Frequently Asked Questions

You do not! The only pre-requisite to participation in our courses is a passion for the visual arts and for art history, along with a good command of the English language.

Our courses are not assessed and while we provide extensive course materials on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for most parts of the programme, it is up to students how much preparatory and subsequent study they wish to undertake.

Any student who attends either four Summer School courses in one year or six courses over three years is eligible for a Short Courses Certificate, signed by the Director. Certificates are made out in September after Summer School and will be posted to your home address. If you would like us to mark your achievement in this way, please send a note – by email or in person – to Jackie Sullivan at short.courses@courtauld.ac.uk by 1 September, with details of the courses you have attended.

Please note that our Study Tours, and the evening lecture programme Showcasing Art History are open to students over the age of 18.

All other programmes are open to students over the age of 16.  A framework, including a Safeguarding Policy, is in place to provide a safe environment for young people participating in activities at The Courtauld.  Please contact us at short.courses@courtauld.ac.uk with the subject line ‘booking under 18’ before booking for yourself or another person if you/they are under the age of 18.  We will need to receive the consent of a parent or guardian before a booking can be accepted.

Student feedback has shown that our students find our courses extremely sociable. We keep class sizes low to facilitate and encourage discussion. On campus courses include breaks with refreshments, giving students the opportunity to get to know each other over coffee and cake. Those attending a Summer School on campus course are invited to the Frameworks programme, which is shared by all Summer School courses, and weekly drinks receptions.

At present, concessions are available for Saturday Study events.

The fee depends on a course’s length and intensity, and can be found on its webpage. Any income generated by the Short Courses is used to support the work of The Courtauld in order to advance the study of art history and conservation.

You can read more details about our fees and delivery methods in our terms and conditions, which can be found here.

For Showcasing Art History, please see the separate terms and conditions here.

Our courses are open to nationals of any state; it is the prospective student’s responsibility to ensure that they obtain whatever kind of visa may be necessary to enter the UK. Further information about visitor visas can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration.

Our search found that people from the EU or USA do not need a visa to study in the UK for 6 months or less, while for example Chinese passport holders would need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa to engage in short-term study. You can find out the specific information for your country here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y.

The Campus at Vernon Square

Vernon Square has always served as an educational setting. It was built as a school by the London City Council in the early twentieth century and has more recently served SOAS, University of London as a second campus.

The building offers two large lecture theatres, and nine seminar rooms on the first and second floors, and a reception space and open-air terrace on the top floor. It is fully accessible, with step-free entry, single-level flooring, disabled toilets, lift access to all rooms, and free on-site parking for blue badge holders.

Please bear in mind that all Spring, Autumn and Summer School courses on campus include visits to museums, galleries and other sites within London, its surroundings or nearby cities and therefore a certain degree of physical activity. Likewise, all Study Tours in person require a fair amount of walking and getting around towns and sites, in some circumstances on uneven or otherwise difficult terrain. If you have any doubts whether a particular course or tour is suitable for you, please contact us for further information.

For day-time courses held on campus, morning and afternoon tea and coffee will be provided free of charge, if you are on site, and water will always be supplied in the teaching rooms. In addition, refreshments can be bought in our staff and student common room, or you may wish to bring a packed lunch and eat on our terrace. There are a large number of independent and chain sandwich/snack bars in and around both King’s Cross/St Pancras and Angel stations, as well as several more sophisticated eateries.

Summer School 2025 features 25 intensive five-day courses on a global range of topics from late classical to modern art. Each course lasts five days, so you can follow one course per week.

As in all our programmes, we aim to combine a high level of scholarly expertise with an engaging delivery and a friendly atmosphere. From 2025, our Short Courses – with the exception of the evening lectures series Showcasing Art History and our Study Tours – are open to all over the age of 16. A framework, including a Safeguarding Policy, is in place to provide a safe environment for young people participating in activities at The Courtauld.

Small-group teaching facilitates discussion and ensures each student is given the lecturer’s attention.

See our full range of Summer School courses:

Summer School online

Summer School on campus

Summer School courses are non-residential but you may need accommodation while in London. Our research has shown that, at time of publication, the following still offer rooms during the summer. Please note that we have no personal experience of most of these residences, and are unable to assist with bookings.