The Department of Audio and Visual Arts at the Ionian University’s School of Music and Audiovisual Arts is announcing the new Master of Arts by Research Program (MARes) in Hybrid Arts for the academic year 2024-2025. Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications exclusively online at https://avarts.ionio.gr/mares/apply/ by December 1, 2024, 16:00. This Master’s program focuses on independent research beyond taught content, aiming to prepare emerging researchers either for professional work or for a PhD where theoretical research and experimentation at the frontier of science and emerging technologies support artistic practice.

The program awards a Master of Arts by Research Degree in Hybrid Arts and is a full-time program. For the academic year 2024-2025, by exception starting January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025, 12 spots are available for postgraduate students.

Program Information

The goal of MARes is to gather the most research-driven minds under the academic umbrella of Ionian University, regardless of their geographical location. This Master’s program is conducted in English and primarily delivered online, with in-person low-residency during intensive short-term periods (Winter School), where seminars on research methods and the drafting and review of research proposals are held.

Upon successful completion of MARes, students will gain:

(a) Skills for the creative and productive use and dissemination of artistic and scientific knowledge,

(b) In-depth understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration in practice,

(c) Specialization in research methodology and development of capabilities to use it as a contemporary scientific and artistic tool,

(d) Familiarity with ethical and deontological issues in the promotion and curation of Hybrid Arts and artistic works,

(e) Development and cultivation of critical thinking regarding contemporary artistic trends, particularly in Hybrid Arts.

Program Structure

The Master’s program consists of two (2) semesters. The first semester includes educational modules, as outlined below, while the second semester is dedicated to the completion of the Master’s Thesis.

The modules in the first semester combine theoretical and lab-based learning and involve individual or group projects. Given the applied and creative nature of the program, these projects represent at least 50% of the total workload of each module. Classes are conducted remotely through Ionian University’s dedicated online learning platform, and research components are carried out under the close supervision of faculty members, who monitor progress through group or individual sessions.

Distance learning is complemented by (a) literature research workshops, (b) case study exercises related to each course’s topic, and (c) guest lectures by esteemed experts. An exception to the first semester is the intensive educational program of the Winter Academy / Winter School where the physical presence of students is foreseen, presenting the progress of their dissertation proposals. The week-long Winter School is organized under the supervision of the supervisors of the MARes diploma theses. Along with their studies, postgraduate students have the opportunity to participate in the annual Audiovisual Arts Festival (which takes place during May), and in the activities of the established artistic workshops of the Department of Audio and Visual Arts as part of the educational process.

The language of instruction and thesis writing is English.

Application Submission 

The MARes program accepts graduates of accredited institutions in Greece or recognized equivalent institutions abroad in accordance with Law 4957/2022, provided they have an established artistic background and a portfolio for evaluation. Applicants are required to submit the following documents exclusively online by December 1, 2024, at 16:00:

• Application form
• Copy of ID or passport
• Recent photograph
• Academic transcripts and certificates
• CV with proof of artistic work
• Research proposal
• At least two letters of recommendation
• Portfolio: artistic works (e.g., Drawing, Painting, Photography, Music, Video, Multimedia, Animation, Comics, Audiovisual Installations) and/or file with scientific publications and conference presentations.

Application Evaluation

Applicants meeting the criteria will be invited for an interview, conducted online within one month after the submission deadline. Interview performance is factored into the final evaluation, according to MARes regulations https://avarts.ionio.gr/mares/en/regulations/operation-regulation/.  Selected candidates will be notified via email and messaging platforms.

Tuition Fees – Exemptions and Scholarships

The total tuition fee for MARes is €2,000, payable either in full or in installments as follows:

Up to 15% of admitted students may qualify for full tuition waivers, and an excellence scholarship may be awarded at the end of the first semester based on academic performance, exempting the student from second-semester fees. Scholarship recipients are expected to offer support services to the department.

Additional Information

Selected students must submit original documents and two additional photographs upon registration. For further information, visit the MARes website avarts.ionio.gr/mares