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BA (Hons) History/History of Art

Combining artistic movements with the movement of time.

Year of entry: 2025/26

UCAS code

VV13

Institution code

Y50

Length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

AAB (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2025 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£25,800 per year

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in the UK for history

Complete University Guide 2025

in the UK for history of art, architecture and design

Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

An integrated history and art history degree will enable you to understand the forces that have shaped past societies and cultures, along with the artworks and artistic movements which those societies have produced.

This joint degree brings together two humanities disciplines to develop your skills in research, analysis and presentation. We offer an exceptionally wide variety of specialist options that range from the study of medieval churches to the history of twentieth-century Japan. 

You'll gain expertise in the interpretation of visual forms of evidence such as paintings, architecture and material culture along with the ability to produce in-depth analysis of historical texts. You'll graduate as a highly-skilled, creative communicator, ready to make a valuable impact in a wide variety of industries.

A huge range of modules

Our courses cross the globe and take in more than a millennium of history, from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Collaborations with museums and galleries

Our range of collaborations with museums and galleries will be invaluable to your education

Course content

You'll divide your modules equally between the History and History of Art departments. This may vary slightly if you take an elective module in another department.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

This year of the degree is designed to help you ground your historical knowledge. Your modules will also provide you with a broad background to help you think about art in historical contexts.

Core modules

You will also choose one of the following:

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

Your second year builds on the skills you acquired in the first year and gives you the opportunity to broaden your historical knowledge. You’ll also get the chance look behind the scenes of a museum and learn the art of curatorship.

Core modules

Option modules

You will study four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

History of Art
History

Elective modules

You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.

Year 3

In your final year of the History and History of Art degree, you'll have the option of writing a dissertation in either discipline. You'll also study four option modules from both disciplines.

History Pathway

or

History of Art Pathway

Option modules

You will study four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

History of Art
Comparative History
History Special Subjects

Elective modules

You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Communicate knowledge of past societies and their art and architecture, employing different conceptual, theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the past and its visual legacies.
  • Take a critical and questioning approach to existing interpretations of textual and visual sources, and assess the value and significance of texts and visual and material culture.
  • Contextualise visual material in order to explore its meanings and significance while also using this material to extend our understandings of a particular time and place.
  • Make connections and comparisons between the ideas, cultures and societies of different time periods and places around the world.
  • Carry out an original and independent investigative project using textual and visual sources, including identifying relevant primary material, developing methodologies, interpreting sources in context and constructing meaningful research questions.
  • Convey complex ideas with clarity and precision and make sophisticated and persuasive arguments based on both visual and textual evidence.
  • Work well both independently and in collaboration with others, managing time effectively, meeting deadlines and taking an analytical approach to extending their own knowledge and skills.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £25,800

Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.

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.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional costs

You will have to pay for the cost of printing some assignments for submission as assessed work in Years 2 and 3.

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

Department funding

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

At every stage of your degree, we're committed to research-led teaching. We emphasise engagement over memorising facts. That's why we include seminars, discussion groups, specialist workshops and field trips in our curriculum.

  • In seminars and the weekly discussion groups that accompany lectures, tutors work closely with groups of students.
  • All History modules use online materials in a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures4-5 hours per week
Seminars2-3 hours per week
Tutorials3 hours
Workshops0-1 hours per week

These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.

Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Facilities

We are home to the Borthwick Institute for Archives, a major archive repository in Britain. It holds the records of the Archbishopric of York from the early thirteenth century onwards, and specialises in the study of ecclesiastic institutions.

There are several other important archives housed at York, including the JB Morrell Library and the Raymond Burton Library for Humanities Research. These contain collections covering subjects such as the British Civil Wars, French Revolution and Modern Asian history. Find out more about our libraries.

King's Manor houses The Wormald, Newton and Newbold collections, major resources for medieval art history, are housed in the King's Manor, as is the Architectural Studies Library, an invaluable source for architectural historians.

Teaching location

You will be based in both the Department of History and the Department of History of Art on Campus West.

Your contact hours will be divided between Vanbrugh College on Campus West, and King's Manor in the city centre.

About our campus

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 - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

Your first-year work doesn't contribute toward your final marks. We recognise that you are only beginning to develop over the course of your degree. 

From Year 2 onward, formal assessments contribute toward your degree. In your third year, your 8,000-word dissertation focuses on a specific topic of your choice.

  • Before formal assessment in many modules, you'll carry out procedural work. You will receive extensive written feedback, which will help you in your formal assessment.
  • Assessments range from research essays, to collaborative projects, to open 'take-home' examinations.
  • Your final-year dissertation should be a topic that is interesting to you. Don't be afraid to explore.
Two students analysing a work of art
A student answering a question in a seminar

Careers and skills

History and History of Art graduates are valued in the workplace for their ability to take the lead in project work and undertake independent research. They are critical thinkers, highly skilled in the evaluation of visual and written material, and creative communicators of their ideas. 

Career opportunities

Our graduates have gone on to work in sectors such as:

  • Museum curatorship
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Diplomacy and government
  • Media
  • Arts administration
  • Teaching

Transferable skills

You'll develop a range of transferable skills including:

  • Critical thinking
  • Sophisticated verbal and written skills
  • Independent research skills
  • Analysis of a variety of media
  • Time management

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

AAB including an A in either History or Classical Civilisation

Access to Higher Education Diploma Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 36 credits at Distinction including at least 9 credits in History-related units and 9 credits at Merit or higher.
BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD with an additional A Level or equivalent qualification in either History or Classical Civilisation at grade A
Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, M2 including D3 in History
European Baccalaureate 80% overall, including 85% in History
International Baccalaureate 35 points, including 6 in History at Higher Level
T levels We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in History has been taken.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Advanced Highers - B in History plus Scottish Highers - BBBB

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
International foundation programme Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria Adjustment
Widening participation If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers ABC including an A in either History or Classical Civilisation
More about contextual offers.
EPQ If you achieve A or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.
MOOCs If you successfully complete our online course Accents, attitudes and identity do let us know, as you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about MOOCs.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
Oxford Test of English Advanced 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component
Duolingo Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component
TOEFL 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components
Other English language qualifications We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates.

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our 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.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

All applications must be made through UCAS. We look for intellectual curiosity, open-mindedness, and analytical ability.

We usually only interview mature candidates and candidates with special circumstances and/or qualifications.

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Learn more

Department of History, Department of History of Art

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