Course Overview
Status
Applications are now open for 2025/26 entry.
Location
Vernon Square Kings Cross, London WC1X 9EP
Duration
12 months, full time.
Awarding body
University of London
Intake
24 students per year
Are you interested in pursuing a curatorial career at the highest level and across a variety of settings? Are you excited by the idea of exploring an expanded concept of curating—one that enthusiastically embraces the diversity of curatorial practices found in today’s art world?
The MA Curating at The Courtauld offers an unmatched opportunity to immerse yourself in the theory and practice of curating in a unique scholarly and professional context. The Courtauld houses one of the world’s most ambitious and extensive graduate programmes focusing on the history, curating, and conservation of art. This rich academic resource is complemented by the internationally renowned curatorial excellence of the Courtauld Gallery, which is famous for the quality of its collection as well as the ambition and scholarship underpinning its exhibition programme.
Embedded within this extraordinary setting, The Courtauld’s MA in Curating provides students with a research-led approach to an increasingly diverse and stimulating area of intellectual and professional practice. The programme offers intensive training that focuses on the issues that shape the curatorial field, and on their practical implications for today’s art world.
Grounded in seminar-based learning, the programme develops practical skills and knowledge. Site visits across London and the UK will be organised, and visiting speakers including curators, museum professionals and artists will expand your professional networks and horizons. You will work collaboratively towards a number of exciting group projects aimed at developing your academic and professional abilities and that extend the practice of curating into the fields of programming, fundraising, publishing and more. The course aims to train professionals to the highest standards and prepare them for positions across the cultural sector.
The MA in Curating will provide you with the attributes required to thrive in a variety of curatorial positions within the cultural sector. Upon completion of the programme, you will have:
- An advanced, critical understanding of the debates that shape curating today.
- Curatorial knowledge informed by group projects and interaction with a wide range of leading art world professionals.
- A practical understanding of research, display, care and interpretation of artworks which may include an introduction to the management of cultural sites and projects.
- A strong and expanded professional network.
- A broad-ranging view and understanding of the careers available in the curatorial field.
Join our MA Curating Virtual Open Day: Tuesday 14 January 2025, 14:00 – 15:00.
Careers and Employability
The Courtauld’s MA Curating programme addresses a wide range of interests and equips students with the expertise, research, and professional skills for an equally broad variety of curatorial career paths. This course will ideally suit students interested in pursuing a career in art museums, galleries, the commercial art sector, heritage, publishing, production, educational organisations, and other cultural institutions.
Students from the programme will join an international network of Courtauld alumni who work across the cultural sector and benefit from the friendship and support within that community.
Programme Leaders
Teaching and Programme Structure Overview
The course is structured around core and elective modules. Core modules (including The History and Theory of Curating in Semester 1 and The Practice of Curating in Semester 2) offer in-depth explorations of the histories, theoretical debates and critical practices that shape the curatorial field today. They are informed, among other perspectives, by calls to widen our understanding of art history, to decolonise and decarbonise, and to foster diversity and inclusion across gender, race, ability and class. The elective modules are designed to provide practical experiences, working with small groups and a focused topic, theme or approach to curating. The elective modules offered in 2025-26 are: Working with Collections, Working with Artists, Conservation for Curators, and Curating Historic Buildings and Heritage Sites.
The dissertation will allow you to produce an in-depth, independent piece of academic scholarship. The dissertation will be of 8,000 words and you will be supported in developing your research topic through the research skills workshops across Semesters 1 and 2, which will introduce you to advanced-level academic research and writing. Dissertation topics can be chosen from across the history and theory of curation, including exhibition histories and the detailed analysis of particular modes of curation.
Assessment
The MA Curating is formally assessed on:
- Portfolios that include 3000-word essays and/or other short written tasks
- A Group Exhibition project
- An 8000-word dissertation
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.
Fees and Funding
Financial support for your studies:
Postgraduate Master’s Loan: Please visit the Student Finance England website for further information and to apply online.
Courtauld Institute of Art Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merits. The average postgraduate scholarship is £6,000. Applications are welcomed from Home, EU and Overseas applicants and students. Find out more about our scholarships.
Alumni Loyalty Scheme: This scheme is open to any graduate of The Courtauld Institute of Art admitted to a taught postgraduate programme of study. Recipients will receive a 10% loyalty discount off their tuition fee for the duration of the course.
Support
To support you through the degree, we offer:
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.
Associated Programme Costs
See General Associated Programme Costs.
Students work on a group exhibition project which is funded.