Overview
The Courtauld Institute of Art, an independent college of
the University of London, was founded by Samuel Courtauld, Viscount Lee, and
Sir Robert Witt in 1932 as the UK's first university department devoted to the study
of art. The Courtauld was originally housed in Portland Square, Marylebone, and
quickly established itself as a beacon of art scholarship and study. Samuel
Courtauld's private collection of Impressionist and
Post-Impressionist paintings were donated as a resource for the students to
study. As The Courtauld grew, a new location was necessary and moved to current
home in Somerset House in 1989.
Today The Courtauld is the major centre in the UK for the
study of the history and conservation of art, with a strong international reputation.
Its strength as a single-subject academic institution lies in its educational
offer; small class sizes encourage active participation and communication
between the brightest students and leading academics. A college of the University of London, The Courtauld prides itself on
offering a truly memorable learning experience.
Established year: 1932
Location
The Courtauld is located in historic Somerset House on
The Strand, right in the heart of London's West End. This central
location gives students easy access to some of London's best-known museums and
galleries, such as the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, the British
Museum and the South Bank.
London is the political, economic and cultural capital of Britain. It is the most populous city in the United Kingdom with a metropolitan area of over 13 million inhabitants. London was the world's most populous city from around 1831 to 1925.
London's history stretches back over thousands of years, and the city boasts four World Heritage Sites: the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence.
From the Centre of London:
2 minutes
Address: Somerset House,
Strand, London WC2R 0RN, United Kingdom
Learning environment
The Courtauld Institute of
Art students have free entry to the Courtauld Gallery – home to one of
Britain's best loved collections, including famous Impressionist and
Post-Impressionist masterpieces.
As well as the impressive gallery and museum, The Courtauld has a wide range of excellent study resources to help students make the most of their course. Students have access to one of the major international collections of art historical books, periodicals and exhibition catalogues with almost 180,000 volumes. Students can also make use of the University of London Library, the British Library and other specialist libraries in major museums and galleries.
The IT Centre provides space for private study as well as computers, scanning and printing facilities. There is also a fully air-conditioned student Internet Café, and wireless internet is available across the site. The IT Department provides technical support and guides for all services, and all students are given a Courtauld email address and student login following enrolment.
The Virtual Learning Environment allows students to access our digital image resources and texts, participate in forum discussions for courses, see a calendar of events and download course materials.
Highlights/Advantages
- Study at the spectacular Somerset House in the heart of London, on the banks of the Thames.
- A world-leading centre dedicated to the study of art history and conservation
- Study works of art first-hand - our remarkable collections include Old Masters, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works of art
- One of the largest History of Art departments in the UK
- Distinctive small group teaching (12:1 staff/student ratio)
- Renowned for its breadth and depth of coverage - teaching ranges from antiquity to the contemporary
- Research-led approach to teaching - 80% of The Courtauld's research is recognised as either world-leading or internationally excellent (Latest Research Assessment Exercise)
- 96.7% of our graduates are in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating (Higher Education Statistics Agency 2011/2012)
- Academic staffs are all leaders in their field of research and publication. Their passion and commitment enriches the student experience by bringing current research and debates to the classroom.
- Teaching places a strong emphasis on critical analysis and historical enquiry, meaning students develop excellent skills for careers in the art world and beyond.
Accommodation
The Courtauld Institute of Art provides rooms in recently refurbished
residence at Duchy House and a small number of rooms at the University of
London's Intercollegiate Halls.
Duchy House: The accommodation offers
64 single rooms across four floors. Its
proximity both to the Institute and many of London's finest museums, galleries,
libraries and major attractions makes Duchy House an ideal place to live during
your time at The Courtauld. All rooms are single occupancy and
most have en-suite facilities. Each floor has a common room and communal
kitchen, and there is a laundry room on the lower ground floor. Free wired and
wireless internet access is provided throughout the building.
University of London Intercollegiate Halls:The Intercollegiate Halls are mainly located in nearby Bloomsbury, approximately 20 minute's walk from The Courtauld. Students who live in Intercollegiate Halls are housed with students from other University of London colleges, which is a great way to meet a diverse community of neighbours studying a wide range of subjects. University of London halls are mostly catered (breakfast and dinner) and offer both single and shared accommodation.
Welcome to London
Discover The Courtauld Institute of Art
Public Programmes at The Courtauld Gallery
School - course | Academic requirement | English requirement | Intakes | duration | Fees |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London (Foundation Campus) - History of Art | 11 or 12 years Secondary School Certificate with good grades | IELTS 5.0 (no lower than 5.0+ in any single element) | January,September | 3 terms (1year) | £14,250 |