Art and Business - Taught Programme

Programme Details

PROGRAMME LENGTH
MLitt 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time

Aims

The taught MLitt in Art and Business is designed around the excellent resources available in Aberdeen. Through the study of both art in situ and contemporary business theory and practice, students will gain first hand experience of the art market place. It provides training in art historical and business methods. The course is delivered as a collaboration between leading commercial professionals and academics. It provides a choice of approach to art historical period, and to business specialisms.

Contact Information

Mrs Sandra Webb
Secretary (Postgraduate Applications)
School of Divinity History and Philosophy

Syllabus

Art and Business begins with core courses designed for beginners from each field. Thus, students with a background in art history will take Introduction to Business for Art History, and business students will take Introduction to Art History for Business.

Core courses are Art and Business, Fieldwork, Business Economics and Introduction to Accounting and Finance. During the year, students are accompanied on visits to galleries in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Paris. These trips are subsidised but students are expected to contribute. In the second half-session students take Strategic Marketing and Managing people at Work, or International Law and Trade in Art and select from a range of options in History of Art, depending on individual interests.

At the end of the second half-session there are intensive classes identifying and initiating work on the dissertation project. This will be jointly run by Art History and Business staff and will focus on the individual requirements of each student as they sharpen their focus on this assignment. In the summer, MLitt students write a dissertation. Linked to the dissertation are a series of week long, highly focused business courses which run in June, and provide additional context/input for the work on the dissertation project. Students should take at least two of these options and additional modules are possible. The content of the dissertation will reflect the modules chosen in the summer school.

Assessment

On the history of art side, courses are assessed by essays, class participation and presentations. On the business side, some courses are completed with examinations. There will also be a 15,000 word dissertation.

Teaching

On the history of art side, teaching is in small groups, with extensive use of field trips. On the business side, students share larger classes and lectures with the Business School.

Careers

This degree provides suitable preparation for working in the art market and heritage industry. Its business aspect also prepares students for general entrepreneurial job opportunities.

Requirements

The standard entrance requirements are normally a good second class Honours degree, or at a level deemed equivalent by the Head of School. 

References are not required in order for applicants to submit an application. They are not usually required in order for a decision to be made but in certain cases applicants may be asked to provide a single academic reference at the request of the academic selector. 

The English Language Requirement for all College of Arts and Social Sciences Masters programmes is an IELTS of 6.5 with 6.0 in the writing and reading (or equivalent TOEFL iBT or PTE).  For more information see www.abdn.ac.uk/international/english-requirements    

Good English is required not only for the student's own academic success but also because it is necessary to be able to contribute at seminars and perhaps conferences, as well as reading texts and writing essays or papers.

Fees

Full details of tuition fees is available here

Funding

Prospective students should visit the University's Postgraduate Funding Database. 

No Boundaries. Just Possibilities.

Thanks to additional funding from the Scottish government this programme has funded places for Scottish and EU Students. More Information.  

University of Aberdeen Alumni Discount Scheme

The University of Aberdeen is very pleased to offer a 20% discount on postgraduate tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with a degree from the University of Aberdeen.  More Information can be found here.