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BA History and History of Art

Start date
September
Duration
3 Years
UCAS code
VV13
Course Type
Undergraduate, Joint Honours combined
Fees

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26:
£9,535 (UK)
£25,520 (International)
More detail.

Our undergraduate BA History and History of Art degree at the University of Birmingham will enable you to investigate past and present cultures - and the process of human creativity itself. You'll explore unfamiliar territory and question some of the myths, preconceptions and prejudices that surround our past.

Our degree gives you the opportunity to explore your interests in both History and Art History through a wide range of core and optional modules, from the medieval to the contemporary, and across a range of global contexts. Joint Honours flexibility enables you to develop your own interests in second and final years. Central to your learning will be the study of original artworks, texts and archives. You will have access to unparalleled resources in our Special Collections of rare books and over 2 million manuscripts and archive items, and in our outstanding campus art collections.

Study trips play an important part in your degree. For History of Art, you will visit a major European centre of artistic importance on a university-funded trip, led by academic staff, and you will have the opportunity to join regular gallery visits throughout your degree.

 

Barber Institute refurbishment

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is currently undergoing a two-phase £10 million improvement program which includes a temporary closure of the Lady Barber Gallery and select areas until June 2024 and, in Phase Two, a temporary closure of the Barber Institute's building from February 2025 until late autumn 2025, as we make essential repairs and upgrades to enhance your future experience.

Find out more

 

From the grounding in a broad variety of art practices and theories, and the community of students and supportive department; to the Barber Institute and growing contemporary arts scene in the city, the University of Birmingham is an amazing place to study.

Ros

Why study this course?

BA History and History of Art is right for you if you want to... 

  • Develop your interest in two complementary areas – gain key transferable skills including textual and visual analysis. Our modules explore how the past informs the present and provides a global historical understanding from the Middle Ages to the present. You will also learn how to analyse artworks from a range of perspectives including social history, feminist, queer and decolonial methodologies. 
  • Engage with our on-campus gallery - Our Department is based in the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, with an internationally renowned collection of Western art including works by Botticelli, Manet and Kollwitz. Many of your lectures and seminars will take place in the Barber’s teaching spaces and gallery, and you'll get to enjoy the fine art library and regular exhibitions and events.  
  • Live in a city and region brimming with culture - Birmingham is home to internationally leading museums, galleries and cultural events, from Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which houses the world’s largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, to the Ikon with its vibrant programme of contemporary art. The Department organises regular study trips to local and national galleries and museums, and the week-long University-funded trip to a major European city is another highlight of the programme. 
  • Learn how to interpret artworks and the societies that created them - Your learning will be directly informed by our research; 95% of our Department’s staff research is ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Excellence Framework 2021).   
  • Boost your employability skills - A History degree will equip you with skills that employers value. There’s a chance to learn a new language for free, take our Professional Skills module and take advantage of the paid internships offered exclusively to University of Birmingham students. 92% of our History graduates are in work or further study (Discover Uni stats 2022).  

Modules

Please note: You will take 120 credits of modules in each year of study. The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Joint Honours flexibility

Every degree programme at the University is divided into 120 credits of study for each year of the programme. In the first year of a Joint Honours programme, you will study 60 credits in each subject as you learn the core elements of the disciplines. We recognise that students on Joint Honours programmes might come to favour one subject slightly more than another. To account for this, we have added more flexibility into the second and final years of our programmes. In the second year, you can stick with the 60-60 split between the two subjects or shift to a 80-40 credit weighting, effectively a major/ minor combination. You can either go back to 60-60 in the final year, maintain the same 80-40 split or reverse the major and the minor and go to a 40-80 weighting.

Year 1

History Compulsory Modules:

  • Practising History (A): Skills in History (10 credits)
  • Practising History (B): Skills in History (10 credits)

History Optional modules

  • 40 credits of optional modules 

Detailed descriptions of Year 1 History modules 

History of Art Compulsory Modules

  • Historical Concepts in the History of Art (20 credits)
  • Debates and Methods in the History of Art (20 credits)
  • Writing Art's Histories I: From Antiquity to Enlightenment (10 credits)
  • Writing Art's Histories II: Modern and Contemporary Art (10 credits)

Detailed descriptions of Year 1 History of Art compulsory modules

Year 2

History Modules

As a Joint Honours student you have the flexibility to tailor your degree in terms of weightings across your two subjects as well as choosing between a wide range of optional courses. There is just one core module that all students take, ‘Topics in History’ - which includes a range of particular topics you can choose from. All students must also choose one of the optional modules within the Department of History in the Autumn term.

  • Students taking 80 credits in History will choose: an autumn option and Topics in History, plus 40 further credits of optional modules chosen from 'History in Theory and Practice', a 'Sources in History' module, or a spring option. You can also choose, if you wish, a Future or Professional Skills module which is taken in the Autumn term.
  • Students taking 60 credits in History will choose: an autumn option and Topics in History, plus 20 further credits of optional modules chosen from 'History in Theory and Practice', a 'Sources in History' module, or a spring option. You can also choose, if you wish, a Future or Professional Skills module which is taken in the Autumn term.
  • Students taking 40 credits in History will choose: an autumn option and Topics in History.

 Optional modules in History 

History of Art Compulsory Modules

  • 80 credits - Art History in the Field: Overseas Study Trip (10 credits); Research Techniques in History of Art (10 credits); optional modules
  • 60 credits - Art History in the Field: Overseas Study Trip (10 credits); Research Techniques in History of Art (10 credits);  optional modules
  • 40 credits - No compulsory modules, you will spend your History of Art credits in optional modules

Detailed descriptions of Year 2 compulsory modules

 Optional modules in History of Art 

Year Abroad

You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year, you will be eligible to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year.

More about a Year Abroad

Final Year

All students must take 40 credits of independent study in either Art History or History selected from the modules below. Students taking 60 credits in Art History and History must take one of the following dissertation modules. Students taking 80 credits in Art History or History cannot take the JH Link Dissertation.

Link Disseration (40 credits)

Or

History Modules

  • 80 credits; History Dissertation (40 credits) ; optional modules including two Special Subject modules and, if you wish, a Professional Skills module if not undertaken the previous year
  • 60 credits; either two Special Subject modules and/or Dissertation (40 or 20 credits); optional modules including if you wish a Professional Skills module if not undertaken the previous year
  • 40 credits; Special Subjects modules (20+20 credits) 

 Optional modules in History

History of Art Modules

80 credits; History of Art Long Dissertation (40 credits); optional modules including a Professional Skills module if not undertaken the previous year

60 credits; Dissertation (40 or 20 credits); optional modules including a Professional Skills module if not undertaken the previous year

Optional modules in History of Art

Detailed descriptions of History of Art Final Year compulsory modules

Additional optional modules in History of Art

Fees

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time. Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Fees for 2025/26 are as follows:

  • UK: £9,535
  • International: £25,520

Eligibility for fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students.

For further information on tuition fees, living costs and available financial support, please see our pages on undergraduate fees and funding.

Tuition fees when studying abroad

For those spending a whole academic year abroad (where available):

  • Students who are classed as UK for fees purposes are required to pay 15% of their normal annual tuition fee
  • Students who are classed as International for fee purposes are required to pay 50% of their normal annual tuition fee

For those studying abroad for just one semester (where available), normal annual tuition fees apply.

Note - Study abroad opportunities vary between courses; please see the course description for details of study abroad options offered.

Additional Course Costs:

For the optional second year Art History in the Field: Overseas Study Trip, students will be expected to cover the cost of passport acquisition and visas (where required), subsistence costs (e.g. lunch, dinner, drinks etc.), travelling around the destination city, and individual entry to museums/galleries where the University was unable to pay in advance as a group. Insurance costs are covered by the University providing students are normally registered and register with the university’s insurance prior to their departure, using the official link provided in the module information. If a student fails to complete the relevant procedure before leaving the UK, they will not be covered by the insurance.

How To Apply

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
ABB
Required subjects and grades:
A Level humanities subjects.

A Level History, Medieval History or Ancient History is preferred but we welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate an interest in and an aptitude for the study of history and history of art. Acceptable subjects include: Ancient History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Business Studies, Classical Civilisation, Drama and Theatre Studies, Economics, English Language, English Language and Literature, English Literature, Environmental Studies, Geography, Government and Politics, History, History of Art, Law, Medieval History, Modern or Classical Languages, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Sociology. If you are not studying one or more of the above then please contact us to discuss your application.

If you are not taking A level History then we will require GCSE History grade 7 and at least one humanities subject at A level or equivalent.

IB Diploma:
6,5,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall.

BTEC qualifications:

  • BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned above.
  • BTEC Diploma: DD, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned above.
  • BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A level, including the required subject/s mentioned above.

Other qualifications are considered - learn more about entry requirements.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

We welcome applications from international students and invite you to join our vibrant community of over 4500 international students who represent 150 different countries. We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

Support

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham. 

Personal tutors – You will be assigned your own personal tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.

Wellbeing Officers –You will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, or to talk through any problems you might be experiencing, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond if you need it.

Our Academic Skills Centre helps you to become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support services. The centre offers workshops on a range of topics, such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.

The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) provides guidance on writing essays and dissertations if you need it. You can receive individual support from an academic writing advisor and meet with postgraduate tutors who specialise in particular subjects too.

Our Student Experience Team will help you get the most out of your academic experience. They offer research opportunities, study skills support, and help you prepare for your post-university career. They also organise social events, including trips.

Teaching staff

Students at the University of Birmingham are taught by a mixture of professors, senior lecturers, lecturers and doctoral researchers, thereby receiving a rich diversity of academic knowledge and experience. Many of our teaching staff have published important works about their areas of expertise, whilst others have taught at international institutions and can offer unique perspectives of their subjects.

You can find out more about the members of staff (including their qualifications, publication history and specific areas of interest) in their academic profiles linked below.

Study trips play an important part in the teaching on the programme. These include visits to galleries and museums in Birmingham and the West Midlands, as well as overseas group trips that are funded by the University. Recent destinations have included Rome, Berlin and Paris, and provide you with the opportunity to examine works of art and architecture in situ.

One-to-one tutorials become increasingly important as you progress through your course. This is particularly the case in your final year, when a major part of your programme will be a dissertation on a topic of your choice. Tutorials enable you to discuss your research with your project supervisor in depth.

Contact Hours

All Birmingham degrees are set within a credit framework designed to measure your academic achievements. We expect all students to accumulate 120 credits in each full year of study which is equivalent to 40 hours of learning a week. Learning is considered to include contact learning (lectures and seminars), private study, revision and assessment.

For this programme, those 40 hours are estimated to be broken down and split into lectures, seminars and other guided teaching opportunities and then independent study. This is a general rule across the entire academic year and may change week by week.

  • Year 1: 15% Lectures, seminars or similar and 85% Independent study
  • Year 2: 15% Lectures, seminars or similar and 85% Independent study
  • Year 3: 10% Lectures, seminars or similar and 90% Independent study

Assessment Methods

Assessments - you will be assessed in a variety of ways to help you transition to a new style of learning. At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. Assessments methods will vary with each module and could include:

  • coursework, such as essays
  • group and individual presentations
  • and exams

Feedback - you will receive feedback on each assessment within three weeks, so you can learn from each assignment. You will also be given feedback on any exams that you take. If you should fail an exam, we will ensure that particularly detailed feedback is provided to help you prepare for future exams.

As a History and History of Art student you will have an excellent opportunity to develop skills that are attractive to employers.

These skills include:

  • Strong communication skills;
  • A deep understanding of the past;
  • The ability to research, analyse and interpret complex information;
  • Leadership and teamwork;
  • Handling complex information;
  • The ability to form concise and articulate arguments;
  • Managing your time and prioritising your workload

These are key skills that will enable you to pursue either further study in History and History of Art disciplines or move into employment in a wide range of other careers. 

Example industries:

  • Accountancy
  • Charity work
  • Housing
  • Human Resources
  • International Development
  • Law
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Publishing
  • Politics
  • Retail Management
  • Teaching
  • Library and Archive work
  • Postgraduate study 

Example employers:

  • Kettle’s Yard
  • The Bodleian Library
  • Cath Kidston
  • Historic Royal Palaces
  • The National Portrait Gallery
  • Christie’s
  • National Museum of Wales
  • The Victoria and Albert Museum

Example roles:

  • Archivist
  • Curator
  • Gallery Coordinator
  • Events Officer
  • Exhibitions Assistant
  • Learning and Access Officer
  • Programme Coordinator
  • Researcher

 

Developing your career

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report. Our Careers Network are here to offer you tailored, expert advice on your career plans and support you with finding and applying for jobs, internships and further study. There are hundreds of events to help you meet potential employers and learn more about the breadth of opportunities and career sectors available to you.

Support will be offered to you covering the whole job application process, including CVs, LinkedIn, application forms, interviews and assessment centres.  You can also email our experienced Careers Advisors and College Teams to review your applications or answer any careers related question, alongside our on campus and online 1:1 appointments.

We have a number of exclusive work experience programmes such as our B-Experienced programme, which will give you professional experience to set you apart in the graduate market. We also offer work experience bursaries, which allow you to apply for funding to support you during any unpaid internships in the UK and rest of the world.

First years can take part in The Birmingham Project, with themes including celebrating arts and culture and shaping a global society. There’s also a successful Mentoring Programme, where you can gain access to experienced Mentors who can empower, inspire and inform you about their experiences.  As a University of Birmingham student you will also be given access to LinkedIn Learning giving free access to real world training courses to kick-start your careers.

If you want to earn money WorkLink advertises convenient part-time job opportunities on campus to fit round your studies.  

Extra-curricular activities

To enhance your career prospects even further, you may want to engage in extra-curricular activities to broaden your skills and your network of contacts. The Birmingham Award is the University of Birmingham’s employability programme, supporting you to develop and recognise the attributes you gain through extra-curricular activities. The award is supported by graduate employers and offers you an opportunity to showcase participation in activities outside of your degree programme.’

There are 300+ student groups and volunteering opportunities offered by the Guild of Students (our Students’ Union) so you’re bound to find activities that you want to be involved in whilst meeting friends who share your interests.