The Student Experience

"When I started the History of Art & Design degree course, I was worried that I might not cope with academic study as a mature student with little experience of higher education. But I found the university study support sessions and individual tutorials extremely helpful. With the well thought out course design, and the amazing library resources, I was able to enjoy building a body of knowledge and begin to find a direction towards my research interests. In addition to the degree course, there were important exhibitions and symposia at the Holden Gallery, curated by course tutors and reflecting their research interests.

Writing for the students' Critical Journal gave me the confidence to continue my own research and writing since graduation. I now have a published article in a major journal. The course has given me a confidence for academic study, which I never had before. Now I have returned to my previous job, I can apply that confidence to developing my career. I will definitely be coming back to take the MA course in Visual Culture at MMU."

Bob Gaunt BA (Hons) History of Art & Design, graduated 2010

"Having discovered my passion for Art History in college, I always knew it was something I would go onto study at university. Unsure of my area of interest I had a huge passion for learning. What my course at MMU has provided is limitless information. Lecturers on the History of Art and Design degree have a diverse range of knowledge and subject areas. More than putting ideas upon us, we are constantly reminded to ask questions, to discover and to be aware of the world around us because this is where a key understanding of art lies. By experiencing the questioning of what art means in the context of education myself and others on my course can begin to push the boundaries of the art world in our careers."

Aiyisha Williams, third year student, History of Art and Design, 2011

"Since I began studying the History of Art and Design (now Contemporary Art History) at Manchester Metropolitan University in September 2009, my enthusiasm for art and design has grown tenfold (and it was already a pretty significant part of my life). Now, thanks to this course, I also have a keen interest in political and social history.

The support from lecturers is huge and in my experience they are always willing to give up their time to answer any questions and queries you have. Their broad range of expertise means there is always someone who has the appropriate experience and knowledge to support you.

As well as working in the university we are encouraged to get involved with local art establishments. I recently had the opportunity to put on a pop up gallery and I am currently working towards organising a night to celebrate the arts in October. I would have struggled to do either of these without the knowledge I have acquired during my first two years of the course. This experience will be invaluable when I am looking for work after I graduate.

To sum up this course and do it justice in a few sentences is difficult due to the sheer expanse and variety of subjects, theories and ideas that are taught by the excellent and inspiring staff who teach it."

Sophie Parker, third year student, History of Art and Design, 2011

I graduated from the BA (Hons) History of Art and Design with a first in 2003. I found the course incredibly inspiring and forward thinking. It provided a thorough grounding in the history of art, but this was informed by theories from other disciplines, from museology to architecture and film studies. This helped me to develop a better understanding of the field of visual culture as a whole. It also sparked an interest in material culture and museum display, which has shaped my future career.

After leaving MMU I worked in visitor services at Imperial War Museum North and Tameside Museums and Galleries Service, before being hired to catalogue the collections at Tameside. During this time I gained AHRC funding to study for an MA in Art Gallery and Museum and Studies at The University of Manchester. My BA research proved invaluable at this point, equipping me with a solid theoretical foundation upon which to build.

I have been working with museum collections for over seven years now, both in the UK and abroad. The multi-disciplinary nature of the BA provided me with a broad knowledge base, which has enabled me to curate everything from social history to fine and decorative arts. I worked for Bolton Museum and Archive Service for two years, playing a leading role in the development of the large scale touring exhibition 'At The Edge: British Art 1950-2000'. I then spent two years working on a project titled 'Opening Up Decorative Arts' at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, re-developing the decorative arts galleries and working with contemporary artists.

The open-minded outlook of the MMU course continues to influence my work. I was recently awarded an AHRC-funded PhD studentship at The University of Westminster, titled 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum: Ceramics in the Expanded Field'. Working alongside ceramic artists Christie Brown, Clare Twomey and Edmund de Waal, I will investigate the ways in which contemporary ceramic artists have used ceramic practice to initiate new ways of working and new dialogues within the context of museums. The teaching I received on the BA led me to question the boundaries of different art forms and fostered the interest in artist interventions that led me to this point. I have no doubt it will continue to shape my career in the future.

Laura Breen, BA (Hons) History of Art and Design, 2003