Digital Art History – online

Program Overview

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Digital Art History – online 2025 and 2026 entry

Unlock the power of digital tools in art history research and elevate your career with in-demand skills embraced by leading museums and galleries worldwide.

Application Deadline

Monday 1 September 2025 for September entry

Program Options

• MLitt (September 2025 entry)
• PGDip (September 2025 entry)
• PGCert (September 2025 entry)
• MLitt (January 2026 entry)
• PGDip (January 2026 entry)
• PGCert (January 2026 entry)

Program Details

Starts

January and September

Duration

• MLitt: up to three years
• PGDip: up to two years
• PGCert: up to one year

School

School of Art History

Fees

• MLitt: £18,000
• PGDip: £12,000
• PGCert: £6,000

Why Study This Course?

Discover the future of art history with our interdisciplinary online Masters programme, where art history meets cutting-edge computer science.

This unique programme equips you with in-demand digital and analytical skills at the intersection of art history and computer science, preparing you for careers in museums, cultural heritage, academia, and beyond.

• First degree programme in Digital Art History in the UK
• Delivered jointly by the School of Art History and the School of Computer Science
• Flexible and fully online

Whether you're passionate about preserving cultural heritage, analysing digital art, or reimagining how we experience history, this Masters programme prepares you to lead in a world where technology and art converge.

Program Structure

Teaching

Delivered through lectures, tutorials, and practical work.

Assessment

A mix of coursework exercises, presentations, and tests.

Dissertation

MLitt students complete a 15,000-word project with ongoing support.

Schedule

You will access modules and components at a pace and on a timetable that suits your work and study environment.

Modules

Those studying for an MLitt take five modules in Art History, three modules in Computer Science, and complete a dissertation or final project in an agreed subject.

Those studying for a PGCert take three modules in Art History and one module in Computer Science. Those studying for a PGDip take five modules in Art History and three modules in Computer Science.

For more details, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods, and assessment, please see the module catalogue. The modules are examples from previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course.

Modules

MLitt

• Dissertation or final project

Following the successful completion of the coursework (see module details under PGCert and PGDip below), MLitt students undertake a dissertation module of 60 credits (15,000 words). The dissertation should demonstrate an element of independent thinking or originality of thought in the establishment of the argument and be based upon clearly founded research, analysis, and interpretation. It should demonstrate the organisational and presentation qualities required for academic work.

Students can expect to meet with their supervisors at least three times during the research and writing of their dissertations and to make appropriate arrangements for the submission of drafts and timely feedback.

PGCert and PGDip

• Introduction to Digital Art History and the Humanities: introduces the key issues, themes, and ideas relating to Digital Art History.
• Programming in Python: introduces and revises modelling, design, and implementation in Python.
• Digital Art – From Computer-generated Projects to Artificial Intelligence: analyses the ways in which artists, archivists, curators, and other museum professionals have implemented digital tools, materials, and methodologies.
• Digital Tools – Visualisation, Interpretation, and Analysis: introduces the key techniques and digital platforms available to art historians and the ways in which they can facilitate (or limit) our analysis, interpretation, and visualisation of art historical data.
• Project Work – Theory: will challenge students to critically analyse the methodological choices made by digital art historians. A series of major research projects will serve as case studies, allowing students to explore how the theories and approaches central to the disciplines of Digital Humanities and Art History work in practice.
• Project Work – Data Analysis: requires students to design and develop their own research project based on a given data set drawn from real collections.
• Data and information visualisation: focuses on the question of how to utilise visual representations to make information accessible for exploration and analysis.
• Machine learning algorithms: covers the essential theory and algorithms, including mathematical foundations, and methodological approaches, using a variety of regression, classification, and unsupervised approaches.
• Complex systems modelling and simulation: introduces a range of techniques and their applications to different classes of problems, with a practical focus on modern network-based models and simulation.
• Discrete optimisation: covers the theory, tools, and technologies developed and used to solve problems in Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization.
• Data-driven systems: is an advanced research-focused module that presents the foundations of distributed systems and techniques that process data.
• Numeric optimisation: takes linear algebra and optimization as the primary topics of interest and solutions to machine learning problems as the applications of the resulting tools, techniques, and algorithms.
• Research methods in data science: introduces the skills necessary for the planning, data gathering, data analysis, and dissemination stages of data science research.
• Knowledge discovery and datamining: covers many of the methods found under the banner of ‘datamining’, building from a theoretical perspective but ultimately teaching practical application.

What It Will Lead To

Careers

This course is designed to give you the knowledge and skills needed to make a success of your career, whether you are looking to grow in an existing role or are new to the sector.

Our Art History graduates work in a variety of roles, including universities, museums, galleries, auction houses, media, and art dealerships, in roles including research, curation, collections, archives, exhibitions, and learning and engagement.

Salaries in heritage tend to be higher with a postgraduate qualification. Government research finds that taught postgraduates have a lifetime salary premium of £61,000 compared with graduates with an undergraduate degree.

We are committed to supporting your career aspirations, whatever stage of your career you are at. Our Careers Centre can help connect you to our extensive global alumni community for advice and mentoring, as well as offering career coaching, bespoke workshops, employer connections, experiences, and application support.

Our International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute can also support you with academic and professional skills development. The University’s Entrepreneurship Centre offers start-up support for those looking to freelance as well as create their own business.

Why St Andrews?

Wherever you are, you can take St Andrews with you. Online Masters at the University of St Andrews combine all the benefits of studying at one of the world's oldest and best universities, with all the advantages of flexible, personalised learning.

Whether you join us online or in person, when you graduate you become a member of the University's worldwide alumni community. Benefit from access to alumni clubs, the Saint Connect networking and mentoring platform, and careers support.

Entry Requirements

For entry onto the MSc: A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree in any subject from the UK or the equivalent international qualification. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the English language tests and qualifications.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application Requirements

• CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date
• Personal statement (500 words)
• Sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words)
• Two original signed academic references
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English Language Proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Fees and Funding

• MLitt: £18,000
• PGDip: £12,000
• PGCert: £6,000

Scholarships and Funding

We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances. You may be eligible for scholarships, discounts, or other support:

• St Leonard's funding opportunities
• Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)

Taught postgraduate scholarships