Discover new ways of thinking about art across different periods and geographies.
Year of entry: 2026 (September)
Explore art history in both geographical and historical depth. Over the course of a full year, you will develop key research and analytical skills through rigorous critical approaches. This will enable you to shape and investigate a wide range of topics. You can choose from modules spanning the ancient world to the present day, tailoring the programme to reflect your own research interests. Small-group teaching is central to the course, fostering discussion and collaboration and supporting engagement with current debates shaping the discipline.
Join one of the largest and most vibrant art history departments in the UK. You will learn from leading researchers with global expertise, many of whom also bring professional experience from the wider cultural sector, including curating major international exhibitions. We have established relationships with museums and galleries across the UK, which inform our teaching and research culture. You may also have the opportunity to pursue placements or work-experience activities. We arrange these on an individual, ad hoc basis. Discover our collaborations.
Be part of an interdisciplinary research culture within York's Faculty of Arts and Humanities. This includes links with the Centre for Medieval Studies, Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies, and Centre for Modern Studies. As part of this community, you can take elective modules and attend research seminars across disciplines. You will also benefit from dedicated teaching spaces. This includes exhibition space in Heslington Hall and access to the University of York Art Collection.
Invest in your future. This course prepares you for careers in museums, galleries, and heritage organisations, as well as publishing, arts education, cultural policy and the wider creative industries. It also provides strong preparation for further academic research and doctoral study.
History of art is super inclusive. It’s unlike anything else in that, because the subject is so interested in perspective, the conversations are so exciting. Responses can be so different to the same piece of art, with a variety of interests, backgrounds and personalities contained in a seminar group.
This course can be tailored to your interests. You'll gain the skills to prepare you for independent research through a core module. You can then choose from option modules that span a broad range of topics. We'll support you to develop specialisms, pursue interests and explore areas that matter to you and your future career.
You'll acquire expertise in visual analysis through object-focused study. You will develop advanced skills in verbal and written communication. This will prepare you for your dissertation, the culmination of your degree.
You’ll study one core module, four option modules and complete a dissertation.
Examples of our option modules can be found below. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. Some option module combinations may not be possible.
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.
| 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 be taught through seminars and one-to-one meetings with your module tutors and supervisor. Each option module is taught by weekly two-hour seminars.
You'll also have the opportunity to go on field-trips organised by the Department related to your modules. These will be an integral part of your learning.
Each semester, you'll be invited to attend an extensive programme of research seminars and events.
You'll have full access to the University library and Borthwick Institute for Archives. These contain collections in original, reprint and microform formats covering many subjects.
The University of York is also home to the Norman Rea Gallery, the only student-run gallery in the UK. This space provides a platform for local and regional artists, and gives students a unique work experience in a contemporary campus-based art gallery.
Beyond the University libraries and archives, we are well-placed to draw on the vast resources locally and regionally. These include York Art Gallery, British Library (Boston Spa), The Hepworth Wakefield, The Henry Moore Institute and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. These all contain books, archives and specialist collections.
You will be based in the Department of History of Art on Campus West. Most of your contact hours will be 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 for each of your option modules For the Art History in Practice core module, you'll produce a dissertation portfolio. This will prepare you for the final submission of your dissertation of 10,000–12,000 words.
You'll gain the skills needed for a range of careers and to pursue a research degree. Our staff are experts in art history, meaning that you'll learn directly from professionals in the field. We also have a dedicated careers officer to support you when you need it.
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
