brownbear

I'm a British student just graduated from St Andrews. Have you been to visit yet? I enjoyed the small town atmosphere. There are a lot of american students at St Andrews, I think about 33%!

I lived in Berkeley for a while and didn't find the areas south of campus particularly bad like people like to think. Certainly start off looking north though. Probably stay away from Dwight Av.. but I wouldn't say there is a berkeley ghetto anywhere.. haha

Hi - yeah definitely go for that first, I know the requirements say 2:1 but unless you have some extraordinary extracurriculars, you'll need evidence of first class work. So great recommendation letters (3 for oxford), and a well crafted personal statement are important too. I spent months on my statement before submitting. A good personal statement addresses specific interests you have - rather than vague stories of how you love art history - to show that you have focus. Show evidence that you've read widely and deeply, without namedropping too much. Going to Reading shouldn't hold you back - if you get a first, you'll have a better chance than a UCL applicant with a 2:1. let me know if I can help further, best of luck

Hi, I'll be in St Cross in 2011-12! I too am not optimistic about the accommodation situation, really hope to get something owned by the college rather than going private.

besides museums, art historian monopoly should surely include universities... perhaps "renting" as an adjunct, or you get to 'buy' it if you make it as a professor.. haha

It was a difficult decision, and both are excellent options. One of the main reasons is that jobs in the art world in the UK are at an all time low. I know academia/galleries/museums are tough to get into anywhere, but the situation really is awful here. I have friends in the States getting internships at prestigious museums relatively easily, but opportunities (and salaries) in the arts sector in Britain are being savagely cut, as the government is trying to reduce its deficit. I felt that an Oxford degree would open more doors outside the art world, whereas most employers haven't heard of the Courtauld. I also think I'm better prepared for the course at Oxford, it's more in line with stuff I've been working on in the last two years. And finally, the prospect of living in a beautiful ancient college and biking to class is much more appealing than living in a shared flat in overcrowded London and travelling underground every day.

This might be a bit late, but if you still have questions about the UK system I could try to help. I'm a British student, and have accepted an offer for the Masters program at Oxford 2011/12. I also got an offer from the Courtauld but decided not to accept in the end. I don't know about the league tables but the general reputation of Goldsmiths is nowhere near Oxbridge/Courtauld/UCL and some of the other places mentioned. The HoA department at Oxford is relatively young, but there have been art historians there for much longer. It is growing rapidly and has excellent library resources, galleries (Ashmolean) etc. Cambridge is more established, but only offer MPhil (research based) and PhD grad programs, rather than the 'taught MA with dissertation' model used elsewhere. The Courtauld tops them both in the league tables, but only just, and of course lots of other factors at play. EDIT: disregarding the league tables, my opinion (and that of my professor, with whom I discussed this) is that Oxbridge and Courtauld are the only schools in the UK you should consider. I would consider UCL only as a back up option, unless a professor there really suited my interests, and Glasgow wouldn't even be on my list. Again, these are just the general perceptions of those in the UK. I've noticed that UCL has a better reputation in the US than it does within the UK, however, so it depends on who you want to impress.

yes! after a point you just have to listen to your heart over your head, and pick the one that 'feels' right... In my case, I frequently wonder if it was a huge mistake to turn down a famous prestigious school for a less-famous prestigious place (with better course).. I guess you have to trust your initial instincts with these things..

Hi, not a current student at Berkeley I'm afraid but I studied History of Art there during the academic year 2009-10 (undergrad exchange program). It was RIDICULOUSLY good, best experience ever. As far as recent retirements, I know Tim Clark and Anne Wagner left Berkeley and are both teaching at the Courtauld this fall.

Thanks for your response. I'm an early medievalist, and well suited for the Byzantium course at the Courtauld. The option at Oxford is later medieval/Gothic, which I could get into, but it would be wandering more into unknown territory. But although the C makes more sense, more progressive course, better connections in the art world... I still wonder if employers would show preference for an Oxford graduate, if grades and all other factors were equal. Are you studying at the Courtauld at the moment?

Hi, I've been accepted to Masters courses in History of Art at the Courtauld Institute and Oxford, and can't choose between them. The C clearly has the art-world reputation and contacts, but Oxford has a statistically higher rate of employability. I would love to get into an academic art historian position, but trying to be pragmatic as well. Less than half of doctoral graduates make it as a lecturer, so would I be better off with Oxford on my CV? Thanks for any advice PS I'm more interested in the course at the Courtauld, but not overwhelmingly. Oxford would be ok too.

You can find out your application outcome at Oxford by emailing the department. I emailed mine on the 18th and they replied a few hours later.. with an offer!