Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

The Courtauld Institute of Art is a research-led, highly specialised independent college of the University of London, with one of the world’s most prestigious programmes of art history, curating, and conservation.

The campus is located at Vernon Square in King’s Cross. The Courtauld’s renowned gallery is based in Somerset House and is home to the UK’s finest collection of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, amongst others, and an exciting temporary exhibitions programme.

One of The Courtauld’s many strengths is its small class size, with around 600 students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Students benefit from a superb range of facilities and resources, not least The Courtauld Gallery collection. With an extensive and widely admired archive of paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, the gallery features works dating from the medieval period to the present day. The Courtauld’s central London location means that students can easily visit the city’s other extraordinary galleries and institutions, from the National and Tate Galleries to the British Museum. As a Courtauld student, access to most of these is free. The institute’s relationship with neighbouring King’s College London gives Courtauld students additional social and learning facilities and opportunities.

The Courtauld is a fantastic institution for postgraduate students looking to forge a meaningful career in the professional art world ‑ and beyond ‑ and it’s here that the institution’s small but influential network of alumni comes into play; Courtauld graduates are heavily represented in the leading positions in major museums and galleries globally.

Postgraduate

The Courtauld Institute of Art is one of the most prestigious, and research-oriented centres for the study of art history, curating and conservation in the world. At postgraduate level it offers a compact yet versatile portfolio of taught and research options, with a world-class teaching faculty and ready access to one of the most revered collections in the field of art. The central London location makes it an ideal place to immerse oneself in the world of art, curating and conservation, and graduates will benefit from living in close proximity to one of the largest and most influential employment sectors of its kind.

Combined with superb mentorship and a careers service which extends for two years beyond graduation, students of The Courtauld are ideally placed for a career in the arts and beyond.

International students: The UK’s graduate visa scheme allows graduates to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing their course; this means that international graduates from The Courtauld have the chance to apply for roles in London’s extensive gallery and museums sector, and more widely, across the UK. For those with a PhD or other doctoral qualification, the graduate visa will last for 3 years.