Prospective Research Students

The UCL History of Art Department is top-rated for research; our staff are active researchers in a range of specialist fields and there is a thriving graduate community. Graduate students participate in our weekly graduate seminar, and research students also write, edit and produce the journal Object. We also offer opportunities for research students to work as Teaching Assistants in the department.

Our ongoing and extensive contact with other Art History departments in the University of London facilitates joint skills training as well as interchanges and communication in shared seminars and public events.

Our proximity to and cordial relations with national museums and galleries, such as the British Museum, afford access to innumerable artefacts and artworks. UCL's own Art Collections hold many rare and important works.

Information about Research in the Department

UCL Graduate Prospectus 2013/14 entry

UCL Research Degrees

Candidates for the MPhil are normally required to have obtained an MA degree in the History of Art, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

Candidates for the PhD register initially for an MPhil which can be upgraded to a PhD at the end of the first year on the successful presentation of a paper to the Graduate Teaching Committee - the paper is normally presented at the Graduate Seminar.

Candidates interested in applying for an MPhil or PhD must present a proposal for the topic they are intending to pursue under the supervision of an individual member of staff.

Current Research Staff at UCL

For further information on application procedures, please contact the Research Tutor.

Funding available

Provost’s Research Studentships in the Humanities

AHRC MA & PhD Studentships


Departmental Overseas Graduate Bursaries

For overseas History of Art Research applicants the department has several part-fee scholarships. For these bursaries please see the following Overseas Application Form.
The deadline for the bursaries is  29 May 2013.

Question

Answer

Where do I find general information on graduate study at UCL? UCL Graduate School Website

Detailed information on application procedures and requirements
Where do I find an application form? See Detailed information link above
How do I apply? Before making a formal application, prospective research students usually identify an appropriate supervisor (you can find information about their research interests here). You can then contact him or her directly, outlining your research interests.
Alternatively, you can send a statement of interest to the Research Tutor who can
suggest or approach potential supervisors and liaise with them. Once you have found a staff member able and willing to take on supervision of the project, you would work with him or her to refine the proposal so that it is focused and manageable.
At that point, you can then proceed with a formal application to UCL, which can then be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Proposals for research study are usually between 1000-1500 words in length, though there are no firm rules and applicants should not feel constrained by these guidelines.
Proposals should contain a clear statement of research questions, research context,
methodology, and, if appropriate, research base. A select bibliography is also useful.
What is the application deadline? There is no strict deadline for admission into the MPhil/PhD programme, though applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors not too far into the academic year before they wish to begin graduate study.
Is there a different deadline to apply for AHRC funding? 
Yes.  Applicants seeking AHRC funding need to submit their applications at the very latest in the first week of January. Students need to indicate on the application form that they wish to be considered for the AHRC award.
Can I study part-time? Yes.
Do I need to begin in September, at the start of the academic session? No: students can also begin in January (and under exceptional circumstances, April or July).

Page last modified on 18 mar 13 11:35