History of Art
University of Birmingham
UCAS Code: V350 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Accepted in place of A levels with the following grade equivalencies: D2 = A*; D3 = A; M2 = B. Combinations of A levels and Principle subjects are accepted. NB required subjects must be offered (see A level Section)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
6,5,5 in Higher Level subjects.
BTEC Extended Diploma, Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma are considered on a case by case basis when offered in combination with required A level - contact us for further guidance.
Accepted in place of a non-required A level with the equivalent grade.
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
History of Art is a way of unlocking the past through material culture and understanding the process of human creativity itself.
Discover art and visual culture through a broad range of perspectives, such as social history, global art, philosophy, anthropology, feminism and religion. You will have access to original works, a dedicated fine art library and collection of resources in the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, our acclaimed public gallery on-campus. Here you will find works by Botticelli, Van Gogh, Monet, Magritte, Degas, Gwen John, Vigée LeBrun and Rodin.
Study trips play an exciting part in your degree and include visits to galleries and museums in the UK and abroad. A highlight is the University-funded trip to a major European centre of artistic importance, where you have the opportunity to examine works of art and architecture in situ. Previous study trips have been to Rome, Prague, Berlin and Paris and are led by staff with specific research interests in the city. The trip provides a great opportunity to get to know your entire year group in an informal and inspiring setting.
**Why study this course?**
**The Golovine** – An official blog for the Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies at the University of Birmingham. You will be able to contribute to the blog regularly as part of the course. Read it to get an exclusive insight into topics including what it’s like studying at Birmingham, former student successes, research conducted and commentaries on art news.
**University-funded trips** - Gallery study trips are organised in the West Midlands and London, and you can enjoy a week-long, University-funded trip to a major European city in your second year. You might also choose to study abroad for one year or one semester during your degree. Our exchange universities include Melbourne University in Australia, Lund University in Sweden and Leiden University in the Netherlands.
**Great employability prospects** - 85% of our History of Art graduates in employment or further education 15 months after completion of their degree with £24,500 average earnings (Graduate Outcomes 2023). You will have the opportunity to apply for our funded arts internships with the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, or with other local cultural organisations.
**On-campus gallery** - Teaching regularly takes place in our working gallery on campus, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, which is home to a dedicated fine art library and world-class collection. Seminars and events are held here, which really help to deepen your understanding and expand your knowledge of the museum and heritage sector following our hands-on approach.
**A city brimming with culture** - The city of Birmingham hosts many art venues and cultural festivals. You will find a thriving underground arts scene, edgy contemporary pieces in the Ikon Gallery, and stunning traditional works in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which houses the largest collection of pre-Raphaelite artwork in the world.
**Top 10 for History of Art in the Guardian University Guide 2023**
**4th for History of Art in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023**
**Top 10 for History of Art in the Complete University Guide 2023**
Modules
First-year modules cover a broad base of the subject and are designed to introduce you to ways of studying at university. By the final year the modules you take will become more specialised and reflect the research expertise of the academic staff. More detailed module information can be found on the ‘Course detail’ tab on the University of Birmingham’s coursefinder web pages.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Birmingham
Department of Art History, Film and Visual Studies
What students say
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How do students rate their degree experience?
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History of art, architecture and design
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
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After graduation
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History of art, architecture and design
What are graduates doing after six months?
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Top job areas of graduates
This is a category for graduates taking a wide range of courses that don’t fall neatly into a subject group, so be aware that the stats you see here may not be a very accurate guide to the outcomes for the specific course you’re interested in. Management, finance, marketing, education and jobs in the arts are some of the typical jobs for these graduates, but it's sensible to go on open days and talk to tutors about what you might expect from the course, and what previous graduates did.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
History of art, architecture and design
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
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Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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