Program Overview

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MPhil Art History and Theory

The MPhil in Art History and Theory is a postgraduate research course offered by the University of Essex.

Overview

The course is based in the School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies and offers supervision across a range of fields, including European art and architecture from 1300 to the present, and the art and architecture of Latin America and the United States.

• The course has a long tradition of postgraduate training in all the major areas of European art and architecture from 1300 to the present, and in the art and architecture of Latin America and the United States.
• Essex Art History features a dynamic group of art historians investigating the production and reception of images and built environments, across cultures and media from the early modern period to the present.
• The course adopts a diverse range of approaches in writing and teaching, demonstrating a commitment to three key ideas:
  • The social and political implications of art, architecture, and visual culture
  • Space, place, and locale
  • Art produced beyond its historic institutions

Our Expert Staff

The support provided by the supervisor is a key feature of the experience as a research student. The supervisor guides the student through the different stages of the research degree, helping to develop the research topic and plan, and participating in regular one-to-one meetings to comment on drafts, resolve problems, and maintain progress on the research.

• Our staff's research interests include activist art, modernist art and totalitarianism, the relationship between art and science, the artistic status of body modification, art and the environment, critical heritage, and the visual culture of social problems.
• Recent projects include:
  • Paola Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco's UKRI Future Leaders-funded research project, REPLACE
  • Matt Lodder's Painted People: Humanity in 21 Tattoos (HarperCollins, 2022)
  • Diana Bullen Presciutti's Saints, Miracles, and Social Problems in Italian Renaissance Art (Cambridge, 2023)

Specialist Facilities

By studying within the School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies, students have access to a range of outstanding facilities to aid their learning and research.

• The School is home to the Centre for Curatorial Studies, which brings together research in the field of museology, exhibition studies, and curatorial practice, and also delivers postgraduate courses in each of these areas.
• The School is also home to the Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA).

Your Future

Many graduates are now working in academic institutions, national or regional museums or galleries, or in other arts-related professions, both throughout the UK and abroad.

• Several graduates are now Professors in leading art history departments.
• Others have worked as curators at high-profile museums such as the Tate Modern.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for the course, applicants must meet the following requirements:

UK Entry Requirements

• A good honours degree and a Masters degree, or equivalent, in a related subject.
• A well-developed research proposal is also essential.
• Applicants will normally be required to attend an interview/Skype interview for acceptance, and acceptance is subject to research expertise in the department.

International & EU Entry Requirements

• The University accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries.
• For a full list of accepted qualifications, please refer to the University's website.

English Language Requirements

• If English is not the first language, then the University will require applicants to have IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.

Structure

The MPhil is a structured two-year programme of advanced study and research.

Course Structure

• A research degree doesn't have a taught structure, giving students the chance to investigate their chosen topic in real depth and reach a profound understanding.
• In communicating that understanding, through a thesis or other means, students have a rare opportunity to generate knowledge.
• A research degree allows students to develop new high-level skills, enhance their professional development, and build new networks.

Assessment

• The MPhil is a structured two-year programme of advanced study and research.
• Twice a year, students will have a supervisory board meeting, which provides formal opportunities to discuss progress and agree immediate and future plans for the work.

Dissertation

• The thesis should be no longer than 50,000 words.

Fees and Funding

The fees for the course are as follows:

Home/UK Fee

• ｣5,238 per year

International Fee

• ｣20,625 per year
• Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
• There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the course.

What's Next

After completing the course, students can pursue various career paths, including academic institutions, national or regional museums or galleries, or other arts-related professions.

Open Days

The University holds Open Days for all applicants throughout the year, which provide an opportunity to:

• Tour the campus and accommodation
• Find out answers to questions about courses, graduate employability, student support, and more
• Talk to the Fees and Funding team about scholarship opportunities
• Meet students and staff

Applying

Applicants can apply for the postgraduate course online. Before applying, please check the University's information about necessary documents that will be required as part of the application.

• The University encourages the consideration of a brief research proposal prior to the submission of a full application.
• The University aims to respond to applications within four weeks.
• If the University is able to offer a place, the applicant will be contacted via email.

Visit Colchester Campus

The Colchester Campus is set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland and is located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester.

• The campus is easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

Virtual Tours

If applicants live too far away to visit the University, they can take a 360-degree virtual tour to explore the University from the comfort of their home.

• The virtual tour allows applicants to see accommodation options, facilities, and social spaces.

Related Courses

The University also offers the following related courses:

• PhD Art History and Theory
• MA (by Dissertation) Art History and Theory

These courses provide opportunities for advanced study and research in Art History and Theory, and can be taken full-time or part-time.