History of Art

History of Art at the University of Birmingham offers an in-depth exploration of visual culture from ancient times to the modern era. This interdisciplinary programme combines rigorous academic research with critical analysis, allowing students to develop a comprehensive understanding of art historical developments across different periods and regions. Throughout the course, students will study a diverse range of artistic traditions, including European, Asian, African, and American art, examining their historical contexts, stylistic features, and cultural meanings. The programme encourages engagement with both traditional and contemporary methodologies, fostering skills in visual analysis, contextual research, and scholarly communication.

Students will have access to extensive collections of artworks, archives, and resources available within university facilities, as well as the opportunity to participate in exhibitions, field trips, and collaborative projects. Emphasizing critical thinking and debate, the programme aims to develop students’ ability to interpret visual materials and articulate well-informed arguments. Graduates from the programme are well-prepared for careers in museums, galleries, research, curation, education, and further academic study.

The programme is designed to be flexible, with options for optional modules that allow students to tailor their studies according to their interests in areas such as contemporary art, architecture, or digital media. Dedicated teaching staff, associated with the Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, as well as colleagues from other disciplines, contribute to a vibrant academic environment. The University of Birmingham provides excellent academic support, a stimulating learning environment, and opportunities for professional development, ensuring students graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the dynamic field of art history.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

First year

This is your foundation year and you’ll take our compulsory modules: Approaches to Art History, which introduces the methods and concepts employed in the study of art history; and Object and Medium, which examines the techniques and materials used in the production of artworks. Other modules will give you an outline of selected key historical periods and themes in the history of art, such as the Renaissance and Modernism. Lectures and seminars are supported with study trips to galleries and current exhibitions in London or elsewhere. You’ll also take a module in a subject outside of the discipline.

The first-year modules include:

• Approaches to the History of Art
• Object and Medium
• Ideas of the Renaissance
• Concepts of Modernism in the History of Art
• Module outside of the main discipline (MOMD)

Second year

You’ll now acquire a greater depth of knowledge by focusing on a number of more specific subjects. You can choose from a number of optional modules on themes or periods in the history of art, and you also choose another Module Outside the Main Discipline. You’ll also go on a study trip to a major artistic and cultural centre overseas such as Berlin, Paris or Venice, where you’ll have the chance to access works of art and architecture unavailable in Britain and to study them in situ. You are prepared for this module, and for your dissertation, though a core module on Research Techniques in the History of Art.

The second-year modules include:

• Renaissance Art in Italy and the Netherlands 1400-1460
• Art, Architecture and Design in Fin de Siècle Vienna
• Real and Ideal: Art and Society in Mid Nineteenth-Century France
• Prague, Cracow, Budapest. Art, Architecture and Politics in Central Europe
• Power, Society, Politics: Religious art in Northern Europe
• Inside the Gallery. Histories, Theories and Practices of Museums and Galleries
• Research Techniques in the History of Art
• Art History in the Field – Overseas Study Trip
• Behind the Camera: women’s film-making from the 1950s to the present

Third year

In your final year you’ll study a special subject in depth and in detail and undertake a dissertation, a 12,000-word extended piece of writing on a topic of your own choice, which also gives you the chance to develop your research skills. In addition you will study two more topics, which may include a module in another discipline.

Final-year modules include:

• The Special Subject. Recent subjects have included: Michelangelo; Inside Out. Interiors and Interiority in French Art, Design and Visual Culture 1840-1940; Contemporary Visual Arts and Postcolonialism;After Modernism. Art and Culture since the 1970s; Women and Artistic Culture in the Late Medieval and Early Modern Period; Fashioning Flesh and Technology: Modernism and the Body in Germany, 1918-1933.
• The Dissertation
• The Body and its Representation in Visual Culture
• Visual Cultures of Revolution in France 1789-1848
• Architecture and Public Art in Sixteenth-century Venice
• Modernism in Europe: Image, Text, Sound
• The Political Thriller on Film: Genre, Ideology, Emotion

English Language Requirements

CAE score : 80(Grade A)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: AAB

International Baccalaureate : 35 points

International students:

Standard English language requirements apply: IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band; TOEFL IBT 93

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.

The History of Art program at the University of Birmingham offers a comprehensive exploration of visual culture from antiquity to the present day. Students will engage with a diverse range of artworks, including paintings, sculpture, architecture, and new media, developing a deep understanding of their historical, cultural, and social contexts. The program emphasizes critical thinking and analytical skills, enabling students to interpret artworks and articulate their significance within various historical frameworks. Courses cover not only Western art history but also include non-Western traditions, fostering a global perspective on art and visual culture. The curriculum is designed to combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills such as visual analysis, research methods, and academic writing. Students benefit from the university’s extensive art collections, dedicated galleries, and access to renowned libraries and research resources. The program offers optional modules, allowing students to specialize in areas such as medieval art, Renaissance art, modern and contemporary art, or specific regions like Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. There are also opportunities for placements, study abroad, and internships, which enhance employability and practical experience. Graduates of the program have pursued careers in galleries, museums, auction houses, art conservation, academic research, journalism, and cultural management. The university supports student development through seminars, workshops, and one-on-one tutorials, ensuring an engaging and personalized learning experience. The degrees offered include BA and BSc options, with pathways for combined honours and flexible study modes including full-time and part-time programmes. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to critically analyze visual material and to appreciate the historical significance of artworks across different cultures and periods.