Admissions

Applicants to all AHVA graduate programs must meet admission and application requirements for both the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+Ps) at UBC and the Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory.

Admissions Requirements

As a candidate for admission, you must comply with all regulations outlined by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and our program requirements.

Given the writing-intensive nature of the programs, students must have exceptional skills in English. The admissions committee carefully reviews all application materials, including writing samples and test scores, to determine whether applicants are adequately prepared.

 

Program Requirements

As an applicant of the MA in critical and curatorial studies, usually, you should have prepared in a discipline equivalent to the undergraduate major in art history at UBC, including:

  • A minimum of ten courses (equaling 30 credits) in art history at the third and fourth-year levels
  • Your courses should represent a significant range of historical periods and/or geographical areas
  • You must have earned an A grade in at least 12 credits, with a high B standing in the remainder, for an average of not less than B+

As an applicant of the MA in art history, usually, you should have prepared in a discipline equivalent to the undergraduate major in art history at UBC, including:

  • A minimum of ten courses (equaling 30 credits) in art history at the third and fourth-year levels
  • Your courses should represent a significant range of historical periods and/or geographical areas
  • You must have earned an A grade in at least 12 credits, with a high B standing in the remainder, for an average of not less than B+

As an applicant to the MFA in visual art, usually, you should hold a BFA, BA, or BEd degree with a major in studio arts.

  • This bachelor's degree usually requires four years of study with a B+ average in third and fourth-year-level coursework
  • A three-year bachelor's degree is acceptable from Quebec if you have been awarded the Diplome d'Etudes Colegiales (DEC)
  • At least 18 academic credits of non-studio courses at the 300 level or above, with at least a B+ (76%) standing in each; to ensure that, if admitted, you will benefit from the academic components of the program

The assessment of the portfolio you submit as evidence of artistic standing is given important consideration during the admission process. We also base our assessment on your statement of intent, letters of reference, academic record, published writing, or other evidence of achievement.

To be admitted to the PhD in art history, you must have completed an MA in art history and have reading knowledge of one language other than English. If you have an MA degree in a related field, you may be required to complete additional art history courses for your PhD program.

Entrance into the program is possible only in the fall. Although it is possible to enrol on a part-time basis, you must complete your PhD program within six years of your initial registration.

For detailed admissions requirements, please see the PhD in art history program brochure.


Frequently Asked Questions

You must apply online. Please note that you will need to upload all supporting documents (e.g., writing sample, official transcripts, references) as electronic files to the online application.

Applicants will only be required to submit official hard-copy transcripts for verification if we offer you admission.

The department offers a diploma in art history program to supplement first degrees with the necessary art history credits for a master's study in the discipline.

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