Overview

The MA in History of Art at The Courtauld Institute of Art is one of the largest graduate Art History programmes anywhere in the world and offers an unrivalled combination of breadth and depth. 

Key facts

The course provides the best research-led teaching in a unique, single-subject setting: According to the QS World University Rankings 2026, the Courtauld Institute has been ranked as the world’s top institution for the study of History of Art. This rich academic resource is complemented by the internationally renowned excellence of the Courtauld Gallery, which is famous for the quality of its collection and the ambition and scholarship of its exhibition programme.

Alongside art-specific professional paths, MA History of Art offers a context and foundation for any career that requires a deep understanding of people and the human experience: from marketing and advertising to fashion and design.

The MA History of Art combines a range of modules and teaching methods. Special Option modules are taught across both semesters. Offering new perspectives on visual and material cultures, the Special Options draw on the research expertise of lecturers and often engage closely with adjacent studies in history, anthropology, politics, philosophy, literature and religion. 

The Special Option is complemented by two group modules that address key art historical and curatorial concerns through a combination of lectures and discussion classes, aimed to develop your academic and professional abilities. The final module is the Dissertation, which allows you to develop an independent research project, supported by a series of workshops and seminars to build a range of research skills that are relevant beyond academic study.