Master in Curating

The MA in Curating at Aarhus University offers a unique opportunity for you to become an expert within your own field. Its flexible programme is designed for working professionals who wish to develop their own practice in an international and interdisciplinary context.

About the Professional Master's Degree Programme

The MA in Curating is a professional Master’s degree programme designed for practitioners and professionals in the fields of curating, cultural programming, education and communication. It is an international, two-year, part-time and low-residency degree programme that enables you to establish an interdisciplinary understanding of curating in contemporary society and develop your own position within the field.

Relevance and Admission

The MA in Curating is designed for practitioners and professionals in the fields of curating, cultural programming, education and communication, who wish to develop their professional practice in an international and interdisciplinary environment.

Students generally enrol in the programme to strengthen their existing curatorial or cultural profile or to support their transition into curating from a related field/practice, e.g. artistic practice or communication.
The programme enables students to operate within and across a range of institutions, platforms and contexts that organise, present and convey exhibitions and other curated activities, for example museums, art centres, galleries, biennials, festivals, cultural programming at large, publishing, art education, and organisations, private enterprises and self-organised initiatives within the cultural field.

Admission Requirements

A relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree within the arts and humanities or social sciences, e.g. cultural studies, art history, aesthetics, philosophy, media studies, architecture, design, fine arts, performing arts, anthropology or sociology, or
A relevant professional or vocational degree, e.g. in fine arts, teaching, journalism or communication, or
A relevant diploma degree, e.g. in communication
Enrolment in the programme also requires
- At least B level in English, and
- At least two years of relevant work experience after completing the degree programme on which admission is based. Work experience must be documented with proof from third party e.g. a pay slip, contract etc.

English Level

All applicants with a non-Danish qualifying degree must document English language qualifications comparable to an ‘English B level’ in the Danish upper secondary school (‘gymnasium’).

Content and Structure

MA in Curating comprises four modules of 15 ECTS credits each that can be taken sequentially over two years of part-time study or as individual modules. You can also complete the full programme by completing the individual modules in a different order. To complete the fourth and final module, you must have finished the first three modules.

The first module, Curatorial Practice, establishes a shared foundation for the programme and enables you to engage critically with curatorial practices and projects and to make your own experiences the object of critical reflexion.
The second module, Curatorial Theory, enables you to analyse and discuss key theoretical issues and concepts related to curating and to construct and carry out an independent academic inquiry.
The third module, Curatorial Knowledge Production and Dissemination, draws on current discussions within the interdisciplinary field of curating and enables you to understand and position yourself as a knowledge producer across practical and theoretical perspectives.
The fourth module, Master’s Thesis, enables you to self-reflectively conduct a significant academic inquiry into an aspect of your own curatorial practice or experience.

Meeting Time and Places

Module 1: Fall 2024
Online welcome session: August 30th, 10 – 11 a.m.
Seminar 1: September 13th – 15th; Aarhus
Seminar 2: October 25th – 27th; Copenhagen
Seminar 3: November: 22nd – 24th; online
Module 2: Spring 2025
Seminar 1: February 7th – 9th in Aarhus
Seminar 2: March 21st – 23rd, online
Seminar 3: April 25th – 27th in Stockholm
Module 3: Fall 2025
Seminar 1: September 12th – September 14th, Aarhus
Seminar 2: October 24th - October 26st, London (UK)
Seminar 3: November 21st - November 23rd, online
Module 4: Spring 2026
Curatorial Project (Master's Project).
The module is delivered through dedicated supervision, supplemented by peer support. A mid-process workshop/seminar will be planned.

Teaching Staff and Institutional Partners

The MA in Curating draws on the expertise of scholars across a number of departments at Aarhus University as well as visiting curators and scholars. The programme furthermore collaborates with a number of art, cultural and educational institutions.

Degree Programme Committee

Jacob Lund, Associate Professor, Aesthetics & Culture, AU (chair)
Morten Kyndrup, Professor, Aesthetics and Culture, AU
Lise Skytte Jakobsen, Associate Professor and Head of Department, Art History, Aesthetics & Culture and Museology, Aarhus University
Jussi Parikka, Professor, Digital Design and Information Studies
Daniela Daniela Agostinho, Assistant Professor, Digital Design and Information Studies
Edward Alan Payne, Assistant Professor, Art History
Jacob Fabricius, Postdoc., Aesthetics & Culture
Ane Hejlskov Larsen, Professor, Museologi

FAQs about the MA in Curating

When and where will the seminars take place?
Updated December 21 st, 2023:
The first three modules consist of three intensive three-day seminars (Friday–Sunday). During autumn modules, seminars usually take place in September, October and November and during spring modules in February, March and April. Each semester will one seminar take place in Aarhus, one seminar will take place online in a virtual classroom and one seminar will take place in another city in Denmark or Europe in relation to one or more partner institutions. We will announce the specific place and time at least 6 months prior to the seminars.
Is it possible to follow the whole programme online?
No. Building networks, engaging with professionals, visiting exhibitions and sharing experiences are essential aspects of the programme, which makes in-person participation necessary. However, the first three modules are likely to include online sessions in between seminars, supervision can take place online, and the fourth and final semester is primarily online.
I do not live in Europe. Is it still feasible to follow the programme?
Yes, the programme has accommodated overseas students before, but you have to be willing to travel three times during each of the first three modules and for exams that require in-person participation.
Should I apply for one module or the whole programme?
Unless you are absolutely sure that you only want to follow a single module, we recommend that you apply for the whole programme in order to secure your place in the programme. Tuition fees are charged per module, which means that your enrolment in a forthcoming module is not final until the payment has been made. You can withdraw from a module and be reimbursed if we receive your cancellation no later than 1. September for modules beginning in autumn and 1. February for modules beginning in spring. Please note it is not possible to be reimbursed after the cancellation deadline.
How much time should I expect to spend on the programme?
The workload is consistent with part-time (50%) studies with varying degrees of intensity. You will have to carve out time to study, especially before seminars and during exam periods. Many students work full-time while enrolled and schedule their reading and writing for week nights, weekends and holidays.
How much time do I have to finish the programme/modules?
The full programme must be completed within six years of enrolment. If you are enrolled in single modules, you must finish no later than two years after enrolment.
Are there any additional expenses connected with the programme?
You have to plan and cover your own travel and accommodation expenses during seminars. Low-budget hotels in Aarhus include Wakeup Aarhus and Cabinn Aarhus. You usually do not have to spend much money on books as most literature is shared via AU’s online learning platform.
Do I need to apply for a residence permit for Denmark?
All visitors to Denmark must have a valid passport to enter the country. Visa and residence permit requirements may vary and are always subject to change, so it would be wise to check with the Danish embassy or consulate in your area before finalising any travel plans. For more information about visa and residence permit requirements, please visit the Danish Immigration website: newtodenmark.dk.

Application Requirements

How to apply
Your application must be submitted online through the application portal. Simply click the blue button "Apply for admission" to start. You may save your application and submit it at a later stage.
Apply for the Full Programme or a Single Module
If you plan to complete a full Master’s degree, we recommend applying for admission to the entire programme when you start with the first module. By doing so, you’re guaranteed that the remaining modules will be offered within the next two years, and that you’ll have a place in each of them. Even when admitted to the full programme, you only pay for one module at a time. You will automatically receive an invoice for each module before the semester begins.
Application Deadline
The application deadline was November 15th - but you can still apply!
If the module has available seats, we will open for late admission.
Applications
Applications sent after the 15th of November will be considered in the order in which we have received them.

Facts

Duration
Two years part time
Payment
60 ECTS: 82.000 DKK / 15 ECTS: 20.500 DKK
Info. on financial support options for Danes and employees working in Denmark
Additional fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens:
60 ECTS: 8.000 EUR / 15 ECTS: 2.000 EUR
Weight
60 ECTS credit/15 ECTS credits per module
Tuition Language
English
Tuition Type
Seminars
Where
Europe
More information about venues
Application Deadline
April 1 for module 1 / the full programme
May 2 for the modules in the fall semester
November 15 for modules in the spring semester

Contact

For questions about academic content and relevance, please contact
Programme coordinator Edward Alan Payne, e-mail: .
For questions regarding admission requirements, application process and requirements, enrolment and invoicing, please contact
Continuing Education, Arts
Faculty of Arts
E-mail:
Phone:

Application

The application deadline was November 15th - but you can still apply!
If the module has available seats, we will open for late admission.
Applications
Applications sent after the 15th of November will be considered in the order in which we have received them.
In the Spring 2026 we offer:
- Module 4: Master's Thesis

Institutional Partners

ARoS Aarhus Art Museum (DK)
Kunsthal Aarhus (DK)
Art Hub (DK)
Hasselblad Center (SE)
London South Bank University (UK)
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (DK)
Medical Museion (DK)
Röda Sten Konsthall & GIBCA (SE)

Visiting Teachers

Dea Antonsen & Ida Bencke, Curators, Laboratory for Aesthetics and Ecology
María Berríos, Sociologist, Writer & Independent Curator
Rhea Dall, PhD, Director, O-Overgaden Institute of Contemporary Art
Mathias Danbolt, Associate Professor, Art History, University of Copenhagen
Clémentine Deliss, PhD, Curator, Researcher and Publisher
Solveig Gade, Associate Professor, Theatre and Performance Studies, University of Copenhagen
Anders Kold, Curator, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Jacob Lillemose, PhD, Curator, Medical Museion
Johanne Løgstrup, PhD, Curator
Sidsel Nelund, PhD, Art Researcher
Tone Olaf Nielsen, Curator and Co-founder of Trampoline House and CAMP
Temi Odumosu, Art Historian, Curator and Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies, Malmö University
Corina Oprea, PhD, Lecturer at Valand Academy and Managing Editor of L'Internationale Online
Lisa Rosendahl, Curator of Gothenburg International Biennial for Contemporary Art
Mathias Ussing Seeberg, Curator, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Olga Schubert, Research Consultant, Haus der Kulturen der Welt
Iris van der Tuin, Professor in Theory of Cultural Inquiry, Utrecht University
Kim West, PhD, Art Critic & Researcher

Aarhus University Staff

Ane Hejlskov Larsen, Professor, Museologi
Birgit Eriksson, Professor, Aesthetics & Culture
Daniela Agostinho, Assistant Professor, Digital Design and Information Studies
Edward Alan Payne, Assistant Professor, Art History
Jacob Fabricius, Postdoc., Aesthetics & Culture
Jacob Lund, Associate Professor, Aesthetics & Culture
Jussi Parikka, Professor, Digital Design and Information Studies
Magda Tyżlik-Carver, Associate Professor, Digital Design and Information Studies
Martin Guldberg, Teaching Associate Professor, Musicology
Mette-Marie Zacher Sørensen, Associate Professor, Aesthetics & Culture

Testimonials

Natalie MacNamara
Principal Curator & Creative Director, NAMARA, Canada
"I enrolled in the MA in Curating programme in 2020 with the primary goal of updating my knowledge of contemporary theory. I possessed fifteen years’ experience in the field, but given my commercial work context, I had been presented with few opportunities to hone critical writing skills. The programme brought me into proximity with an international cohort of curators with wide ranging experience sets, and provided ample opportunities for us to discuss, debate, and challenge the literature. We explored curatorial work firsthand through gallery, museums, and biennale visits, balancing theoretical depth with practical engagement. The course administrator considered our diverse professional backgrounds, enabling us to focus on subjects directly relevant to our practices. What proved most valuable was the resulting dialogue that prompted each of us to consider matters from other perspectives. For my part, I delved deeply into art and business relationships, enriching my ongoing practice. I emerged from the programme as an expert in my field, profoundly grateful for the transformative experience."
Annie Jensen
Coordinator of Culture, Vallentuna Municipality, Sweden & independent curator and writer
"I applied to the MA in Curating programme at Aarhus University to explore and develop my curatorial interests. The programme provided me with resources to delve into the curatorial from different perspectives, broaden my network of colleagues within the arts as well as provide time and space to indulge in critical thinking and writing."
Emma Saperstein
Chief Curator and Director of Education,
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, USA
“The MA in Curating was sincerely transformative for me and my practice. As the lead curator of a small and somewhat rural museum, it is often challenging to step back from the day-to-day logistics to think critically – and globally – about the theories and concepts that inform curatorial practice. The MA in Curating programme created a thoughtful and discursive environment to do exactly that. I was thoroughly challenged and grew in remarkable ways academically and critically. I highly recommend this programme to anyone in the field who is looking to deepen their work.”
Christine Almlund
Head of Communication and Marketing, Copenhagen Photo Festival, Denmark
“The MA in Curating has been a great experience. I have enjoyed the seminars in different art institutions across Denmark and Sweden, giving us the opportunity to encounter a range of curatorial voices from ‘behind the scenes’. The discussions, connections and new friendships that arose from these meetings have also been enriching. Additionally, I now feel more assured in what I do. The experience has given me new tools to think with and a more accurate language to approach curatorial dilemmas and uncertainties, which are an inevitable part of curating.”

MA in Curating

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