MA Contemporary Art Theory

Program Overview

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MA Contemporary Art Theory

The MA Contemporary Art Theory is for those with a passionate interest in contemporary art, and a desire to reshape or contribute to theoretical work in the subject.

Why study MA Contemporary Art Theory at Goldsmiths

• This Masters explores a range of theoretical perspectives that shape art and visual culture, and attitudes towards them in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
• You’ll be encouraged to conceptually and creatively explore the ways in which contemporary artistic practice and urgent theoretical and political matters intersect.
• You’ll expand your knowledge of contemporary artistic developments and deepen your understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of academic discourses on visual culture.
• The degree draws on the shifting fields of performance studies, art history, continental philosophy, ecology, feminist theory, queer theory, postcolonial/decolonial studies, and cultural studies in addressing the critical challenges posed by artistic practice, and you’ll be able to focus on an aspect that particularly interests you.
• We host internationally renowned artists, theorists, activists, curators and filmmakers – including our award-winning alumni – in our termly thematically organised Visual Cultures Public Programme. Recent themes include ‘Race and/as Technology,’ ‘Terminal Tourism,’ and ‘Volatility Cultures.’
• Teaching is research-led and you will be taught by tutors who are leaders in their field.

Length

• 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Fees

• Home - full-time: £11250
• Home - part-time: £5625
• International - full-time: £21000

Department

• Visual Cultures

What you'll study

Overview

The programme comprises an assessed introductory core module (made up of four blocks that thematically vary from year to year and of which students choose two), followed by two Special Subjects and the MA Dissertation.

• Students also attend the Visual Cultures Public Programme of lectures and other events.

Module title | Credits

• MA Contemporary Art Theory Core Module | 60 credits
• Special Subject 1 (MA Contemporary Art Theory) | 30 credits
• Special Subject 2 (MA Contemporary Art Theory) | 30 credits
• MA Contemporary Art Theory Dissertation | 60 credits

The taught part of the programme runs from the end of September to the end of March, with additional guest lectures or workshops in May and June.

• It offers a framework to help you focus and develop your own understanding of contemporary art practice and its wider cultural significance.
• It is designed to develop your understanding of a range of critical and theoretical approaches that inform the heterogeneous field of visual art production while, at the same time, enabling you to identify and prepare the area of independent research you will carry out in your dissertation project.

Special subjects

• Special subjects are in-depth taught modules that draw on the current research interests of staff.
• They enable you to focus on an aspect of contemporary art, cultural theory or contemporary thought that particularly interests you.

Independent research

• From the end of March, you will start independent research on a subject of your own choosing.
• At the end of the spring term, you will submit your dissertation proposal and be assigned a dissertation tutor who will support your independent dissertation research and writing activities in an advisory capacity.

How you'll be assessed

• Visual Cultures assessments are 100% coursework.
• Normally this consists of essays, sometimes accompanied by creative projects, group projects, multi-media projects and presentations.

Entry requirements

• You should normally have, or expect to gain, an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in art history, fine art, another studio-based practice, arts administration and related activities, or a humanities discipline other than art history which demonstrates your ability to undertake work at Masters level.
• You don’t necessarily need a formal academic qualification in art history: we welcome applications from prospective students who do not meet the standard entrance requirements but can demonstrate appropriate knowledge and experience from outside academia in the world of work.

International qualifications

• We accept a wide range of international qualifications.
• Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

English language requirements

• If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.
• If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate study.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

• These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
• Home - full-time: £11250
• Home - part-time: £5625
• International - full-time: £21000

Funding opportunities

MA Contemporary Art Theory Scholarship

• For 2025–26, the Department of Visual Cultures is offering both one full-time Home student a MA Contemporary Art Theory Scholarship (tuition fees only) and one part-time, year one, Home student a MA Contemporary Art Theory Scholarship (one year of tuition fees only).
• Read more on how to apply to the MA Contemporary Art Theory Scholarship.

Goldsmiths Scholarship Finder

• Explore the Goldsmiths scholarships finder to find out what funding you may be eligible for.

Paying your fees

• Find out about paying your tuition fees.

Additional costs

• In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying.
• You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

Careers

• Many of our MA students have gone on to MPhil/PhD study, not only in art history and visual cultures but also in related fields such as philosophy, the environmental humanities and literature.
• Careers obtained by recent graduates include:
  • Artists
  • Curators at mainstream galleries/museums
  • Curators at independent organisations
  • Editors in major publishing houses
  • Lecturers
  • Researchers
  • Roles in TV and film production

Skills

• The skills you'll develop throughout the Masters include:
  • Critical and analytical skills
  • Research and evaluation skills
  • The ability to think creatively about developments in contemporary art practice in relation to art criticism, curating, art history, visual culture, performance studies, cultural studies and philosophy
  • Written and oral communication skills
  • Collaboration and teamwork

Staff

Professor Simon O'Sullivan

• Professor of Art Theory and Practice, Programme Leader MA in Contemporary Art Theory
• Simon is a theorist and artist working at the intersection of contemporary art practice, performance and philosophy.