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Art History with Curating at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

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2025 - 20262026 - 2027
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Birkbeck, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

3Sep
Birkbeck, University of London - September Open Evening
Undergraduate

Course summary

This BA Art History with Curating gives you the opportunity to study the visual arts as a central element of human endeavour, and develop professional skills to participate in the curation and display of art. You will be taught by world-leading scholars using the incomparably rich art collections, monuments and study facilities of London, as well as Birkbeck’s own Peltz Gallery. Why choose this course?

  • This course will help you pursue your interest in the museum industry and the visual arts, and expand your knowledge of human culture, art history and curating.
  • You will be taught by experienced teachers who are published writers of groundbreaking art history in periods from medieval to contemporary, as well as qualified curators.
  • You will gain familiarity with the conceptual and technical aspects of curating to support you in making the first steps towards working in the arts or progressing to postgraduate studies.
What you will learn This course follows a structured and progressive approach to the study of works of art. You will be guided towards a critical understanding of the visual world around you by active researchers whose expertise ranges from the Middle Ages to now and encompasses a range of media including digital media, painting, sculpture, architecture, photography and installations. In each year of study you will be offered at least one curating module, taught by a professional who’s active in the field. You will also attend tours of museums, galleries and heritage sites in London and then abroad through an annual field trip. How you will learn This course is designed to foster your intellectual independence and curatorial acumen. You will learn in a supportive environment in which we encourage exchange and discussion of thoughts and ideas. You can study this course full- or part-time. It has classes that take place in the evening. These consist of interactive lectures, small-group seminars, one-to-one tutorials and student presentations supported by rich online resources. At the end of the course you will complete a dissertation with support from a supervisor. Foundation Year If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Highlights
  • Teaching and research in history of art was established more than half a century ago at Birkbeck, and we are now internationally respected in this area. Our Gordon Square building – once home to members of the Bloomsbury Group – houses the Jo Spence Archive and Peltz Gallery and hosts the leading journal History of Photography. Our research centres, including the Centre for Museum Cultures and the Murray Centre for History of Art, Architecture and Photography, play a crucial role in generating and disseminating new knowledge.
  • Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • We typically have some bursary funding available from our annual application to the Royal Female School of Art Foundation.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this course you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including:
  • highly developed visual, analytical and curatorial skills
  • presentation skills and exhibition planning
  • a sophisticated use of oral and written English
  • strong collecting and organisational skills for complex materials
  • producing clear, well-presented reports and fluent critical arguments using theoretical and historical perspectives.
Graduates can pursue career paths working in:
  • the museums and heritage sectors
  • arts management
  • conservation and policy
  • arts publishing and media
  • research and academia.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Short written exercises, essays which will develop in length and expected complexity as you progress through your studies, presentations.

How to apply

29Jan

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.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications, as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential. FOUNDATION YEAR DEGREES Our 'with Foundation Year' route is designed to give you extra support as it provides you with an additional year (full-time) or two years (part-time) of supported study. This is an ideal route if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. Once you successfully complete your Foundation Year studies, you will automatically advance onto the main degree. ALTERNATIVE ENTRY ROUTES Students who successfully complete Birkbeck's Certificate of Higher Education in History of Art are guaranteed a place on this BA, with the possibility of exemption from the first-year modules.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £7145 Year 1
Northern Ireland £7145 Year 1
Scotland £7145 Year 1
Wales £7145 Year 1
International £13545 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

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.

Provider information

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Birkbeck, University of London
Malet Street
Bloomsbury
London
WC1E 7HX

Clearing contact details

Clearing Enquiry form
Admissions Office

020 3907 0700

Course Clearing information

Additional information

Early Clearing: A-level Results Day: Our Clearing hotline opens at 8am on Thursday 15th August until 6pm and 9am on Friday 16th August until 6pm. From Monday 19th August our phone lines will be open 10.30 - 6pm (Mon-Thur) and 10.30 -5pm (Fri). Virtual Clearing Event - http://www.bbk.ac.uk/events/

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Course contact details

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Birkbeck Student Advice Service

0203 907 0700

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Art History with Curating at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS