History of art : Further study

Just over a quarter of students who graduated with a history of art degree in 2010 went into either full-time or part-time postgraduate study.

In many related fields, a postgraduate qualification is often necessary. For example, a Masters degree in museum and gallery studies is widely accepted as an essential requirement for a career in these areas. Other common specialist postgraduate courses at Masters level include curating and conservation science. Arts and heritage management are also popular choices, as they provide a broader skills base and open up a range of job opportunities, often at a more senior level.

Research degrees, such as PhD or MPhil, are preferred by those interested in an academic career and who wish to develop expertise in a narrowly defined area of art history.

The collaborative Doctoral awards offered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)  enable students to combine academic research with vocational experience.

These trends show only what previous graduates in your subject did immediately upon graduating. Over the course of their career - the first few years in particular - many others will opt for some form of further study, either part time or full time. If further study interests you, start by thinking about postgraduate study in the UK and search courses and research to identify your options.

For details relating to finance and the application process, look at funding my further study.