Master in History of Art and Museum Studies

  • About the programme
  • Programme structure
  • Entry requirements
  • Tuition fees & scholarships

•    Programme duration: 2 years
•    Delivery language: English
•    Degree awarded: Master in History of Art and Museum Studies
•    Accreditation: The curriculum follows the European ECTS system and the degree is awarded by Sorbonne University. This programme is accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation.
•    Admission deadline: 4 August 2023
•    Interview dates: January: Week 2 or 3 | February: Week 7 or 8 | March: week 11 or 12 | April: week 16 | May: week 19 | June: week 22 & or 25 | July: week 27 or 30 | August: Week 33 or 34

The Master in History of Art and Museum Studies offers a diverse approach to the study of History of Art and Archaeology alongside the functions of museums’ management. Students analyse the role of art and heritage in our modern societies through deep analysis of museums’ general organisation, cultural or scientific enhancement methodologies, administration and preservation processes alongside the role of technologies and media. Curators or heritage officers and museums’ professionals give courses from Sorbonne University or Ecole du Louvre in Paris.

Students will learn about collections management, loan and acquisitions processes, exhibition planning and design, communication techniques and educational programmes organised by museums. Students will also develop critical thinking and analysis tools to understand art and archaeological objects from a mediator or researcher perspective.

During the three first three semesters, the programme focuses on a presentation to the history of occidental, oriental and Islamic art and on museums’ management, preservation careers, museography, heritage law and art market. During the fourth and last semester, students participate in a twelve week mandatory internship in France, in one of the prestigious museums to gain a unique and considerable experience.

There are abundant rewarding career opportunities on a regional and global scale in museums, galleries, heritage centers, cultural institutions, art fairs and auction houses with varied areas of expertise ranging from collections and acquisitions, preservation, scientific and cultural programming, exhibition, education and mediation, art publishing and journalism. Graduates can look forward to interesting positions such as Production Managers, Cultural Programmers, Curators, Literature Reviewers, Collection Supervisors, Registrars, Educational Managers, Editorial Managers, Public Policy Advisors and Communication Officers amongst others.

Typical delivery format of the courses*
M1 and M2

Day Evening
Monday 4:30pm – 8:30pm
Tuesday 4:30pm – 8:30pm
Wednesday 4:30pm – 9:00pm
Thursday 4:30pm – 8:30pm
Sunday 4:30pm – 8:30pm

*This is the usual pattern of the courses, changes may sometimes occur.

Year 1 – Semester 1

Modules Courses
Art History and Archaeology I
  • Oriental Archaeology
  • Antique Art (Greek or Roman)
  • Modern Art (XVth-XVIIIth c.)
  • History of Techniques
Heritage, Museums and Collections
  • History of Heritage
  • History and Contemporary Issues of Collections
  • Museums History and Contemporary Issues
  • Archaeological Sites and Museums
Art History and Archaeology II
  • Islamic Art
  • Medieval Art
  • Asian Art
  • Iconography
Language
  • French or English for Art Historians

Year 1 – Semester 2

Modules Courses
Art History and Archaeology III
  • Egyptology or Extra European: Prehispanic Art/African Art
  • Western Contemporary Art
  • Contemporary Art in the Arab World
  • Aesthetics and Historiography
Museums Administration and Management
  • Economical and Political Issues
  • Scientific and Cultural Programme of the Museum
  • Museum Acquisition, Policy and Strategy
  • International Law Applied to Museums and Artworks
Museums Missions and Issues
  • Conservation in Museum
  • The Basics of Museography
  • Documentation
  • Audiences and Museum
  • Tools of Cultural Mediation and Education
Language
  • French or English for Art Historians

Year 2 – Semester 3

Modules Courses
Museum’s Collection Management
  • The Basics of Collection Management and Registration
  • Registration (including registration applied to contemporary art)
  • Preventive Conservation and Restoration
  • Documentation and New Technologies
Exhibitions
  • Temporary Exhibitions
  • Scenography and Exhibition Design
  • Exhibition Production
  • Contemporary Issues
Museum Programming, Communication and Diffusion
  • Temporary Programming in Museums
  • Graphic Design and Publications (from labels to print catalogues and web design)
  • Communication and Museum (actors and networks)
  • Digital Tools and Digital Humanities
Language
  • French or English for Art Historians

Year 2 – Semester 4

Modules Courses
Application Seminar and Dissertation
  • Application Seminar (Internship in Paris) and Dissertation (discussion in Abu Dhabi)
  • Bachelor in a relevant field with a CGPA of 3 out of 4 or equivalent. Candidates with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 can be granted a conditional acceptance subject to a probation period of one semester
  • IELTS certificate with minimum overall band of 6.0 with a validity of 2 years or TOEFL certificate with minimum score of 79 (or equivalent) with a validity of 2 years or Minimum EmSAT English score of 1400 with a validity of 18 months or, Native English speaker who completed 3 full years in an English-medium institution within a maximum period of 3 years

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend an interview to assess the candidate’s motivation, career expectations and relevant professional experience in the degree area.

Applicants who earned their undergraduate degrees from universities outside the UAE must present a Certificate of Equivalency for their graduation certificates from the UAE Ministry of Education. Applicants, who are holders of undergraduate degrees issued by a licensed higher education institution in the UAE, are required to submit a copy of their degrees attested by the UAE Ministry of Education. For details on requirements, kindly visit the Ministry’s website: Ministry of Education.

•    Programme tuition fees (over 2 years):
 		AED 189,400 (approximately US$ 51,612)
•    Payment of fees:
 		Click here

Scholarships*

25% academic excellence scholarship

New joiners are eligible to 25% scholarship on tuition starting from the 1st semester. To be eligible, applicants are required to meet one of the below criteria:

  • Bachelor CGPA average of 3.6/4.0 and above, or equivalent
  • Bachelor with Final Average of 15/20 above
  • Bachelor with first class honors
  • Candidates graduating as the top of class, despite the average

A minimum average of 14/20 is required to maintain the scholarship for the following semesters.

For programmes taught in English: an English Proficiency level with a minimum of 7.0 for IELTS or 94 for TOELF IB

Preferential rates

20% Alumni preferential rate

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi alumni are eligible to a 20% waiver on tuition fee.

25% preferential rate upon enrolment on a second master’s degree

Applicants holding a master degree from SUAD and enrolling for a second master degree at SUAD are entitled to a 25% waiver on tuition.

5%-15% corporate rate

Companies and organizations benefit from a special discount, based on the number of employees enrolling in programmes. For more details, please contact +971(0) 2-6569311

10% Family discount

Students who have a first-degree relative currently enrolled in an undergraduate or a postgraduate programmes are eligible for a 10% discount.

*Conditions apply

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