Overview
The course is designed to provide you with an unparalleled experience and a professional edge. It blends cutting-edge contemporary theory with real-world experience essential for establishing or progressing your career.
You’ll be taught by established curators, artists, educators, researchers and sector professionals with substantial experience of working in the art world. You’ll gain an advanced understanding of the historical and contemporary contexts to curating art.
Your own professional practice is developed through practical sessions, exhibition making, and placement opportunities. Working in collaboration with our key partner, the Hatton Gallery, you’ll curate a public-facing group exhibition. You’ll also organise and deliver a programme of public activities and learning events.
The city of Newcastle and the North East of England offer a wonderful resource. We have over 80 regional galleries and museums, two World Heritage Sites and many heritage venues. Much of the region’s countryside is designated as National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The course is part of Media, Culture, Heritage in the School of Arts and Cultures. You will be part of a dynamic group of experienced academic researchers, curation practitioners, doctoral researchers and fellow students from around the world.
Important information
We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
MA – Master of Arts
An MA is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of social sciences, art and humanities, and business, consulting and management. It typically includes:
- subject-specific taught modules
- a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words
You’ll usually study an MA full-time over 12 months.
A Master of Arts is awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60 credit dissertation or research project.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
PGDip – Postgraduate Diploma
A PGDip is awarded if you successfully complete all of the taught modules (120 credits).
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
What you’ll learn
You will explore professional practice in art museums and galleries. You’ll develop an understanding of the practical and intellectual implications of curating art by designing a real-time exhibition project.
You’ll take four compulsory modules and two optional modules. MA students also choose a research dissertation or a 25-day placement.
Hear more from our alumni about what they learned on our programmes
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Compulsory modules
In Semester 1, you will take the following three compulsory modules that will give you a broad understanding of the sector and its contexts:
- Museums, Galleries and Heritage in Society (20 credits)
Understanding Objects, Collections and Stories in Museums, Galleries & Heritage (20 credits) - Contemporary Curating: Histories, Ethics, Sites (20 credits)
In Semester 2, all Curating Art students take this compulsory module:
- Curating Art in the Gallery (20 credits)
Optional modules
You’ll also choose two optional modules from the following that will allow you to explore your interests further:
- Digital Communication for Cultural Institutions and Organisations (20 credits)
- Management Practices in Museum, Galleries and Heritage Studies (20 credits)
- Museum, Gallery, Heritage Practice (10-day placement) (20 credits) *
In Semester 3, you will choose to either take a 25-day placement* with a reflective assignment (6,000-8,000 words – 60 credits) or carry out a research dissertation (12,000-15,000 words – 60 credits).
*You can choose either the 10-day placement module in Semester 2 or the 25-day placement in Semester 3.
Compulsory modules
In Semester 1, you will take the following three compulsory modules that will give you a broad understanding of the sector and its contexts:
- Museums, Galleries and Heritage in Society (20 credits)
- Understanding Objects, Collections and Stories in Museums, Galleries & Heritage (20 credits)
- Contemporary Curating: Histories, Ethics, Sites (20 credits)
In Semester 2, all Curating Art students take this compulsory module:
- Curating Art in the Gallery (20 credits)
Optional modules
You’ll also choose two optional modules from the following that will allow you to explore your interests further:
- Digital Communication for Cultural Institutions and Organisations (20 credits)
- Management Practices in Museum, Galleries and Heritage Studies (20 credits)
- Museum, Gallery, Heritage Practice (10-day placement) (20 credits)
How you’ll learn
The course covers all aspects of art museum and gallery work and we use a variety of teaching and learning strategies to help you achieve your learning objectives. This includes a large proportion of guided independent study. Scheduled contact time is on-campus in Newcastle city centre and includes seminars, practical sessions, and workshops. The course also includes online lecture materials and activities.
Part-time study consists of the same modules and options as the full-time course but spread over a longer period.
The academic year usually starts in late September with Induction.
See some examples of student projects on our Museums, Galleries and Heritage webpage
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Design or creative project
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Report
- Research proposal
- Written exercise
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You’ll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You’ll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
The degree programme director for this programme is Dr Katie Markham
Learn more about our staff on the Museums, Galleries and Heritage webpage
Personal tutors and supervisors of Curating Art research projects include:
Your future
Careers
We’ll equip you with the skills and knowledge needed for a career in the art world. Our course attracts graduates from across the globe and students are given the opportunity to build a portfolio of work that translates globally.
On successful completion of the course students can be employed in the following roles:
- Curator / Assistant Curator
- Gallery Manager
- Exhibitions Officer/Manager
- Collections Assistant/Officer/Manager
- Cataloguer
For institutions such as:
- Victoria & Albert Museums
- BALTIC (UK)
- Ministry of Education
- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Korea)
- Historic Environment Scotland
As an MA Curating Art student at Newcastle University, you’ll develop a wide range of transferable skills. These range from presentation and research skills to team-working and project management, which are highly sought after by employers.
Further Study
This Curating Art MA provides a route into PhD level study.
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative
Visit our Careers Service website
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
- 93% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading or 3* internationally excellent – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
You’ll benefit from our links to significant cultural organisations and resources on campus and in the city:
- BALTIC, Centre for Contemporary Art
- Laing Art Gallery
- Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
- The NewBridge Project
- North East Museums
- Great North Museum: Hancock, located on campus. It houses the collections that previously made up the Hancock Museum, the Shefton Museum of Greek Art and Archaeology (an internationally-renowned collection of over 1,000 Greek and Etruscan artefacts), and the Museum of Antiquities
- Hatton Gallery, located on campus, has been at the heart of cultural life in the North East since the early 20th century
- UNESCO-recognised Gertrude Bell Archive, included in the International Memory of the World Register
- Farrell Centre, a vital new platform, exhibition and public engagement space for debating the future of architecture and planning located on campus.
- The Institute for Creative Arts Practice, located on campus.
You’ll have access to our top-quality facilities:
- our libraries and eResources
- the Language Resource Centre is a specialist language facility providing free access to self-study materials in 50 languages
- computing facilities with access to relevant databases and over 1,400 fully networked PCs
- our world-class gym and sport facilities
- a very active Students’ Union
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in any subject.
We will also consider your application if you have non-standard qualifications and/or relevant professional experience in the museum, gallery and heritage sectors. If you have borderline or non-standard qualifications, we may contact you to request more information.
We may ask you to attend an interview either in person, via telephone or Zoom.
