Programme Structure

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

 

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 a Qualifying Exam by the 12th 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.

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. 

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.