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Apply using the Applicant Portal
The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.
An application is only complete when:
- you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
- you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
- your referees have provided their references.
If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.
The minimum academic requirement is a Master's degree (at least 70% or equivalent) in History of Art (or a closely related discipline) AND a high II.i honours (at least 67%/3.6/4.0 GPA or equivalent) in your undergraduate Bachelor's degree.
Before you make a formal application you should identify a potential supervisor whose research interests align with your own, and gain agreement from them that they are willing, in principle, to supervise you. Please see the “How to find a supervisor” below for more details.
The Department places particular emphasis upon your competence in any relevant foreign languages required for work in your chosen area of specialisation. We can provide language tuition in Latin and modern foreign languages, but students who already possess the necessary language skills will be better prepared to undertake the course.
You must have met or exceeded the minimum academic requirements, and have an outstanding research proposal. Admission is dependent on the availability and capacity of a suitable supervisor for the projected duration of the course.
This course allows you to use one professional referee, as well as one academic referee, even if you have only recently left higher education. If you have been out of higher education for more than 6 years, you may use two professional referees, in line with our general rules (see References to support your Cambridge application | Postgraduate Study).
Selection Process
Applications are normally considered by the Department within 12 weeks and will involve being invited to an interview (usually online). Many applicants will receive a decision earlier than this. Decisions on applications submitted by the funding deadline (early January) are usually made in February/March. Should places with the proposed supervisor remain available, applications received after the funding deadline are considered on a rolling basis until the final deadline on 14 May 2026.
Further information on How To Apply
Things You'll Need
You should start preparing the things that you'll need when you apply. These will be mandatory, unless specifically flagged as optional.
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Two referees willing to give you a reference
Either academic or professional – please see our References guidance for more information about which type you need. Your referees will need to have submitted their reference by the course deadline. - Transcript
- CV/resume
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Evidence of competence in English
If required - please see our Competence in English guidance for more information. -
Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
A research proposal of 1000’1500 words inclusive of references and footnotes. This should consist of a carefully researched topic of relevance to an area of academic discourse, research questions, a literature review, a statement on design approach, and key references. -
Sample of Work (1) (document upload) (mandatory)
The Sample of Work is limited to 5,000 words and can be an example of a chapter, publication or essay. -
Multiple Proposed Supervisors (200 characters) (mandatory)
The name of an academic who has given agreement in principle to supervise you. For more information on finding a supervisor, see below.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
If you wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:
See Gates Cambridge for more information.
How to Find a Supervisor
Potential supervisors and their research interests can be found on the list of those available for this purpose on the Department's website. You should email the potential supervisor with a short research proposal (approx. 300 words), a writing sample and your CV to obtain agreement that they would be willing and able to supervise you. The potential supervisor may advise on how your research proposal might be developed or improved. Whilst obtaining agreement from a potential supervisor is a requirement for admission, it does not guarantee your acceptance on to the course, nor that you will be allocated to that supervisor if you are accepted to the course.