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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.
Selection Process
Applications are normally considered by the Department within 12 weeks. Many applicants will receive a decision earlier than this.
Decisions on applications submitted by the funding deadline 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 16 May.
Further information on How To Apply
Things You'll Need
In order to apply for this course you'll need to think about getting a few things ready before you apply.
- Two academic references
- Transcript
- CV/resume
- Evidence of competence in English
If required - you can check using our tool - Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
A research proposal of 1000–1500 words, which should consist of a topic and a hypothesis, a literature review, a statement on method, and key references. - Sample of Work (1) (document upload) (mandatory)
A sample of your work, which could be a journal publication or a chapter from your undergraduate or Master's dissertation. - 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 University Teaching Officers on the Department's website.
You should email any potential supervisors with a short research proposal (approx. 300 words), a writing sample and your CV to obtain agreement that they are 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.