Having completed my undergraduate degree in Curating and Art History at York, choosing to stay on within the department for postgraduate study was a big life decision. However, it was one I already felt informed enough to make comfortably! Studying for an MA is a huge financial and time commitment, but art history at York has allowed me to view it as an exciting opportunity to broaden my horizons and expand my thinking.
Deciding not to leave university.
I began contemplating whether an MA was for me around the February of third year. My feedback from my tutor regarding the exam I had written over the Christmas break was very complimentary. I then wondered whether this could be the start of an academic journey that would go beyond my undergraduate degree. It was easy to get excited by the prospect of not having to step back inside the library. Many of my peers were also looking forward to the rest of what graduation would bring.
I was growing in confidence and whilst walking away from my studies with a BA in hand would feel like a huge achievement, I felt I was only beginning to truly find my academic voice. Handing in my final dissertation, I was only excited at the prospect of returning in September! Whilst the breadth covered in undergraduate study is vast, I didn’t feel like I had the opportunity to really develop my own lines of research enquiry. I was excited to have even more time to pursue the areas of art history I was beginning to feel grounded in.
Deciding on History of Art.
Although I completed a BA in History of Art, this didn’t mean I had chosen the pathway of my MA. I toyed with the idea of focusing on something vocational for my MA, like museum studies or cultural heritage management. These were both areas I had enjoyed learning about in my undergraduate. I’m thrilled to continue in art history and that it’s everything I expect.
During my undergraduate, I had identified some areas of art history I was particularly interested in. However, I knew that postgraduate study would allow me to explore these deeper. I knew that, as these were research areas that were quite specialised, I would be well-supported in pursuing these further.
Despite not being my personal experience, many of my peers came to the department from different levels of academic training. Getting a taste for art history through an option module, perhaps during an English or history undergraduate, is a common way for students to access an MA. It’s exciting to get to study alongside students with a diverse range of backgrounds!
History of art is super inclusive. It’s unlike anything else in that, because the subject is so interested in perspective, the conversations are so exciting. Responses can be so different to the same piece of art, with a variety of interests, backgrounds and personalities contained in a seminar group. I think this is why people are drawn to art history at MA level, regardless of what they’ve studied before. Everyone brings their own experience to the art and every opinion is valued!
Deciding to study at York.
Commencing what is now my 4th year in the Department of History of Art at York, I feel I am qualified enough to now advocate for what I truly believe to be one of the most vibrant and academically exciting communities out there!
There is such a huge range of expertise within the department’s teaching staff. Interests span time periods from late antiquity to the contemporary, exploring painting and sculpture, to photography, performance art and stained-glass, across geographies from Europe but also across Latin America, Asia and, increasingly, the Islamic world. This provides students with opportunities to take varied modules taught by academics with a real passion for their research.
Overall
Being a part of the department has opened my mind to how diverse art history can be. Working with lecturers engaged in active research also allows students the experience that is so beneficial to future careers. I am so pleased that I made the decision to continue with my studies at York. It’s somewhere I am well-supported and a close-knit academic environment that is intellectually challenging, friendly and welcoming!
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