Doctoral research in the field of Social Sculpture, Art and Sustainabilty and related practices at Oxford Brookes can be 'practice-based', part practice - part theory, or 100% theory.

Doing a practice-based interdisciplinary Doctorate in Social Sculpture does not require that you have an 'arts' background. But you are most likely to have a strong interest in the role of imagination in transforation, irrespective of your disciplinary background.

The 'practice-based' programme entails establishing research questions and then researching these questions in and through the practice. The 15,000 to 20,000 word commentary undertaken at the end of this process, is more of a route map - describing and reflecting on the whole enquiry. The 'part practice, part theory' option is similar, although the theory element is required to build an 'argument'. In other words, the research questions are explored, not only through the practice, but also in a more traditional 'humanities' style way -through argumentation and logic. 

The 100% 'theory' option explores the resarch questions by means of a logical inquiry that is articulated as text.  

The Doctoral Programme in Social Sculpture is tutored by Shelley Sacks in collaboration with other departmental staff such as Ray Lee and Dr. Paul Whitty, as appropriate.

Prof. Walter Kugler and other SSRU Associates - including Dr. Wolfgang Zumdick and Dr. Hildegard Kurt, may also form part of the supervisory team as Special Advisors. 

The PhD programme is 3 years full-time, or 5 years part-time. Students develop their practice 'in the world' during this period. Therefore part-time does not mean a long suspension of ones practice. On the contrary, a practice-base PhD is rather a continuation of practice - but within a structured and reflective dialogue process. 

We now have two completions (Dr. Nicholas Stronczyk - who was examined by Prof. John Newling  and Dr. Mary-lou Barratt examined by Dr. Isis Brook). There are currently several Social Sculpture related PhDs in progress (Jo Thomas, Claudia Schluermann, Pertra Johnson, Ruth Harvey-Regan, Wilfred Ukpong, Charlotte Heffernan, Will McCallum, Charisse Baker and several others in the process of enrolment). These Social Sculpture / Art and Sustainabilty / Acoustic Ecology PhDs are within an Arts Department that now has 24 PhD students in total. Several of these are in the field of Sonic Arts. 

The PhD students regularly interact with the postgraduate students doing the MA Interdisciplinary Arts programme. There are currently 38 students on this Masters programme, of which the MA Social Sculpture forms a significant part.

This is not a taught PhD programme, although there is regular supervision, as well as many opportunities for group discussion, in students are in the UK. Each student designs their own programme in dialogue with their Director of Studies. 

An initial outline of your desired focus or area of study (1 to 2 A4 sides) should be submitted to Shelley Sacks and Ray Lee, c/o Ray.Lee@brookes.ac.uk

The process of ascertaining appropriateness
If this first outline seems viable - we will arrange a time to meet or for a telephone conversation. After this you would then write and submit a more formal 'Application to Enrol'. The research programme and the payment of any fees begins only once your have formally enrolled.

Please get in touch if you are wanting to undertake a PhD in social Sculpture or closely related topics. 

A full list of the titles of the PhDs we are supervising will be added.