During the first three years of the MA, students attend courses in the history and theory of art and produce written work as an integral part of their studies. Courses are thematic, looking at both historical and contemporary art. The programme takes the form of lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, written papers and gallery and museum visits.

During the first three years of the MA, students attend courses in the history and theory of art and produce written work as an integral part of their studies. Courses are thematic, looking at both historical and contemporary art. The programme takes the form of lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, written papers and gallery and museum visits.

Taught courses provide students with a grounding in histories and theories of art together with an awareness of the relevance of these critical studies to the contemporary practising artist. The knowledge and concepts gained from historical and theoretical studies contribute to students' overall development as artists.

The programme helps students to contextualize their studio work and to understand and negotiate the complex relationships between making art and the ways in which contemporary and historical art is interpreted, displayed and understood.

In the second or third year MA students must pass one additional course from another UCL department. This may relate to practical studio work (such as anatomy, the psychology of perception or European film), provide an additional skill (such as a foreign language or computing), or be followed as an entirely separate interest.

The critical studies component of the three-year MFA programme is integrated into the undergraduate studio course and the tutorial system. It is designed to provide students with the ability to reference their work within a relevant cultural context and enable them to develop verbal and writing skills to articulate the development of their work within a criticåal context. Critical studies will be assessed each year by verbal presentation and a short text and must be passed in order to progress to the following year.

The studio programme for the MA and MFA is structured around three studio subject areas: painting, fine art media and sculpture. After an initial period of orientation as a first-year group, students choose to be based in one of the areas. Each subject area provides a focused environment in which students can address the practice and theory of that subject and has a specialist team of academic staff supported by technical facilities and expertise. Workshops are organised to offer students the opportunity to develop their skills and technical abilities n response to and to assist with the development of their work. Each area runs a programme of seminars, visiting artists, gallery visits and other events pertinent to students' interests and the development of exciting and challenging debate.

Group work

Students come together with other students from across the subject areas in a number of different ways, including an introductory course to the contexts and histories of art practice in the autumn term of the first year.

Tutorial Groups

The tutorial system consists of a tutor and his or her tutor group, made up from a group of students from all areas of the school, which meets twice a term. One-to-one tutorials can be arranged from the group tutorial, as well as with other tutors, through a system of sign-up sheets and appointments.

Subject-area Seminars

Each area organises regular seminars where students present their work for discussion. The aim is to relate the work to debates specific to the subject area and develop critical awareness.

Cross-area Seminars

The cross-area seminars provide a forum for students to present their work to students and tutors across the subject areas. The aim is to relate the work to a broader context beyond the subject area in which it is produced. Cross-area seminars also aim to develop students' understanding of how to locate, place and present their work for an exhibition. History and theory of art staff regularly participate in both series of seminars.

The studio programme for the MA and MFA is structured around three studio subject areas: painting, fine art media and sculpture. After an initial period of orientation as a first-year group, students choose to be based in one of the areas. Each subject area provides a focused environment in which students can address the practice and theory of that subject and has a specialist team of academic staff supported by technical facilities and expertise. Workshops are organised to offer students the opportunity to develop their skills and technical abilities n response to and to assist with the development of their work. Each area runs a programme of seminars, visiting artists, gallery visits and other events pertinent to students' interests and the development of exciting and challenging debate.