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Postgraduate

MRes Art: Moving Image

People in hi vis jackets watching a light installation
Image courtesy of UAL, Lis Rhodes, Light Music (1975)
College
Central Saint Martins
Start date
September 2024
Course length
Two years (60 weeks)
Extended full-time

MRes Art: Moving Image explores the rich histories, theories and aesthetics that have led artists to turn to film and video.

Applying for more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3. Find out more in the Apply Now section.

What insights can a study of artists' moving image offer us for understanding the diverse practices that now fill our art spaces? The MRes Art course is part of the Art programme.

Why choose this course at Central Saint Martins

  • Collaboration with LUX: You will benefit from MRes Art: Moving Image’s strong link with LUX, a key UK agency for the support and promotion of artists' moving image practice. You will have unique access its wide network of collaborating institutions, artists and professionals working with the moving image.
  • Collections and archives: You will have access to the UK's only significant collection of artists' film and video works and the largest such collection in Europe, held by LUX. You will also have use of the British Artists Film and Video Study Collection, held at Central Saint Martins.
  • Leaders in the field: Central Saint Martins was one of the first educational establishments to recognise the importance of the moving image as an art medium. It continues to lead scholarship through its academic activities and related archives – such as the Moving Image Forum and the British Artists' Film and Video Study Collection.
  • Post-studies success: After graduation, you will be well placed to pursue a range of careers in artists' moving image culture. You may go on to doctoral research, choose to work within curating, film programming, distribution, publishing or journalism, or continue your own practice in moving image.

Open days

There are currently no open days scheduled for this course, please check back at a later date.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Enquiries

If you have any questions about the course, please email the Course Leader Duncan White: d.white@csm.arts.ac.uk

Course overview

MRes Art is made up of three specialist pathways: Theory and Philosophy; Moving Image; and Exhibition Studies. MRes Art uses research and writing to develop modes of questioning, speculative thinking and critical evaluation. Drawing upon a wealth of scholarly expertise from the staff team, visiting lecturers and practitioners, the course considers the relationship of contemporary art research to wider aesthetic, cultural and socio-political issues. 

There are opportunities for students on each pathway to come together for shared taught components. You will also be encouraged to develop student-led activities. In the past, our students have collaborated on research events and publications, as well as the Tate Exchange programme at Tate Modern.

From early pioneers of the twentieth century to contemporary moving image media, this pathway investigates the intersections of film, video and disciplines including photography, painting, performance, poetry and literature. MRes Art: Moving Image actively encourages new approaches to critical discourse. It is designed to appeal to writers and artists as well as those with an interest in art research.

Taught in close association with LUX, the Moving Image pathway focuses on the theoretical and historical study of artists’ moving image. Closely tied to the British Artists’ Film and Video Study Collection at Central Saint Martins, the Moving Image pathway represents one of the leading centres for moving image scholarship. It develops in-depth knowledge and exploration of one of the most visible and fast-growing contexts for arts practice. Drawing on theories from the arts and humanities, MRes Art: Moving Image develops research in a dialogue with an expanding and exciting field of moving image practice. The curriculum includes both physical and online; gallery visits, artist events, festivals, screenings and talks from visiting experts. Through this, you will engage with the urgent debates arising from current research in dialogue with historical precedents and contemporary discourse. 

We are committed to developing ethical art practices. To achieve this, we are working to embed UAL's Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Course units

MRes Art: Moving Image offers an ambitious, discursive and critical framework in which you will engage with the implications of artists' moving image. The pathway has a strong professional focus. This is characterised by the unique link with LUX, the London-based agency for artists' moving image. This provides mentoring and support to student-directed symposia and screenings.

The pathway proposes new approaches to the history and theory of moving image culture. While laying the foundations for an in-depth knowledge of the subject, it also promotes artists' moving image as an evolving field of study. Rather than following established historical trajectories, it presents an integrated series of screenings, seminars and readings of key texts. Gallery visits and lectures augment the seminar programme.

MRes Art: Moving Image sets out to create a firm foundation of knowledge from which you can develop your chosen area of study and contribute to debate in the subject area. The first year offers teaching in research skills and engages you in the specialist subject of your pathway. Your understanding of research methodologies and their relationship with exploration of your subject is then developed. In parallel with this, you will prepare for a self-directed programme of study: your research project. In the second year you will pursue and realise your project. Your progress is supported through tutorials and critical discussions. It is monitored through written assignments and presentations.

Unit 1: Framing Artists' Moving Image

Through seminars and lectures, this unit establishes knowledge of key thinkers and debates which have emerged throughout the development of artists’ moving image. It is split into four thematic parts: modern primitives, materialisms, the expanded field and the ethnographic turn.

Unit 2: Methodologies and Methods I

Unit 2 is an opportunity for all the students in the MRes Art course to study together. The unit has two distinct components: methodologies and methods. Methodologies aims to make you aware of a range of methodological approaches that have shaped debates in your field of study. These include, but are not limited to, structuralism, Marxism, psychoanalysis, feminism, postcolonial and decolonial studies. Methods aims to equip you with essential research skills.

Unit 3: Methodologies and Methods II

Following on from Unit 2, this unit deepens your understanding of specific artistic and discursive methods. You will examine how they operate in specific texts, debates and events by relating them to the pathways’ respective subject areas. Seminars and workshops are integral to the unit, in which methods of research and writing are collectively tested.

Unit 4: Individual Research Project

Unit 4 has two parts. In part one, you will examine key texts from a number of different fields which address directly, or indirectly, artists' moving image. These include architecture, ethnography, phenomenology and feminism. You will be expected to attend weekly online seminars and complete set reading. This is complemented by a screening programme. You will be guided through a series of archival or curated screenings within the British Artists’ Film and Video Study Collection. You will also work on a group project with LUX.

Part two is designed to support the successful completion of your final dissertation project. During this part of the curriculum, your own research and practice becomes central to the programme. You will be expected to attend seminar sessions and to support your peers as part of a research community. At the end of Unit 4 you are assessed through presentation of your realised research project.

Important note concerning academic progression through your course: 

If you are required to retake a unit you will need to cease further study on the course until you have passed the unit concerned. Once you have successfully passed this unit, you will be able to proceed onto the next unit. Retaking a unit might require you to take time out of study, which could affect other things such as student loans or the visa status for international students. 

Mode of study

MRes Art is offered in extended full-time mode which runs for 60 weeks over two academic years. You will be expected to commit 30 hours per week to study, which includes teaching time and independent study. 

The course has been designed in this way to enable you to pursue studies, while also undertaking part-time employment, internships or care responsibilities. 

Credit and award requirements

The course is credit-rated at 180 credits. 

On successfully completing the course, you will gain a Master of Research (MRes degree). 

Under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, an MRes is Level 7. All units must be passed in order to achieve the MRes but the classification of the award is derived from the marks for the third and fourth units. 

If you are unable to continue on the course, a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) will normally be offered following the successful completion of 60 credits.

Learning and teaching methods

The learning and teaching methods devised for this course include: 

  • Briefing materials, written guidance and meetings
  • Inductions and workshops 
  • Lectures and guest speakers 
  • Project proposal document for individual programme of study (Year 2) 
  • Collaborative project opportunities 
  • Personal and group tutorials 
  • Seminars 
  • Symposia 
  • Presentations and discussion forums 
  • Recommended reading, viewing and visits 
  • Independent study 
  • Self-critical and peer evaluation 
  • Assessment feedback 

Facilities

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • Dinosaur
    Dinosaur, Yijin Wang, 2023 MRes Art: Moving Image, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • OTO/音
    OTO/音, Elisa Motta, 2023 MRes Art: Moving Image, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • Projective Atmospheres / Cinematic Plications
    Projective Atmospheres / Cinematic Plications, Helen McGarry, 2023 MRes Art: Moving Image, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • Unfolding reality, a reconstruction
    Unfolding reality, a reconstruction, Mees Bergshoeff, 2023 MRes Art: Moving Image, Central Saint Martins, UAL

Staff

Pathway Leader, Moving Image: Duncan White
Course Leader for MRes: Art and Pathway Leader for Theory & PhilosophyChris Kul-Want
Associate Lecturer: Filipa Ramos

Fees and funding

Home fee

£6,665 per year

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£16,130 per year

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows: 

  • An honours degree
  • Or an equivalent EU/international qualification. 

AP(E)L – Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Exceptionally applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by: 

  • Related academic or work experience 
  • The quality of the personal statement 
  • A strong academic or other professional reference

Or a combination of these factors. 

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case. 

English language requirements 

IELTS level 7.0 or above, with at least 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our main English language requirements webpage). 

Selection criteria

We select applicants according to potential and current ability in the following areas:

  • Evidence of skills and experience appropriate to the proposed field of enquiry
  • Effective communication of the intentions and issues in the proposal
  • The level of contextual awareness
  • Awareness of the range and nature of challenges implied.

The interview: for those applicants selected following submission of the form, indicative proposal and supporting work. The interview is used to evaluate the extent to which a candidate demonstrates:

  • The capacity for independent research
  • Appropriate background knowledge and critical abilities
  • Awareness of the cultural and social context within which their interests/work is situated
  • Appropriate communication skills
  • A preparedness to participate collaboratively in debate and presentation.

What we are looking for

We are seeking imaginative, resourceful individuals who are committed to exploring art discourses.

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

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How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement and CV.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 500 words and include:

  • your reasons for choosing the course
  • your current creative practice and how this course will help you achieve your future plans
  • any relevant education and experience, especially if you do not have any formal academic qualifications.

Visit our personal statement page for more advice.

CV advice

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If you have any web projects or other media that you would like to share, please include links in your CV. If English is not your first language, please also include your most recent English language test score.

Study proposal advice

Please provide a summary of your study proposal (800 - 1000 words).

It should:

  • describe what you are interested in undertaking and developing for your major project, including overall aims, objectives and rationale
  • explain your proposed approach and the methods for structuring your project and ideas
  • highlight any problems you may encounter and how you hope to solve them
  • indicate any key texts and sources
  • include examples of previous written work and/or documentary material that is relevant to your research interests.

Please note, your proposal serves to inform your application and we understand that your ideas will inevitably develop and change throughout your studies.

Step 2: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3 courses. You need to tailor your application, supporting documents and portfolio to each course, so applying for many different courses could risk the overall quality of your application. If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer. UAL doesn't accept repeat applications to the same course in the same academic year.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

For postgraduate courses at UAL there are 2 equal consideration deadlines to ensure fairness for all our applicants. If you apply ahead of either of these deadlines, your application will be considered on an equal basis with all other applications in that round. If there are places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Careers

Our Postgraduate Art Programme offers valuable opportunities to build transferable professional knowledge and skills. The exchange of perspectives with others through shared units, reading groups and debates helps establish stimulating and productive networks.

The focus on proposing and developing a major independent programme of study is supported by a shared professional practice lecture series featuring guest speakers plus opportunities to attend symposia and critique work in progress across subject areas. The Postgraduate Art Programme has wide-ranging links with professional organisations, collections and galleries, and includes opportunities for interaction and networking according to your personal career direction.

MRes Art: Moving Image is unique in its relationship with LUX, the national public arts agency that explores ideas around artists' moving image and supports practice through a range of activities including distribution of works, exhibitions, education publishing and research. The pathway is supported by professional expertise from LUX and benefits from its extensive connections.

MRes Art: Moving Image anticipates both academic and professional outcomes for its students, enabling graduates to pursue a range of careers in artists' moving image culture. Some may opt for academic scholarship through doctoral research. Others may choose or continue in professions within curating and film programming, distribution, publishing and journalism. Possible career contexts include festivals, biennales, galleries, museums and archives. And for some graduates MRes Art: Moving Image will enable further enrichment of their own practice as artists working with moving image.

For details of the wide range of careers support provided for students, please visit the Student Jobs And Careers section.