Highlights
Tuition fee
18500 EUR / year
8100 EUR / year
Unknown
Tuition fee
18500 EUR / year
8100 EUR / year
Unknown
Duration
12 months
Duration
12 months
Apply date
Unknown
Apply date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Campus location
Cork, Ireland
Campus location
Cork, Ireland
Taught in
English
Taught in
English

About

The Art History - Modern and Contemporary Art History, Theory and Criticism programme offered by University College Cork is a unique art history programme that offers a stimulating, rigorous and wide-ranging exploration of twentieth- and twenty-first-century art and theory.

Visit programme website for more information

Overview

The  Art History - Modern and Contemporary Art History, Theory and Criticism  programme offered by University College Cork  is rooted in both solid historical training and cutting-edge critical methods and is designed to combine skills in creative and precise visual analysis, a close reading of critical texts, and the cultivation of independent and original thinking and research. 

On completion of the course, you will be equipped with skills that are vital to both further academic study and to the pursuit of a wide variety of careers in the arts. Our students typically come to us from backgrounds in the history of art, fine art, film, English literature, philosophy, and other related disciplines. The course can be studied full-time over one year, or part-time (by day) over two years (this part-time option is available to EU students only).

The taught MA in Modern and Contemporary Art History, Theory and  Criticism includes an intensive course of four core modules in the fields of modern and contemporary art, a literature review (5,000 words), and a dissertation (20,000 words).

Skills and Careers Information

The MA provides vital training for careers in schools and universities, museums, galleries and associated fields, as well as developing the necessary transferable skills for professional work in such areas as journalism, media, design, advertising, the heritage industry, and arts administration. Our graduates have gone on to pursue careers in arts both in Ireland and abroad, in auction houses and the art market, in teaching and gallery work, while others have elected to pursue PhDs with us at University College Cork as well as University College London and the University of Oxford.

Programme Structure

Courses Include

  • Theory for Art History 
  • Modern Art and Modernity 
  • Contemporary Art 
  • Literature Review 
  • Lens based Modernity
  • History of Art Dissertation

Key information

Duration

  • Full-time
    • 12 months
  • Part-time
    • 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

More details

Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.

Language

English
Duolingo English Test
120
TOEFL® IBT
OR
90
OR
4.5
PTE Academic
63
OTE
140
IELTS
6.5

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Credits

90 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

  • Cork, Ireland

What students do after studying

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA admission requirements GPA
Upper Second Class

English requirements

Duolingo English Test
120
TOEFL® IBT
OR
90
OR
4.5
PTE Academic
63
OTE
140
IELTS
6.5

IELTS & PTE Test Preparation

E2 Language Test Prep
Trusted by 7M+ Students
Start Studying Today

Admission to your dream university starts with a high IELTS or PTE score. Earn your target score with E2's guided test preparation.

  • Study on your own schedule
  • Live classes with current and ex-examiners
  • Accurate score assesment, always
  • E2 Score Guarantee - Get your score or your money back!

Other requirements

General requirements

  • An honours primary degree in History of Art at Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent, or
  • Art school students should have a Second Class Honours Grade I minimum in their History of Art classes or equivalent, and
  • A one-page statement of purpose (500 words) acceptable to History of Art staff, detailing the student's interest in the programme, and their particular research interests and methodologies to date, and their future professional goals.
  • All applicants must satisfy a selection committee. In exceptional circumstances, under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, applicants who hold a primary degree other than Second Class Honours, and who demonstrate a high level of significant and relevant experience, may also be eligible for entry to the programme.  

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Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University College Cork and/or in Ireland, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
  • International

    Non-residents
    18500 EUR / year
    ≈ 18500 EUR / year
  • EU/EEA

    EU/EEA Nationals
    8100 EUR / year
    ≈ 8100 EUR / year

Additional Details

  • EU part-time fee: €4,600

Living costs

Cork

Ireland
860 - 1400 EUR / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Art History - Modern and Contemporary Art History, Theory and Criticism.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Nov 2026
ServiceScape Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

ServiceScape
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3500 USD
Deadline
15 Nov 2026
ACES Scholarships

Read more about eligibility

ACES Education Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships

Read more about eligibility

ACU (The Association of Commonweath Universities)
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
6000 USD
Deadline
30 Jan 2027
Amber Scholarship For September Intake

Read more about eligibility

Amber Student
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
6000 USD
Deadline
31 Jan 2027
Amberscholar Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Amber Scholar
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
Anytime
AUFIN Global Impact Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

AUFIN Education & Scholarship
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2027
Voice Talent Online Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

Voice Talent Online
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
06 Jan 2027
Jewish Heritage Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Diamant Gerstein
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 CAD
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Pinsky Law New Venture Development Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Pinsky Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
13 Jan 2027
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Salvado Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
10000 EUR
Deadline
12 Mar 2027
Government Of Ireland Scholarships

Read more about eligibility

Government Of Ireland
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Anonymous Hope Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Leopold Figl Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
Not specified
The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

IELTS from 6 to 9
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships

Read more about eligibility

European Commission
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
965 USD
Deadline
Anytime
Dr. Martin Blank – SYB Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Shield Your Body
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
12000 USD
Deadline
11 Jan 2027
Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme

Read more about eligibility

The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme
Location not available

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