Discover new ways of thinking about art across different periods and geographies.
Year of entry: 2026 (September)
Explore art history in geographical and historical depth. You can choose from modules that cover the ancient world to the present day. Over a full year, you will develop key skills with rigorous critical approaches, enabling you to shape and research a range of different topics. We support small-group teaching that fosters discussion and collaboration, helping you to engage in current debates that are shaping the discipline.
Join one of the largest and most vibrant art history departments in the UK. You'll learn from leading researchers with global expertise in small-group seminars. Many of us bring professional experience from the wider sector, including curating international exhibitions. We have established partnerships with museums and galleries across the country. Find out more about our collaborations (yachs.york.ac.uk).
Work with interdisciplinary research centres. As a researcher in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, you will join a vibrant community. This includes the Centre for Medieval Studies, Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies and Centre Modern Studies. You can take elective modules and attend research seminars as part of this community. We offer dedicated teaching spaces, access to the University of York Art Collection and opportunities for placements.
Invest in your future. This course equips you for careers in museums, galleries and heritage organisations, as well as publishing, arts education, cultural policy and the wider creative industries. It also prepares you for further academic research and doctoral study.
The course at York offers a great deal of approaches to art history, while many will know of York as a centre for studying the medieval, the course offers many opportunities to study more contemporary works and consider the theories behind them as well as considering multidisciplinary approaches.
You play an active role in building your degree by choosing your options and designing your research project. You'll also develop your methodological awareness. This will help you to forge a more sophisticated understanding of how artworks create meaning and why some artworks have been deemed culturally more significant than others.
The course enables you to develop advanced skills in verbal and written communication, and effective project management. You'll acquire a high level of expertise in visual analysis and art-historical research through object-focused study and an intensively researched MA dissertation.
You also have the option to develop your interdisciplinary interests by taking modules in related academic disciplines such as history, literature, archaeology, philosophy, sociology and others.
Our expert academic staff support you every step of the way through personalised, small-group teaching, individual tutorials and field trips.
As well as your core module, you will study four option modules and complete a dissertation. If you're on the Islamic art and culture pathway, at least two of these option modules must be from the specific list below. Your dissertation must also be on a related topic.
You'll choose four options. You can still study the Islamic art and culture modules without committing to the pathway. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information, please get in touch.
You can also choose a limited number of modules from those offered by other humanities departments at York and by our centres.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You'll complete your dissertation with the support of your academic supervisor. The dissertation will be 10,000-12,000 words.
Recent dissertation topics have included:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
The Department of History of Art offers so much more than I had ever dreamed of when I was applying. It is an amazing academic community to be a part of.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2026/27 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
A wide range of funding opportunities includes placements with funding from the Department's partnership studentships with museums and galleries, departmental studentships, overseas scholarships and funding for students with specific research interests.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Each option module is taught by weekly two-hour seminars. You'll have the opportunity to go on field-trips organised by the Department to view art and architecture, these will be an integral part of your learning.
You'll be taught with lectures, seminars and one-to-one meetings with your lecturer or supervisor. You'll have six hours on average per week of classes.
You'll study independently for 31-33 hours per week on average. This time gives you space to read widely and develop your thoughts on specialised topics.
We offer an extensive programme of research seminars and events which are an invaluable way to engage with different aspects of your subject, along with discussing module themes with your peers, and the staff weekly office hours.
You can make use of extensive art history resources within the Department.
You will be based in the Department of History of Art on Campus West, with most of your contact hours being in Vanbrugh College.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You'll submit a 4,000 word essay per option module. For the Research Skills in History of Art module, you'll produce a dissertation portfolio as your assessment. You'll also complete a dissertation.
We offer amazing partnerships and placements with numerous museums and galleries that will help you in your future career. We work with the National Gallery, Tate, the V&A, and York Museums Trust. We have excellent relationships with regional museums, galleries and country houses— including the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Castle Howard, the Hepworth Wakefield, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the Henry Moore Institute. The course prepares you for higher research degrees and a range of possible careers. Read about some of our alumni and where their degree has taken them.
Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we'll help you find your career advantage.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent |
| Other qualifications and experience | We will consider applications from mature students or applicants without formal academic qualifications if you have substantial related experience. We may ask you for an interview in this instance. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
You will need to submit an example of written work with your application. Please see our guidance on submitting written work.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
