Skip to content Accessibility statement

Taught Masters degrees in history of art

Whether you've studied art history before, or are new to the subject, our highly innovative and flexible MA programmes are curated to match your interests.

Why study history of art at York?

We boast one of the largest and liveliest art history postgraduate communities in the country, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and interdisciplinary study.

As a postgraduate student in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, you’ll have access to the Humanities Research Centre, a vibrant interdisciplinary research hub in the heart of campus. With dedicated study spaces, social and academic events, and an inspiring research environment, you'll have opportunities to make personal connections and to think beyond your own subject area.

Our courses

Cross-faculty courses

Or search all postgraduate taught courses.

Visiting students

Spend up to a year in York as a visiting student from an international university.

Get a taste of what it's like to study and be a part of our stunning campus.

Scholarships and funding

Find out about scholarships and studentships that are available to students in the Department of History of Art.

Being a part of the Department has opened my mind to how diverse art history can be. Working with lecturers engaged in active research also allows students the experience that is so beneficial to future careers.
Ruth, MA Modern and Contemporary Art. Read Ruth's blog post.
for research impact and environment in history of art - the support we give to researchers (Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results, 2021).
support your learning and research through jointly designed modules, privileged access to collections and studentship opportunities.
54th in the world
for arts and humanities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2025).
opportunities are available from a variety of local museums and galleries.
As well as the range of extensive resources on campus and in the city, you'll also have access to the Humanities Research Centre, the hub for interdisciplinary research at York.
Explore funding for postgraduates in the Department of History of Art.

Careers

  • Our graduates go on to a wide range of careers within and beyond the art world, to further study and to other pursuits. They include curators, museum educators and learning officers, conservators, art sales specialists and researchers.
  • Our degrees provide you with myriad valuable transferable skills, including research, interpersonal and time-management skills. These will benefit you both in your career and beyond.

Our graduates

A group of students on a field trip to the Tennants Auctioneer House

Next steps