Course summary
History of Art is a way of unlocking the past through material culture and understanding the process of human creativity itself. BA History of Art enables you to develop a critical understanding of the artistic, cultural, social and political contexts within which artworks are produced and exhibited, and of the meanings they hold for different audiences. You will learn about art, architecture and visual culture across a range of global contexts, from the medieval to the contemporary, using approaches such as social art history, feminist, queer and decolonial methodologies. Central to your learning will be the study of original artworks at first hand. You will have access to world-class collections on campus and in an extensive range of regional museums and galleries. Study trips play an exciting part in your degree and include visits to galleries and museums in the UK and abroad. A highlight is the University-funded trip to a major European centre of artistic importance, where you have the opportunity to examine works of art and architecture in situ. Previous study trips have been to Rome, Prague, Berlin and Paris and are led by staff with specific research interests in the city. The trip provides a great opportunity to get to know your entire year group in an informal and inspiring setting. Why study this course? Learn how to interpret artworks and the societies that created them - Your learning will be directly informed by our research; 95% of our Department’s staff research is ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Boost your employability - Develop transferrable skills and knowledge such as visual analysis, research skills, and oral presentations. We offer funded arts internships exclusively for University of Birmingham students and the opportunity to take employability-focused modules, such as Inside the Gallery, which focuses on how to curate an exhibition. University-funded trips - Gallery study trips are organised in the West Midlands and London, and you can enjoy a week-long, University-funded trip to a major European city in your second year. You might also choose to study abroad for one year or one semester during your degree. We have partnerships with European and worldwide universities highly regarded in the field of History of Art, and a dedicated Study Abroad Team to help you make your choices. On-campus gallery - Teaching regularly takes place in our working gallery on campus, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, which is home to a dedicated fine art library and world-class collection. Seminars and events are held here, which really help to deepen your understanding and expand your knowledge of the museum and heritage sector following our hands-on approach. A creative and active department - You can publish exhibition reviews and more on the Department’s official blog, the Golovine, and join the student-led History of Art Society, HartSoc to get involved with a range of fun and social events. A city brimming with culture - The city of Birmingham hosts many art venues and cultural festivals. You will find a thriving underground arts scene, edgy contemporary pieces in the Ikon Gallery, and stunning traditional works in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which houses the largest collection of pre-Raphaelite artwork in the world. 5th for History of Art in the Guardian University Guide 2024 4th for History of Art in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 5th for History of Art in the Complete University Guide 2025
Modules
First-year modules cover a broad base of the subject and are designed to introduce you to ways of studying at university. By the final year the modules you take will become more specialised and reflect the research expertise of the academic staff. More detailed module information can be found on the ‘Course detail’ tab on the University of Birmingham’s coursefinder web pages.
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- V350
- Institution code:
- B32
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - ABB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
England | £9250 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT