History of Art and Visual Studies (MA)

at University of Warwick

Our MA is designed to prepare students for specialised postgraduate research in the fields of Art History and Visual Studies. You will have the option of spending the autumn term in Venice or can study for the full year on the Warwick campus.

The course enables you to develop your research skills by studying different periods and media in the history of art, and by taking an active part in research, exploring some of the broader issues in Art History today such as cross-cultural interaction and the arts, the spatial contexts of art, architecture and urbanism, and the arts within a global society.

Core modules

Art History and its Methods

You will become acquainted with the major methodologies that have shaped the discipline of art history as an historical discipline. To this end, this module will examine several theories of the history of art that either construct art as something with its own (internal) history, or understand it as something determined by wider social and political contexts. The module may also engage with some of the more pertinent methodological and interdisciplinary issues on the boundaries of Art History, for example Material Culture Studies.

Dissertation

The Dissertation is an extended piece of writing of 15,000 words in length about a topic that you select, with the support of your supervisor. It allows you to demonstrate your research skills and formulate an independent perspective on your topic. You will be supported in your research and writing not only by your supervisor but through the Academic Preparation for History of Art module, and a series of planning workshops during the spring term.

Academic Preparation for History of Art

This module (which is not taken for credit) will help you to develop the academic skills you need for graduate study in History of Art. It will facilitate the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study, as well as helping you to engage with History of Art as a new discipline.

Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

• Research in Medieval and/or early Modern Art/Architectural History (taught in Venice)
• Research in Modern and/or Contemporary Art and Architecture (taught in Venice)
• Exhibiting the Contemporary (taught in Venice)
• East meets West: The Visual Arts in Colonial and Post-colonial India
• Leonardo: Art and Science
• Reality after Film
• Giotto and Assisi
• Colour and its Meaning

Minimum requirements

2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in History of Art or a related subject.

English language requirements

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
   

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information, however we are awaiting guidance from the UK government regarding fee status for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members living in the UK for academic year 2021/22 onwards. We are not able to confirm the fee status for these students until the relevant eligibility criteria have been confirmed. Once we have received further information from the UK government, we will provide you with an update on your fee status and let you know if any additional information is required. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.
 

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for a range of sectors, including Arts Management, PR, Teaching, Galleries and Auction Houses. Many others have undertaken further study at PhD level.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Careers History of Art Alumni workshop
• Discovering Careers in the Creative Industries
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• History of Art – Securing Internships
• Career planning and making applications