Postgraduate Taught Degree Programmes: MLitt and MSc

Our postgraduate taught degree programmes provide an education that will prepare you for a range of careers in the art world, and can also lead to further postgraduate study. Our courses are designed to give you a broad range of professional skills, both academic and practical in the History of Art and Art-World practice and Art, Law and Business.

Postgraduate Study Options

Arts of Europe - Antiquity|Middle Ages|Renaissance

Art, Style and Design - Renaissance|Modernism

Modern & Contemporary Art - Approaches|Methods|Practices

Arts of China - Cultural Crossroads in Asia

Art, Law & Business

Why choose Christie’s Education?

Unlike a conventional university course you will be studying art from inside the art world. These courses have professional practice at their core and reflect this in the object-based teaching that characterises Christie’s Education. Previews, handling sessions, gallery visits as well as lectures and seminars enable students to experience both the practical and academic side of studying art. Our students are from all sorts of backgrounds and choose our courses because they provide a unique insight into the art world and its practices without compromising academic standards.

Our Links with the University of Glasgow

Christie’s Education and the University of Glasgow have been associated with each other for over twenty years. The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451 and is one of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom. The History of Art Department has been ranked top in the UK for world leading research in art history by the UK Government*. We share the same commitment in providing the highest quality education in art history and we are proud of the close links between our institutions. All the lecturers in London are recognised teachers of the University, and all students are matriculated into the University and their graduation ceremony is held there.

Visit the University of Glasgow website

*UK Government RAE 2008

What is the difference between a Master’s and a Postgraduate Diploma?

PgDip

The Postgraduate Diploma is a fast-track 9-month course. It is especially suitable for career changers and students new to art history. The advantage for students new to art history is that they can convert from Diploma to Master’s if they have achieved the appropriate grades after Term 1. Students may also take the diploma as a conversion qualification, starting with the Arts of Europe diploma and moving on to a Master’s in Art, Style and Design, Arts of China or Modern and Contemporary Art the following year.

MLitt

The Master’s qualification is a full 12-month course which shares many of the aims and objectives of the Postgraduate Diploma. It also involves the student in independently researching a thesis in a subject of their own choice, as well as studying method and theory. Many of the students who take this option already have a degree in the history of art but others replace this experience with practical knowledge gained outside of university. All students who apply for graduate programmes are interviewed and the best option for them is discussed before a place is offered.

Professional Development

As an integral part of the Christie’s courses, we organise a full Professional Development programme, aimed at highlighting career opportunities across the public and commercial art world. Current students are given the opportunity to meet former students now in employment. They are also given opportunities to meet other professionals from the art world in networking sessions, and discuss strategies for furthering their career.

The Christie's Education Graduate Mentorship Programme

This exciting programme is open to all EU graduates of Christie’s Education. Successful applicants are taken into a department and work with a particular member of staff you gives them tasks reflecting the full range of auction house activities.
The programme has been designed with specific aims and objectives so that each successful graduate mentee will be given a rounded appreciation of the workings of the Auction House.

Aims:

build a relationship between a student and a mentor from a Christie's department
allow learning to occur from within a Christie's department
encourage students to successfully complete challenging tasks within the Christie's departments
involve students in characteristic activities typical of the Christie's approach to business

Objectives:

By the end of the Scheme students should be able to:

undertake the key role of a viewing assistant
be able to carry out 'look up' tasks for a work of art
be introduced to 'running for sale’ activities
be able to undertake a condition report
be able to carry out a catalogue entry according to specific departmental models

Internships

The Christie’s Human Resources Department works closely with Christie’s Education to highlight the opportunities available within the company. These can range from a full six-month Graduate Internship placement to a more informal work experience arrangement.

Venice Internship

Christie’s Education also has a special relationship with the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, that provides two internships annually to graduates of Christie’s Education London.

The Christie's Associate Specialist Training Programme

Excitement, knowledge and international travel, combined with the chance to work with some of the world's most interesting and beautiful objects are just some of the benefits of joining the Christie's Associate Specialist Training Programme.

The programme consists of 4-6 rotations over a 24-month period across our international departments and locations. Placements may be in our London, Paris, New York or Hong Kong offices and is for graduates and non-graduates with suitable experience. Our selection process is challenging with places highly sought after. You will gain a firm understanding of the art market and the underlying art scholarship, the commercial business of art sales and an auction house.

The Christie's Associate Specialist Training Programme is handled by Christie's Human Resources Department. Tel: +44 20 7839 9060.

Alumni

Graduates of both programmes are found in every conceivable location in the art world from posts at Christie’s and Sotheby’s to dealerships, curatorships and museum and gallery positions, and in journalism, art loss and insurance appraisal. Some students who have taken the Master’s programme also go on to PhD programmes.

How to Apply

There is no application fee. Applications are made by completing the form available online. To download the form, simply click the Apply Now button available on each Programme Option page. After you have sent us your application we will ask you to attend an interview. Most applications for Master’s and Postgraduate Diploma courses are received between October and June of the previous academic year. If you have any queries concerning the application process please email Admissions.

Interviews

We believe it is important for you to have an opportunity to meet faculty to discuss the suitability of the course and your plans for the future. Interviews can be arranged in London throughout the year, in New York between February and May, and in Hong Kong at the end of May. Interviews last approximately one hour and applicants will be asked to discuss a selection of images as well as their particular interests.

Applicants may also be asked to make a short written comment on a work of art at the end of the interview. Applicants will be formally notified of the outcome of the interview within 10 days. Most places on our more popular courses are filled before the end of July and early application is therefore advised.

English Language Requirements

Applicants will need to show that they have sufficient fluency in written and spoken English. This can be demonstrated by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) which is administered by the British Council.

For Master's Applications:

Either of the following qualifications is acceptable: (i) British Council IELTS: at least Band 7.0 (ii) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): a score of at least Paper 600, Computer 250, Internet 100 for MLitt, Internet 100 for PgDip.

For Postgraduate Diploma Applications:

Further details are available from IELTS. Please visit their website at www.ielts.org.