Overview

History of Art at the University of York

The department is friendly, enthusiastic and inspiring

Undergraduate and postgraduate students enjoy an extremely rich variety of choices and specialisations. Students also benefit from our famously friendly atmosphere, small-group teaching methods, regular study trips and spectacular historic location.

Why Study History of Art at York

• We offer an extremely wide range of modules.
• We have successful collaborations with the Tate Britain, the National Gallery. the Victoria and Albert Museum and York City Art Gallery.
• We're internationally recognised as a centre of world-leading research.
• Students enjoy access to fine art facilities on campus, and have opportunities to get involved with many student-run arts societies. 
• The department offers funded study trips abroad.
• There is a regular programme of talks by world leading experts.
• Modules include field trips to London, York and the local area

Our staff

The sixteen permanent members of the department teach and research art-historical topics that range from the medieval period to the present, and that demonstrate an especially diverse and lively set of approaches to the subject.

The student experience is further enriched by the regular presence of distinguished visiting professors in the department, and by the close links we have established with an international range of galleries and museums.

• Read more about our staff

Mature students

The department encourages applications from mature students to read History of Art at York.

We aim to treat every applicant on his or her individual merits and to take into account particular circumstances and experience. Accordingly, it is our policy to interview all mature applicants.

Careers

Careers

Studying for a degree in the History of Art will allow you to develop many transferable skills, suitable for a wide range of careers.

Our degrees will help you to learn how to:

• Communicate ideas and arguments effectively in written and spoken form with appropriate use of visual aids
• Listen effectively and so to learn from and participate constructively in discussion
• Work constructively in groups
• Work diligently, to fulfil briefs and deadlines, and to take responsibility for one's own work
• Make effective use of information technology for research and communication
• Update knowledge and skills, seek and use feedback, reflect on and improve performance

Other opportunities

You will have the opportunity to develop additional skills through other activities at York, such as the York Award, volunteering, business enterprise, or participating in one of over one hundred student societies and charity groups on campus.

You can find out more about the range of services, events and training provided by the University Careers Service by visiting their webpages. Kate Copland is the History of Art Department's Careers Liaison Officer and she has lots of experience of helping our students find the right career path.You can also visit the Department's careers advice page for current students to see the range of help and advice that we offer.

Possible careers

Museum or gallery curator Art auctioneer or valuer Heritage manager Heritage officer Arts administrator

Museum education officer Picture researcher or editor Higher education lecturer Art or antiques dealer

Local and global

Local and global art and visual culture

I have really enjoyed the field trips to see art in its original context

We believe in the importance of studying works of art in the original and therefore every course includes visits to collections either locally or further away in Britain or on the Continent.

Art in York

York is a particularly rewarding centre for the study of Art History. As one of the most beautiful historic cities in Britain it is renowned for its buildings, its sculpture and its unrivalled collections of stained glass.

In Yorkshire

Beyond the city, the monasteries, churches, castles and great country houses of Yorkshire provide an excellent resource for the study of art and architectural history in its cultural and social context.

Around the world

You also have the opportunity to study the art and architecture of other countries such as France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, the United States of America, and India in the Medieval, Renaissance and Modern periods.

Film about the department

Watch a short film featuring current undergraduates and members of staff talking about the History of Art Department at York.

More films, including ones about postgraduate study and career paths for History of Art students, will follow shortly.