IT · Master's
University of Bologna
MA in Visual Arts (History of Art)
University of Bologna
Course Overview
The University of Bologna — founded in 1088 and the oldest university in the continuous Western world — offers a two-year Laurea Magistrale (120 ECTS) in Visual Arts covering the history of art from antiquity through the Renaissance, Baroque, modern and contemporary periods, alongside museology, conservation theory, art criticism and curatorial practice. Studying art history in Emilia-Romagna means fieldwork in the galleries, basilicas and museums of Bologna, Florence, Ravenna and Venice as living teaching material. Some tracks are taught in English while others require Italian, so language planning is part of the application strategy we work through with you.
Sri Lankan graduates from the University of Kelaniya, the University of Peradeniya's Faculty of Arts, the University of the Visual & Performing Arts (UVPA Colombo), and Sri Jayewardenepura's humanities programmes choose Italy for an unmatched combination: world-leading art-historical resources and famously low public-university tuition. Fees at the University of Bologna are income-assessed (ISEE) and frequently fall to a few hundred euro a year for lower brackets, with regional ER.GO grants and fee waivers available. After graduation, Italy grants a 12-month permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione (residence permit for job-search), giving graduates a full year to find work. Returnees route into curatorial, conservation, education and research roles at the National Museum and the Sapumal Foundation in Colombo, the UVPA, leading galleries, auction and heritage bodies, and the arts and culture programmes of the British Council and the Goethe-Institut.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle A relevant Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS equivalent) in art history, fine arts, humanities, archaeology, cultural heritage or a closely related field — Sri Lankan first / upper-second class Bachelor's from Kelaniya, Peradeniya, UVPA Colombo or Sri Jayewardenepura.
- check_circle Required curricular credits in art history and humanities subjects; CIMEA Statement of Comparability / Dichiarazione di Valore for the Sri Lankan degree.
- check_circle Portfolio or motivation letter and CV depending on the track.
- check_circle Academic transcripts and degree certificate, legalised for Italian use.
English Proficiency
- check_circle For English-taught tracks: IELTS Academic 6.0-6.5 Overall, or TOEFL iBT 80-90.
- check_circle For Italian-taught tracks: CILS / CELI B2 Italian (we plan language preparation with you well ahead of the intake).
- check_circle Cambridge English: B2 First / C1 Advanced accepted for English tracks.
- check_circle Waived for the English requirement if your Bachelor's degree was taught and assessed entirely in English (Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degrees qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU max bracket) | €3,000 | Rs. 1,035,000 |
| Living Expenses in Bologna (12 months) | €9,500 | Rs. 3,277,500 |
| Health Insurance, Visa & Residence Permit | €500 | Rs. 172,500 |
| Books, Museum Access & Travel | €700 | Rs. 241,500 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | €13,700 | Rs. 4,726,500 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Graduates qualify for Italy's 12-month permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione — a full year of post-study residence to find qualifying work, convertible to a work permit on a qualifying offer. Art-history graduates route into curatorial, conservation, gallery, auction-house, education, publishing and cultural-heritage roles across Italy and the EU, where Bologna's reputation and a 1088-founded degree carry weight. Many continue to PhD study. Sri Lankan returnees route into curatorial and conservation roles at the National Museum of Colombo, the Sapumal Foundation, the University of the Visual & Performing Arts, leading galleries and heritage bodies, and the arts and culture programmes of the British Council and Goethe-Institut Colombo. Public-university tuition is among the lowest of any European study destination.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.