Combining artistic movements with the movement of time
Year of entry: 2020
VV13
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
AAB (full entry requirements)
September 2020 (term dates)
£9,250 per year (2020/21)
£17,890 per year (2020/21)
Join us on campus or online and find out what studying at York is really like.
Find out moreAn integrated art and 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.
The History of Art is 5th, and History is 7th in the UK (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020).
Students normally divide their modules equally between the History and History of Art departments. This may vary slightly if you take an elective module in another department.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
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.
History
Chose one from:
History of Art
Choose one from:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
This year will help you to develop the tools you will need to use in your final dissertation. You'll also get the chance look behind the scenes of a museum and learn the art of curatorship.
You'll choose one Histories and Contexts module (20 credits). You'll typically be able to choose from around eight options:
You'll also choose one Explorations module (30 credits). We usually offer around 18 options for you to choose from:
History of Art
You'll choose one intermediate seminar module (20 credits) in the Autumn Term. You'll typically have around 5 options to choose from. Recent examples include:
In the Spring Term, you'll either choose a further intermediate seminar module (20 credits), or a Museology and Curatorship module (20 credits).
Recent intermediate seminar options have included:
You'll also complete a dissertation training module (20 credits), building the skills you'll need when you embark on your dissertation in the third year. You'll develop your ability to work independently and design imaginative research strategies. You'll learn to how to devise a topic for your dissertation and gain crucial insight into conducting academic research.
Your final year will be all about preparing your final dissertation, which bridges the two subjects you will have studied. You'll also be introduced to the latest research in both fields.
You'll complete a dissertation spanning both History and History of Art:
You'll choose a Special Subject module in History (40 credits), typically from around 16 options. These are an advanced, source-based course on specific historical topic, taught through seminars.
You'll also choose a Special Subject module in History of Art (40 credits). You can choose to study this in either the Autumn or over the Spring and Summer Term. There are around five options per term.
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
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.
| UK/EU | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £17,890 |
You will have to pay for the cost of printing some assignments for submission as assessed work in Years 2 and 3.
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK, EU or international student.
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.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2020/21 throughout the year.
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.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
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.
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 your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 4-5 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 2-3 hours per week |
| Tutorials | 3 hours |
| Workshops | 0-1 hours per week |
| Field trips | 8 hours per term |
These figures are based on an average student in an average 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 term time. 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.
You will be based in both the Department of History on Campus West.
Most of your teaching will be in Vanbrugh College. Your remaining contact hours will take place in other locations on Campus West.
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.
Your first-year work doesn't contribute toward your final marks. We recognise that students are only beginning to develop over the course of their degree.
From Year 2 onward, formal assessments contribute toward your degree. In your third year, your 10,000-word dissertation focuses on a specific topic of your choice.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 54% | 40% | 47% |
| Coursework | 44% | 57% | 50% |
| Practical exams | 2% | 3% | 3% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
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.
Our graduates have gone on to work in sectors such as:
You'll develop a range of transferable skills including:
| Qualification | 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, with a Grade 6 in History at Higher Level |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
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 one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. 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. |
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 | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
We recognise the difficulties in taking English language tests due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We have taken the decision to relax the English language requirements published above by 0.5 IELTS (or equivalent).
We are closely monitoring the situation as it evolves and are considering further options to support offer-holders in meeting their English language conditions. Further information about our responses to COVID-19.
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 IELTS 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.
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.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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