Program Overview

---

Graduate Diploma Art History and Theory

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

Overview

• Course: Art History and Theory
• Start date: October 2026
• Study mode: Full-time
• Duration: 9 months
• Location: Colchester Campus
• Based in: Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)

This course is designed for individuals who do not have the appropriate undergraduate preparation to embark on one of the MA courses. It can constitute a qualifying year for the relevant MA course.

Course Structure

The Graduate Diploma consists of eight modules at 3rd-year undergraduate level, with the option to take up to two modules at 2nd-year level. Students must complete the appropriate coursework and examinations and can also write a project on a topic of their choice, subject to agreement with the course director.

Topics of Study

Students have the freedom to study what most interests them, with topics including:

• The history of photography
• Modern and contemporary art
• Curatorial practice and exhibition design
• Vernacular forms of visual culture, such as body art and activist placards

Teaching Approach

The University is committed to research-based teaching, with an emphasis on bringing the approaches of art history into contact with other disciplines and discourses. This facilitates a critical engagement with artworks and forms of visual culture, both within and beyond the traditional canons of art history.

Resources

On-campus resources include ESCALA, one of Europe's most significant collections of contemporary art from Latin America, providing an invaluable resource for studying art and curatorial practice first-hand.

Research Excellence

The University of Essex is 3rd in the UK for research outputs in art history (Grade Point Average, REF2021) and 6th among art history departments in the UK for research excellence (REF 2014, mainstream universities, THE 2014).

Expert Staff

The staff are a dynamic group of art historians who investigate the production and reception of images and built environments, across cultures and media, from the late medieval period to the present day. Their 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
• The visual culture of social problems

Specialist Facilities

The University offers the best of both worlds: a tight-knit, campus community with close ties to several small but excellent museums in the nearby town of Colchester, and easy access to London, which puts the world's best museums and galleries within reach.

Facilities

• The Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA), the most comprehensive Latin American art research resource in the UK, with a state-of-the-art teaching and research space.
• The onsite gallery Art Exchange, which runs an ongoing program of contemporary art exhibitions, talks, and workshops by curators and artists.
• Regular visits to London galleries, including Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the National Gallery, and the Royal Academy of Arts.

Your Future

Graduates from the program are ideally prepared for roles in the media, advertising, museums, and galleries, as well as education, conservation, and the charity sector. Recent graduates have gone on to work in a wide range of roles, including:

• A member of the valuation team at Sotheby's (New York)
• Head of Learning at firstsite (a contemporary arts centre in Colchester)
• Visual Merchandising Manager at John Lewis (Oxford Street, London)

The University also offers research supervision for students who wish to continue their studies with a PhD or an MPhil, covering major areas of European art, architecture, and visual culture from 1300 to the present, as well as the art and architecture of Latin America.

Entry Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

• A 2:2 degree or international equivalent in any discipline.

International & EU Entry Requirements

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other components.

Structure

Course Structure

The course structure is subject to change, but it typically includes a range of optional modules.

Components and Modules

• Components are the blocks of study that make up the course.
• Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards the qualification.
• The status of a component can be Core, Core with Options, Compulsory, Compulsory with Options, or Optional.

Teaching

Postgraduate students in the School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies usually attend a one-hour lecture and one-hour seminar for each module each week or workshops.

Assessment

Assessment for the course is normally based on coursework.

Fees and Funding

Home/UK Fee

• ｣7,277

International Fee

• ｣15,758

Scholarships and Financial Support

There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the course.

What's Next

Open Days

The University holds Open Days for all applicants throughout the year, providing an opportunity to tour the campus and accommodation, meet students and staff, and find out more about the courses and student life.

Applying

Applications for the postgraduate course can be made online. The University aims to respond to applications within two weeks.

Visit Colchester Campus

The Colchester Campus is set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland and is easily reached from London and Stansted Airport.

Virtual Tours

A 360-degree virtual tour of the University is available, allowing prospective students to explore the campus and facilities from the comfort of their own homes.