Newcastle University

Museum, Gallery and Heritage Studies

Art Museum and Gallery Studies MA; PGDip

MA: 12 months full time; 24 months part time PGDip: 9 months full time; 18 months part time (Modules also available on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) basis)

Fees

Fees per academic year 2012-13

UK/EU: full time £5,500 (MA); £3,670 (PGDip) part time £2,750 (MA); £1,835 (PGDip)
International: full time £11,415 (MA); £11,200 (PGDip) part time fees
Please refer to our Tuition Fees section for information about changes to fees and fee discounts.

Aims

This programme aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills to move into or enhance a career in galleries and art museums. It offers a fast-track route to a professional qualification and is amongst the most successful art museum and gallery studies programmes internationally as well as benefitting from a thriving gallery scene in the region. It encourages a hands-on approach and involves major input by art museum and gallery professionals from the region and beyond, ranging from those who work in small, independent contemporary galleries to those who curate national art collections or internationally significant exhibitions. See also the work-based Master in Art Museum and Gallery Practice (MPrac).

Programme Description

You take three compulsory modules (60 credits) which cover: issues and ideas; management; communication and interpretation. These are followed by two specialist modules (40 credits): art curatorship 1 – histories, objects and agendas; and art curatorship 2 – exhibitions and exhibiting, in which you will curate an exhibition at the Hatton Gallery: Great North Museum.

You then undertake a tailored eight-week placement in an art museum or gallery (20 credits) and finally a piece of individual research for presentation as a 12~15,000-word dissertation (60 credits). Students enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) complete all the taught modules and the work placement but not the dissertation.

Find out more detailed information about the programme modules

Entrance Requirements

A minimum of an upper-second-class Honours degree, or an international equivalent, in a relevant art-related subject at university. These include: art history, visual studies, fine art, craft, design and photography. Basic familiarity with art history is particularly important because you will be required to work confidently with art historical concepts and concerns as they pertain to the art museum and gallery context. It is not necessary for you to have a full degree in an art-related subject, but it should be a significant component of your degree. We also consider applications from professionals with considerable work experience in the art museum/gallery sector. Ideally you should have some gallery or museum experience, for example as a volunteer.

Applicants whose first language is not English require IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing, TOEFL 90 (Internet-based), or equivalent.

If you are an international student and you do not meet the academic and English Language requirements for this degree programme, you may want to consider a preparation course at INTO Newcastle University.  INTO Newcastle University is based on the University campus and offers a range of courses to help you prepare for study in the UK including the Graduate Diploma in Business and Social Sciences.

Tier 4 Student Visas (International Applicants)

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has now revised its rules for Tier 4 student visa applications regarding English language ability. You are now required to hold a minimum of IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) in all sub skills (listening, writing, reading and speaking) to be eligible to apply for a Tier 4 visa.

Please note that the University’s English language requirements are normally higher (see above).

Typical Funding

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
International students - own government; University scholarships.

How to Apply

There is no closing date for this programme. However, international students applying for September 2012 entry should apply by Friday 13 July 2012 to ensure that they have time to put appropriate arrangements in place.

Please note: As a formal condition of the offer to study at Newcastle University, students from outside the UK/EU are required to pay a deposit of £1,500 or submit an official letter of sponsorship for their chosen programme. The deposit payment is non refundable, but will be deducted from tuition fees upon registration.

For the quickest and easiest way to apply, visit our postgraduate online application site.

Further Information

For further information please contact:
Postgraduate Secretary
School of Arts and Cultures
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 7419
E-mail: icchs@ncl.ac.uk