About Art History in Aberystwyth University

Whether your chosen career path involves curating, exhibiting, criticism, collecting, art journalism or any other route, by undertaking this course you will develop essential skills, expertise and experience. By studying the history of art through personal research and excellent tutorage you will engage in vigorous intellectual inquiry in the subject and delve deeply into your chosen specialism.

Why study MA Art History at Aberystwyth University? 

• The School of Art at Aberystwyth provides supervision and specialist knowledge in a broad range of subjects and is rapidly become one of the UK’s most popular places to study and creatively explore Art. Writing in the Guardian, journalist Miles Brignall concluded that the twice-yearly MA Art History Exhibitions at Aberystwyth are among the top four ‘pick of the shows’ UK-wide. Aberystwyth was the only institution he selected outside London.
• There are over 20,000 original artworks in Aberystwyth School of Art’s collection
• Aberystwyth School of Art holds registered museum status from the Museums and Galleries Commission of Great Britain
• Opportunity to submit articles for publication to develop your engagement with critical and public opinion
• Opportunity to curate your own exhibition from the School’s art collections
• Aberystwyth University is a top 50 university for research power and intensity – REF 2014
• 100% of Aberystwyth School of Art’s research was either world leading or internationally excellent in terms of research impact – REF 2014
• 75% of the School of Art’s publications were of an internationally recognised standard or higher – REF 2014
• Opportunity to study within one of the UK’s long-established Schools of Art and to work closely with staff in a stimulating research environment
• Aberystwyth School of Art administers the Catherine Lewis Trust Fund, which continues to acquire important works of art for the University

Careers

The range of posts to which our graduates progress widens all the time. Our alumni have gone on to work:

• For designing companies
• In museums and galleries
• As art teachers
• On education programmes in galleries
• In gallery assistant posts
• producing family-based learning activities in galleries and museums

Our graduates have also taken up exciting internships and traineeships with a variety of national and international organisations, progressed to further academic study (PHDs).

Skills

Throughout this course you will develop a wide array of skills that will not only market you as a professional artist, but also as a mature individual with attractive skills and qualities for potential employers. This course will encourage you to:

• Develop and sustain a self-initiated programme of work

• Play an active, learning based role in the operation of the School's galleries
• Hold up your work against scrutiny from tutors, peers, critics, and the public
• Improve your capacity for conducting a critical review of yours and others' work through discussion, Forum seminars, presentation and writing
• Improve your capacity for critical reading, discussion, presentation and writing, as well as developing an awareness of art practice in relation to art history and theory
• Contribute to the School's academic knowledge of art and art history through your own research
• Increase your critical faculties
• Engage critically with contemporary art and art history 
• Undertake art historical research involving applied skills such as gallery education, cataloguing and database work, archive and oral history projects, or the curation of exhibitions
• Develop study and research skills. 

Academic qualification equivalents:

• We normally accept a minimum of 55% or GCPA 6.0 in a relevant Bachelors degree from a recognised institution. Non-graduates with at least 2 years of relevant full-time work experience are welcome to apply. In this case your application will be assessed on an individual basis.

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS          :         6.5 with minimum 5.5 in each component 
• TOEFL         :         93 with minimum component scores:Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 17.
• PTE             :          62 with minimum scores of 51 in each component 

Aberystwyth University Highlights

Aberystwyth University The Average Tuition Fees And Other Expenses