Program Overview

Global Contemporary Art MA

Course Overview

The Global Contemporary Art MA is a practice-led course designed to nurture the professional, critical, and collaborative skills needed to pursue impactful, globally-aware and socially responsible artistic and curatorial practices.

Attendance and Duration

• Part-time day - September 2025
• Full-time - September 2025
• Full-time - September 2026
• Part-time day - September 2026
• Duration: 2 years

Campus and Fees

• Campus: Harrow, North-West London
• UK Fees: £1,325 (Price per 20-credit module)
• International Fees: £1,785 (Price per 20-credit module)

Course Summary

The course recognises that there has been a fundamental shift in the vision and purpose of contemporary art in global and translocal contexts. Informed by the work of the Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media (CREAM), the course will enable you to become a mobile and dynamic professional capable of developing artistic and curatorial practices that are sustainable, critical and imaginative responses to major global challenges.

Course Structure

This course is part of a suite of MA art courses which include the Art and Emerging Technologies MA and the Expanded Photography MA. You’ll tailor your learning through a set of shared optional modules that address contemporary challenges, advanced digital approaches and specialised professional contexts.

Core Modules

• Contemporary Art and Collaboration: This practice-led module engages with key examples of social engagement and collaborative artistic and curatorial practices in dialogue with local and translocal contexts through real-world case studies and briefs.
• Contemporary Art Platforms: This practice-led module takes the concept of artistic platforms as spaces for encounter and engagement. You’ll focus on artist-led collective approaches and publishing, developing your own strategic approaches to global challenges.
• MA Arts - Master's Project: This module will support you to develop an independently defined practice-led project grounded in the contextual understanding of your area of practice, relevant theoretical debates and the wider creative industry.
• MA Arts - Professional Practice in The Creative Industries: This module offers a framework for you to reflect, develop and identify your professional interests and future career path, and to gain a working knowledge of the creative industries while supporting you to develop a range of relevant professional skills.

Option Modules

• Curatorial and Social Practices: This practice-led module is hosted by the Global Contemporary Art MA and focuses on the range of practical and conceptual skills involved in curating for diverse contexts of global contemporary art and creative industries more widely.
• Future Archives: This module is hosted by the Art and Emerging Technologies MA and investigates the potential of digital art & design practices and advanced technologies such as 3D scanning and photogrammetry to expand and create the archive of the future.
• Global Arts and Sustainable Futures: This module is hosted by the Global Contemporary Art MA. It is a research-led module that may take either a text-based or practical approach to address concerns with global issues of climate, social justice and biodiversity.
• Image Futures: This module is hosted by the Expanded Photography MA and addresses essential aspects of future-facing photographic production: cutting-edge presentation and dissemination of projects for specific audiences and industries.
• Interactive Art and Storytelling: This module is hosted by the Art and Emerging Technologies MA and investigates the scope and potential for digital art practices and emerging technologies to be used to develop new forms of experiences and approaches to interactive storytelling.
• Virtual Photography: This module is hosted by the Expanded Photography MA and aims to engage students with expanded notions of photography within virtual spaces, such as gaming, AR, VR, AI, creative coding and 3D visualisation.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of an upper second class honours degree (2:1) or a lower second class honours degree (2:2) with relevant experience in related subject areas.
• Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of recent practice projects.
• If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.5 in writing and no element below 6.0.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods across all our postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Assessments typically fall into two broad categories: Practical and Coursework.

Supporting You

• Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
• Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills.
• Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential.
• Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas.
• Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more.

Course Location

• Harrow is our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media and digital courses.
• Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.