Ranking
Top 100
QS World Rankings 2024
Course overview
Deepen your knowledge of art history and curating on our employability focussed PGCert. Studying online from anywhere in the world, you'll enhance your professional skills and gain practical experience designing a curatorial project.
Get ready to take the next step in your career or change your career path towards a role in a museum or gallery. You'll discover current approaches in art history and curatorial practice, exploring historic and contemporary art in global contexts. With opportunities to analyse and critique a range of sources, methods and case studies connected to art history and curating, you'll expand your expertise in both fields.
Course structure
The course runs over 18 months part-time from September.
You’ll take your first module in the autumn term.
Course highlights
The PGCert is for anyone who wants an intellectual challenge, the chance to develop their ideas for a curatorial project or an opportunity to explore Art History and Curating.
Broaden your knowledge of art history and curating while developing key sector skills. We focus on your employability and continuing professional development. You can explore areas that fit your interests in the module assessments.
What's more, you'll gain practical experience by researching and writing a proposal for a curatorial project. This course will lay the foundations for a career in museums or gallery sectors and offer an insight into current debates if you already work in these areas.
- Combine theoretical and practical knowledge: develop your analytical skills and apply your knowledge to art on display.
- Contribute to the Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies student-run blog, ‘The Golovine’.
- Engage with our art gallery The Barber Institute of Fine Arts through their archive of online podcasts, recorded talks and digital resources.
- Access electronic resources through our library e-resources to support you studying online.
Expand your knowledge of both art history and curating.
18 month course covering 3 modules fits flexibly around your work.
Enhance your employability - research and design your own curatorial project.
Putting knowledge into practice
Benefit from the world-class expertise in our Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies. Developing your analytical skills, you'll consider current debates on the relationship between art history and curating. Better still, you'll put this knowledge into practice. We encourage you to think about different museum and gallery contexts and explore the different ways people experience works of art at exhibitions.
The PGCert also provides the perfect route to further study on our MA by Research History of Art by distance learning or our campus-based MA Art History and Curating.
Course delivery
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in Art History and Curating. You'll study online using our University's 'virtual learning environment' and access materials designed by academic staff in the Department.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Resources are uploaded in advance so you can complete activities and take part in discussions whenever suits you.
- Online discussion boards – modules are mainly taught by small group discussions responding to readings set by the module convenor.
- Consult academic staff in Birmingham via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
Module information
The programme comprises 60 credits of taught modules.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
2025/26 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LM Art on Display DL | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Current Approaches in Art History DL | 20 | Semester 1 |
2026/27 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LM Current Approaches in Curating DL | 20 | Semester 1 |
Entry requirements
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
- 2:1 Honours degree
in History of Art
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.
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.
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.
Fees and scholarships
- £3,633
Part-time
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.
Application process
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
The deadline for all students applying to our distance learning courses is 31 August 2025.
Late applicants are encouraged to contact the Admissions Tutor for advice.
We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
Career opportunities
By studying a postgraduate degree in Art History, Curating and Visual Studies at Birmingham, you’ll develop transferable skills suited to a range of career paths. These skills include the ability to research and analyse information, write to tight deadlines, and strong verbal and written communication skills.
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:
- Artisan Alchemy Gallery
- Wolverhampton Art Gallery
- Secondary Schools
The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits [The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers report].
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
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.