The MA Programme in the History and Theory of Art, established in 2015, addresses a long-standing gap in the Humanities within Cypriot academia. It offers a comprehensive foundation in art history, theory, aesthetics, and criticism, focusing on the post-European-Renaissance era with a particular emphasis on modern and contemporary periods. The programme examines the multifaceted experiences of modernity, postmodernity, and contemporary visual culture, equipping students with the critical and methodological tools necessary to analyze art within diverse historical, theoretical, and cultural contexts. Building on Cyprus’s rich artistic heritage and its strategic position as a crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, the programme adopts both a regional and international perspective. It encourages students to explore Cypriot art and cultural identity, engaging with national narratives, postcolonial theories, and processes of decolonization. This critical framework situates Cypriot art within broader Mediterranean and global discourses of interaction and cosmopolitanism. The programme emphasizes formal, iconographic, and contextual analysis while fostering a robust engagement with theoretical and aesthetic questions. Its mission is to cultivate a high-calibre research environment that enhances understanding of the visual arts and enriches cultural discourse in Cyprus. Graduates are well-prepared for academic careers as well as professional roles in museums, cultural institutions, private collections, and curatorial practices. They contribute to advancing knowledge and promoting Cypriot modern and contemporary artistic production, attracting researchers, artists, students, and the general public to engage with the island’s cultural legacy.  

The normal duration of studies, on a full-time basis, is three [3] academic semesters. Students enrol in three [3] courses (30 ECTS units total) per semester for the first two semesters, and in the third semester, they are expected to complete their thesis (20 ECTS units), in addition to the final (7th) mandatory course (10 ECTS units), while, at the same time, they have, with an optional course (5 ECTS) to gain professional placement experience.

The normal duration of studies, on a part-time basis, is five [5] academic semesters.

On a part-time basis students may enrol in 1 or 2 courses per semester. During the fourth and fifth semesters, they must successfully complete their thesis, while also completing any pending courses. Students cannot embark on their thesis, unless they have successfully completed at least six courses of the programme.

The maximum allowed time of studies (any suspension of studies – maximum allowed period of two semesters – notwithstanding) is eight [8] academic semesters.

Each course is offered for one weekly, four-hours meeting.

During the course of the programme, students have, additionally, the opportunity to attend lectures and short seminars, in various topics in Art History and Theory, Philosophy and other related fields, by academic members of the department (who teach in the programme), as well as by invited professors and/or researchers in related fields, from other institutions in Cyprus and abroad.

The programme’s seven courses are set-up independently (no pre-requirements, as to facilitate students on a part-time basis). They are, however, broadly connected in three stands/areas: two [2] courses in Art-Historical Analysis and Methodology [540, 541], two [2] courses in Theory and Critical Analysis [550, 551], and two [2] courses in Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics [570, 571]. Additionally, there are two [2] courses in Curating [580] (mandatory) and in Professional Internship [581] (optional).

All the mandatory courses carry 10 European Credit Transfer System [ECTS] units, and the Postgraduate Thesis carries 20 ECTS units. The optional course carries 5 ECTS units.