Art History MLitt
This Masters degree embraces a rich and diverse field of enquiry that explores the relationship between visual culture and wider social practices. The flexible structure of the programme will allow you to engage with a broad range of methodological and chronological perspectives in Art History, based on your completion of a bespoke portfolio of courses tailored to your individual interests. On completion of the degree you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge of a wide variety of visual cultures, past and present.
- Academic contact: Professor Clare Willsdon
- Teaching start: September
- Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus
- MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time
Why this programme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AtTjrHaNJQ
- This programme offers privileged access to world-leading expertise and hands-on engagement with original artefacts in world-class collections, including our own Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery.
- You will have the chance to participate in the latest critical and theoretical debates around historical and contemporary art practices with experts in the world of Medieval and Renaissance Art, the Enlightenment, Impressionism and European Modernism.
- Our work placement option gives you the opportunity to explore a possible future career in the cultural, heritage or visual arts sector, developing your skills and experience and meeting with professional practitioners.
- The city of Glasgow (and Scotland at large), is home to internationally-renowned art collections and archival and historical resources that will foster your research and analytical skills. Studying here, with access to a diverse variety of year-round cultural and artistic events, offers a unique opportunity to live and study in a city that values and encourages artistic and cultural endeavour.
- With an interest in the visual arts, cultural history, museums and heritage
- Intending to follow a career in the academic, museum and heritage sectors, as well as auction houses and the commercial art world
- Looking to gain an understanding of current art historical and museological debates and practice
- Who want to develop their critical thinking skills through the study of contemporary and historical artistic practices
- Art history in theory and practice
- The application of a variety of methodological approaches to the study of the visual arts
- In-depth, object-based study of the art and culture of a range of chronological periods and geographical regions
- The impact of globalisation and environmental change on artistic practice
- An understanding of contemporary and historical approaches to the study and interpretation of visual arts, and how this knowledge can be applied in professional contexts
- Practical workplace skills gained through a placement opportunity, enabling you to apply your knowledge and experience in a professional setting
- Critical thinking skills, along with a range of other transferable skills, that can be applied across a variety of career paths
- You will also enhance your knowledge and experience through visits to locally and nationally significant collections and sites, guest speakers and visiting scholars, and engagement with major artistic bodies and institutions
Key Facts
This degree is ideal for anyone:
Key topics include:
Skills you will develop:
What our students say
I heard about the different course options, so that was quite appealing to me, as well as the work placement. It was nice to do a range of things and I really recommend incoming students apply if they're interested. Carolyn, Mlitt student
I picked it because I liked the course options. We created an exhibition together and then had to present on why we had selected specific objects for the exhibition. I found that I really, really loved History of Art. Francesca,
Panel Discussion and Q&A
Watch a recording of our recent panel discussion and Q&A with staff from this degree.
Meet more of our students
Discover our MuSE programme at The Hunterian (the University's Museum), where students from any discipline can become Museum Student Educators (MuSEs) and lead public gallery tours across its world-class collections.
Programme structure
The programme’s flexible structure offers a mix of taught and research components, and enables you to either take a broad range of courses or to specialise with a particular chronological or theoretical focus.
You will take:
- One core course
- Five optional courses
You’ll also produce a 15,000 word dissertation.
Semester 1: September to December
- Research Methods and Skills (core course)
- Two optional courses
Semester 2: January to March
- Three optional courses
Summer
The two semesters of coursework are followed by supervised dissertation research and writing between April and August. The dissertation provides an opportunity for you to identify an area of interest and to create a research project that allows in-depth critical exploration of this.
Part-time students
Part-time students take the Research Methods and Skills course and three optional courses in their first year of study, and two optional courses and the dissertation in their second year.
Optional courses
You can choose from a range of optional courses which cover a wide variety of the subject areas research specialisms. These may include:
You may also choose the options of:
Subject to approval, you may also take an optional course from a related subject area in the College of Arts & Humanities. See:
Please note: not all courses may be available every year.
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. More information: Student contract.
Career prospects
The MLitt in Art History provides excellent preparation for a variety of careers, particularly in the museum, cultural, and heritage sectors, and in the commercial world of auction houses and private dealership. It is also an excellent grounding for those aiming to go on to PhD study and a career in academia.
It fosters and encourages the key skills valued by many employers, including the ability to:
- find, select, and manage large quantities of information
- communicate confidently aurally or in writing
- solve problems through the application of creative and critical thinking.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2027-28
MLitt
Home & RUK
- Full-time fee: £11,481
- Part-time fee: £1,276 per 20 credits
International & EU
- Full-time fee: £27,390
Fee status
Deposits
International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 to secure a place on this programme.
Deposits: terms & conditions
The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% administration fee will be deducted unless otherwise stated.
a: Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
- Where the University is unable to offer you a place on the programme as specified on the offer. A full refund will be issued in this case.
- Death of a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
- SERIOUS ill health of the applicant or a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
- Applicant does not meet conditions of offer. This may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide at least two language tests which were taken after the date the deposit was paid).
- Visa / ATAS refusal: we will only consider a refund if the visa / ATAS refusal was based on matters outside of the applicant’s control.
- If a refund request is received within 14 days of the deposit being received a full refund will be issued under the Consumer Protection Regulations.
b: Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
- An applicant decides not to attend the University for any reason not outlined above.
- Personal financial constraints / unsuccessful scholarship application.
- Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicant’s account to secure their place for the following year of entry. You may defer twice. After the second deferral standard conditions will apply.
- There is still time to meet the English language test requirement before the final upload date. Please see section a) 4.
- Visa / ATAS was applied for too late. Please see section a) 5.
- Any documents used for admission are proven to be fraudulent. We work in partnership with Qualification Check to check academic qualifications. English language qualifications are verified with the provider.
- The refund request is received more than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email.
Timeframe for requesting a refund
Refund requests must be received no later than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email. As per section b)7 above the request will be denied.
Receiving a refund
- To comply with Money Laundering Regulations, the University will pay all refunds to the original payer using the source payment details. This is known as a “return to source” payment.
- All appropriate documentation and evidence relating to the original payment must be provided, when requested.
- All payments and refunds are in GBP currency - the University is not responsible for any exchange rate fluctuations or beneficiary bank charges associated with the refund.
- Where University approved payment methods have not been used, this may cause significant delays or prevent payment altogether.
- We will aim to issue the deposit refund within 8 weeks of receipt of information per point 2 above. At peak times this may be longer.
How to request a deposit refund
Please go to our enquiry form and select 'Fees and Deposit' as the enquiry reason and then 'Can I have a deposit refund?'.
Please upload all supporting documentation to your applicant self-service portal before submitting the above request.
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
The scholarships shown are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in any subject.
A 2.2 Honours degree may be considered.
Substantial, directly relevant experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications. If you are applying based on relevant experience, please include a personal statement evidencing this with your application.
English language requirements
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
For applicants from non-majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
Accepted English Language Tests
We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.
IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic for UKVI/ IELTS Academic online
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- We do not accept General Training
TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)
Test taken up to 20 January 2026
- 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
Tests taken from 21 January 2026
- 92 overall with no subtest less than 4.5
PTE Academic (test centre only)
- 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
- We do not accept the online PTE Academic
Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
Oxford ELLT
- 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
LanguageCert Academic/Academic SELT/ Academic Online
- 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
Password Skills Plus
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II
- 96 overall with no subtest less than 90
Kaplan Test of English
- Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
PSI Skills for English
- B2 Pass with Merit
Duolingo English Test
- 120 overall with writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110
Oxford Test of English Advanced
- 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher
Alternatives to English Language test
Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.
TNE degree from UK university taught at a campus outside of the UK
- students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study and remain valid for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS);
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University;
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mlc/eas/pre-sessionalcourses/
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- St Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham
International students
We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.
How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.
Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.
Documents
As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
- Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
- Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
- Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
- A copy of the photo page of your passport
We may also request additional documents such as a personal statement, portfolio, references or a sample of academic writing to support your application.
If we request a reference, this should typically be an academic reference. However, where this is not possible, a reference from a current employer may be accepted. If you already have a copy of your reference on letterheaded paper, you can upload this with your application. Otherwise, you may provide your referee’s name and contact details on the online application, and we will contact them directly.
You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.
For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
Guidance notes for using the online application
These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.
If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.
- Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
- Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
- Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
- Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
- English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
- Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
Application deadlines
For entry in September 2027
International & EU applicants
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International application rounds
Applications are considered on a rolling basis within each round, and the decision date shown for each round is the latest date by which you will receive an outcome on your application.
Round 1: 1 October 2026 to 5 November 2026
You will receive our decision on your application by 18 December 2026.
Round 2: 6 November 2026 to 17 December 2026
You will receive our decision on your application by 3 March 2027.
Round 3: 18 December 2026 to 4 February 2027
You will receive our decision on your application by 8 April 2027.
Round 4: 5 February 2027 to 25 March 2027
You will receive our decision on your application by 6 May 2027.
Round 5: 26 March 2027 to 13 May 2027
You will receive our decision on your application by 10 June 2027.
Round 6: 14 May 2027 to 8 July 2027
You will receive our decision on your application by 29 July 2027.
As we receive a high volume of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply to each programme once per year.
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UK applicants
- 24 August 2027
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