student life
Our Students
The Courtauld's student body is comprised of about 400 students. Roughly 30% of these are undergraduates, and the remaining 60% are enrolled on taught postgraduate or research programmes.
We treat our students as adults and value their active participation in classes. The Courtauld is not a production line; we will give you the opportunity to be yourself, to hone your interests and discover for yourself what you'd like to research. You will have many opportunities for personal contact with staff and other professionals, and it will be to your benefit to make the most of those opportunities.
notes from our alumni
As soon as I was offered a place at the
Courtauld I knew I had to go. With an academic reputation that
is one of the best in the country and a chance to live in London there
really was no other choice for me.
The Courtauld is a unique place. The resources are unsurpassed
and with London’s massive art collections on your doorstep, there
are endless opportunities for research and study as well as
the chance to broaden your personal experience of all types of art.
There is a good mix of students from the UK and abroad which adds to
the sense of diversity and vibrancy.
Being a student in London is traditionally associated with
mountains of debt and not enough money to do anything but I
have not found this to be true and have survived pretty well on my student
loan. The Courtauld and London have so much to offer I am very glad
I didn’t
decide to go anywhere else.
- Ruaraidh Hunter (Year Two)
Graduates trained by The Courtauld are
continuing to shape and define the art world in every sector,
from the academic to the commercial. My undergraduate degree has been
a passport for me to gain entry to a variety of these fields and continues
to offer me opportunities.
- Dany Ardouin, Curator in a Commercial Gallery
Because art history is not offered at A-Level by many schools, it can be overlooked by prospective
students. In fact, it was my English teacher who first suggested I
study art history. It proved to be exactly the right choice for me.
I enjoyed my BA at The Courtauld so much that I came back to study for the MA a year later. Studying at The Courtauld was
an important springboard for my career, working first as a freelance
writer, then at the National Gallery, and now at the Hayward Gallery.
- Jonathan Jones, Publishing Co-ordinator, Hayward Gallery
History of art is a passion of mine. Working
at The Courtauld, I was able to develop my interest in exhibitions
through coursework and dissertations. I did a lot of work
experience in different areas of the arts whilst at college, trying
to establish my career plans. Undoubtedly, having such a prestigious
college on my CV opened many doors. I now work at the International
Students House, a charity providing cultural and social activities and halls of residence, for over 36,000 London students. Without The
Courtauld's superb teaching, I doubt that I would have been given
these fantastic opportunities.
- Chantal Ashley, Programme & Events Manager,
International Students House