Art Practice and the Doctoral Degree

Andrew McGettigan's essay examines the state of art doctorates in UK higher education, where practice-based PhDs have existed for over fifteen years but remain controversial. He argues that confusion arises from conflating research degrees with validation as an artist. The research degree requires a 'contribution to knowledge' assessed through a thesis combining practical work and writing, but critics view it as a 'pernicious and misleading validation system.' McGettigan identifies a gap between institutional regulations and actual supervisory practices, leading to mixed messages for candidates. He proposes introducing a distinct 'doctorate by practice'—a professional doctorate focused on advancing critical practice rather than research—to formalize what is already happening informally. He notes that many applicants seek continued institutional support rather than pure research training. The essay references Victor Burgin's concerns about inconsistent standards among supervisors and examiners, and Christopher Frayling's distinction between research through art and research as art. McGettigan concludes that art schools should offer both options explicitly to better serve students and reflect actual practices.