Taught course

MA Curating the Art Museum

Institution
Courtauld Institute of Art
Qualifications
MA
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Entry requirements

UK qualifications: Students will normally have achieved a good 2.1 in their Bachelor’s degree, considered to be an overall average 65% or above. Overseas qualification: Equivalent to a good 2.1 in a UK first degree (e.g. US applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above).

Personal Statement: You will be asked to provide a statement of up to 500 words detailing your reasons for applying for the course, supplying any information and experiences relevant to your application.

Interviews: Selected applicants will be asked for interview before offers are made.

English language requirements: If your first language is not English, we require proof of English language proficiency –please see the English Language Requirements page.

Months of entry

September, October

Course content

This programme is an excellent entry point for a career in museums and galleries. It puts the physical object at the heart of curatorial training whilst placing specialist knowledge firmly within the context of the contemporary museum. The course offers a wide range of learning environments and exercises, from taught seminars to group projects and hands-on work experience, and encourages a wide range of expression, written and oral, from academic writing to public debates and gallery talks.
This broad-based programme, which has run since 2007, attracts students with a range of interests, across all periods and media, with a strong focus on contemporary and innovative approaches to curating in public museums and galleries. The programme’s teaching draws widely on the expertise of the art history faculty, the conservation department and The Courtauld Gallery, and benefits from close relations and excellent connections with museums and galleries across London and the UK, and internationally. Curators and other professionals in museums are actively involved in the programme, leading practical exercises such as the Virtual Display. Individual placements are arranged for each student with museums and galleries in London: students work closely with mentors in a range of national museums, public galleries and other organisations in London, one or two days a week over a six-month period. There is a strong emphasis on collaborative working, in taught sessions and in the organisation of museum debates; field trips, in the UK and Europe, may be organised across the year (conditions permitting) to ensure the widest contact with curators, museum professionals and artists, as well as with exhibitions, displays and museum spaces.
The programme culminates in a collaborative exhibition project, and the mounting of a public exhibition and related public events. The programme aims to address a wide range of interests and equip students with the expertise, research and professional skills for an equally wide range of career paths. Over 150 students have graduated from the programme to date; around 90% of them have progressed within the museum and gallery sector, in a variety of curatorial and management roles as well as in Learning, Marketing and Development. Some enter private galleries or practise independently, while others go on to further research in the fields of curating or art history.

Information for international students

Explore our international students pages for more information.

Fees and funding

Postgraduate Master’s Loan: Please visit the Student Finance England website for further information and to apply online.

Courtauld Institute of Art Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit combined with financial need. The average postgraduate scholarship awarded in 2019/20 was £6,000. Applications are welcomed from Home, EU and Overseas students applying to or currently studying in 2020/21. Find out more about our scholarships.

Alumni Loyalty Scheme: This scheme is open to any graduate of The Courtauld Institute of Art admitted to a taught postgraduate programme of study. Recipients will receive a 10% loyalty discount off their tuition fee for the duration of the course.

Further information about loans, grants, and bursaries to support you during your studies at The Courtauld can be found here.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • MA
    full time
    12 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name
Postgraduate Admissions
Email
pgadmissions@courtauld.acuk
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