MFA
Curating
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Why study MFA Curating at Goldsmiths
The MFA Curating at Goldsmiths is designed for students who wish to take up the challenge of artistic, social and critical curating with a contemporary approach to the subject. It also helps students to develop their professional practice.
- You’ll get to explore curating from a contemporary perspective. We cover the subject from many different angles, including aesthetic, social, political and philosophical enquiries, practices and discourses relevant to present-day culture.
- You’ll learn about the history of curation through the study of the genealogies of curating as a discipline, but this degree is firmly focused on contemporary practices and the future of curation.
- The Masters provides a practice-led research context for aspiring curators, cultural organisers and producers. It’s also open to creative practitioners at an early stage of their professional development, and professionals looking to take a different route in their career in the arts sector.
- The programme is interdisciplinary and promotes the principles of critical thinking, listening and collaboration. This will help you develop the style and area of curatorial practice that you want to pursue. Whether exhibition-making, public programming, commissioning social or public projects, or working with artists and practitioners from other disciplines, the degree will give you the skills and confidence to take your next steps into the professional world of curating.
- This is a leading programme in its field. It’s recognised worldwide for producing highly qualified curators and arts professionals, as well as those pursuing further academic study at PhD level.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Anna Colin.
Length
2 years full-time or 4 years part-time
Fees
Home - full-time: £10350
Home - part-time: £5175
International - full-time: £25270
Department
Develop your practice
The MFA gives you the chance to develop your practice. You’ll have the opportunity to work with organisations like Chisenhale Studios, Kunstraum London and Cubitt Artists to develop curatorial projects.
Placement opportunities and internships with the likes of Tate Modern will underpin your learning and give you the practical skills you need for your future career.
Students also have the unique opportunity to engage with Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art on their public events programme.
Goldsmiths has its very own public art gallery on campus, where you can experience world-class exhibitions and engage with a public events programme.
As an MFA Curating student at Goldsmiths you'll be able to access placement and internship opportunities with the likes of Tate Modern.
Opportunities for dialogue and collaborations
Based in our world-renowned Department of Art, the MFA Curating allows for dialogue and potential collaborations with emerging practitioners about contemporary and future practice, and the most pressing concerns of our day.
Junior Fellowships
Upon graduation, art alumni are eligible to apply for one of three Junior Fellowships, designed to further your professional development. Currently we offer one fellowship to work with the MFA Curating course itself, taking part in the delivery of an academic programme, and two fellowships based at Goldsmiths CCA, supporting the delivery of exhibitions and public programmes.
What you'll study
The MFA Curating is a two-part programme, giving you you the freedom to experiment and innovate in the expanded and interdisciplinary field of curatorial practice.
Year one
You'll develop an Independent Research Project with the guidance of tutors.
You’ll also be introduced to current curatorial concepts and practices through group critique and guided research. You’ll explore significant ideas in curatorial history, contemporary art and curating, philosophy and cultural theory to help you think broadly about your own practice.
You’ll also gain a practical understanding from site visits and writing classes.
The year is made up of the following modules:
- Curatorial Practice
- Critical Studies
- Review Sessions
Year two
You’ll develop a second Independent Research Project and continue to receive individual tutorials.
This year your teaching is mainly delivered in the form of monthly intensive student-led workshops, which look in-depth at current artistic and cultural themes drawn from students’ interests.
The year is made up of the following modules:
- Curatorial Practice II
- Critical Studies Year Two
Teaching on the MFA
Teaching on this programme is dynamic. You’ll expand your artistic and curatorial knowledge through ongoing conversations in the form of seminars, collective research, presentations, tutorials and reading groups.
As well as being taught by leading academics from the Department of Art, you’ll also learn from some of the art world’s most influential professionals through our visiting lecture and guest speaker programmes.
Recent speakers have included independent curators, artists, and professionals from galleries such as the Tate Modern.
Careers
Recent employers
Our graduates find employment in a range of leading arts-based organisations and sectors. Recent graduates have gone on to work in international museums, commercial galleries, art fairs, magazines, alternative spaces and not-for-profit organisations. Recent employers of our MFA Curating students and graduates include:
Public sector
- Tate Britain, London
- Tate Modern, London
- Guggenheim Museum, New York
- Documenta, Kassel
- Venice Biennale
- Athens Biennial
- Sydney Biennale
- Portikus, Frankfurt
- Witte de With, Rotterdam
- FRAC Lorraine
- Hayward Gallery, London
- Hayward Touring Exhibitions, London
- Museo d’Arte Moderna, Bologna
- Modern Art Oxford
- London Olympic Park (art sector)
- Artists Space, New York
- Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
- Art on the Underground, London
- Art Space, Auckland, New Zealand
- Austrian Cultural Foundation. London
- Romanian Cultural Institute, London
- Spike Island, Bristol
- Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham
Private sector
- 176 Gallery, Zabludowicz Collection, London
- Bloomberg Space, London
- Christie’s, Amsterdam
- Deitch Projects, New York
- Deste Foundation, Athens
- Frith Street Gallery, London
- Haunch of Venison, Berlin
- Kadist Art Foundation, Paris
- Kate MacGarry Gallery, London
- Kurimanzutto, Mexico City
- Lisson Gallery, London
- Matt’s Gallery, London
- David Roberts Collection, London
- White Cube Gallery, London
- Vienna Art Fair, Vienna
Publications
- Artforum, New York
- Frieze, London
- Flash Art International, Milan
Other projects and enterprises
Some of our graduates have founded their own projects and galleries. Among these are:
- Lu Jie, Founder and Director, Long March Space, Beijing (number 95 in Art Review Power 100 List 2009)
- Sarah Wang, Founding Director of the Creative Intelligence Agency, London
- Zhang Wei, Founder and Director, Vitamin Creative Space, Guangzhou
Other careers
Other graduates choose employment as:
- Artists’ studio managers
- Managers and directors of commercial galleries
- Arts education programmers
- Museum public talks and events organisers
- Independent curators
- Cultural policymakers
- Gallery archivists
- Teachers and academics
- Writers and critics
- Editors
- Registrars
Skills
Through the course of the MFA you'll develop key skills in:
- Independent research and practice
- Public presentation
- Oral and written communication
- Project development
- Exhibition administration
- Concept development
- Collaboration
- Intellectual analysis
- Catalogue, essay and review writing
- Research organisation and presentation
What our students say
Facilities
Students studying this programme are based in dedicated postgraduate studio space in Lewisham Southwark College at Deptford Bridge.
Deptford is home to a burgeoning creative community with many art spaces and influences.
The postgraduate studios are a short walk from the art practice areas in New Cross. You may also choose to travel by bus between the two sites, which would incur a small travel cost.
Visit us
During the year we hold regular Postgraduate Art Open Days that we encourage you to attend if you can.
You can also explore our exhibitions, events and other work on the Department of Art pages.
Entry requirements
Applicants for Year One
You must have or expect to be awarded an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard (or international equivalent), plus an element of professional experience (interning in a gallery or equivalent institution, curating your own shows or degree shows etc). This experience is absolutely essential to demonstrate that you have a clear sense of current trends and activities in contemporary art. This experience should be expanded upon in your personal statement.
There's no preference for art/art history and students from a non-art background are welcome to apply. However, the course is run by the Department of Art, and students should consider themselves to be curating practitioners.
Applicants for entry directly onto Year Two
You must have already completed and passed the coursework of one year for an equivalent Masters programme in Curating. You must also show through interview and (where appropriate) portfolio that you have established a professional practice. This experience should be expanded upon in your personal statement.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate study.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £10350
- Home - part-time: £5175
- International - full-time: £25270
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
Explore the Goldsmiths scholarships finder to find out what funding you may be eligible for.
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.
Meanwhile our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.
Paying your fees
Find out about paying your tuition fees.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
How to apply
You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.
To complete your application, you will need to have:
- Details of your academic qualifications
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
- Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
- A personal statement
If appropriate, your application can be accompanied by images showing examples of previous curatorial projects (it's not necessary to showcase your own art work). You can upload images or link to your online portfolio in your application.
Professional/work experience
Make sure you refer to your work experience in your personal statement.
If you have completed an internship, please be specific about what this entailed and how it is relevant to the programme. Also mention which curators/practioners have influenced you – we are looking for individuals with specific passions. It may be relevant to mention specific exhibitions or artworks that you have seen in person that were meaningful to you (and explain why), or discuss the art-specialist magazines or books that you have read.
In summary, be prepared to discuss the specific elements (whether artworks, artists, art writing, philosophy, exhibitions, or more) that brought you to take a special interest in contemporary art curating.
When to apply
You can apply all year round but there is a deadline of 26 January for entry for the following September.
Admissions interviews predominantly take place from January to April in the year of academic enrolment. In unusual circumstances, late or early applicants will be considered. Please contact the Department of Art for details.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline.
Further guidance
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
Read our guide to applying for a postgraduate degree at Goldsmiths.
Find out more about staff in the Department of Art.
