MA Art Writing

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has launched an Integrated International Pre-Masters year.

On this course you’ll prepare for postgraduate study with a mix of online and face-to-face learning that will give you the study skills required to complete a Master’s, and you’ll also improve your English for academic study.

Experimental Writing 
You’ll undertake an in-depth exploration of writing practices in the arts, whether that’s viewed in the guise of art history, arts journalism, or creative and conceptual writings by artists and makers.  

Research Contexts 
You’ll explore the design, construction and expression of language as a fluid and complex tool and explore writing as a creative practice and writing as research. You’ll be introduced to critical research methodologies which you’ll employ in your independent research enquiries.  

Art Writing as Practice 
You’ll explore and examine methodologies in research to determine the relationship and balance between textual and artistic production, using this knowledge to create a body of work that could manifest as a book, an art form publication, interventions, reviews, catalogues, artist books, or artist writing.  

Professional Contexts 
Focused on professional development, this unit engages you with industry through opportunities and projects developed with partner organisations. Through group work and individual research, you’ll establish and develop a sense of your position in relation to your identified subjects, interests and practice areas. This unit also includes the opportunity to develop a creative business start-up or collaborative practice project.  

Major Project 
You will undertake a sustained, in-depth and critically informed research inquiry, defining your practice through your own work and an understanding of how it sits in relation to others, whether that’s identified industries, professional contexts, collaborators and/or audiences.  

Existing and emerging professions might include: 

• Art criticism or reviewing for print and online publications 
• Writing for exhibition catalogues and art journals 
• Art Writing as practice 
• Art editing and/ or content creation for cultural organisations 
• Art publishing, editing and research

You may want to undertake further study or research to specialise even more.

MA course

• A good honours degree or equivalent qualification in a related discipline
  
  

and/or

• Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.
  
  

Consideration will also be given to applicants who can make a strong case for admission in relation to a particular project and can demonstrate their potential to satisfactorily complete the course.

Portfolio requirements

For this course we will need to see your portfolio for review. You can either submit a digital portfolio or request an in-person portfolio review with the course team. Further information will be provided once you have applied.

More portfolio advice

MA course

The entry requirements for this course will depend on the country your qualifications are from, please check the equivalent qualifications for your country:

• Non-UK equivalent qualifications

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

You will be required to submit a portfolio for review. Further information on specific portfolio requirements and how to submit your portfolio will be sent to you after we have reviewed your application.

MA course with Integrated International Pre-Masters course

• A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject.

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

You will be required to submit a portfolio for review. Further information on specific portfolio requirements and how to submit your portfolio will be sent to you after we have reviewed your application.

English language requirements

To study at UCA, you'll need to have a certain level of English language skill. And so, to make sure you meet the requirements of your course, we ask for evidence of your English language ability, please check the level of English language required:

• English language requirements