Why study at the Courtauld Institute?

The Courtauld Institute is a research-led, independent college of the University of London, offering world–renowned programmes in the history, conservation, curation and business of art. The Courtauld was founded in 1932 as the UK’s first university department devoted to the study of art, and is home to one of the greatest art collections in the UK. According to the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2025, the Courtauld Institute has been ranked as one of the top five universities worldwide for the study of History of Art.

Teaching is led by a faculty of around 45 academics, which includes the largest concentration of art historians in the UK, alongside world-leading conservators, who work on an increasingly global scale, from the Americas to Europe, from North Africa and the Middle East, to Iran and China. 

We study, research and teach about art in all forms and all media, from the smallest, most personal painting or object to the design and evolution of whole cities; from medieval cathedrals, mosques and Buddhist temples, to contemporary fashion, photography and performance art. We support our teaching with excellent resources, including a dedicated art history and conservation library, digital collections, as well as two photographic collections with more than three million images. 

With over 700 students taking degrees from BA to PhD, our students come from more than forty countries around the world, and you will meet students from all programmes and years. We have a very active, lively research culture, holding over 150 events every year. These attract some of the leading figures in art history, curating, conservation and the business of art from around the world, who give lectures and seminars at the Courtauld Institute, which we encourage all our students to attend. 

Through our partnership with King’s College London, our students benefit from access to world-class educational resources and facilities across both institutions, including libraries, clubs and societies, and sports teams. The Courtauld Institute and King’s have combined expertise and cutting-edge research to offer joint programmes that provide students with exceptional opportunities for academic and professional development. 

Our alumni community spans 83 countries across the world, forming an international powerhouse that influences the arts and creative sectors on a global scale. Many of the world’s major museums and galleries are led by our graduates, and our alumni also go on to become pioneers in a wide range of sectors − including technology, law, finance, journalism, marketing and politics. Regardless of career path, our alumni use skills learned at the Courtauld Institute to analyse, challenge and influence the world around them.