Stockholm university
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International Master's Programme in Art History

The International Master’s Programme in Art History gives you a deepened empirical and theoretical knowledge in art history. Particular focus is placed on developing skills that enables you to navigate the international art historical field, within the academy, museums, or related professional areas.

How to be around yourself - a game for up to 2 persons. Multipel, tryck på röd filt, okänd konstnär
How to be around yourself - a game for up to 2 persons. Artist unknown (around 2010).

Please note that the programme starts every two years. The next programme start will be in the Autumn of 2024.

The programme is designed to solidly prepare you for communication of art historical research through a range of media, such as academic articles, conference papers, and exhibitions. The programme has a pronounced international profile with English as the language if instruction.

As a student in the programme, you are encouraged to customize your studies through electives and an internship, with the possibility to locate those modules abroad. The teachers and supervisors will assist you in developing your networks, as well as to participate in conferences and workshops. The theoretical and empirical subject matters treated in the courses are characterised by international perspectives.

  • Programme overview

    The programme comprises four semesters of full-time study (120 credits) distributed across obligatory courses (45 credits), optional courses – including an internship – (30 credits), and a degree project (45 credits).

    Approved leave from studies
    The student who wishes to do a leave from studies within the program is requested to fill in the form and send it in to the student counsellor. 

    More information can be found in the application:

    Application for study leave in Art History (32 Kb)

    Year 1

    Semester 1

    Semester 2

    • Internship, 15 credits (main field of study: Art History) and optional courses, 15 credits
      or
    • Optional courses, 30 credits (15 credits must be within the area of Humanities and Social Sciences)

    Year 2

    Semester 3

    Semester 4

  • How to apply

    Applications are to be submitted online via University admissions. There are two admission rounds, please read more at University admissions:

    Information about admission rounds

    To complete the application, supporting documentation has to be uploaded electronically or submitted by delivery service/regular post in time for RECEIPT (not date of postmark) by University admissions in Sweden by January 15th (first admission round) and April 15th (second admission round) at the latest. Applications lacking the required documentation will not be considered – please make sure that your application is complete, well before the deadlines!

    We regret that late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

    Selection process

    Additional eligibility criteria

    Students will be recruited on the following principles:

    •  quality and relevance of previous academic merits
    •  a Letter of Intent
    •  a personal interview (on campus or via Skype).

    Please note that practical experience of artistic work or from the art field is not considered as equivalent to academic studies in Art History.

    Required supporting documentation

    Your application must be accompanied by a Letter of Intent, in which you describe your background and particular areas of interest, your motives for applying to the programme and future career plans etc. The Letter of Intent should be upload electronically at universityadmissions.se during the application process.

    Please note that all supporting documents in the application must be issued in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or English. Documents that are not issued in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or English must be translated into either Swedish or English.

  • More information

    Collaboration

    Art History at Stockholm University has long and well-established collaborations with both local and international partners. Apart from the institutions listed below, the teachers in the International Master's Programme in Art History have extensive webs of contacts that will support the students’ individual professional needs and aims. 

    Waldemarsudde                            

    Thielska galleriet                            

    Magasin III, Museum and Foundation for Contemporary Art 

    Moderna Museet                           

    Nationalmuseum                         

    University of Warwick

    University of Copenhagen (Art History dep)

    University of Oslo (Art History dep)

  • Meet us

    Meet our teachers

    Steering Group of the International Master's Programme in Art History at the Department of Culture and Aesthetics at Stockholm University

    Associate professor Anna Bortolozzi 

    Professor Peter Gillgren 

    Associate professor Magdalena Holdar

    Professor Mårten Snickare

    “I love the dynamics in groups with students from different countries and backgrounds.”

    Magdalena Holdar is one of the teachers.

    ”We learn a lot from each other and really make use of our differences.”

    Magdalena Holdar teaches at the International Master's Programme in Art History. She has worked in an international setting for many years and stresses that Stockholm is a city of opportunities for humanities students.

    ”When you study our international master’s programmes you don’t only meet Stockholm University’s students and lecturers but also have the chance to establish useful contacts at museums and other important art institutions. We have many successful collaborations in this area.”

  • Contact

    For further information about the programme, please contact the Programme Director, Associate Professor Katarina Wadstein MacLeod katarina.macleod@arthistory.su.se, or the Study Counsellor, studievagledning.ike@su.se.