Literature and Art History

The BA in Literature and Art History at the University of Essex offers students a comprehensive exploration of the rich interplay between literary texts and visual arts across various historical periods and cultural contexts. This interdisciplinary programme is designed to foster critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deeper understanding of how literature and art influence, reflect, and shape society. Throughout the course, students engage with a diverse range of materials, including classical and contemporary literature, major artistic movements, and visual culture. The curriculum combines theoretical frameworks with practical analysis, enabling students to develop skills in interpreting texts, artworks, and cultural phenomena.

Students have the opportunity to study topics such as modernist literature, Renaissance art, contemporary visual culture, and their interrelations. The programme encourages active engagement through seminar discussions, research projects, and exhibitions, promoting a dynamic learning environment. In addition, students can benefit from the university’s strong links with cultural institutions, museums, and galleries, providing invaluable real-world experience. The course is ideal for those interested in careers within the arts, publishing, curation, education, or further academic research. The programme also emphasizes developing excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as digital literacy, to prepare graduates for a wide range of professional environments. By the end of the degree, students will have cultivated a nuanced understanding of how literature and art both influence and are influenced by the societal and historical contexts they emerge from. This programme aims to produce well-rounded, critically aware graduates equipped with the knowledge and skills to critically analyse cultural artifacts and contribute meaningfully to discussions in the fields of literature and art history.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 11950 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

The special characteristics of our courses are flexibility and choice. In your first year, you usually take four or five modules that include pre-requisite(s) for your course but, in many cases, mean you can try subjects you have not come across before. If you are taking a humanities or social science, then you have the greatest choice, as most of our first-year modules do not assume any specialist knowledge.

Year 1
The Enlightenment
Introduction to Literature
Art and Ideas
Ways of Seeing
Year 2
Early Modern Literature
Versions of Modernity
The Renaissance in Tuscany
More Art, More Ideas - Critique & Historiography in the History of Art
The Art of Exhibition: Salon, Biennal, Blockbuster (On offer from October 2015)
Picturing Paris: The Capital of the Nineteenth Century
After Impressionism: European Art from Van Gogh to Klimt
Becoming Modern: European Art from Futurism to Surrealism
Art in Latin America I
Journeys Through Time & Space: Architecture & Urbanism
Year 3
Two art history options including modules on photography film and new media and
two literature, film, and theatre studies options
A third year dissertation project is also available as an option.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6

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

Requirements

A-levels: ABB-BBB GCSE English: C
BTEC National Diploma: DDM in Fine Art
IB: 32-30 points (we consider IB certificates at the Higher level on a case-by-case basis)
Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 6 level three credits at distinction and the remainder at merit (or above) or achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 45 level three credits at merit (or above).
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each component (or equivalent). Different requirements apply for second year entry

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 Essex.

Funding

For up-to-date information on funding opportunities at Essex, please visit: www.essex.ac.uk/studentfinance.

The BA Literature and Art History programme at the University of Essex offers students a comprehensive exploration of the interconnected worlds of literary expression and visual art across different periods and cultures. This multidisciplinary course is designed to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of the cultural contexts that shape literature and art from antiquity to the modern era. Students will engage with a diverse range of texts and artworks, analyzing their historical significance and aesthetic qualities, while also exploring theoretical frameworks that underpin arts and literary criticism.

The programme combines academic rigor with flexible module options, allowing students to tailor their studies according to their interests, whether they lean more towards literary analysis, visual culture, or interdisciplinary research. Core modules typically cover literature from various periods, including medieval, Renaissance, Enlightenment, and contemporary works, alongside surveys of art history spanning different movements such as Romanticism, Modernism, and Contemporary Art. Students also have opportunities to undertake practical assessments, including visual analysis essays, creative projects, and research-based dissertations.

Throughout the course, students benefit from the expertise of academic staff who are active researchers in their fields, providing mentorship and fostering a vibrant intellectual community. The programme also emphasizes employability skills, encouraging students to develop presentation, communication, and digital literacy skills, valuable across multiple career paths including education, publishing, arts management, and cultural heritage sectors.

The teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, and independent research, complemented by access to the university’s extensive library resources and digital archives. There are opportunities for interdisciplinary projects and collaborations with other departments or external arts and cultural organizations, enhancing practical experience and professional networking.

Graduates from the BA Literature and Art History programme are well-equipped to pursue postgraduate study in related fields or enter careers that require strong critical analysis, cultural awareness, and communication skills. The programme’s flexible, research-informed curriculum and the university’s support services aim to prepare students for diverse roles in the arts, media, education, and cultural industries. Overall, the course offers an enriching academic experience that fosters a lifelong engagement with literature and visual culture, encouraging students to become thoughtful, informed, and creative individuals capable of contributing meaningfully to society.