Contemporary Arts (PhD) at Simon Fraser University

Programme overview

The doctor of philosophy (PhD) in contemporary arts, offered through the Faculty of Communication, Art, and Technology, is a research-intensive program focused on interdisciplinary approaches to the fine and performing arts.

Faculty: Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology | Department: School for the Contemporary Arts | Duration: 12-15 terms (4-5 years) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

What you will study

The program consists of course work, qualifying examinations, a thesis prospectus, and a thesis, for a minimum of 38 units.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulation 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. Students will normally hold a master of arts (MA), master of fine arts (MFA), or equivalent degree, with high standing, from a recognized university and a solid grounding in studies of contemporary art and/or an established professional artistic, curatorial, or programming practice. To fill any academic gaps, extra undergraduate or graduate courses may be required. Before accepting a student into the program, the department will consider the proposed research in relation to faculty resources in the field.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the courses you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Trimester system: Fall term runs September through December, Spring term January through April, Summer term May through August. Admission is specific to each programme.

The application fee is 112 CAD for applicants with Canadian transcripts and 160 CAD for applicants with international transcripts, paid online after submitting the application form. Deadlines are set by each programme.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply.html

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