History of Art

Entry requirements

A UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline (pass of 68% or better), or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Students are normally required to have achieved an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s or its overseas equivalent at first degree level.

Months of entry

September

Course content

UCL History of Art is a leading research department. Our staff are prominent researchers in diverse fields and there is a thriving graduate community. On graduating, students pursue successful positions in academia, curating, and related careers. Graduate students participate in our regular research seminars, and write, edit and produce the journal Object. We also offer opportunities for students to work as Teaching Assistants in the department.

The PhD in the History of Art requires independent, self-motivated research and will teach students to formulate and convey their ideas both to specialised as well as to broader audiences. It will enable students to develop original thinking on all aspects of visual culture, drawing on historical and contemporary cultural debates. Students gain experience of working in different kinds of archives and with different approaches to visual material. PhD students are trained to work as teaching assistants in the department, and the combination of research and teaching skills prepares them for the diverse demands of an academic career.

Department specialisms

Art theory and the history of the discipline, European art and architecture c. 1700–1945, Art, architecture, and aesthetics of the Global South, Cross-cultural studies and globalisation, Materials, objects and practices of art history, Modern and contemporary art, Medieval and early modern studies, The history of the body and the relationship between art and science, The history of visual technologies (print, photography, time-based media)