History of Art with Collections Management (Taught)

Our MA History of Art with Collections Management will absorb you in the rich and dynamic discipline of the history of art as well as preparing you for the museum workplace with an intensive collections management module that will equip you with essential skills and experience.

Why choose this course?

• You will study with internationally recognised experts. Our teaching staff are defining the field, conducting groundbreaking research in periods from medieval to contemporary.

• You will meet experts in London museums and galleries to discuss their work, as well as engaging in hands-on activities relating to documentation, object handling and care.

• As well as regular gallery and museum visits, talks by visiting speakers and screenings, you will have the opportunity to gain further experience by applying for a 10-week supervised work placement in a museum, gallery or archive.

What you will learn

This course will train you in key art historical approaches so you can focus on areas and periods of particular interest. You will gain a solid grasp of the key issues and fundamental, professional skills involved in collections management and an insight into different working practices.

You will develop an understanding of the core processes by which museums and galleries ascribe value and meaning to artworks and objects and master a range of methods and sources, including archives, collections, historical and contemporary texts, and a broad spectrum of artistic media from cathedrals to digital installations.

How you will learn

This course is available to study full- or part-time and you can study online as well as on campus. Classes are held in the evenings. These include lectures and seminars with an emphasis on debate. The Collections Management module is taught intensively in the daytime over a one-week period during the spring term.

You will be able to choose from option modules and explore a range of media: painting, sculpture, print culture, architecture, digital art, photography and performance. You will also devise your own research project.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. The online option will not be available to you because it may affect the conditions of your visa.

Highlights

• You will have the opportunity to apply for a work placement in one of London's world-renowned museums, galleries or archives.

• We offer an exciting study trip abroad every spring.

• Birkbeck is one of the leading universities for the study of the history of art and was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

• You can become involved in our lively research culture and attend events, including at our Peltz Gallery, Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, Centre for Museum Cultures and Murray Group.

• You will have access to resources and renowned art collections, monuments and study facilities in London.

• We offer a number of bursaries and funds to support coursework research expenses.

Careers and employability

On graduation you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including:

• highly developed visual skills

• understanding and applying complex theories

• use of analytical tools

• the ability to research and write professional documents

• collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented assignments and fluent critical arguments.

Graduates can pursue career paths in the museums and heritage sector, arts management, conservation and policy, education, marketing and publishing and research and academia. Possible professions include:

• museum/gallery curator

• museum registrar or collections manager

• arts administrator

• auctioneer

• researcher

• lecturer in higher education

• advertising account executive.