| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-10-01 | - |
Program Overview
The MA Curating the Art Museum program at The Courtauld Institute of Art provides students with the expertise and skills for careers in museums and galleries. The program emphasizes the physical object in curatorial training, offers hands-on work experience, and encourages collaborative learning and public engagement. Graduates are prepared for a wide range of career paths within the museum and gallery sector, including curatorial and management roles, public programs, marketing, development, and research.
Program Outline
Applications for 2025 entry will open in autumn 2024.
Location:
Vernon Square Kings Cross, London WC1X 9EP (during The Courtauld Connects project)
Duration:
12 months, full time. October – September
Awarding body:
University of London
Intake:
12 students per year
Program Description:
This program is an excellent entry point for a career in museums and galleries. It emphasizes the physical object in curatorial training while situating specialist knowledge within the contemporary museum context. The program offers a diverse range of learning environments and exercises, encompassing taught seminars, group projects, and hands-on work experience. It also encourages various forms of expression, from academic writing to public debates and gallery talks. The program features a broad-based curriculum, attracting students with diverse interests across all periods and media. There's a strong emphasis on contemporary and innovative approaches to curating in public museums and galleries. The program's teaching draws expertise from the art history faculty, the conservation department, and The Courtauld Gallery staff. It benefits from close relationships and connections with museums and galleries across London, the UK, and internationally.
Curriculum highlights:
- Curators and museum professionals actively lead the program, spearheading practical exercises like the Virtual Display.
- Individual placements are arranged for students with London museums and galleries. Students work closely with mentors in various national museums, public galleries, and other organizations in London, one/two days a week over a six-month period.
- Collaborative work is highly encouraged, both in taught sessions and museum debate organization.
- Field trips, both in the UK and Europe, may be organized throughout the year (conditions permitting) to ensure broad contact with curators, museum professionals, artists, exhibitions, displays, and museum spaces.
- The program culminates in a collaborative exhibition project, public exhibition mounting, and related public events.
Program Aims:
- To address a wide range of interests and equip students with the expertise, research, and professional skills for diverse career paths.
Outline
Semester 1:
- Introductory sessions to the program, The Courtauld's collections, and various program elements.
- History and theory of museums (eight sessions, seminars, and museum visits; essay).
- Virtual Display exercise: four sessions, a practical exercise with a museum professional curator
- Contemporary approaches to the museum (eight seminars, museum visits or presentations from external curators, museum professionals and artists; essay).
- Ethics and practice of conservation (four seminars and a studio visit).
- Individual work placement in a London museum or gallery begins, 1 or 2 days per week.
Semester 2:
- Development and delivery of a public exhibition project.
- Language and interpretation (10 sessions, seminars, visits, and group exercises).
- Two student-organized public museum debates.
- Leadership session with a prominent museum director or curator.
- Individual work placements continue until Easter.
Summer:
- 10,000-word dissertation on a curatorial or museological subject (submission in September).
Assessment
The MA Curating the Art Museum is assessed through:
- Two 4,000-word essays (one each in semesters 1 and 2)
- Exhibition project
- A 10,000-word dissertation
- Placements are assessed pass/fail based on mentor’s report following self-reflective report written by the student
Teaching
Teaching methods:
The program employs diverse teaching methods, including seminars, group projects, individual placements, and field trips.
Faculty:
The program draws on the expertise of the art history faculty, the conservation department, and The Courtauld Gallery staff.
Unique approaches:
- Emphasis on collaborative learning and public engagement
- Strong focus on contemporary and innovative approaches to curating
- Extensive use of museum resources and placements
Careers
Career paths:
The program prepares graduates for a wide range of career paths within the museum and gallery sector, including curatorial and management roles, public programs, marketing, development, and research.
- Application deadline: Applications for 2025 entry will open in autumn 2024.
Note:
The MA Curating the Art Museum program is currently paused for 2024 entry. Applications for 2025 entry will open in autumn 2024.
Tuition fees can be found here.
The Courtauld Institute of Art
Overview:
The Courtauld Institute of Art is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to the teaching and research of art history. It is also home to a renowned public gallery, The Courtauld Gallery, which houses a significant collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.
Services Offered:
The Courtauld Institute offers a range of services to its students, including:
Access to world-class libraries and research facilities:
Students have access to extensive collections of books, journals, and archives.Opportunities for internships and placements:
The Institute provides opportunities for students to gain practical experience in the art world.Support for international students:
The Institute offers a range of services to help international students adjust to life in London.Career guidance and development:
The Institute provides support to students in their career planning and job search.Student Life and Campus Experience:
The Courtauld Institute offers a vibrant and stimulating campus experience. Students can expect:
A close-knit community:
The Institute has a small and intimate campus, which fosters a strong sense of community among students and faculty.Opportunities to engage with the art world:
Students have access to a wide range of events, exhibitions, and lectures.A location in the heart of London:
The Institute is located in the heart of London, providing students with easy access to the city's cultural attractions.Key Reasons to Study There:
Prestigious reputation:
The Courtauld Institute is one of the world's leading institutions for the study of art history.World-renowned faculty:
The Institute boasts a distinguished faculty of scholars and researchers.Access to a unique collection:
Students have access to the Courtauld Gallery's collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.Focus on research:
The Institute is a research-led institution, providing students with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research.Academic Programs:
The Courtauld Institute offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in art history, curating, and conservation. Key academic programs include:
BA in History of Art:
This program provides a comprehensive foundation in art history.MA in History of Art:
This program offers advanced study in a specialized area of art history.MA in Curating:
This program prepares students for careers in museum and gallery work.MA in Conservation:
This program provides training in the conservation of works of art.Other:
The Courtauld Institute is a member of the University of London. It is also a registered charity and receives funding from a variety of sources, including the UK government, private donors, and the Heritage Fund.
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 qualifications:
Interviews:
Language Proficiency Requirements:
The MA Curating the Art Museum program requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If your first language is not English, you will need to achieve a minimum score on an English language test, such as:
- IELTS: 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in any component
- TOEFL iBT: 100 overall, with no less than 20 in each section
- PTE Academic: 67 overall, with no less than 56 in any section
- Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): Grade A
- Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE): Grade C Please note that these are the minimum requirements, and higher scores may be required for competitive applications.
