History of Art and Architecture

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 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.

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 (on our doorstep), Kettle’s Yard and the University Library as well as the College libraries. The Hamilton Kerr Institute at Whittlesford, a department of the Fitzwilliam Museum, is dedicated to the conservation of easel paintings and contributes to our teaching and research.

The MPhil in the History of Art and Architecture is a nine-month course providing advanced study and training in research in specialised areas of the subject.  It is intended as a self-contained programme of art-historical study, but also serves as a preparation for students intending to proceed to doctoral research.  Please note that this is a research degree with taught methodological elements, not a conversion course for students whose first degree lies in another subject.

The educational aims of the programme are:

• to provide teaching and learning to post-graduate students in the history of art and architecture in a range of fields linked to the research interests of the staff;
• to provide high-calibre students with training in relevant research skills and to offer excellent specialist supervision of their individual research in these fields;
• to provide a stimulating environment in which students can reach their full intellectual potential;
• to help students develop a wide range of intellectual abilities and skills which will enable them to make a significant contribution in their chosen careers and walks of life, including academic teaching and research.

On completion of the MPhil, students should have:

• made the transition in learning style and pace from undergraduate to postgraduate level;
• acquired the necessary research skills in the use of bibliographical, archival and museum resources as relevant to their field of study;
• gained practice in the use of the languages and archival skills relevant to their chosen research area;
• gained confidence in the choice and use of different methodological approaches and theoretical perspectives;
• refined their critical skills in the examination, recording and analysis of works of art and/or architecture, especially at first-hand (through travel and fieldwork if appropriate);
• gained experience in oral and written presentation, and in a sustained piece of research in the form of a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words;
• acquired the proficiency needed to present in writing a coherent and sustained piece of academic research.

The course consists of research seminars, skills training, and supervised individual study. The syllabus is as follows:

• Attendance at two selected seminar courses in specialised areas of research, one in the Michaelmas (Autumn) Term and one in the Lent (Spring) Term;
• Attendance at the department's weekly graduate seminars;
• Attendance at classes in skills training and career development;
• Frequent individual consultation with the candidate's supervisor, who will guide the candidate's choice of topics and preparation of individual written work for essays, presentations and dissertation.

Each of the seminar courses runs over two terms (Michaelmas and Lent), with a different emphasis in each term. The seminars include presentations by MPhil students and other research students. Students may either take one option in each term, or follow the same course throughout. A taught course in visual culture offered at MPhil level by another university department (eg Classics, English, History, Modern and Medieval Languages) may be undertaken in addition to one of the two taught courses, with the approval of your supervisor and the Degree Committee of the Faculty of Architecture and History of Art. This needs to be discussed and arranged at the start of Michaelmas Term.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will have acquired the type of research training required to carry on to the PhD, or if conceived as a standalone degree, will have acquired the skills to specialise and enhance their professional prospects.

Continuing

To continue to read for the PhD following the course, MPhil in History of Art & Architecture students must achieve an overall average score of at least 70%.  Continuation is also subject to the approval of the proposed research proposal, and the availability of an appropriate supervisor.

The MPhil in History of Art & Architecture is a nine month course which commences in October each year. It is not available on a part-time basis. The course consists of research seminars, skills training, and supervised individual study. 

The syllabus is as follows:

• Attendance at two selected seminar courses in specialised areas of research, one in the Michaelmas (Autumn) Term and one in the Lent (Spring) Term;
• Attendance at the department's weekly graduate seminars;
• Attendance at classes in skills training and career development;
• Frequent individual consultation with the candidate's supervisor, who will guide the candidate's choice of topics and preparation of individual written work for essays, presentations and dissertation.

Teaching

Teaching is delivered through the series of seminars referred to above during the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, focusing on salient critical and theoretical issues in the discipline, and organised into two parallel strands in each term. The seminars include presentations by MPhil students and other research students. Students may either take one option in each term, or follow the same course throughout. A taught course in visual culture offered at MPhil level by another university department (eg Classics, English, History, Modern and Medieval Languages) may be undertaken in addition to one of the two taught courses, with the approval of the student’s supervisor and the Degree Committee of the Faculty of Architecture and History of Art. This needs to be discussed and arranged at the beginning of the Michaelmas Term.

Throughout the course, students are encouraged to undertake independent reading and study, in order to consolidate what is under discussion in the seminars. In addition, they attend the Department’s weekly public graduate research seminars organised by the graduate students, the Department's fortnightly medieval seminars and other lectures and seminars in the Department and elsewhere in the University.

Students will have their supervisors confirmed at the beginning of their course in October. Students typically meet with their supervisor for 45 minutes on a fortnightly basis during term time. Students are expected to attend their two selected taught seminar courses and the Department's weekly seminars (approximately 12 per term). Students typically spend at least 30 hours per term for the first two terms attending mandatory seminars. 

Students are expected to undertake research training much of which is mandatory. These courses total approximately 6 hours in total. Mandatory courses can be supplemented with other courses provided by the University, School, Faculty, Department and College. Whilst attending lectures is optional, students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of lectures offered in the Department and other Faculties relevant to their research. 

Students will be provided with feedback via supervisions and their supervisor's termly reports which are available to them via their self-service pages on CamSIS.

Examination

Essays

Two essays of not more than 6000 words (to include footnotes) will be presented for examination. One will be submitted at the end of the Michaelmas and one at the end of the Lent terms respectively. These essays need not relate to the themes of the taught seminar courses, but may instead be directed towards the candidate’s personal research interests. 
 
The essays represent 40% of the overall mark for the course

Dissertation

The dissertation of not more than 15,000 words represents 60% of the overall mark and is submitted at the end of May.  
An oral examination (viva voce) on the dissertation and on the general field of knowledge within which the work submitted falls may be required. Students must remain in or be prepared to return to Cambridge for such oral examinations, which will be held in June.
Students need to achieve at least 60% for their overall mark in order to pass the degree. If students wish to continue their research and apply to read for the PhD degree in the Department of History of Art, they need to achieve at least 70%.  They also need to identify and be admitted by a supervisor drawn from the established UTO staff of the Department or from its Emeritus staff (see University Teaching Officers and Emeritus staff under the 'People' section of this site.)

• Magistr (Master's Degree) at Pass level. Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of good or 4/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 4/5 Bologna Bachelor's from other institutions with an overall grade of 5/5, Excellent
• Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of Excellent or 5/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 5/5
• IELTS (Academic) 7.5
• TOEFL Internet Score 110
• £50 application fee
• First Academic Reference
• Second Academic Reference
• Transcript
• Research Proposal. A research proposal of 1000 - 1500 words should consist of a
• Sample of Work. A sample of work could be a journal publication or a chapter from your undergraduate dissertation. Please note: applicants who are currently undertaking a graduate course at Cambridge from departments other than History of Art will need to provide a sample of work.
• Personal Reference. This is only required if you are applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

• Global Education
• Gates Cambridge Scholarships