Master's Programme in Art History and Cultural Heritage Studies
A new Master’s programme in Art History and Cultural Heritage studies (120 credits) starts in the autumn semester 2026. The degree offers in-depth empirical and theoretical knowledge in Art History or Cultural Heritage Studies.
The Queen of Lake Mälaren in the Golden Hall, Stockholm City Hall. Mosaics designed by Einar Forseth, building opened 1923.
The programme places particular focus on helping the students to develop skills for professional work and research in the fields of art history or cultural heritage.
We offer two alternative tracks, one in Art History and one in Cultural Heritage Studies. Students apply to one of the two tracks. Each offers a mix of dedicated and interdisciplinary courses.
The programme begins with a transdisciplinary, obligatory course in epistemology (7,5 credits). This is followed by a series of required courses in the chosen discipline (22,5 or 30 credits respectively) as well as elective courses selected by the student (30 credits in total). The elective courses can be combined with an internship (15 credits). Elective courses and/or an internship can take place abroad. Finally, students write an MA thesis (45 credits) in either Art History or Cultural Heritage Studies, which constitutes the final examination.
The MA programme enables students to develop knowledge and skills for work within the sectors of Art History or Cultural Heritage, within academia, the museum sector, or public and private institutions that address these areas. The degree makes students eligible for PhD positions.
The programme has an international profile with English as the language of instruction.
The Master's programme in Art History and Cultural Heritage Studies consists of a faculty and/or departmental compulsory course of 7,5 credits, obligatory courses within the main field of study of 22,5 and 30 credits respectively, and elective courses of 30 credits (including a possible internship of 15 credits). In addition, there is a degree project of 45 credits within each main field of study. If the student chooses to not do an internship, a maximum of 15 credits from the elective courses can be taken in a field other than the main field of study.
Art History Study Course
Syllabi for the courses will be published at a later date.
Year 1
Semester 1
Doing Art History and Cultural Heritage Studies, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Art History)
Epistemology of the Humanities, 7,5 credits (main field of study: History of Ideas) or
Epistemological Perspectives with an Aesthetic Focus, 7, 5 credits (main field of study: Curating)
Art Historical Knowledge and Interpretation, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Art History)
Case Studies in Art History, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Art History)
Semester 2
Art, Architecture and Heritage in a Global Perspective I, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Art History)
Art, Architecture and Heritage in a Global Perspective II, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Cultural Heritage Studies)
Elective courses, 15 credits (within the main fields of study Art History or Cultural Heritage Studies)
Semester 3
Internship, 15 hp (main field of study: Art History) or elective courses of 15 credits
Art History – Master’s Course, 45 credits (main field of study: Art History)
Semester 4
Art History – Master’s Course, 45 credits (main field of study: Art History)
Cultural Heritage Studies Study Course
Syllabi for the courses will be published at a later date.
Year 1
Semester 1
Doing Art History and Cultural Heritage Studies, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Art History)
Epistemology of the Humanities, 7,5 credits (main field of study: History of Ideas) or
Epistemological Perspectives with an Aesthetic Focus, 7, 5 credits (main field of study: Curating)
Heritage as an Academic Field of Research and Practice, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Cultural Heritage Studies)
Case Studies in Cultural Heritage Studies, 7, 5 credits (main field of study: Cultural Heritage Studies)
Semester 2
Art, Architecture and Heritage in a Global Perspective I, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Art History)
Art, Architecture and Heritage in a Global Perspective II, 7,5 credits (main field of study: Cultural Heritage Studies)
Elective courses, 15 credits (within the main fields of study Art History or Cultural Heritage Studies)
Year 2
Semester 3
Internship, 15 credits (main field of study: Cultural Heritage Studies) or elective courses of 15 credits
Cultural Heritage Studies – Master’s Course, 45 hp (main field of study: Cultural Heritage Studies)
Semester 4
Cultural Heritage Studies – Master’s Course, 45 hp (main field of study: Cultural Heritage Studies)
For detailed entry requirements, please see the syllabus for each course. For more detailed information, please see the course description for each course.
The programme provides two alternative study tracks, one in Art History and one in Cultural Heritage Studies. You apply to one of them.
Cultural Heritage Studies Track
Applications are to be submitted online via University admissions. There are two admission rounds. For further information, please see the University admissions website:
Information about admission rounds
To complete the application, supporting documentation has to be uploaded electronically, or submitted by delivery service/regular post in time for RECEIPT (not date of postmark) from University admissions in Sweden, by the listed application deadlines. Applications lacking the required documentation will not be considered – please make sure that your application is complete, well before the deadline!
We regret that late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Selection process
Students will be accepted into the programme based on the following principles:
- Relevance and quality of previous academic merits
- A Letter of Intent
- A personal interview (on campus or via Zoom).
Please note that practical experience of artistic work or from the art field is not considered as equivalent to academic studies in Art History.
Required supporting documentation
Your application must be accompanied by a Letter of Intent, in which you describe your background and particular areas of interest, your reason for applying to the programme, and future career plans. The Letter of Intent should be uploaded electronically at universityadmissions.se during the application process.
Please note that all supporting documents in the application must be issued in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or English. Documents that are not issued in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or English must be translated into either Swedish or English.
Collaboration
Art History and Cultural Heritage Studies at Stockholm University have long and well-established collaborations with both local and international partners. The teachers in the programme have extensive networks, within and beyond academia, that will support the students’ individual professional needs and aims. The Department’s partners include universities, schools in creative education (i.e. art, design, architecture), museums, art institutions, as well as public and private organisations in the fields of art and cultural heritage, in and beyond Sweden.
For further information about the programme, please contact the Programme Director, Senior lecturer Costanza Beltrami:
costanza.beltrami@arthistory.su.se
or the Study Counsellor:
