MA Buddhist Art: History and Conservation, The Courtauld Institute of Art

Overview
Structure
Assessment
Entry Requirements
Fees
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This unique one-year MA is offered by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Centre for Buddhist Art and Conservation at The Courtauld. It combines teaching in the key tenets of Buddhism, the history of Buddhist art, and the making and conservation of Buddhist art. Taught by a wide range of specialists, it includes a field trip to conservation and management projects in Asia. Drawing on The Courtauld’s research and conservation work in Bhutan, China and India, this MA is specifically designed to equip students with:

knowledge of the central concepts and tenets of Buddhism, and their historical diffusion;
knowledge of the history of Buddhist art in its various religious, social, cultural and political contexts;
knowledge of the making of various types of Buddhist art;
knowledge of the approaches to the conservation of Buddhist art, and an understanding of the ethical, technical and administrative contexts;
on-site exposure to conservation and management projects on Buddhist art in Asia.

In this full-time twelve-month course, teaching is mainly concentrated in three 11-week terms, but supervision of the dissertation continues during the summer months. Students undertake a dissertation which will consider an aspect of the original techniques, conservation, management or curating of Buddhist art.

The MA provides a comprehensive grounding in Buddhist art and its conservation both for those intending to pursue further specialist conservation education, and for others who wish to proceed into related fields such as art-historical research, curating, or site-management.

Key Facts

Status:

Full time
8 students

Duration:

1 year

Language skills:

English

Fees:

Home/EU fee: GBP 6,400
Overseas fee: GBP 17,525

Application:

Apply Direct to Institute

Structure

The MA Programme is a full-time, 12-month course.

Teaching is concentrated in three 11-week terms but work elements of the course may continue at other times, and the dissertation is to be written during the summer months. The Programme is structured as a series of interweaving strands. The Programme is led by Professor David Park and the Programme Coordinator, and includes specialist teaching by a wide range of guest lecturers.

MA Buddhist Art - Term 1

History of Buddhist Art

A series of weekly lectures, seminars and visits, providing an overview of the development of Buddhist art from its origins to the present, with regard to regional variations and the multiplicity of different media.

Key Tenets of Buddhism through its Arts

A series of weekly lectures and seminars considering the significance of Buddhist art, and conceptualising this art in relation to religious belief, practice and societal functions.

The Making and Conservation of Buddhist Art

A series of weekly lectures, seminars and visits, providing: an introduction to the making of Buddhist art through the use of primary sources and technical studies; an understanding of the deterioration of Buddhist art; and the principles, ethics and management issues involved in its conservation and display.

MA Buddhist Art - Term 2

History of Buddhist Art

A series of weekly lectures and seminars considering the significance of Buddhist art, and conceptualising this art in relation to religious belief, practice and societal functions.

Regional Buddhism or Codicology of Buddhist Manuscripts

These courses will be offered as alternative strands, and the availability of the Codicology course in 2013-14 is subject to confirmation. The Regional Buddhism course provides a comprehensive introduction to the historical, doctrinal and sociological dimensions of Buddhism in one region. The Codicology course provides: an understanding of the range of materials used in Buddhist manuscripts; the factors affecting the form, appearance and preservation of the manuscripts; and the relationship between beliefs about textual reproduction and the origins of printing. It will introduce students to key collections in the UK and provide hands-on experience of manuscript handling.

The Making and Conservation of Buddhist

MA Buddhist Art - Term 3

Dissertation

Preparation for dissertations begins in term 3, with students submitting their proposed topic in June.

Field trip to Asia

The MA students with the Programme Coordinator, for about ten days. The field trip develops appreciation of Buddhist art in its original contexts; includes examination of original techniques, previous conservation treatments, and present condition of a wide range of different types of art; and provides first-hand experience of conservation and management approaches.

MA Buddhist Art - Term 4

Dissertation

The dissertation (maximum 10,000 words) considers an aspect of the original techniques, conservation, management or curating of Buddhist art. Writing and supervision continues over the summer months, with the first draft submitted by 1 August, and submission in September.

Assessment

The MA in Buddhist Art: History and Conservation is assessed both formally and informally. Formal assessment is based on:

A 3000-word essay (term 2)
A presentation and an oral test (term 2)
Two written exams (in term 2)
A dissertation of maximum 10,000 words (submitted in September)

Informal assessment is based on

Essays, presentations, and a learning journal (term 1)
Presentations (term 2)
An oral examination on the extended field trip and other visits (term 3)

DISSERTATION

A major component of the MA is a 10,000-word dissertation.

Students select a research topic from a wide range of areas and each project considers in detail a particular aspect of the technology, conservation, management or curating of Buddhist art. You will incorporate knowledge and skills developed throughout the formal teaching, while developing additional expertise in research, planning, implementation, information management and networking.

The resulting research leads to acquisition of highly transferrable skills relevant to specific career paths, as well as providing a significant contribution to research in the field.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

This unique programme provides a comprehensive grounding in Buddhist art and its conservation both for students intending to pursue further specialist conservation education, and for students who wish to proceed into related fields such as art-historical research, curating, or site-management. It will provide you with:

A knowledge of the central concepts and tenets of Buddhism, and their historical diffusion
A knowledge of the history of Buddhist art in its various religious, social, cultural and political contexts
An understanding of the original techniques and historical considerations which inform assessment of the condition, character and values of Buddhist art
Awareness of the approaches to the conservation of Buddhist art, and an understanding of the ethical, technical and administrative contexts
On-site exposure to conservation and management projects on Buddhist art in Asia
Appreciation of the ethical and historical considerations underlying the final presentation of conserved works of art within or outside their original context
Experience in various modes of communication directed at both scholarly and wider audiences

Entry requirements

Please select your Country of Study

If you hold a qualification from outside of the UK, please feel free to contact the Academic Registry; however, please be aware that our staff are unable to confirm whether you will be invited to interview, as candidates are judged on the strength of their applications as a whole. pgadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk

Other Requirements

All applicants are expected to have an effective knowledge of English, both spoken or written. For applicants whose first language is not English, we require proof of English proficiency.

We will accept:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall bandwidth of 7.0 or above.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 100 on the Internet-based test (IBT) or a score of at least 600 on the paper-based test (PBT) with a score of at least 5.0 on the Test of Written English
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) with a minimum grade of B
IGCSE with a minimum grade of B
Pearson Test for English (PTE) Academic with a score of 75 or above
CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency) with minimum grade of C

Please note that we will not accept institutional test results.

You may be exempt from providing proof of proficiency if either of the following applies to you:

You are a national of a majority English speaking country*
You have an academic qualification (not a professional or vocational qualification), which is equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree and the qualification is from an education provider in a majority English speaking country, including the UK and Republic of Ireland but not Canada.

*For a list of countries considered majority English -speaking countries by the UK Border Agency for purposes of English language proficiency, please see the 'Instructions' pages of our programme application forms.

If you are unable to book a test at a centre in advance of the application deadline, you may submit your application without an English proficiency result and it will be passed on for consideration. You should send your test result when it becomes available to you.

Foreign language requirements
A small number of the special options require students to be able to study texts in their original language. Where this is a requirement, the special options list the languages needed.

Fees 2013/14

Home/EU fee: £6,400
Overseas fee: £17,525

Fees are subject to change each academic year. You can find out what qualifies as home, EU and overseas fees here.

FUNDING & SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Applications open between 01/11/2012 and 08/03/2013

We are now accepting applications for 2013 entry for this MA. You may apply using the Application Form (link below).

The deadline for application is 8 March 2013.

Complete applications should include:

Completed application form
Two confidential academic references, of which at least one should be academic, in signed, sealed envelopes.
A transcript of your academic record from your University
A photocopy of the photo page and relevant biodata from your passport
English proficiency certificate (if applicable)

Application Form