Explore the power of curating and sharpen your skills for the job market.
Year of entry: 2026 (September)
Gain the practical skills needed to lead curatorial projects. Engage with pressing issues in the field, such as the ethics and politics of curating, decolonisation, the restitution and repatriation of antiquities and provenance research.
Work directly with staff who are expert curators with international reputation. You'll also engage with the University's 900+ piece art collection. We house paintings, sculptures, prints, textiles, ceramics, and photography.
Explore an exciting range of option modules. You can tailor your degree to match your own academic and professional interests. We offer both curating-specific and more general option modules, allowing you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field.
Join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community. We're one of the largest art history departments in the UK. Our expert staff have research interests that span geographical and historical boundaries, from the ancient to the contemporary.
This course will allow you to explore a range of different topics related to curating and art history. You'll be able to choose from options across a range of periods, from the ancient to the contemporary.
The core module, Research Skills in History of Art, will equip you with the fundamental skills needed to research and write independently. This module, combined with the breadth of option modules available to you, will enable you to put together an expert dissertation. You'll graduate as an interdisciplinary professional ready to succeed in a range of careers.
You'll study one core module and a dissertation. You'll then choose four option modules, two of which must be from the curating list. Your other two choices can then also be from the curating list, or from our general option module list. You may be able to replace up to two of the general option modules with option modules from other departments and centres in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You'll complete your dissertation with the support of your academic supervisor. The dissertation will be 10,000-12,000 words.
You can make use of staff expertise to explore a range of topics as part of your dissertation. These include, but are not limited to:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Alongside option modules related to specific art medium, periods and themes that allow students to develop their own specialities towards dissertation, the core module 'Research Skills in History of Art' provides very practical guidance on how to write art history within a range of theoretical frameworks that feed into current trends, including feminism, post-colonisation and global art history.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) | £6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2026/27 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll be taught with lectures, seminars and one-to-one meetings with your lecturer or supervisor. We also offer an extensive programme of research seminars and events. These are an invaluable way to engage with different aspects of your subject.
Each option module is taught by weekly two-hour seminars. You'll also have the opportunity to go on field-trips organised by the Department to view art and architecture. These will be an integral part of your learning.
You'll take advantage of our new exhibition and teaching facilities at the Grade II listed Heslington Hall.
The University boasts an impressive 900+ piece art collection. You'll engage directly with this throughout the course. You can also view many of the pieces by exploring our campus, or through our online catalogue.
York is home to the Norman Rea Gallery, the only student-run gallery in the UK. This space provides a platform for local and regional artists, and gives students a unique work experience in a contemporary campus-based art gallery.
Your contact hours will be split between the Department of History of Art in Vanburgh College and Heslington Hall. Both of these are on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You'll submit a 4,000-word essay per option module. For the Research Skills in History of Art module, you'll produce a dissertation portfolio as your assessment. You'll also complete a dissertation.
You'll gain the skills needed to succeed in a range of careers and in pursuing a research degree. Many of our staff are expert curators, meaning that you'll learn directly from professionals in the industry. We also have a dedicated careers officer to support you when you need it.
We have an extensive range of partnerships and placements with organisations that you can make use of. Some of these include the National Gallery, Tate, The Hepworth Wakefield and York Museums Trust.
Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we'll help you find your career advantage.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
