Graduate Diploma in the History of Art

Upon completion of the Graduate Diploma, you will have:

• A broad art historical knowledge and the transferable skills needed to engage critically with art historical debates, transition into a career in the arts, or undertake further post-graduate study.
• A sophisticated set of skills learnt from a wide range of leading art history professionals.
• An invaluable expertise in the close study of objects and sites, critical skills and understanding of the approaches and methods of study, required for success in the art world.
• Competency in critical thinking, the analysis of objects, images, and texts, debating ideas, and concise and persuasive writing.
• A broad-ranging view and understanding of the careers available in the cultural heritage sector.
• An extensive professional network.

Careers and Employability

The Courtauld’s Graduate Diploma programme addresses a wide range of interests and equips students with the expertise, research, and professional skills for an equally wide range of career paths. This course helps students transition into a career in the arts, or undertake further postgraduate study. This course will ideally suit students interested in pursuing a career in art museums, galleries, the commercial art sector, heritage, publishing, marketing and communications, production, educational organisations, other cultural institutions, and more.

Students from the programme will join an international network of Courtauld alumni who work across the cultural sector and benefit from the friendships, support, and mentorship available within that community.

Teaching Programme and Structure

In each semester, you will take a ‘Foundations’ module, offering a broad picture of art historical themes and methods. You will also take two further core modules, examining works of art as physical objects (Physical Histories) and scrutinising the role that museums play in society (Exhibiting Art). Alongside these, you will take a selection of modules across the two semesters, devoted to looking in depth at themes, periods and approaches in the History of Art (Histories and Approaches). Finally, you will write a 5,000-word dissertation, supported by a supervisor, which allows you to explore a particular issue and develop your independent research skills. The teaching is a mixture of lectures (with up to 150 students) and seminars (in groups of 10–15 students).

The Graduate Diploma consists of the following elements:

Foundations 1 and 2:

A series of lectures, dealing with a range of major themes and issues from antiquity to the present day across the globe, which runs in two parts in semesters 1 and 2. It is supported by discussion classes of about 15 students which help you to build up your confidence in looking, thinking, discussing, and writing about Art History.

Physical Histories: 

 A module taken in semester 1, taught with input from colleagues in our conservation department, which encourages you to understand and interpret works of art via close looking at their material characteristics. Teaching takes the form of lectures, supported by small group discussions, workshops and visits.

Exhibiting Art: 

 In semester 2, you move to considering the role of museums in societies (past, present, and future), and how display contexts can shape (and also limit) the understanding of works of art and architecture. Making use of London collections, you will think analytically about the particular display choices, methods and narratives adopted by different museums and galleries.

Optional modules:

In semesters 1 and 2, you take two of several available modules, exploring different art histories (Histories) and critical methods (Approaches). Histories is taught weekly through one lecture and one seminar, and Approaches through a weekly seminar. These modules are assigned taking into account student preference, but please note that in order to retain small group teaching and appropriate range across your Diploma, we are unable to guarantee specific choices. The modules on offer differ in any given year, but have previously included:

• Art and Cold War Politics
• Artists, Radicals, Mystics: European Art, 1760-1830
• Landscape and Environment in Early Modern China
• Art History and Social Justice
• Embodiments: The Body as Subject and Object in Medieval Art
• Facsimile Debates: From AI to Plato
• Sexual Politics
• Ways of Seeing and Being Seen: The Politics of Vision in Modern and Contemporary art

The Dissertation:

Beginning in semester 1, you will be supported in honing your research skills, defining an area you wish to explore, and establishing appropriate parameters, research questions and approaches before embarking on a sustained piece of work, supervised by a member of our teaching faculty and culminating in a 5,000-word dissertation. For many students, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of the Diploma.

Entry Requirements

UK qualifications: Students will normally have achieved a good 2.1 in their Bachelor’s degree.

Overseas qualification: Equivalent to a good 2.1 in a UK first degree (e.g. US applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above).

English language requirements: If your first language is not English, we require proof of English language proficiency –please see the English Language Requirements page.

We welcome applicants with other forms of academic and relevant professional experience. Please note that applicants may be invited to interview on a case-by-case basis.

Applications: Please see How to Apply page for information.

Support

Wellbeing support: We have a dedicated Wellbeing team, with counsellors and advisors.

Academic Skills training: The academic skills tutor offers group and one-to-one classes to help you to develop the skills and confidence you need to succeed on the degree. We also have two Royal Literary Fund fellows who will help you with your writing skills – concentrating on how to structure and improve your writing.

Careers advice: You can access bespoke, one-to-one career guidance throughout your studies. The Courtauld Careers Service offers advice and support on exploring career and further study options, finding internships, enhancing employability, understanding and navigating the jobs and self-employment market, and making successful applications. This service is available to all graduates for up to two years after graduation.