Program Overview

---

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.

Course Details

• Duration: 1 year
• Attendance: Full-time - September 2026
• UK Fees: £11,900 *
• International Fees: £16,000 *
• Alumni Discount: See details
• Campus: Harrow, North-West London

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. You’ll also undertake the Professional Practice and the Master's Project modules alongside students from the other MA art courses, thus benefiting from collaborative opportunities and cross-disciplinary learning.

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.

• Credits: 20

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.

• Credits: 20

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. The output may take the form of either practical outputs, a written dissertation or a combination of both.

• Credits: 60

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.

• Credits: 40

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.

• Credits: 20

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.

• Credits: 20

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.

• Credits: 20

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.

• Credits: 20

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.

• Credits: 20

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.

• Credits: 20

Careers

This course offers the opportunity to develop projects with external partners. You’ll be well placed to take up graduate roles within a range of professional settings, including policy development, research and development, third sector and artist-based cooperatives.

Industry Knowledge

You’ll be taught by a teaching team with a wide range of experience both in industry and academia.

Professional Development

A year-long Professional Practice module puts professional development at the core of your journey. You’ll be supported by mentors, industry experts and your tutors to develop a personal career plan according to your own interests and professional goals.

Employers Around the World

The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.

Industry Links

Our global network gives you access to advanced professional contexts of production and public engagement, from exhibition and performance to online platforms and film screenings.

Job Roles

Depending on your area of creative endeavour – this course acts as a launchpad for careers that reflect changes in the growing global field of contemporary art and its related creative community.

Entry Requirements

• UK: 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.
• International: 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. This should be presented in digital form and be annotated to demonstrate the progression from brief or inspiration through to completion. All images should be fully captioned with date of completion, size and medium used. Applicants will also need to identify in writing (maximum 500 words) a specific area of personal interest, which they envisage studying in depth whilst on the course. Interviews will be held online.

If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing and no element below 5.5.

Fees and Funding

• UK Tuition Fee: £11,900 (Price per academic year)
• International Tuition Fee: £16,000 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Paying Your Fees

If you don't wish to pay the whole amount of your fees at once, you may be able to pay by instalments. This opportunity is available if you have a personal tuition fee liability of £2,000 or more and if you are self-funded or funded by the Student Loans Company.

Alumni Discount

This course is eligible for an alumni discount. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply by visiting our Alumni discounts page.

Funding

There is a range of funding available that may help you fund your studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).

Scholarships

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.

Additional Costs

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

Teaching and Assessment

How You’ll Be Taught

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.

How You’ll Be Assessed

Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, podcasts, blogs
• Coursework: examples include essays, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

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. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.

Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.