Art History and CuratingMA

You’ll also establish important professional networks and gain vital practical skills, invaluable to museum and commercial sectors.

We also offer a distance learning programme over 18 months. Find out more about the PGCert Art History and Curating by distance learning. 

The course runs over 12 months full-time. You can also study this programme on a part-time basis.

(Please note due to essential building works the Barber Institute of Fine Arts will be closed Spring 2025-Spring 2026).

You’ll complete a curatorial project working with our academic staff and museum professionals from our partner organisations. Recent partners include The Barber Institute of Fine Arts in a unique partnership with the V&A, and Grand Union, an Arts Council England portfolio organisation.

• Expand your understanding of different areas of museum and art gallery practice, such as art interpretation; modes of display; marketing; access and learning; and administration and finance.
• Contribute to the department’s official blog, ‘The Golovine’, and attend our regular research seminars.
• Prepare for your future by gaining practical skills by working on a curatorial project and pitching your own business ideas in our Enterprising Culture module.
• Our Barber Institute of Fine Arts boasts a specialist research library, containing books and catalogues about art history, visual culture, curating and collecting. 

Industry connections at your fingertips

On the Curating programme, you'll work with one of our industry partners to develop a curatorial project. You'll also have the opportunity to learn about commercial practices and contexts in the UK arts sector by taking the optional module ‘Enterprising Cultures’, which is delivered in partnership with a Birmingham-based arts organisation. Further professional experience and skills can be gained by undertaking an extra-curricular placement with an arts organisation in the region (subject to availability). 

We expect to offer you educational opportunities with our current external museum and gallery partners as part of this programme. However, we review our partnerships regularly and the opportunities available may change before your programme begins, or during your programme. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Programme Lead.

• Taught modules - each 20-credit module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
• Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
• Dissertation – you'll undertake a 15,000-word dissertation in an area that interests you.

Facilities

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is our on-campus art gallery, which is open to students, staff and the wider public.

The galleries contain artwork by artists such as Botticelli, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Renoir.

There's a wealth of resources for you to use during your studies, from the Barber Fine Art Library to The Prints and Drawings Study Room.

The Fine Art Library contains specialist research books and catalogues about art history, visual culture, curating and collecting. The Prints and Drawings Study Room houses a collection of prints, drawings and watercolours including works by Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt van Rijn, and JMW Turner.

 We want to make you aware that The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is currently undergoing a two-phase £10 million improvement programme. Phase One took place in 2023-2024 and Phase Two will include temporarily closing the Barber Institute's building from February 2025, reopening early 2026. This is so we can make essential repairs and upgrades to enhance your future experience. Find out more about the renovations.

It’s important to remember that our academic excellence is not confined to a single building or gallery. Our university boasts award-winning art installations across the campus and the wider city of Birmingham, providing you with countless opportunities for artistic inspiration and academic growth. Our expert academics, renowned in their fields, will guide you through your learning in exciting and innovative ways, ensuring that your studies continue to be engaging and transformative.

The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.

As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.

2025/26 Session

The following must be taken:

Students must take 2 x 20 credit optional modules chosen from a list provided by the department each year.
The following is an indicative list:

You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 Honours degree in History of Art. We will also consider a different Humanities or Arts subject, provided you can demonstrate your interest in History of Art. This might be through relevant work experience or studying relevant modules during your Honours degree.

If your Honours degree is a high 2:2 (57% or above, or equivalent GPA) and you have extensive professional experience, or you can document mitigating circumstances that affected your undergraduate studies, you should contact the Programme Lead before making an application.

We recommend using the personal statement to outline your interest in History of Art and any previous or current experience you have in this area.

If you’ve been out of education for several years, we will consider professional references in place of the standard two academic references.

Please be aware: places on this programme are limited as we can only accommodate a limited number of students on our curatorial projects.

Due to the competitive nature of the programme, we strongly advise you apply early.

Applications received before January 2025 will get first priority. Applications will then be reviewed again in March 2025 and May 2025.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

English Presessional Programmes

Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.

The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

Paying your tuition fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.

Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.

Postgraduate Masters Loan

To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.

Scholarships

To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.

Birmingham Masters Scholarships

We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.

Our Art History, Curating and Visual Studies graduates enter many roles, including:

• Gallery managers and curators
• Exhibition curator
• Secondary School Teacher

Employers our Art History, Curating and Visual Studies graduates have worked for include:

• Imperial War Museums
• Saatchi Gallery
• Secondary schools

Careers Network

Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.