Vibrant International Reputation
The Courtauld Institute of Art is the major centre in Britain for the study of the history of Western art, and one of the premier art historical institutes in the world.

Central London Location
The Courtauld at Somerset House The Courtauld is located in historic Somerset House, which affords students easy access to a variety of museums and galleries (including The Courtauld's own gallery) as well as theatres, cinemas, clubs and London's West End.

Take Virtual Tours of The Courtauld
Visit the Somerset House website


Happy Students
Courtauld students are among the most satisfied with their courses of study in Britain according to two recent studies. In the 2009 UK National Student Survey (NSS), The Courtauld was ranked fourth in the country; 93% of students were satisfied with the teaching, learning resources and academic support they receive. The Courtauld also came top of The Times Higher Education Ranking, which aims to show which universities offer the best all-round student experience.


Career Prospects
Recent Courtauld graduates have gained positions at Christie’s, the Royal Academy of Art, White Cube, Birkbeck College, Tate and Frieze magazines, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the National Gallery. Many of our graduates continue to further academic study both at The Courtauld and other universities in Britain and abroad.


Friendly and Accessible Learning
The Courtauld welcomes students from a variety of academic backgrounds and from all walks of life. The BA History of Art begins with a broad focus and gives students the opportunity to hone their individual interests and to discover where their passion lies.


Small Student Body

At any given time, the total student population of The Courtauld is about 400 students from BA to PhD level, which means that it's feasible to meet all of your fellow students across all courses and years.  About 150 of these are undergraduate, about 120 are admitted onto the MA History of Art, and 100 are working toward a PhD either at The Courtauld or abroad.


Student Life
The Courtauld boasts a very active Students' Union, with a full fortnight of events planned for the enrolment and induction period. Courtauld students also enjoy membership to the University of London Students' Union, which comprises students from 31 institutions.


World-Class Teaching
The Courtauld has a teaching staff of about 30, many of whom are experts in their fields, who cover a very broad spectrum of the arts and architecture of the Western world from classical antiquity to the present day. Teachers have a wide range of approaches to the study of the history of art including close examination of individual works as well as the broad historical and theoretical issues raised by the discipline.


Invaluable Resources
Courtauld students have access to the Book Library, the Witt and Conway image libraries as well as the world-famous Courtauld Gallery, which is particularly renowned for the unrivalled collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Book Library

Take a Virtual Tour of The Gallery