The Courtauld Institute of Art
Established1932
Famous ForHistory of Art, Conservation, Curating
Tuition Fees27,800-42,350
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Overview
The Courtauld Institute of Art was founded in 1932 by the industrialist and collector Samuel Courtauld, together with Lord Lee of Fareham and Sir Robert Witt. Its first home was Home House in Portman Square, and it has been based at Somerset House on the Strand since 1989. It became an independent college of the University of London in 2002. Around 630 students study at the Courtauld, 270 undergraduates and 360 postgraduates in 2024/25, and its only undergraduate course is the BA in History of Art.
The Courtauld is ranked first in the world for History of Art in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, and eleventh in the Complete University Guide 2027 for History of Art, Architecture and Design. Its Gallery holds one of the world's great collections of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, and its teaching and research are built around direct study of works of art.
A second campus at Vernon Square in King's Cross opened in 2019, when teaching moved there during the regeneration of Somerset House, giving the Courtauld two homes in central London.
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Our Services for The Courtauld Institute of Art
The Courtauld provides international student guidance on visas, healthcare, transport and finance, with a dedicated international email contact for students applying from outside the United Kingdom. The Students' Union has an International Officer who represents international students, and a Peer-to-Peer programme pairs new students with current students to help them settle in.
Because the Courtauld is a small institution with around 630 students, international students receive personal attention from academic and support staff, and its central London location means students are part of a wider University of London community, with access to its libraries, halls and student services.
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Rankings & Recognition
The Courtauld Institute of Art does not appear in the overall QS, Complete University Guide or Guardian league tables, as these do not rank small specialist art history institutes. It is ranked first in the world for History of Art in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, and eleventh in the Complete University Guide 2027 for History of Art, Architecture and Design.
The Courtauld's standing rests on its world-renowned Gallery, its research in the history of art and its teaching built around direct study of works of art, and its small size gives students close contact with leading scholars in the field.
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Accommodation
The Courtauld does not own large halls of residence, and it does not guarantee accommodation, though it aspires to accommodate all first-year students living outside Greater London in halls, subject to availability and demand. Its own Duchy House has 63 single self-catered rooms around 100 metres from Somerset House, a 25 to 30 minute walk from Vernon Square.
The Courtauld also allocates 40 rooms in the University of London's Intercollegiate Halls in Bloomsbury, a fifteen to twenty minute walk from Somerset House, on forty-week contracts from 13 September 2026, and up to 50 rooms in King's College London Residences, including 25 rooms at Angel Lane at £297 per week and 25 rooms at Canada Water at £340 per week, on forty-week contracts. The University of London Housing Services helps students who prefer to rent privately.
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Location
The Courtauld's main home is Somerset House on the Strand, London WC2R 0RN, in the heart of central London, beside the River Thames and a short walk from Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and the West End. Its second campus is at Vernon Square in King's Cross, close to the British Library and the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras.
Temple and Covent Garden Underground stations serve Somerset House, and King's Cross St Pancras serves Vernon Square, with connections across London and to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Students study in the middle of London's museum and gallery quarter, with the National Gallery, Tate Britain and the Courtauld Gallery itself all within easy reach.
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Courses offered at The Courtauld Institute of Art
1 verified course with 2026/27 fees, IELTS & entry requirements — showing 1–1