Welcome Week 2023/24
We are looking forward to welcoming all of our new and continuing undergraduate, postgraduate and research students to the 2023/24 academic year. There are a number of important events throughout Welcome Week, ranging from introduction sessions for your programme through to orientation for students new to London and the UK, all geared toward getting you ready for the academic year ahead.
Welcome Week will help get your bearings for the Autumn Term and beyond, providing guidance on both academic and non-academic support.
This page also outlines the Enrolment and Fee Payment processes, and provides further guidance on your first steps as a international student.
Please contact us at the relevant email address below if you have any questions:
Undergraduate: ugadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk
Postgraduate: pgadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk
Students’ Union: students.union@courtauld.ac.uk
Our fantastic Students’ Union organise a simultaneous Fresher’s Week, and put on a series of events that cater for student life, societies and off-site activities. Whilst some of these events have been included in the Welcome Week Schedule below, more information is available on the Students’ Union instagram.
Some of the Students’ Union events are ticketed. You can find the tickets and more information about these events here. Accessibility statements for Students’ Union events are available to download.
ID Cards
Student ID Cards are available to collect from Seminar Room 8 at Vernon Square campus
Monday 18th September
10:00 – 12:30
14:00 – 16:00
Tuesday 19th September
10:00 – 12:30
14:00 – 16:00
Wednesday 20th September
10:00 – 12:30
14:00 – 16:00
Thursday 21st September
10:00 – 12:30
14:00 – 16:00
Welcome Week Programme
All sessions are held in person at Vernon Square unless otherwise specified.
Please note this programme is subject to change.
As the MA History of Art programme has a large number of students, we have split sessions into two groups: Group 1: Family/Last Names A-K, Group 2: Family/Last Names L-Z.
Monday 18th September 2023
09:30 - 13:00. CAMPUS TOURS - All students - Vernon Square Foyer
Tour of Vernon Square campus led by current students
On the hour and every half hour
Meet at foyer of Vernon Square reception
10:00 - 10:45. WELCOME TO THE COURTAULD - BA Year 1 and Graduate Diploma - Lecture Theatre 2
Welcome to the Courtauld
Professor Alixe Bovey, Dean and Deputy Director
Professor Mark Hallett, Marit Rausing Director
Olivia Cheney, Students’ Union President
11:00 – 11:45. WELCOME TO THE COURTAULD - MA History of Art (Group 1) - Lecture Theatre 2
Welcome to the Courtauld
MA History of Art Group 2 (Family/Last Name A – K)
Professor Alixe Bovey, Dean and Deputy Director
Professor Mark Hallett, Marit Rausing Director
Olivia Cheney, Students’ Union President
11:00 - 11:45. WHAT DOES YOUR ACADEMIC YEAR LOOK LIKE? - BA Year 1 - Lecture Theatre 1
An overview of the academic year for incoming BA1 students
Dr. Caroline Levitt, Head of History of Art
Dr. Tom Young, Head of BA1
12:00 – 12:45. WELCOME TO THE COURTAULD - MA History of Art (Group 2) - Lecture Theatre 2
Welcome to the Courtauld
MA History of Art Group 1 (Family/Last Name L-Z)
Professor Alixe Bovey, Dean and Deputy Director
Professor Mark Hallett, Marit Rausing Director
Olivia Cheney, Students’ Union President
13:00 – 13:45. WELCOME TO THE COURTAULD - New Conservation, Curating and PhD students
Welcome to the Courtauld
Professor Alixe Bovey, Dean and Deputy Director
Professor Mark Hallett, Marit Rausing Director
Olivia Cheney, Students’ Union President
Dr. Lucy Bradnock, Vice-Dean for Research
Professor Guido Rebecchini, Head of Research Degree
14:00 - 14:45. LIVING AND STUDYING IN LONDON - All incoming international students - Lecture Theatre 2
Panel discussion with staff and students about living and studying in London for the first time
Alex Hawkins, Admissions and Enrolment Manager
Student panel to be confirmed
15:00 - 16:30. SU: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MIXER - International students - Vernon Square
Hosted by Students’ Union. This event will be held either in the courtyard at Vernon Square or the Research Forum Seminar Room, weather dependent.
Tickets available here from 30th August.
19:00 - 23:00. SU: BATTERSEA BARGE BOAT PARTY - BA1 - Battersea Barge
Hosted by Students’ Union
More information and tickets available here. Tickets available from 30th August.
Tuesday 19th September 2023
09:30 - 13:00. CAMPUS TOURS - All students - Vernon Square Foyer
Tour of Vernon Square campus led by current students
On the hour and every half hour
Meet at foyer of Vernon Square reception
10:00 - 11:00. SKILLS, SERVICES AND KNOWLEDGE: WHAT CAN THE LIBRARIES DO FOR YOU? - MA History of Art Group 2 - Lecture Theatre 1
Discussion of the Resources and Academic Support Services that the Library offers
MA History of Art Group 2 (Family/Last Name L-Z)
10:00 - 10:45. INTRODUCTION TO MA CURATING THE ART MUSEUM - MA Curating the Art Museum - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to MA Curating the Art Museum
Professor Martin Caiger-Smith, Head of MA Curating the Art Museum
11:00 - 11:45. INTRODUCTION TO MA HISTORY OF ART - MA History of Art (Group 1) - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to MA History of Art
MA History of Art Group 1 (Family/Last Name A-K)
Dr. Tom Nickson, Head of MA History of Art
11:15 - 12:15. SKILLS, SERVICES AND KNOWLEDGE: WHAT CAN THE LIBRARIES DO FOR YOU? - Conservation students - Lecture Theatre 1
Discussion of the Resources and Academic Support Services that the Library offers
12:00 - 12:45. INTRODUCTION TO MA HISTORY OF ART - MA History of Art (Group 2) - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to MA History of Art
MA History of Art Group 2 (Family/Last Name L-Z)
Dr. Tom Nickson, Head of MA History of Art
12:30 - 13:30. SKILLS, SERVICES AND KNOWLEDGE: WHAT CAN THE LIBRARIES DO FOR YOU? - MA History of Art Group 1 - Lecture Theatre 1
Discussion of the Resources and Academic Support Services that the Library offers
MA History of Art Group 1 (Family/Last Name A-K)
13:30 - 14:00. INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT - All Conservation students - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to the Conservation department
Clare Richardson FIIC, Head of MA/PGdip Easel Painting Conservation and Deputy Head of Department, Conservation
14:00 - 16:00. INTRODUCTION TO ZOTERO AND REFERENCING - All Conservation students - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to Zotero software and referencing, as well as a library tour
14:00 - 16:00. INTRODUCTION TO GRADUATE DIPLOMA I - Graduate Diploma - Lecture Theatre 1
The first introductory session to the Graduate Diploma, followed by a welcome tea
Dr Teresa Lane, Head of the Courtauld Diploma in the History of Art
14:00 - 16:00. SU: FRESHERS' FAYRE - All students - Research Forum and Common Room
Find out about joining societies, being part of the Students’ Union Parliament, relevant university departments, jobs opportunities, and local businesses.
Hosted by Students’ Union
18:00 - 21:00. CHEESE & WINE SOCIAL - Postgraduate students - Research Forum
Hosted by the Research Forum
Wednesday 20th September 2023
08:30 - 10:00. BRING AND SHARE BREAKFAST - All students - Research Forum
Bring and share breakfast with the Research Forum
10:00 - 10:45. CAREERS SERVICES AT THE COURTAULD - MA History of Art (Group 2) - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to the Careers department at the Courtauld
MA History of Art Group 2 (Family/Last Name L-Z)
Karen Deadfield, Careers Consultant
10:00 - 11:00. SKILLS, SERVICES AND KNOWLEDGE: WHAT CAN THE LIBRARIES DO FOR YOU? - BA Year 1 & Graduate Diploma - Lecture Theatre 1
Discussion of the Resources and Academic Support Services that the Library offers
11:00 - 15:00. GOWER STREET PRACTICE GP REGISTRATION - All incoming students - Seminar Room 4
11:00 - 11:45. CAREERS SERVICES AT THE COURTAULD - Curating, Conservation and PhD - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to the Careers department at the Courtauld
Karen Deadfield, Careers Consultant
11:00 - 12:00. PEER TO PEER BRUNCH - BA1 students and peer mentors - Outside/Common Room
This event will be run over two sessions. You will be contacted prior to the event to let you know which session to attend.
Enjoy doughnuts and coffee with your fellow classmates and peer mentors
Weather permitting, this event will be held in the courtyard at Vernon Square. If not, it will be hosted in the Common Room.
Hosted by the Students’ Union. Information and tickets can be found here. Tickets will be available from 30th August.
12:30 - 13:30. PEER TO PEER BRUNCH - BA1 students and peer mentors - Outside/Common Room
This event will be run over two sessions. You will be contacted prior to the event to let you know which session to attend.
Enjoy doughnuts and coffee with your fellow classmates and peer mentors
Weather permitting, this event will be held in the courtyard at Vernon Square. If not, it will be hosted in the Common Room.
Hosted by the Students’ Union. Information and tickets can be found here.
12:30 - 13:30. SKILLS, SERVICES AND KNOWLEDGE: WHAT CAN THE LIBRARIES DO FOR YOU? - BA Years 2 & 3 - Lecture Theatre 1
Discussion of the Resources and Academic Support Services that the Library offers
13:00 - 13:45. CAREERS SERVICES AT THE COURTAULD - MA History of Art (Group 1) - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to the Careers department at the Courtauld
MA History of Art Group 1 (Family/Last Name A-K)
Karen Deadfield, Careers Consultant
14:00 - 14:45. ALUMNI PANEL (repeated Thursday @ 14:00) - All students - Lecture Theatre 2
Q&A session with alumni
Stella Scobie (MA 2021)
This session will be repeated on Thursday 21st September @ 14:00 with a different alumni – there is no need to attend both
15:00 - 16:00. SKILLS, SERVICES AND KNOWLEDGE: WHAT CAN THE LIBRARIES DO FOR YOU? - MA Curating the Art Museum & PhD - Lecture Theatre 1
Discussion of the Resources and Academic Support Services that the Library offers
18:00 - 21:00. GALLERY RECEPTION - All incoming students - Somerset House
Hosted by the Students’ Union. Tickets and information available here. Tickets will be available from 30th August.
Thursday 21st September 2023
08:30 - 09:30. YOGA - All students - Research Forum
Join the Research Forum team for an hour of yoga
Hosted by the Research Forum. Information and tickets available here. Tickets will be available from 30th August.
10:00 - 10:45. CAREERS SERVICES AT THE COURTAULD - BA Year 1 & Graduate Diploma - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to the Careers department at the Courtauld
Karen Deadfield, Careers Consultant
10:00 - 10:45. WHAT DOES YOUR ACADEMIC YEAR LOOK LIKE? - BA Year 2 - Lecture Theatre 1
An overview of the academic year for BA Year 2 students
Dr Caroline Levitt, Head of History of Art
Dr Maria Mileeva, Head of BA2
11:00 - 11:45. CAREERS SERVICES AT THE COURTAULD - BA Years 2 & 3 - Lecture Theatre 2
An introduction to the Careers department at the Courtauld
Karen Deadfield, Careers Consultant
11:00 - 12:00. FINANCIAL WELLBEING & MONEY MINDSET - BA Year 1 - Lecture Theatre 1
Advice on managing your finances at university
Cleo Matlou, Money Mindset Coach and founder of Women About Finance
12:00 - 12:45. WHAT DOES YOUR ACADEMIC YEAR LOOK LIKE? - BA Year 3 - Lecture Theatre 1
An overview of the academic year for BA Year 3 students
Dr. Caroline Levitt, Head of History of Art
Dr. Klara Kemp-Welch, Head of BA3
12:00 - 13:00. INTRODUCTION TO MA CONSERVATION OF EASEL PAINTINGS - MA Conservation of Easel Paintings - Somerset House
An introduction to MA Conservation of Easel Paintings
Clare Richardson, Head of MA/PGdip Easel Painting Conservation and Deputy Head of Department, Conservation
13:00. DROP IN GARDENING CLUB - All students - Research Forum
Hosted by the Research Forum
CANCELLED 13:00 - 15:00. FRESHER'S FAYRE - BA students - King's College London
Please note this event has been cancelled.
14:00 - 15:00. ALUMNI PANEL (session repeated from Wednesday) - All students - Lecture Theatre 2
Q&A panel with alumni
Karen Deadfield, Careers Consultant
Tessa Carr (BA 2020)
This session is repeated from Wednesday 20th September with a different alumni
14:00 - 16:00. INTRODUCTION TO GRADUATE DIPLOMA II - Graduate Diploma students - The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House
The second introductory session for the Graduate Diploma
Dr Teresa Lane, Head of the Graduate Diploma Programme
14:00 - 16:00. WHAT I DID OVER THE SUMMER - MA Conservation of Easel Paintings - Somerset House
Students discuss projects they have been working on over the summer break
17:30 - 20:00. QUIZ NIGHT - All students - Common Room
Hosted by the Students’ Union. Tickets and information can be found here. Tickets will be available from 30th August
Friday 22nd September
11:00 - 13:00. FRESHER'S FAYRE - ALL Students - King's College London
Register your place here.
Location: Old Billingsgate
Meet Olivia Cheney, Courtauld SU president and explore the King’s College London fresher’s fayre.
Please note: you will need to have collected your KCL student ID card to attend this event.
18:00. VS1 X EAST WING COLLECTION OPENING - All students - Vernon Square
Opening of the VS1 x East Wing Collection, showcasing Embodiment, on September 22, 2023, from 6:00 pm.
Information and tickets can be found here.
The Courtauld Gallery Pop Up Shop
The Courtauld Gallery will be running a pop up shop in seminar room 2 at the Vernon Square campus at the following times:
Monday 18th September: 11am – 4pm
Tuesday 19th September: 11am – 4pm
Wednesday 20th September: 11am – 4pm
Drop in sessions
Wellbeing Team
Wellbeing Drop-In
If you have a physical health, mental health or neurodiverse condition, or you are struggling with personal issues such as acute stress, bereavement, relationship & family difficulties, financial hardship, bullying or being the victim of a crime, you are welcome to come and speak to our Wellbeing Adviser Laura Martin, who will be offering 20-minute individual wellbeing sessions explaining the support available at the Courtauld. Our administrator Joanne Samuels will be there to greet you and invite you to book the next available appointment.
Monday 18th September: 2.30pm – 5.30pm
Wednesday 20th September: 10am – 1pm
Meeting Room 3 and 4 (in the lobby on the second floor of Vernon Square)
IT Team
The IT Team will be offering support for all new and returning students during Welcome Week. If you are having any issues with IT, or you have any queries, please pop in to the Advice Desk (next to Student and Academic Services, second floor at Vernon Square).
Monday 18th September – Friday 22nd September
10am – 2pm
Student and Academic Services
The Advice Desk will be open for all students during Welcome Week for students to meet with Student and Academic Services.
Monday 18th September – Friday 22nd September
10am – 2pm
Pre-Welcome Week activity
We will be running activities over the weekend before Welcome Week. If you are arriving at your accommodation before 18th September, join us for events at Vernon Square, Somerset House and beyond!
Saturday 16th September
13:00. SOCIAL IN THE PARK - Postgraduate students/Duchy House residents - Lincoln Fields
Meet your fellow students and housemates
Meet at Lincoln Fields at 1pm
14:00. SOCIAL IN THE PARK - BA students/Atlas residents - Vauxhall Park
Meet your fellow students and housemates
Meet at Vauxhall Park at 2pm
Sunday 17th September
11:00 - 12:00. VERNON SQUARE DROP IN - All students - Vernon Square campus
Take a tour of the Vernon Square campus, and meet with staff and students
12:00 - 13:00. WALKING TOUR - All students - Vernon Square to Somerset House
Walking tour from Vernon Square campus to Somerset House. This will last approximately 45 minutes.
If you have accessibility issues with this event, please contact ugadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk
13:00 - 15:00. SOMERSET HOUSE DROP IN - All students - Learning Centre
Drop in at the Learning Centre at Somerset House. Meet with staff and students.
Enrolment Information
We will email an invitation to complete online enrolment ahead of Welcome Week.
The first stage of enrolment outlines your tuition fees owed and allows you to make a tuition fee payment via the Flywire online payment service. Please ensure that you are ready to pay your tuition fees, as it is required to fully complete enrolment. If you have a prior arrangement for paying fees – via the Student Loans Company, an internally awarded scholarship or alumni discount, for example – this should already be reflected at this stage, and will either show as a reduced amount or a confirmation of fees paid.
The second stage of enrolment involves confirmation of personal details and, where required, evidence of immigration status. Please do ensure that you have the following items available to hand, as we may require further verification in person at some stage in the future:
- Passport (other official forms of identification may be accepted but should be cleared with the admissions team in advance)
- Payment for fees/proof of payment for fees (including SLC confirmation letter for those in receipt of SLC funding)
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) – if applicable
- For EU students using the UKVI App to verify their ID, BRPs will not be issued by UKVI. Please use this link to prove your immigration status, and upload the screenshot of your immigration status. For the BRP number section, please enter ‘N/A’: https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status
New students (those starting a new programme) should also have:
- Original copies of your relevant qualifications and English Language Test if required. Undergraduate students do not need to provide hard copy qualifications unless otherwise requested – typically if you hold non-UK qualifications, or if it has been over two years since you completed your qualifications. Previous Courtauld graduates also do not need to provide evidence of their qualifications.
We may need to have access to these documents even after initial online enrolment takes place.
Students taking modules with KCL
If you are studying at module as part of our collaboration with King’s College London, you can find relevant information below, including collection of ID cards and fresher’s fayre details.
King's College London information
Enrolling with KCL/KCL IDs
You will receive an email from King’s College London regarding their enrolment process. You will need to complete an online enrolment, after which you will receive a booking link to pick up your student ID card from KCL.
Please note you must have completed the KCL enrolment process to pick up your student ID card.
If you are experiencing issues with KCL enrolment, please contact ugadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk
Fresher's Fayre
Students are welcome to attend the Fresher’s Fayre at King’s College London. Olivia Cheney, Students’ Union President, will be attending at the following times to assist Courtauld students:
Thursday 21st September: 13:00 – 15:00
Friday 22nd September: 11:00 – 13:00
Please note: you will need to have collected your KCL student ID card to attend this event.
Claudette Johnson: Presence - Student & Staff Preview
The Directors Office and the Students Union are excited to announce a Student & Staff Private View of the Claudette Johnson: Presence exhibition!
Join us at The Courtauld Gallery on Friday 29th September for a special private view of the Claudette Johnson: Presence exhibition on the opening night, just for Courtauld and KCL students, and Courtauld staff.
From 6:30 to 9:30pm the gallery will be open after hours with live DJs, bars, a soft taco station in the Vaults Bar by the terrace, and snacks in the Art Cafe and second floor. Join your friends and experience this exciting major exhibition of work by British artist Claudette Johnson (born 1959) without the crowds. This is the first time we have offered this to students and hope to continue over the coming year.
The exhibition presents a carefully selected group of major works from across Claudette Johnson’s career, from key early drawings to recent and new works, offering a compelling overview of Johnson’s pioneering career and artistic development.
Free ticket needed, please book through the link below. You will need to book with your Courtauld or KCL email address. No plus ones, this is a strictly Courtauld event. Bring your Courtauld or KCL student ID on the night for entrance.
Bars and food stations are card only, no cash. The shop will also be open (students get 20% off shop purchases).
Frequently asked questions
When will I get my teaching timetable?
Upon completing Online Enrolment and gaining IT access you will be able to view a personalised timetable on the VLE.
What if I will be late enrolling?
We expect all students to complete their enrolment ahead of the start of teaching, 25 September 2023, though understand that there may be exceptional circumstances that cause delay.
All students must be enrolled by 31 October 2023 – any student not enrolled by this time will be withdrawn from the programme.
I have yet to find accommodation - what can I do?
There may still be limited spaces available through the University. Please contact us at duchy.helpdesk@courtauld.ac.uk for more information, as rooms do sometimes become available at the last minute, or we may be contacted regarding other opportunities.
There are a number of alternative avenues you may wish to consider:
Our Students’ Union manage the Courtauld Housing Group on Facebook, an active group for those who are not successful in gaining a place from our initial allocations. To join, simply request to join the group. You can use the group to find vacancies in shared houses with current students, see ads from private landlords, or make arrangements with others to find accommodation together.
- Goodenough College (for postgraduate students only)
Postgraduate students may be able to apply for single, couples’ and family accommodation at Goodenough College. The application procedure and allocation is entirely managed by Goodenough College.
University of London may have rooms available at this point in the year outside of our specific allocation.
In order to apply for this accommodation, you need to apply directly via University of London. UoL will provide details on their website on how to apply between early-to-mid September.University of London Housing Services (for private sector housing)
University of London Housing Services provide extremely helpful advice about renting accommodation in the private sector. Please refer to them for general advice and guidance in to renting in London.
I need to get in touch regarding a welfare issue in advance of Welcome Week
I'm an international student and haven't picked up my BRP yet - can I still enrol?
We will not be able to fully enrol you until we have a scan of your Bio-metric Residence Permit (BRP). Please plan around being in the UK as early as possible to allow yourself enough time to pick up your BRP.
I am having problems with my visa entry vignette, or cannot pick up my BRP prior to enrolment.
Contact us immediately via ugadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk or pgadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk if you are having any problems in regards to arriving into the UK before enrolment, delays in picking up your BRP prior to 18th September, or any other visa issues. It is vital that you report any errors with dates, status or sponsor on your vignette or BRP as soon as possible, as there are particularly limited windows for errors to be corrected.
Request Student Status Letters
Contact: sas@courtauld.ac.uk
You will be able to request student status letters after you have completed enrolment. Letters you may require include: a bank letter (enabling you to set up a student bank account), or Council Tax exemption letter, which you will need if you are living in a rented flat rather than the halls of residence. You will not be able to request these letters until you have completed enrolment.
When requesting a bank letter, you are advised to provide the name and address of the branch at which you intend to open your account. As banks will not accept a generic letter we will need the branch details in order to create a letter for the bank you have chosen.
Please note that there is a high demand for letters at the start of the academic year.
How do I apply for a Student Oyster Card?
You will be eligible for a Student Oyster Card once you have completed enrolment. You must apply directly via TFL at www.tfl.gov.uk, providing your Student ID number found on your Student ID card. It may take a few weeks to be processed and sent to you by TFL.
