Short Courses 2024

On campus and online

A bronze sculpture of a dancer looking at the sole of her right foot i Edgar Degas (1834–1917), Dancer Looking at the Sole of her Right Foot, Bronze cast by A.A. Hébrard Foundry, Paris, Around 1919–20, from a wax model made around 1895–1900, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld

The Courtauld shares its scholarly expertise with everyone interested in art and art history through the Short Courses. Our courses present up-to-date art-historical thinking, often including our lecturers’ current research, and are led by experts in their field who are chosen for their academic excellence, enthusiasm, and the ability to communicate with diverse audiences.

Covering a global range of historical periods and art-historical themes, the Short Courses programme has much to offer to both newcomers to the subject and to participants with existing knowledge and interests.

Our on campus courses combine teaching in the classroom with visits to galleries and museums across London. If you are stretched for time or too far away from The Courtauld, you can also study with us online! You will receive expert lectures and reading material between 2-4 weeks before the start of an online programme so that you can immerse yourself in the content at your own time, in preparation for the lively online seminars during the course delivery week.

You can find our courses and their full descriptions on this website.  Our frequently asked questions may answer any queries, but if not, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Download our Short Courses calendar for 2024, listing all our courses and tours per month, here:

Short Courses Calendar 2024

Last chance to book: Summer School online

Our Summer School online this year includes courses on topics ranging from Renaissance Venice to abstract expressionism.

Our online courses consist of pre-recorded lectures which you can watch at a time that suits you, along with live seminar discussions which allow you to dig deeper into the subject with the lecturer and your fellow students.

As in all our programmes, we aim to combine a high level of scholarly expertise with an engaging delivery and a friendly atmosphere. Small-group teaching facilitates discussion and ensures each student is given the lecturer’s attention.

Find out more
i Francis Towne, Landscape with stream and footbridge, Holly Street, Chagford, 28 August 1815, graphite, pen and ink (grey), watercolour on wove paper, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld.

Book now: Summer School on campus

We have programmed Summer School to offer a range of periods and themes in each week and to enable students to pursue a particular interest across two or more weeks.

Morning or afternoon classroom sessions are complemented by object-focused study in London’s museums, galleries, printrooms, churches, and other sites. Summer School on campus includes a framework programme to which all students across the month are invited and which consists of a plenary lecture, a music recital, a film screening and an ‘in conversation with’ debate.

The Courtauld Gallery will host post-graduate talks introducing aspects of the collections, features as a teaching resource in many of our courses and will be the splendid venue of one of our evening Summer School parties.

Find out more
i Franz Wiegele, Young Woman in a Landscape (Carinthia), (circa) 1930 - 1938, oil on canvas, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld.

Our programmes


Spring Courses

Online and on campus options. Our Spring Courses go considerably beyond introductory surveys. Organised thematically, they provide a solid basis for further study in Western art from classical antiquity to the twentieth century. ...

Summer School

On campus and online. Summer School 2024 features 25 intensive five-day courses on a global range of topics from late classical to contemporary art. ...

Autumn Courses

Our Autumn Courses go considerably beyond introductory surveys. Organised thematically, they provide a solid basis for further studies of areas of Western art from classical antiquity to the twentieth century. ...

Three figures looking at a drawing

Showcasing Art History

On campus and online. As the programme name implies, the series aims to share the latest art-historical thinking, and The Courtauld’s excellence in teaching and research, with the wider public....

Study Tours

Join our expert lecturers for one of our sought-after Study Tours in person, which are celebrated for their scholarly excellence, conviviality and small group size. ...

Giovanni Antonio Canaletto (1697 - 1768), View from Somerset Gardens looking towards London Bridge, 1746 - 1755 (circa)

Saturday Study

Saturday Study delivers short, intensive and, we hope, enjoyable events that help to give further context to our temporary exhibitions, or use selected works from our permanent collections as starting points for the investigation of significant art-h...

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