SOAS University of London Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art PROSPECTUS 2021/22 In Association with POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ASIAN ART 2 The Postgraduate Diploma in Asian art at SOAS University of London offers a programme renowned for its excellence. The course provides object-based study through lectures and contributions from a wide range of leading scholars, curators, and art market professionals. We have a formal association with the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), which means we offer exceptional access to the collections and curatorial expertise of both institutions. The Postgraduate Diploma will appeal to all those with a serious interest in Asian art, regardless of your personal, professional or academic background. It is also a proven pathway to further postgraduate study in Asian art and careers in museums, the art world and academia. In 2021/22 all our full-time modules will be fully available online, so you can study with us from anywhere in the world. Those able to travel to London will be able to join selected sessions in person, where circumstances allow. We also plan to host a series of co-curricular events, including in-person visits to the V&A and British Museum, subject to current safety measures. The online modules have been a game changer for me! I would have never “been able to physically go to London because of my work and studies. Also, the format allowed for such a diverse group of students as well as lecturers to come together, which was really enjoyable. Coming together in this virtual space allowed us students to sharpen our senses with regards to seeing the tiniest details that may have escaped our attention if in situ. I particularly enjoyed the virtual museum visits and curator's talks on site. The SOAS Postgraduate Diploma in Asian art has skillfully adapted to online teaching, creating a highly enjoyable learning environment beneficial for students all over the world. ” Theresa Zischkin SOAS University of London PROSPECTUS 2021/22 CONTENTS 3 FOREWORD 4 PROGRAMME DETAILS 5 COURSE SYLLABUS 6 CAREER AND FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES 8 THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE 9 SHORT SPECIALIST ART COURSES 10 HOW TO APPLY 11 Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art SOAS University of London Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square London WC1H OXG Phone: +44 (0)20 7898 4445 Email: [email protected] The superlative collections of the V&A and the British Museum make London one www.AsianArtDiploma.co.uk “of the most important centres for the appreciation and study of Asian art and culture. https://www.instagram.com/soasdiplomainasianart The SOAS Postgraduate Diploma in Asian art gives students unique access to these Programme Director: collections and to the expertise of those who curate them. Dr Malcolm McNeill [email protected] ” Programme Manager: Anna Jackson Jane Portal Patrick Monger Keeper of the Asia Department Keeper of the Department of Asia [email protected] Victoria & Albert Museum British Museum SOAS University of London PROSPECTUS 2021/22 FOREWORD 4 SOAS University of London is the only higher education institution in the UK The fundamental aim of the course is to provide students with a broad specialising in the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The understanding of Asian art covering all major periods and media. Students Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art is part of SOAS’ School of Arts, a world- will learn how to research, identify and document objects, setting them in leading centre for study and research involving visual and sound arts, their cultural context. In addition to the academic setting of SOAS, students material and intangible cultures, media industries and digital cultures of will benefit from the guidance of museum curators in the study of objects Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and their global diasporas. Our unique from the reserve collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the concentration of experts is unsurpassed in scale and reach by any other British Museum, London. institution worldwide. Our unique combination of academic focus, museum access, and practical The Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art is a unique programme of object-led experience provides an exceptional platform for the study of Asian art and study of the arts of Asia. It combines a focused survey of Asian art with a an unrivalled combination of opportunities for our students. A network of practical approach to the study of objects. Lectures are given by leading leading experts contribute to a challenging and stimulating lecture experts on India, China, Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, Buddhist art and programme. The Programme Director and module convenors provide the arts of the Islamic world. We prepare students for work in a variety of students with continuity, academic guidance and close individual support. professions in the arts and the museum world. The course also provides a pathway to a master’s degree and PhD for those without an academic Students will be encouraged to develop background in the subject. research and writing skills and will have access to the renowned resources of the Many of our alumni now work in a variety of international museums, art SOAS Library, the UK’s designated National foundations, galleries and auction houses. We welcome students from Research Library for Asia, Africa, and the varied academic or professional backgrounds, ranging from recent Middle East. graduates and those who wish to pursue a career in the art world to retired professionals and others with a serious interest in the art and culture of a This combination of theoretical and practical specific region. study makes the Postgraduate Diploma a unique programme based within the foremost One of the strengths of the Postgraduate Diploma is its flexibility. Students institution in the world for studies of this kind, can choose any number or combination of our six, 12-week-long modules: ideal for aspiring museum curators, collectors, Indian Art, Chinese Art, Southeast Asian Art, Japanese & Korean Art, or those simply with an interest in the field. Buddhist Art and the Arts of the Islamic World. Students who successfully complete three modules over a period of one to four academic years will be Dr Malcolm McNeill awarded the Postgraduate Diploma. Those who successfully pass a single Programme Director module will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate. Senior Lecturer in Arts Education SOAS University of London PROSPECTUS 2021/22 PROGRAMME DETAILS 5 Course Content Course Delivery n Live, online lectures given by SOAS academic staff, leading national and The Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art offers six full-time modules, each 12 weeks international scholars, museum curators, and art market professionals, generally in length. taking place between 11.00 and 15.30 (UK time) Monday through Thursday. Students can take any number or combination of modules. You can begin the n Exclusive contributions from the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum programme in October, January or April. In the 2021/22 academic year, all core n A series of asynchronous online lectures exploring critical thinking and teaching will be available online, making our courses accessible from anywhere in methodology the world. All lectures will also be recorded and made available asynchronously, n Recommended weekly readings, all accessible online so if you are not able to join live in your time zone, you can catch up at a time n Weekly review sessions convenient for you. n Weekly one-to-one tutorials with your module convenors Candidates are expected to hold an undergraduate degree in any subject or Student Assessment equivalent experience. Prior knowledge of Asian art history or archaeology is not a requirement, though candidates are expected to have an interest in the area. n Two essays of 3,500 words per module n One 48-hour, take-home exam per module Issues and themes dealt with in weekly lectures are developed further through tutorials, review sessions and frequent contributions from museums and private Academic Qualifications collections. The award of Postgraduate Diploma is made on the successful completion of three modules. A student who completes a single module will be awarded a Postgraduate Our course convenors provide weekly review sessions and one-to-one tutorials. Certificate. Course Aims and Objectives Credit Points n To develop visual skills through the direct examination of objects The Postgraduate Diploma has a CATS rating of 135 points. The certificate for the To put material objects in their cultural context n individual module has a CATS rating of 45 points. n To develop research skills using primary and secondary sources n To develop a sound visual method for analysing and documenting works of art Auditing n To develop writing and communication skills: to formulate and structure an We also offer spaces on the programme to those who are not seeking an academic academic viewpoint and to use visual analysis to support and document this qualification. Those who choose to audit the course enjoy full access as a SOAS student argument but are not required to complete the assessments. This is for the full module fee. SOAS University of London PROSPECTUS 2021/22 COURSE SYLLABUS 6 Modules Offered n Indian Art (annually) 4 October – 22 December 2021 Click here to see our showcase video: Three Objects from the Arts of India, n Chinese Art (annually) 10 January – 3 April 2022 China and Japan n Islamic Art (biennially) 25 April – 17 July 2022 n Southeast Asian Art (biennially) 25 April – 17 July 2022 A Fierce Goddess, A Withered Saint, n Buddhist Art (biennially) April – July 2023 and A Modern Print n Japanese & Korean Art (biennially) April – July 2023 Indian Art Chinese Art Islamic Art From 2500 BCE to the present day, the The Chinese Art module The Islamic Art module explores the Indian Art module explores the monumental, examines material culture origin and development of the arts fine and decorative arts of South Asia.