MA Visual Culture

at Durham University

The course consists of one core module, two optional modules and a dissertation. The core module sets out the intellectual framework for the course, offering a broad overview of key conceptual debates in the field of visual culture, together with training in analysis of visual objects of different kinds, an advanced introduction to understanding museum practice, and key research skills in visual arts and culture. The optional modules provide further specialised areas of study in related topics of interest to individual students, and the 12,000-15,000 word dissertation involves detailed study of a particular aspect of a topic related to the broad area of visual culture.

Examples of optional modules:
 

• Critical Curatorship

• Visual Modernities

• Crossing Cultures: Word, Text and Image in Translation

• Transnational Cinema

• Things That Matter: Material and Culture in/for the Digital Age

• German Reading Skills for Research

• French Reading Skills for Research 1

• The Anglo-Saxon World Societies and Cultures: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Early Medieval England

• An Exhibitionary Complex: Museums, Collecting and the Historical Imagination

• Visualising Revolution: The Image of French Political Culture c.1789-1914

• Grant-Writing for Master Students

• Ethics of Cultural Heritage

• Classical Modernisms

• Modernism and Touch.

Students will normally be required to have an Honours Degree, usually at 2:1 level or higher or GPA average of 3.2 from a recognised national or international university in an arts, humanities or social science subject. The course assumes no prior knowledge of visual arts and culture, but previous interest or experience of visual culture would be an advantage.

Two positive academic or equivalent professional references.

Relevant professional practice in a field of visual arts and culture to be evaluated on an individual basis, may be considered in lieu of formal academic qualifications in some cases.

Fees and funding
 

• Home students    £10,300 per year
• EU students    £22,500 per year
• Island students    £10,300 per year
• International students    £22,500 per year

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).