MA Exhibition Studies
- Entry year:
- 2025/26
- Start date:
- September
- Study mode:
- Full-time
- Course duration:
- 1 year
- Campus:
- Mount Pleasant
About this course
Exhibition Studies engages with exhibition formats, through a theoretical and practical understanding of what constitutes an exhibition in the 21st century.
- Follow a curriculum which focuses on exhibition histories from 1850 onwards
- Apply your own expertise, as well as studio practice, to develop research topics through project-based learning
- Study full-time over one year or part-time over two years
- Benefit from a programme supported by internationally renowned arts organisations, including Liverpool Biennial, Tate Liverpool, FACT, RIBA North and Aarhus University, Denmark
- Enjoy direct benefits from the degree's links to the Exhibition Research Lab and a range of international collaborations and partnerships developed by staff
- Explore best practice and the very latest in innovative forms of exhibition and curatorial practices
- Benefit from state-of-the-art workspaces and facilities within the modern, purpose-built and RIBA award-winning John Lennon Art and Design Building
- The 2022 Liverpool School of Art and Design MA Online Degree Show
- View and engage with work produced by masters students from the Liverpool School of Art and Design
- Take advantage of the generous Michael Pugh Thomas and Julia Carter Preston Legacy £1000 scholarships offered to postgraduate applicants
The programme considers the history and practice of exhibition culture, specifically the mediation of curatorial projects in galleries and museums, biennials and other survey exhibitions.
As a student, you will be based in the School of Art and Design, the oldest art school in the UK outside of London.
Additional funding for this programme is available via the Susan Cotton Travel Award and other study bursaries.
MA Exhibition Studies
Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.
Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.
Your programme is made up of a number of core modules which are part of the course framework. Some programmes also have optional modules that can be selected to enhance your learning in certain areas and many feature a dissertation, extended report or research project to demonstrate your advanced learning.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Your Learning Experience
An insight into teaching on your course
Study hours
Your studies commence with a full timetable of seminars as you get to grips with your MA and the school-wide collaborative practice module. The main study days for the majority of your MA are Tuesday and Friday with a full week of preparation for the School-wide Masters degree show in April/May.
Teaching methods
The programme is underpinned by the work of the Exhibition Research Lab. It draws on the internationally distinguished expertise of staff and visiting staff engaged in theoretical and applied research in the field of exhibitions studies and curating. There is also collaboration with key cultural local and national institutions.
Applied learning
Operating in close partnership with Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Biennial, FACT (Foundation for Creative Art and Technology) and RIBA North (Royal Institute of British Architects), we can offer our students opportunities to develop public presentations, curatorial projects, and exhibitions in real-life contexts.
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
You will be assessed by: coursework, written essays, reports, oral presentations, projects and evaluations. The major project will comprise a written dissertation or practical project (thesis exhibition) and a written report. In most modules, more than one piece of assessment is required. Programme assessment seeks to replicate professional curatorial and exhibition practice.
Where you will study
What you can expect from your School
Liverpool School of Art and Design is housed in the RIBA award winning John Lennon Art and Design Building in the Mount Pleasant Campus and offers extensive studio spaces, lecture theatres and a dedicated public exhibition space.
Course tutors
James Schofield
- Programme Leader
The development of the students throughout the year is incredible, youcan really see how much the course enriches their knowledge of the subject, inparticular when they take on an area of specialism and use this for their finalproject. One of the most delightful aspects is seeing the students perform wellwhen they start working in museums and galleries, then I feel like I'veprepared them well for the cultural sector.
The development of the students throughout the year is incredible, youcan really see how much the course enriches their knowledge of the subject, inparticular when they take on an area of specialism and use this for their finalproject. One of the most delightful aspects is seeing the students perform wellwhen they start working in museums and galleries, then I feel like I'veprepared them well for the cultural sector.
James is an artist, curator and postgraduate researcher focussing on artist-led practice in the UK post-Great Recession. James's research is focused on artist-led practices and organisation in the UK post-financial crisis and the relationship it has with neoliberalism, globalisation and network culture.
-
Professor
Career paths
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
Graduates of our MA Exhibition Studies have gone on to work for major cultural institutions, including The Henry Moore Institute (Leeds), British Music Experience (Liverpool), and National Museums Liverpool.
"MA Exhibition Studies is the only degree of its kind in the UK to focus on the craft and culture of exhibitions. I look forward to working with students to develop new and engaging ways of curating, exhibiting and demonstrating the value of art."
Sally Tallant OBE, Executive Director, Queens Museum - New York
Tuition fees and funding
- Home fee:
- £8,965
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.
Financial Support
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend an interview. Whilst we do recommend an interview on campus (to meet with staff and see our facilities), Skype interviews are available if you are unable to come to Liverpool. The interview will assess your suitability for the programme and provide you and the interview panel with the opportunity to gain further information.
During your interview you will need to provide evidence of your learning capability, study opportunity and commitment to a postgraduate programme of study.
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The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.