See the bigger picture
Year of entry: 2020
V352
Y50
4 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
£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 moreOur BA History of Art with a year abroad will give you four distinctive and complementary years of studying the history of art and architecture.
You'll start with a year-long introduction to the history of art with an option to study a language. You'll build on these essential skills in your second year which you'll spend studying with one of our prestigious partner institutions in Europe, the USA and China, immersing yourself in the language, culture, art and architecture. Back in York you'll receive rounded training in the discipline and practice of art history during years three and four.
During your time at York we'll introduce you to an extraordinary variety of art and architecture from many areas, including Europe and America, but also covering the Middle East, North Africa, and East and South Asia. You can also study an exciting range of time periods, from the late antique to the contemporary.
History of Art is a traditional humanities subject with a strong vocational element, allowing you to develop valuable transferable skills. We have partnerships with the Tate, the National Gallery, the V&A and York Museums trust. We also work on art beyond the museum and gallery system, including with partners in country houses, maritime museums and churches. These partnerships contribute to the teaching and research in our department - you'll benefit from our collaborative links with these institutions. In addition the interdisciplinary nature of art history allows you to develop your existing skills and interests and is reflected in our close relationship with other departments and centres in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
Our range of collaborations with museums and galleries will be invaluable to your education
History of Art teaches you to question everything. It's about how you see the world. I often have to produce articles quickly, which require quite a bit of previous research and reading. My degree was probably the best training ground for that level of production.Miranda, Reporter (BA History of Art, 2013)
Our course is designed and taught by expert art historians; many are curators with international reputations. In the first year of the course you'll receive a revealing and rigorous introduction to the history of art and architecture. You'll spend your second year studying with one of our partner institutions in Europe, the USA or China. As you progress in the third and fourth years you'll be able to specialise, choosing your own blend of modules taught by experts in the field and introducing you to the newest and most exciting research and ideas. By the end of your course, you'll have been able to study modules from across three chronological periods: Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern. You'll also be able to learn a language which can enhance your experience of art history, and benefit your career.
History of Art is a subject with a strong vocational element that will allow you to develop many transferable skills. We have a number of established partnerships, not just with art museums and galleries; we're also distinct in the number of partnerships we have with country houses, maritime museums and churches.
Here are just some of our partners:
There are other opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
Your first year introduces you to the fundamental concepts and skills you'll need as an art historian.
You will also choose one of these 20-credit modules to support your studies.
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:
In your second year you'll study with one of our partner universities in Europe, the USA or China. You'll study modules on offer at your host institution and you'll pay a reduced fee to York for that year of study. Your assessment will be via two modules, worth 60 credits each, in which you'll write a 2000-word essay discussing your experience abroad.
In your third year you'll be able to start exploring your own interests from a wide variety of time periods, contexts and media.
You'll spend time on a dissertation training module: 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.
You'll choose four modules from a wide range, with the opportunity to cover a number of different time periods and types of art.
Current module examples, 20 credits each:
Note: We often update the modules we run to reflect the active research in our Department. These modules are some of the ones running for our current students.
In your fourth year, you'll focus on two special subject modules and your dissertation.
Current module examples, 40 credits each:
Note: We often update the modules we run to reflect the active research in our department. These modules are some of the ones running for our current students.
Your dissertation will draw on the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout your degree. It will consist of 7,000-8,000 words and represents a year-long, independent research project on a topic that most interests you. You will also choose special subject modules that might either support your dissertation or broaden your horizons in a different direction.
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.
We are first in the UK for History of Art research impact according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the REF 2014.
We are ranked 5th in the UK by Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2020).
We have the student-run Norman Rea Gallery, collections of art on campus and other societies and groups for you to join.
| UK/EU | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £17,890 |
Many of the modules you can chose from will have associated field trips to allow you to visit the art and architecture. Field trips can be local, national or international. We will cover the cost of any major air/sea/rail travel and accommodation, but you will be expected to pay for local transportation, food and entrance costs.
Your second year will be spent abroad with one of our partner institutions and you will pay a reduced fee to York for that year of study.
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.
History of Art is one of the most intellectually stimulating degrees out there. Since starting at York I’ve had to gather and develop knowledge in a multitude of other subjects like psychology and philosophy as well as economic, social and political history.Dan
“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.
We believe that you learn best in an interactive and stimulating environment where you can discuss ideas with experts and fellow students, and develop your capacity for critical thought. Most of your teaching will be in small groups - of fifteen or fewer - supported by a combination of lectures, seminars, field trips, individual tutorials and online activities.
You'll be taught by the best: our art historians are curators with serious international reputations. Our internationally-renowned academics will challenge you to think critically about periods, places, images and ideas - and the scholarship they’ve inspired.
We believe in the importance of studying art and architecture in the original. So many modules include visits to collections, either locally, across the UK or on the Continent. The majority of these trips are funded. Recent destinations include: Rome, Paris, Milan, Florence and Basel. We also visit key cities in the UK; recent destinations have included Cambridge, Canterbury, Edinburgh, Manchester and London.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 2-3 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 2-3 hours per week |
| Tutorials | 1-2 hours per term |
| Workshops | 2 hours per week |
| Field trips | 12 trips. Most are around 2 hours long, though some day trips are also included. |
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.
The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours will vary from person to person. In UK higher education the expectation is that full-time students will spend 1,200 hours a year learning.
You will be based in the Department of History of Art which is on Campus West.
Your contact hours will be divided between Vanbrugh College on Campus West, and King's Manor in the city centre.
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.
We use varied assessments to develop and evaluate your different strengths. Our assessments include:
You'll receive regular feedback on your assessment. You'll get verbal and written advice on your work in one-to-one tutorials. You'll also be able to discuss your work with your personal supervisor, who will help support you throughout your degree.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 58% | 0% | 60% | 60% |
| Coursework | 30% | 100% | 33% | 33% |
| Practical exams | 12% | 0% | 7% | 7% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
My favourite thing about York is definitely the underground creative scene. At first glance, York can seem very Medieval focused in terms of visual arts but there’s a blossoming cultural scene that is incredibly engaging.Kasimiira, Iceland
The skills you'll develop on this course go far beyond art history. You might be surprised by the range of careers our students have gone in to. Our alumni are art educators, journalists, curators, auctioneers and valuers. We also have students who work in law, public administration, social work and education.
Many graduates take the first step of their careers on prestigious internships - recently at MoMA and the Guggenheim in Venice. Others go on to postgraduate study here and at other top universities.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB You do not need an A level in History of Art. |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, M2 |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points |
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 51 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 162 each component |
| TOEFL | 88 overall, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our undergraduate 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 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).
We currently make our selection based on your UCAS form. However if you have been away from study for some time you may be invited to interview.
In your personal statement we're particularly interested to know why you want to study History of Art. Tell us about any galleries, exhibitions, buildings or cities you've been to and particularly liked.
We don't expect you to have travelled the world: we're interested in what you have to say, rather than where you have been. Remember to keep it honest and personal – you’re not expected to love everything equally, so try to examine and then explain your own motivations for applying for the course.
If you receive an offer we'll invite you to one of our visit days which gives you a chance to experience our teaching style and to meet staff and students here. You'll also be able to explore the facilities of both our department and the wider University.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
