Social History of Art MA

Course overview

The MA Social History of Art will equip you with a deep subject knowledge of the history of artistic practices in the broadest sense, grounded in fundamental questions about why this study matters in the world today. You’ll build the research, analytical, critical and communication skills to succeed in a variety of careers.

The emphasis of the course is on social and political approaches to art history, whether looking at the most recent and contemporary, or in the study of the deeper roots of the cultures we inhabit. From Medieval and Renaissance art to live practices now, from the study of our most local environments to the arts of Africa, Asia and beyond, we approach art as central to the production and reproduction of our shared and different social worlds.

Building on over 70 years of teaching in the field of art history, we have an international reputation for innovative, critically engaged and globally conscious approaches to the discipline. This course has well-established strengths in areas including:

• feminist and gender studies

• the relations between art and capitalism

• the legacies and critiques of colonialism

• Jewish studies

• climate and environment.

We offer an exceptional range of choice in the areas you can specialise in, and the knowledge you build throughout core and optional modules leads to a major independent research project.

On this course you'll benefit from studying in a research-intensive Russell Group university, where art historians study alongside fine artists and others studying galleries, museums and heritage.

Across the areas we teach, we attend critically to the institutions and spaces in which art is encountered. We’re able to draw on professional collaborations and long-standing expertise among many of our staff who have worked in major museums, galleries and arts and cultural organisations, locally, nationally, and internationally.

Specialist facilities

You’ll be based within a purpose-built space that includes studios and a gallery alongside seminar rooms, and a shared student common room, which is often used for film screenings, talks and other events.

Course details

In this course you’ll study compulsory modules and optional modules. In your first semester, a compulsory module will cover key questions both in the history of the discipline of Art History, and its current urgency. Alongside this, and in semester two, you’ll develop your specialist knowledge by selecting from a broad range of optional modules on diverse topics.

You'll develop the complex descriptive and analytical skills central to the practice of art history, and engage with wider theoretical and historical frameworks. Throughout you'll be given the opportunity to develop your own interests and a distinct critical voice.

The skills you develop, combined with knowledge from your optional modules, will ultimately be focused in your dissertation – an independent research project, which you'll undertake with the guidance of your supervisor.

If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longer period and take fewer modules in each year.

You sometimes find yourself going down a research path that you could not predict because you are surrounded by so many different forms of knowledge and expertise.

- Helen Collett, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Social History of Art MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Social History of Art MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Learning and teaching

You’ll be taught through a range of innovative approaches, emphasising inclusive, active learning and student input. This may include seminars, screenings, tutorials, field trips, workshops and other forms of learning generated through dialogue between tutors and students. Mainly, teaching is delivered through small-group seminars focused on close reading of key texts, and the open discussion of ideas.

Visiting artists and speakers will give talks to enhance your learning, and you'll be able to attend events and exhibitions both on and off campus.

There is emphasis throughout on the kind of teaching that enables you to develop your own research projects. This approach leads towards the dissertation - a substantial independent research project on a topic of particular interest to you.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment takes varied forms, including different kinds of written assignment, presentations, group work, and innovative practice-led approaches. Our assessment is led by principles of relevance, fairness and inclusivity, and the development of vital skills beyond university, such as problem-solving, adaptability, self-reliance and reflexivity.

Mainly, the type of work you'll complete involves writing to a professional standard, in extended essays followed by a dissertation. Overall, assessment will ground you in the development of a broad range of skills in research, analysis and the expression of complex ideas – whether as preparation for doctoral study, work in the arts, or in a wide range of careers where these skills are in demand.

The University Library offers classes and resources on topics such as exam technique, public speaking, research and structuring essays throughout your degree.

Applying

Entry requirements

You’ll need a bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent qualification, for example (though not exclusively) in a humanities or social science subject, such as History, Literature, Languages, Art History, Philosophy or Sociology, or in a practice-based Arts subject where your degree included a significant proportion of historical and theoretical studies.

Applying from China

Due to the large numbers of applications we receive, we’re only able to offer places to applicants who have attended selected Chinese institutions. With regret, any applications we receive from applicants awarded a qualification in China from an institution that isn’t on this list will be rejected.

International

Our admissions team are experienced in considering a wide range of international qualifications. If you wish to discuss whether your qualifications will meet the necessary entry criteria, contact the School’s admissions team.

You can also check the accepted qualifications for your country or region.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Please see our How to Apply page for information about application deadlines.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you need

• Your degree certificate and transcripts, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying

• Two academic references

• Evidence of your English language qualifications if English is not your first subject.

• A personal statement. Please answer the following questions within your statement:

  • Please explain your reasons for applying to this particular course.

  • What specific fields within the history of art most interest you, and why? Have you studied any of these topics already? If so, you might provide some details of what you studied and to what depth.

  • Which approaches to the study of art history (i.e. methods, theories) most interest you, and why?

  • In your academic experience to date, what has prepared you to embark on postgraduate-level study of art history? If you are coming to art history from another discipline, feel free to explain this experience in terms of cognate issues.

  • What particular challenges and opportunities do you think postgraduate study will offer compared to undergraduate study?

Next steps

Applicants may be invited for an interview as part of the application process.

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures receives very large numbers of high-quality applications and regrets that it cannot make offers to all of its applicants. Some particularly popular schools may have to reject many that hold the necessary academic qualifications.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies

Contact us

Taught Postgraduate Team

Email: finpg@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £12,000 (Total)

International: £26,000 (Total)

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans, scholarships and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.

We offer the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies International Excellence Scholarship for international applicants. Find out about awards and scholarships.

Career opportunities

Careers support

The School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies has a strong commitment to enhancing student employability and embedding transferable, career-oriented skills. We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The School regularly hosts events and external visitors from the arts and heritage sectors, as well as a weekly Visiting Artist Talk Programme, with leading artists regionally and internationally discussing their careers and practice. 

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.