Attending a university to Visual Culture study in UK is a great way to kick-start your career. After all, you want an education that will help you produce pieces of work, which will help you steer your path to becoming an expert in your field. Studying Visual Culture is a big decision, and there are a few things to consider before taking the plunge. The field of Visual Culture encourages you to think critically, offers an engaging hands-on approach to studying arts and humanities, and is a great foundation for graduate study.

What is Visual Culture?

The word “visual culture” is used to define the collective traits of a people, state, or civilization as expressed through their material or visible expressions. Although the term “visual culture” is most often used to describe an architectural structure or creative creation, it can refer to other types of visual expression as well. The word is especially applicable when discussing the insights gained about a people through their visual culture.

An overview: masters in Visual Culture

The Art and Visual Culture MA is one of four MA programs that make up the Cultural and Literary Studies Suite, which unites scholars, curators, and professionals who are interested in studying contemporary art and literature from various theoretical and methodological angles.

As a student in the MA Museum, Galleries, and Contemporary Culture program, you will take classes with students from the MA Cultural and Critical Studies program, the MA English Literature: Modern and Contemporary Fictions program, and the MA Museum, Galleries, and Contemporary Culture program. Of addition to the core modules in your selected MA program, you will have the opportunity to select an alternative module from one of the other three MA programs (an “elective” module) as part of our Suite. The Art and Visual Culture MA is a theory-based, cross-disciplinary program founded on the idea that visual literacy and the influence of visual ways of thinking and functioning play important roles in contemporary culture.

In this course, we investigate how visual perception and representation in both high and popular culture generate meaning and how that meaning in turn shapes both social groups and individuals. The program is designed to prepare students for graduate study or work in the arts and cultural industries, but it is open to anybody interested in learning more about the field. As part of several of our programs, students travel to London’s top museums, galleries, and archives to learn firsthand about the city’s rich cultural heritage and scholarly resources, where they may develop their own critical thinking abilities and gain insight into the cultural sector as a whole.

Why study a master’s in visual culture in the UK?

The Master of Arts in Art and Visual Culture is offered year-round, with September and January entry points for full-time students and May and August for part-time students.

When you start your course, you’ll be joining a diverse group of students, some of whom are also beginning the MA with you, while others are continuing their higher education in UK. The course is broken up into modules, each of which is worth 20 credits, for a total of 60, including the dissertation. It takes a total of 180 credits to earn a Master of Arts. A full-time student will take one required course and two electives each semester and spend the summer months writing their dissertation. In the first year, a part-time MA student would study one core module and one option module per semester, and in the second year, they would take two more option modules and write their dissertation.

Career in Visual Culture in the UK

As a result of taking this class, you’ll be well-equipped for a number of careers, such as –

  • Expert in cultural matters
  • Assistant Director of Exhibitions
  • Editor in Chief of Events
  • Events and Communication Manager
  • Doctoral and Master’s Degree Programs in the Arts
  • Humanities, and Social Sciences
  • Expertise in Public Relations

The work Placement in Visual Culture course will give you the opportunity to obtain valuable work experience in your field of study while also helping you develop your professional abilities and network with other professionals in the field.

Best Universities for Masters in Visual Culture in the UK

Here are the best Universities for Masters in Visual Culture in the UK-

University of Nottingham

There are three primary ways in which the University of Nottingham‘s Masters in Visual Culture program aids in the cultivation of critical visual literacy. The first thing it does is help you become more attuned to the unique qualities of the visual materials you encounter by focusing on the particulars of things like images and happenings. Second, it explores the foundations of perception by probing the question of how we interpret visual information, and finally, it explores how gazing ties into their connections with others and with the world.

Durham University

The Master of Arts in Visual Culture is a novel interdisciplinary program that encourages you to broaden your perspective on the visual arts and culture. The study of visual art and culture is a method of bringing one’s full attention to events that occur all around us. The term “visual culture” indicates a willingness to consider a wide variety of objects and pictures, as well as the various theoretical and methodological approaches necessary to fully comprehend them.

Manchester University

The goal of the Visual Culture course is to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the various fields of study that focus on the use of visual media to express and generate cultural meaning. The Manchester University Visual Culture MA program examines the production, distribution, and reception of visual cultural expressions, as well as visually and spectatorship through a variety of commercial and artistic media and forms of display.

University of Brighton

The survey examines the evolution of visual art and culture around the world from the 18th century to the present, ranging from high art to popular photography to multimedia and beyond in the University of Brighton. You will study material and visual history and art theory, as well as participate in discussions about gender and sexuality, ecology, race, class, politics, and ableism as you gain an understanding of the political dimensions of creativity and culture.

University of Essex

The ability to recognize and analyze the history and operations of visual and media cultures is more important than ever in today’s hyper-visual world dominated by constantly-evolving kinds of media. At Essex, you can expect to learn about and engage with a wide variety of art, visual culture, and media from different periods and around the world. You’ll go through video art, medical photography, tattoos, and objects from political protests in addition to the canonical forms of art and architecture. You’ll learn about the many ways in which movies, television, photography, social media, and advertising have influenced modern culture.

Entry requirements for Visual Culture in the UK

Typically, students will need to have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in a field related to the arts, humanities, or social sciences with a minimum 2:1 honors level or above. No prerequisites are required for this course, however, an interest in or expertise in the visual arts would be helpful. Two solid recommendations from professors or other professionals. In lieu of formal educational qualifications, relevant professional practice in an area of visual arts and culture to be reviewed on an individual basis may be considered.

IELTS- minimum 6.0

Tuition fees Visual Culture in the UK

£19,500 to £23,500 per year for full time international students

Conclusion

Visual culture is a course in Visual and Critical Studies. In the UK it is a fully-fledged post graduate degree course, awarding a Master’s Degree in the subject. It covers fairly wide ground, covering: Art History; Sociology; Philosophy; Cultural studies; English Literature; Language and Media Studies; Communications Studies and Film studies. Ideally students will be versed in one or more of these disciplines before entering this course, but an interest/knowledge/understanding of most areas are required to benefit fully. Visual culture is an evolving field with numerous opportunities and challenges. The future of the field looks bright, so take what you’ve learned in the UK and make something cool!

Why is it important to study Visual culture in the UK?

Teaching students how to make sense of the visual and other cultural narratives they encounter on a daily basis necessitates a shift towards visual culture studies.

How much is cost for study MA in Visual Culture in the UK?

£19,500 to £23,500 per year for full time international students

What are the career options for Visual Culture?

As a result of taking this class, you'll be well-equipped for a number of careers, such as –

  • Expert in cultural matters
  • Assistant Director of Exhibitions
  • Editor in Chief of Events
  • Events and Communication Manager
  • Doctoral and Master's Degree Programs in the Arts,
  • Humanities, and Social Sciences
  • Expertise in Public Relations

What is visual Culture?

The word "visual culture" is used to define the collective traits of a people, state, or civilization as expressed through their material or visible expressions. Although the term "visual culture" is most often used to describe an architectural structure or creative creation, it can refer to other types of visual expression as well.

What is the most popular form of Visual Culture?

One of the most common types of visual art is drawing. Everyone has drawn before, and the circumstances are irrelevant. It is the most widely practiced visual art form and frequently serves as a doorway to other creative outlets for its viewers.

Apply for this course

A member of the team will be in touch to arrange your initial consultation & assessment with one of our education counsellor.