MSt in History of Art and Visual Culture

at University of Oxford

This course draws on the established strengths of the discipline of art history in formal, iconographic and contextual analysis in the Faculty of History's History of Art Department and links them to a rigorous approach to questions of theory and method. 

The course will expose you to the ways in which the subjects of visual history are being redefined on a broad base to include a much wider range of artefacts and visual media, including images and objects produced in contexts ranging from the scientific to the popular.

Teaching comprises:
 

• a compulsory methodology paper, Issues in Art History, which is taught in a seminar series during Michaelmas and Hilary terms. There is also an associated lecture series, workshops on professional practice and object-handling sessions in Oxford collections.
• one option paper, normally taught in small classes during Michaelmas and Hilary terms. 

Full details of core and optional papers are available on the course webpage on the department's website.

You will also write a dissertation of up to 15,000 words, which will be submitted in Trinity term.

It is expected that about 25% of a student’s time will be spent as self-directed research and study.

Example option papers

Some of the option papers will not be available every year, and new ones may be added.

Prospective students should check on the availability of specific courses during the application process by visiting the course webpage on the department's website (see the Further information and enquires section for further details).

As an example, the options papers for students enrolled in the academic year were:
 

• The Politics of Modernism: Art in France, 1880-1914
• Gothic to Renaissance? Reframing Architecture in Europe and Beyond
• Histories of Photography
• Global Perspectives on American Art: Latinx Art and Activism

Proven and potential academic excellence

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
 

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant discipline in the humanities or social sciences.

Most successful applicants have a degree in a humanities subject such as history of art, history, English, modern languages, Classics, theology, philosophy, archaeology or anthropology. Graduates in fine art who have excellent research and writing skills will also be considered. Applicants with social science and sometimes even science degrees have also been admitted provided they can make a persuasive application that attests to their interest in the visual arts, broadly defined, and demonstrates excellent preparation for the course’s research and writing demands. A degree in history of art is not a requirement and approximately half of each cohort will have completed an undergraduate degree in another subject. 

Your submitted written work should show your writing and research skills in their best light, as it will be important to show that you have the necessary skills required for art historical research.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.75 out of 4.0.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
 

• In the case of mature students/intended career changes professional experience in cognate areas may compensate for shortcomings in the formal academic record. 

• Publications are not required.

English language proficiency

Minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level requirement

IELTS Academic

 7.5  

TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition'

110

Home    
£13,550

Overseas    
£30,910

About a quarter of master’s students proceed directly to doctoral work at Oxford or at other institutions, with additional students applying to doctoral programmes within a year or two of completing the degree. Other career destinations include museums and galleries, the heritage sector, media/publishing (including online), fine arts and teaching, as well as fields such as banking, law and the civil service.