Program Overview
The MA in Art History at Sussex University delves into the significance of art in society, focusing on areas such as contemporary visual culture, museums and heritage, and gender studies. Led by renowned academics and curators, the program emphasizes primary source analysis, research skills, and hands-on workshops in collaboration with leading institutions like the V&A and Historic Royal Palaces. Graduates pursue careers in academia, cultural management, and the creative sector.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
At Sussex, we believe art history matters and continues to be significant in today’s society. It gives us a unique lens to examine historical events and cultures. This MA includes hands-on workshops and interactive sessions using the rich resources held in The Keep, Brighton’s world-class centre for archives. We also have partnerships with local and national museums and collections. These include the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery, Historic Royal Palaces, the National Trust, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and Charleston – giving you access to expertise, art objects and research materials. You’ll examine:
- art’s place in 20th-century visual culture
- museums and heritage
- feminism and queer studies
- criticism and the media. You’ll be taught by professional curators as well as leading academics with established reputations for research. This means we can offer you expert guidance as you work on your own research, relevant to academia as well as the cultural and creative sectors beyond. On graduation, you’ll have the skills for both professional work and further study. Previous graduates having gone on to roles within prestigious institutions such as the British Museum, Soka Art Centre and Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA).
Outline:
Full-time and part-time study
Choose to study this course full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. Modules for the full-time course are listed below. For details about the part-time course, contact us.
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
- All year
- Art History Research Seminar
- Autumn teaching
- Art History At Work: Unlocking Primary Sources
- Art History Research Skills and Methods
- Critical Issues in Art History and Curating
- Spring teaching
- Art History Research Skills and Methods
- Summer teaching Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
- Spring teaching
- Art's Queer Stories
- Body and Society: Representing Women
- Instrumental Aesthetics: Contemporary Art, Politics and Visual Culture
- Living and Dying, Medieval to Renaissance We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Teaching:
You’ll be taught by professional curators as well as leading academics with established reputations for research. This means we can offer you expert guidance as you work on your own research, relevant to academia as well as the cultural and creative sectors beyond.
Careers:
An Art History MA at Sussex will develop your skills in attention to detail, research, written communication and teamwork. Many of our graduates have gone on to careers in areas such as:
- teaching, research and publishing
- law and the Civil Service,
- museums, libraries and archives.
Other:
This MA includes hands-on workshops and interactive sessions using the rich resources held in The Keep, Brighton’s world-class centre for archives. We also have partnerships with local and national museums and collections. These include the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery, Historic Royal Palaces, the National Trust, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and Charleston – giving you access to expertise, art objects and research materials.
University of Sussex
Overview:
The University of Sussex is a leading, research-intensive university located in Brighton, UK. It is known for its commitment to academic excellence and its focus on creating a vibrant and diverse campus community.
Services Offered:
The university offers a wide range of services to its students, including:
Accommodation:
On-campus housing options are available for students, with various types of accommodation to suit different needs and budgets.Student Support:
The university provides comprehensive support services to students, including academic advising, career counseling, and mental health resources.Careers:
The university offers career services to help students find internships, graduate jobs, and develop their career skills.Library:
The university library provides access to a vast collection of books, journals, and online resources.IT Services:
Students have access to a range of IT services, including computer labs, wireless internet, and online learning platforms.Student Life and Campus Experience:
Students at the University of Sussex can expect a vibrant and engaging campus experience. The university offers a wide range of clubs, societies, and sports teams for students to join. The campus is located in a beautiful setting, with easy access to the city of Brighton.
Key Reasons to Study There:
Research Excellence:
The university is renowned for its research excellence, with a strong focus on innovation and impact.World-Class Faculty:
The university boasts a world-class faculty, with experts in a wide range of fields.Vibrant Campus Community:
The university has a diverse and welcoming campus community, with a strong sense of belonging.Location:
The university is located in Brighton, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a thriving arts and culture scene.Academic Programs:
The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including:
Arts and Humanities:
English, History, Philosophy, Music, Theatre, and more.Social Sciences:
Politics, Sociology, Economics, Psychology, and more.Science and Engineering:
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, and more.Business and Management:
Business Administration, Finance, Marketing, and more.Entry Requirements:
- Degree requirements: Applicants should normally have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above.
- Subject-specific requirements: The qualification should be in art history or another relevant humanities or social sciences subject. Applicants with other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing may also be considered.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- IELTS (Academic): Standard level (6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component). IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date.
- Alternative English language qualifications:
- Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English (CAE): 169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill.
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): 169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill.
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT: International ESOL SELT B2 with a minimum of 36 in each component.
- Pearson (PTE Academic): 59 overall, including at least 59 in all four skills.
- TOEFL (iBT): 80 overall, including at least 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing.
- Country exceptions: Nationals of the following countries are normally exempt from needing to provide evidence of English: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, The British Overseas Territories, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, USA.
- English language support: Pre-sessional courses are available for applicants who do not meet the English language requirements.
