Courtauld Experiences

Please let me know about your experiences applying / studying at Courtauld. I visited last week and it seems like a quality institution, but I wonder what people who have studied there think of the place?

It has an obvious air of exclusivity. But is that warranted? Is the education one receives at the Courtauld superior to that at other institutions? Are the internships and connections that much better at the Courtauld than they would be at Oxbridge or other high-ranking Art History departments?

Lastly, a question for any alumni that are reading this who are out in the field: Has studying at Courtauld given you advantages? If so, do the advantages stem from the superior education or the prestige associated with Courtauld?

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 1

ruthsshoes

I'm applying there for 2013, so never actually studied there, but in answer to your question about being in the field, I was volunteering at an art gallery in Birmingham last year when they advertised a post for a curatorial assistant - they had over 300 applicants but only chose to interview those with MA's or PhD's from Oxford, Cambridge and the Courtauld. The woman who told me said it was simply a reputation thing - she said the Oxford/Cambridge thing was obvious, but the Courtauld is the best art institute in the world, with the best reputation so they are always the most desirable applicants within the art historical world of work.

Are you applying anywhere else? I'm applying to Oxford, York and possibly Sotheby's too.

Reply 2

Cinesis

OP

Original post by ruthsshoes

I'm applying there for 2013, so never actually studied there, but in answer to your question about being in the field, I was volunteering at an art gallery in Birmingham last year when they advertised a post for a curatorial assistant - they had over 300 applicants but only chose to interview those with MA's or PhD's from Oxford, Cambridge and the Courtauld. The woman who told me said it was simply a reputation thing - she said the Oxford/Cambridge thing was obvious, but the Courtauld is the best art institute in the world, with the best reputation so they are always the most desirable applicants within the art historical world of work.

Are you applying anywhere else? I'm applying to Oxford, York and possibly Sotheby's too.

Thanks for that - that is good to know. I'm also applying at Oxbridge, Glasgow, Warwick, UCL, Bristol and others. I'm trying to balance reputation with what I really want to study - you know?

Reply 3

ruthsshoes

I'm at Warwick now! I can honestly say that I can't fault it. The staff are simply excellent. I suppose it depends what your area of interest is. Glasgow's to far for me, Bristol looks more like a course you'd choose if you weren't sure where you want to specialise.

What is your area of interest? I'm a renaissance girl at heart, bit of a crossover with late gothic/medieval though, so Courtauld would def be my first choice.

Reply 4

ruthsshoes

Ooo UCL! I'd forgotten about that one but I'm applying there too!

Reply 5

Cinesis

OP

Original post by ruthsshoes

Ooo UCL! I'd forgotten about that one but I'm applying there too!

I went to UCL to check out the facilities. Basically, it's in central London next to Euston Station. The campus has good, but very urban vibes and very multicultural makeup, which has its plusses and minuses.

The History of Art Department is contained in a townhouse off of Gordon Square. This is not a drawback as I've found this to be the case at several universities. Personally, if I am going to spend the money to live in London, I'd really hope to be going to Courtauld. Otherwise I'd think a less expensive city town (such as Warwick, York) would make life easier.

Reply 6

ruthsshoes

You get the term in Venice in the Warwick MA too which would be fantastic. I like York, but it does seem to be very focused on architecture which I'm trying to get away from! Which modules at Courtauld/Oxford are you looking at?

Reply 7

Cinesis

OP

Yeah I agree - I shy away from courses that combine art and architecture too. Architectural ornamentation interests me, but pure architecture is pretty much science and technique.

I applied to the Media and Modernity course at Oxford, which seems good. I'm not really interested in abstracted theory, but Oxford's courses seem to be generally theoretical ones, unfortunately. I prefer concrete studies of identifiable genres with physical objects.

Reply 8

harrisongoldman

Original post by ruthsshoes

I'm applying there for 2013, so never actually studied there, but in answer to your question about being in the field, I was volunteering at an art gallery in Birmingham last year when they advertised a post for a curatorial assistant - they had over 300 applicants but only chose to interview those with MA's or PhD's from Oxford, Cambridge and the Courtauld. The woman who told me said it was simply a reputation thing - she said the Oxford/Cambridge thing was obvious, but the Courtauld is the best art institute in the world, with the best reputation so they are always the most desirable applicants within the art historical world of work.

Are you applying anywhere else? I'm applying to Oxford, York and possibly Sotheby's too.

Hi, well for a start great your volunteering in an art gallery! You are very right about Courtauldians being desirable! So hopefully we will get in! Also applied to Oxford at Christ Church (which college have you gone for?) also do tell about Sotherby's?? I thought it was graduate only

Reply 9

ruthsshoes

I went to the Courtauld open day last week - it was excellent, absolutely love it! I've applied for Lincoln at Oxford. Sotheby's is grad only (but this is a grad forum!!) are you undergrad?

Reply 10

harrisongoldman

Original post by ruthsshoes

I went to the Courtauld open day last week - it was excellent, absolutely love it! I've applied for Lincoln at Oxford. Sotheby's is grad only (but this is a grad forum!!) are you undergrad?

Aplogies! Well best of luck then. Lincoln has an amazing library btw! But perhaps we can all go to the Courtauld in different capacaties!
I have made a group on facebook, your welcome to join, yet only had undergad applicants atm. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/314098935370069/?fref=ts

Reply 11

sxie

Original post by ruthsshoes

You get the term in Venice in the Warwick MA too which would be fantastic. I like York, but it does seem to be very focused on architecture which I'm trying to get away from! Which modules at Courtauld/Oxford are you looking at?

Hello Ruthsshoes!

I just got an offer from Warwick (Venice stream) and I am kinda don't know whether to take it or not. Is history of art strong in Warwick? and how do you think of the program? I also have offer from St. Andrews, Birkbeck, SOAS and probably UCL soon, so I really don't know which one to choose now….

I would really appreciate it if you could answer my questions! Thank you so much!

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