Application deadline
Thursday 7 August 2025
Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.
“The independence of studying as a postgraduate student has been simultaneously a challenge and a highlight. There are bright minds everywhere you turn, which yields incredibly fecund soil for your own intellectual growth. I know that I can tackle whatever comes up in the future because of the people, knowledge, and experiences St Andrews has brought me.”
- North Carolina, USA
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree. A degree in art history is strongly recommended but is not an essential requirement. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé with your personal details and a history of your education and employment to date
- personal statement (500 words)
- sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The MLitt in Art History is designed to:
- develop and enhance research and writing skills
- introduce and deepen knowledge of the theoretical and methodological foundations of art history
- enable students to explore current critical debates, art media and contextual questions
Highlights
- The choice of modules allows wide-ranging study of thematic or methodological issues, as well as focused research pathways.
- All teaching is done in small seminars, giving students regular contact with academic staff from across the School.
- We run exciting exchange programmes with our partner institutions including the Ecole du Louvre in Paris, which students may apply to take part in.
- Teaching includes class trips to art museums, artist studios, and local collections. It also makes use of the University's historical collection of rare books, photography, and other materials.
- We host regular research seminars, symposia, and visiting speakers from around the world.
- Our research centres include: the Centre for Contemporary Art, the Museums, Galleries and Collections Institute, the Institute of Medieval Studies, the French Centre for History and Culture, and the St Andrews Scottish Studies Centre.
Modules
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your programme. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.
- Themes in Art History: introduces students to a selection of key issues, concepts and writings in the field.
Art History students choose three postgraduate-level course modules, with the option to choose one of those modules from the undergraduate-level Honours programme.
Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered:
- Art and Technology
- Art History in the Studio: Materials, Processes, Techniques
- Object Lessons in Photography
- Representation and the Body
- The 'New Vision' in Twentieth-Century European Photography
- The Book as Object and Idea
- The Classical Tradition
- The Documentary Impulse
- The Image of the Artist
- Writing on the Visual
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2025 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
The final three months of your course will be focused on writing the major assessment piece, a 15,000-word dissertation. Across the two semesters, students participate in a series of skills workshops designed to help prepare for the dissertation element. Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation must be submitted by a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there are exit awards available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and, assuming you have attained appropriate grades, receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
Teaching
The MLitt degree requires two semesters of full-time (or four semesters part-time) coursework, normally equivalent to four modules.
Each module has a minimum contact time of 16 hours.
Optional modules are taught as small group discussion seminars, with an average size of ten students in each group.
Additionally, there may be class trips where relevant to the taught modules.
The assessment for the taught modules is based on coursework including:
- exhibition reviews
- critical bibliographies
- visual analysis and object analysis essays
- reading journals
- research papers
Events
The School of Art History supports a large, active and diverse postgraduate community. Postgraduate students publish the peer-reviewed North Street Review journal containing articles on a wide range of topics by students at St Andrews and other universities.
The School also organises postgraduate research seminars and occasional symposia. Each year they invite a number of artists and scholars to give lectures.
The School was instrumental in establishing the Museums, Galleries and Collections Institute (MGCI) which is a leading centre for training and research in the heritage sector.
Fees
Home
£12,030
Overseas
£25,900
Application fee
Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.
After your degree
Careers
Recent postgraduates in Art History are employed in:
- universities
- art consulting
- museums
- galleries
- auction houses
- archives
- web design
- cultural diplomacy
- publishing houses and magazines
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
In addition to the MLitt, the School offers a two-year Art History Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree option.
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
Postgraduate researchWhat to do next
Information sessions
Meet our staff, learn more, and ask questions about how our courses can work for you.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2399
- pgarthist@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- School of Art History
79 North Street
St Andrews
KY16 9AL