2 courses offered in the Department of History of Art
History of Art - PhD
Since the Department of History of Art's foundation in 1970, we have established ourselves as one of the world’s leading centres for advanced research in the field. We aim to deliver a rigorous, stimulating education in the History of Art and Architecture, with a strong emphasis on the study of works of art and architecture first-hand. We are proud of our team of staff and students whose impressive performance is critical to sustaining and enhancing the national and international reputation created by our distinguished alumni. Many of our PhD students go on to careers in academia and the heritage sector. Cambridge itself is, from an art-historical point of view, a stunning city in which to live and work. We make full use of Cambridge’s unique holdings of art and architecture, including the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Hamilton Kerr Institute (dedicated to the conservation of easel paintings), Kettle’s Yard and the University Library, as well as the buildings and collections of the colleges.
Master of Conservation of Easel Painting - MCEP
The 3-year Master of the Conservation of Easel Paintings is internationally acknowledged as providing world class training of the highest standard.
The course entails theoretical and practical training. Students learn by working on a broad range of paintings and are gradually introduced to tasks that incrementally require more skills and greater responsibilities, under one-to-one supervision. As the students will be part of a large working studio there is the unique opportunity to work next to experienced conservators as well as with heritage scientists. Students also attend theoretical course elements to provide them with foundational knowledge of organic chemistry to inform conservation treatment, academic research and writing skills, a thorough understanding of heritage science and its applications, and of technical art historical research.
The PG students benefit from the presence of early career conservators, broadening our students’ education and encouraging critical engagement with professional trends. In addition to taking on 2-4 PG students every alternate year, the HKI also provides early career, one-year posts to recent graduates from national and international conservation Masters programmes.
1 course also advertised in the Department of History of Art
Global History of Art and Architecture - MPhil
From the Faculty of Architecture and History of Art
The Department of History of Art is delighted to offer a new MPhil in Global History of Art and Architecture. Offering diverse and inclusive geographical coverage, it aims to provide a focused programme of research-led, collections-informed study in the global history of art and architecture. It is designed to introduce students from diverse backgrounds to the global history of art and architecture, providing them with research skills and specialist knowledge from a range of fields within and across the discipline. It offers the opportunity to carry out focused research under supervision by experts at the University, both within the Department and across the rich and varied Cambridge Collections. Capitalising on Cambridge’s existing research strengths and rich museum collections across geographies, cultures and time periods, it will prepare students for further study and the workplace in a rapidly developing and globalising field. The course will educate and train the next generation of leaders in art history in and beyond academia: across the arts, museums and heritage sector and in the commercial art world.