Are you considering graduate training in Islamic art, architecture, history or a related field, and not sure what to look for in a program or advisor to achieve your personal and career goals?
Or, are you considering a career pivot or shift and seeking clarity on how to combine your existing background and skillset with new training to achieve your career goals related to Islamic art, architecture, history, archaeology, and allied fields?
If any of the above fits your situation right now, I've created this for you.
This is a guided 10-day email sequence in which I lead you step-by-step through how to get clear on your goals and priorities for graduate study, and how to identify, choose, and contact potential graduate schools and advisors that will support your personal and career aspirations and that will work with your specific circumstances.
Each step in the sequence is delivered to your email inbox, one per day, over 10 consecutive days. Do it at your own pace. Once you've received the complete set you can refer back to each step as often as you like.
Who is this for?
I wrote it for women, people of colour, and people from minoritised communities interested in continuing their education and professional development in history of Islamic visual culture (art, architecture, archaeology, material culture) or other aspects of the field of academic Islamic Studies.
However, it will be useful to anyone seeking advice from an experienced academic researcher, mentor, and consultant working across arts, humanities, and social science disciplines - and beyond the academy.
Testimonials
What's in the course?
This course contains the advice I give to my own students and industry professionals seeking my academic and career mentorship over the last two decades. I keep it updated so when I have new useful advice, you'll receive it even after you've finished the course.
In the sequence of daily emails I guide you through the factors that will impact on your decision whether or not to pursue graduate study.
I flag up common mistakes and offer Do's and Don'ts, with examples, so that you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
The advice in the sequence is based on my two decades as a university professor and Islamic art and architecture historian in the US and UK, and on my own experiences navigating the grad school search as the first person in my family to pursue a PhD.
Students who have completed this course and whom I've advised have gone on to the top-ranked research Master's and PhD programmes of their choice, in the US and the UK, in several cases with with full/ competitive funding packages.
About
I’m Senior Lecturer in Islamic Art at the University of Edinburgh and Founding Director & Principal Consultant, Digital Lab for Islamic Visual Culture & Collections (DLIVCC).
An award-winning author, international researcher. keynote speaker, and games and GLAM industry consultant, I've been featured in BBC Scotland, The Conversation, Game Developer, Times Higher Education, Apollo Magazine, podcasts including The Barakat Trust's Ask the Expert, This is History with Dan Jones, and History Respawned, among others.
I have published two edited volumes and numerous peer-reviewed articles and chapters on Islamic art, architecture, and history and am the author of A Bridge to the Sky: The Arts of Science in the Age of 'Abbas Ibn Firnas (Oxford University Press, 2024), the award-winning The Islamic villa in early medieval Iberia : architecture and court culture in Umayyad Córdoba (Asghate, 2013). My work with GLAM institutions includes advising and public-facing work for the British Museum, National Galleries Scotland, and the San Diego Art Museum, among others.
Are you interested in alternatives to traditional academic careers?
I understand, and I am a vocal proponent of the importance of applying academic training to other sectors because I believe this is necessary for the civic good. I was an external consulting historian and art historian for Assassin's Creed Mirage (Ubisoft, 2023) and its 'History of Baghdad' Codex feature, and Discovery Tour Medieval Baghdad (Ubisoft, 2025).
Click below to get immediate access to the course and get started today.
The sequence also includes an option for booking a one on one live online advising/mentoring Q&A session with me. The session will focus on your specific goals, your specific situation, and give you the opportunity to ask any remaining specific questions you have after completing all the steps in the course sequence. I have very limited capacity for working privately with individuals, and appointments are offered on a first come first-served basis.
Important:
Please note that the services are provided by Glaire Anderson, PhD acting in a personal capacity. Glaire Anderson is not, and shall not be deemed to be, acting as agent or employee or representing in any way the University of Edinburgh. Accordingly, you and your company, by accepting the services, (i) acknowledge that the University of Edinburgh has no responsibility or liability for the services and (ii) is deemed to have waived any right or entitlement to pursue or instigate any claim or action against the University of Edinburgh for any injury, loss or damage you or your company may sustain as a result of Glaire Anderson undertaking the services for you or your company.