of written submissions and formal presentations as well as through practice, such as exhibitions, artworks, performances, music events, films, photograph as relevant and appropriate to the discipline under exploration.

Subsequent to the major Research Project you may be required by the examiners to defend your submitted work by oral examination and there is a normal expectation that candidates will be interviewed by the external examiner to discuss your project.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Our previous graduates have used the skills gained on the course to enter the workplace in a variety of roles. Our graduates have gone into lecturing as well as the professional industries, such as choreography, theatre direction and fashion design. A significant number of our graduates have continued onto PhD study.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Entry Requirements

2:1honours degree

Applicants will normally have a 2:1 honours degree (minimum) in a discipline related to arts and media, or an initial degree in another subject, plus evidence of certificated learning in an arts and media subject or related experience. Consideration will be given to those who hold a lower classification who can demonstrate they are capable of performing at the level required to complete the course successfully.

Applicants should also provide a research proposal, no more than 750 words. This should include an overview of the study in question, proposed methodology and indicative reading list.

Fees and Funding

£5,006per year full time (2025/26)

The tuition fees for home students studying Postgraduate Research Programmes in the academic year 2025/26 are £5,006 per year full time.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Creative Campus, Kingsway Tours

Study at our Creative Campus, Kingsway, home to some outstanding art, design and performance-based courses for the University’s School for the Creative Industries. Scroll through our 360 tours to explore our state-of-the-art facilities.