
University of St Andrews - Online
MLitt / PGDip / PGCert in Digital Art History - OnlineOnline United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Sep 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 18,000 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* for MLitt part-time | GBP 12,000 - for PGDip part-time | GBP 6,000 - for PGCert part-time
Introduction
Discover the connections between art, history, and technology with this new online MLitt, ideal for those pursuing careers in digital art, curation, or cultural heritage.
Unlock the power of digital tools in art history research and elevate your career with in-demand skills embraced by leading museums and galleries worldwide.
Why study this course?
Discover the future of art history with our interdisciplinary online Master's programme, where art history meets cutting-edge computer science.
This unique programme equips you with in-demand digital and analytical skills at the intersection of art history and computer science, preparing you for careers in museums, cultural heritage, academia, and beyond.
- First degree programme in Digital Art History in the UK
- Delivered jointly by the School of Art History and the School of Computer Science
- Flexible and fully online
Whether you're passionate about preserving cultural heritage, analysing digital art, or reimagining how we experience history, this Master's programme prepares you to lead in a world where technology and art converge.
Our programme brings together the expertise of the UK’s top-ranked School of Computer Science and our world-renowned School of Art History, where you will learn advanced computational techniques with traditional art history methods, empowering you to push the boundaries of how we analyse, interpret, and visualise art historical data.
Working with live data and live collections from university collections, ArtUK, and the McManus Gallery, you will explore key contemporary topics.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances. You may be eligible for scholarships, discounts or other support:
- St Leonard's funding opportunities
- Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)
Curriculum
Those studying for an MLitt take five modules in Art History, three modules in Computer Science and complete a dissertation or final project in an agreed-upon subject.
Those studying for a PGCert take three modules in Art History and one module in Computer Science. Those studying for a PGDip take five modules in Art History and three modules in Computer Science.
MLitt
Dissertation or final project
Following the successful completion of the coursework (see module details under PGCert and PGDip below), MLitt students undertake a dissertation module of 60 credits (15,000 words). The dissertation should demonstrate an element of independent thinking or originality of thought in the establishment of the argument and be based upon clearly founded research, analysis and interpretation. It should demonstrate the organisational and presentation qualities required for academic work.
Students can expect to meet with their supervisors at least three times during the research and writing of their dissertations and to make appropriate arrangements for the submission of drafts and timely feedback.
PGCert and PGDip
Introduction to Digital Art History and the Humanities
Introduces the key issues, themes, and ideas relating to Digital Art History.
Programming in Python
Introduces and revises modelling, design and implementation in Python.
Digital Art – From Computer-generated Projects to Artificial Intelligence
Analyses the ways in which artists, archivists, curators, and other museum professionals have implemented digital tools, materials and methodologies.
Digital Tools – Visualisation, Interpretation and Analysis
Introduces the key techniques and digital platforms available to art historians and the ways in which they can facilitate (or limit) our analysis, interpretation, and visualisation of art historical data.
Project Work – Theory
Will challenge students to critically analyse the methodological choices made by digital art historians. A series of major research projects will serve as case studies, allowing students to explore how the theories and approaches central to the disciplines of Digital Humanities and Art History work in practice.
Project Work – Data Analysis
Requires students to design and develop their own research project based on a given data set drawn from real collections.
Data and information visualisation
Focuses on the question of how to utilise visual representations to make information accessible for exploration and analysis.
Machine learning algorithms
Covers the essential theory and algorithms, including mathematical foundations, and methodological approaches, using a variety of regression, classification and unsupervised approaches.
Complex systems modelling and simulation
Introduces a range of techniques and their applications to different classes of problems, with a practical focus on modern network-based models and simulation.
Discrete optimisation
Covers the theory, tools and technologies developed and used to solve problems in Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimisation.
Data-driven systems
It is an advanced research-focused module that presents the foundations of distributed systems and techniques that process data.
Numeric optimisation
Takes linear algebra and optimisation as the primary topics of interest and solutions to machine learning problems as the applications of the resulting tools, techniques and algorithms.
Research methods in data science
Introduces the skills necessary for the planning, data gathering, data analysis and dissemination stages of data science research.
Knowledge discovery and data mining
Covers many of the methods found under the banner of ‘data mining’, building from a theoretical perspective but ultimately teaching practical application.
Program Outcome
You will learn:
- The possibilities, limitations, and risks of digital technologies and their impact on the arts and industry.
- How digital tools are changing the way people engage with and understand collections and artefacts.
- Issues of ethics, inclusivity, and accessibility – is digital art history truly more equitable and accessible?
- Digital access, creative working and decision-making about collections covering themes such as the role of AI and using technology to decolonise collections.
You will develop and explore your own research questions to test your new computational skills in action, using the techniques needed to succeed in an increasingly digital world, including:
- Data and text mining
- The principles of visualisation, design, and interaction
- Practical visualisation techniques and tools
- Digital mapping techniques
- Machine learning
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
This course is designed to give you the knowledge and skills needed to make a success of your career, whether you are looking to grow in an existing role or are new to the sector.
Our Art History graduates work in a variety of roles, including universities, museums, galleries, auction houses, media, and art dealerships, in roles including research, curation, collections, archives, exhibitions, and learning and engagement.
Salaries in heritage tend to be higher with a postgraduate qualification. Government research finds that taught postgraduates have a lifetime salary premium of £61,000 compared with graduates with an undergraduate degree.
Why study at University of St Andrews - Online
Wherever you are, you can take St Andrews with you. Online Master's at the University of St Andrews combine all the benefits of studying at one of the world's oldest and best universities, with all the advantages of flexible, personalised learning.
Whether you join us online or in person, when you graduate, you become a member of the University's worldwide alumni community. Benefit from access to alumni clubs, the Saint Connect networking and mentoring platform, and career support.
Program delivery
Teaching
Delivered through lectures, tutorials and practical work.
Schedule
You will access modules and components at a pace and on a timetable that suits your work and study environment.