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Course type: Masters degree
Credits: 180

Credits

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.

One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.

You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.

For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes: 2 years part-time study
Read more about how long it takes
Study method: Distance learning
Course cost: See Fees and funding
Entry requirements: Find out more about; Entry requirements

MA in Art History

: Course code: F45

Our MA in Art History allows you to deepen your understanding of art, design, architecture, and visual cultures as created, encountered, and interpreted across a range of cultures and historical periods. Adopting an object-centred approach, you will explore the relationship between art history and contemporary debates concerning decolonisation, ecocriticism, and digital visual culture. You’ll develop the tools required to be a successful art historian, including visual analysis and critical reading. These will enable you to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to produce an extended independent research project on a topic of your choice.

Compulsory modules	Credits	Next start
MA Art History part 1 (A845) PLANNED	90	Sept 2026
MA Art History part 2 (A846) PLANNED	90	Sept 2027

Compulsory modules

Credits

Next start

MA Art History part 1 (A845) PLANNED

Sept 2026

MA Art History part 2 (A846) PLANNED

Sept 2027

Credit transfer

If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study.

On completion

On successful completion of the required modules you can be awarded the Master of Arts in Art History, entitling you to use the letters MA (Art Hist) (Open) after your name. You will have the opportunity of being presented at a degree ceremony.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

MA in Art History

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 18 March 2025.

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MA in Art History

Modules

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

Credit transfer

On completion

Regulations

How long it takes

Career relevance

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