Contemporary Art History and Curating MA

Overview

This course combines art history with the practical curatorial skills needed to work in the contemporary arts sector. 

Newcastle has a vibrant contemporary art scene and provides a living case study for you to engage with, learn from, and contribute to.

Study our Contemporary Art History and Curating MA and develop the skills required to work in the contemporary arts sector. You’ll have the opportunity to:

• explore your own creative interests and research questions
• learn to navigate the complexities of the contemporary art world with confidence and insight
• actively engage with artists, curators, scholars, and audiences
• build personal and professional connections to take into your future career

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

As a Contemporary Art History and Curating Master’s student you will learn about:

• art historical principles and methodologies
• how to critically analyse and interpret art practices
• the complex landscape of contemporary art
• challenges and opportunities facing the contemporary art sector concerning ecology, authorship and ethics

You’ll be taught by a diverse community of experts made up of practicing art historians, artists and curators who will prepare you to make meaningful contributions to the field of contemporary art history and curating.

Practicing your learning through the design of workshops and exhibitions, you’ll frequently plan and run your own exhibits in the Hatton Gallery. You’ll also regularly visit a diverse range of local galleries and creative art spaces in the city and surrounding areas.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Contemporary Art History and Curating MA modules

Full time

Compulsory modules

All students will take all of the following modules:

Module	Credits
FIN8012 Contemporary Art History: Theories and Methods	20
SAC8001 Cultural and Creative Industries Sectors: Past, Present, Future	20
MCH8611 Contemporary Curating	20
FIN8017 Art and Ecology	20
FIN8016 Art Writing	20
FIN8018 Art History Research Project	60

Optional modules

All students will take one of the following modules:

Module	Credits
MCH8551 Curating Art in the Gallery	20
MCH8502 Management Practices in Museum, Galleries and Heritage Studies	20

Part time

Year 1

All students will take all of the following modules:

Module	Credits
FIN8012 Contemporary Art History: Theories and Methods	20
SAC8001 Cultural and Creative Industries Sectors: Past, Present, Future	20
FIN8017 Art and Ecology	20
FIN8016 Art Writing	20

Year 2

All students will take all of the following modules:

Module	Credits
MCH8611 Contemporary Curating	20
FIN8018 Art History Research Project	60

All students will take one of the following modules:

Module	Credits
MCH8551 Curating Art in the Gallery	20
MCH8502 Management Practices in Museum, Galleries and Heritage Studies	20

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

You’ll be taught using a range of methods, including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Case studies
• Practice driven small-group teaching
• Studio and gallery visits

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Essay
• Oral presentation
• Portfolio
• Report
• Research proposal
• Research paper

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your development

Professional skills

You'll learn to advocate for art and articulate its role in a variety of contexts in contemporary society. You'll communicate effectively about art and curating both orally and in written form. Upon graduating, you will have the ability to apply art historical skills to a variety of roles in the contemporary art sector.

Practical skills

This course offers a curatorial aspect, helping you to develop your practical skills. You'll learn to programme and manage events, projects and exhibitions, and perform administration and management with confidence.

Research skills

You'll be exposed to leading-edge research and practice in contemporary art and art history, with a particular focus on addressing the urgent issues facing global society.

Your future

This Contemporary Art History and Curating postgraduate course encourages collaboration and interpersonal development. You’ll advance key skills that will prepare you for a career in the arts or to progress into further academic study.

Possible careers include:

• Museum / Gallery Curator
• Arts administrator
• Gallery Manager
• Exhibitions Officer/Manager
• Collections Assistant/Officer/Manager
• Cataloguer 

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

School of Arts and Cultures

Based in the heart of Newcastle city centre, our Fine Art department is part of the School of Arts and Cultures, which is home to a wide variety of courses, including:

• music
• media and cultural studies
• digital media
• museum, gallery and heritage studies
• film

At the School of Arts and Cultures, we're committed to the education of artists, along with the practice, exhibition, history and theory of art.

We offer interdisciplinary practice, research and engagement within centres such as:

• the Culture Lab
• the Institute for Creative Arts Practice

We also provide well-resourced workshops (all with full technical support) and student studios. We offer:

• purpose-built painting, sculpture, printmaking and digital media studios
• Wood, Metal, Casting, Digital, and Ceramics workshops

Our facilities also include:

• designated gallery and project spaces
• seminar rooms
• large lecture theatre

All students have the use of the Phillip Robinson Library and computer clusters around the University.

We're based in the same building as the Hatton Gallery. This is one of the largest exhibition spaces in North East England. It accommodates both student shows and large touring exhibitions. The Hatton's permanent collection consists of works of art from five centuries and includes the Elterwater Merzbarn construction by Kurt Schwitters.

Find out more about our facilities

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

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How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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