History of Art

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BA Application

UCAS

For further enquiries please email hoa_ugadmissions@ucl.ac.uk

History of Art - 2013 Entry

History of Art with Material Studies - 2013 entry

Frequently Asked Questions: three sections

A. Before I decide to Apply

B. About my application

C. Life at UCL and your degree programme

A Before I decide to apply

1. What ‘A’ levels (and equivalent qualifications) do we seek?

We don’t have a fixed policy. Applicants who have taken a ‘science’ element at ‘A’ level or equivalent make strong candidates for our HAMS programme. In the 2010 admissions round we offered interviews to 80+ students doing ‘A’ levels. 59% of these had some form of Art & Design; 57% English Literature or something like it, 49% History of Art (HoA), 42% History, 26% a modern language, 16% Government, Politics or Sociology, 16% Maths, and a long tail of other subjects including Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Religious Studies. Every A-level student we invited for interview had at least one of A&D, English, History of Art or History. These data give the facts from one year, not any sort of rule. If you are seriously interested in our subject, the fact that you have not done either A&D or History of Art at 18+ is no sort of barrier to us taking your application seriously. If you have done both Art & Design AND Art History, we would require that your other A-level(s) be in mainstream academic subjects such as English, a foreign language or a science, and may specify an A in such a subject in a conditional offer. At degree level History of Art (HoA) is a subject in which students have to read both extensively and intensively in texts that are rich in information and often demanding in their theoretical complexity; so we are interested in evidence that you can met such demands.

2. What is the HoA Modern Foreign Language requirement?

The department requires candidates to have a B-grade or equivalent in a Modern Foreign language at GCSE or similar 16+ level:  this is a higher requirement than the standard UCL requirement of a C-grade. Because the department specialises in the Art History of the western tradition, we used to specify a modern European language. We no longer do so, but remain committed to the idea that our students should be able to access relevant sources and discussions in languages other than English, recognising that relevant discussions, like relevant works of art, come from a wide range of language-areas. UCL’s main admissions web-site discusses the University’s policy in respect to applicants who were prevented (e.g. by the offer at their school), from taking a Modern Foreign Language: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate-study/application-and-entry/undergraduate-study/application-and-entry/ug-requirements/

This department will try to show equivalent flexibility, but potential applicants should be aware that our commitment to second-language competence is a real one; if they do not meet the HoA criterion, their application should address the fact.

3. How important is the school reference?

Very. We like school references which are as specific as possible about your academic strengths and which give us a clear picture of you as a person. If you are doing a Foundation course or if you are seeking to transfer from another university, a current tutor might also be a suitable referee. A reference from a current employer or other similar person could also be suitable.

4. How important is the personal statement?

Very. Your main objective in writing the statement should be to give the Admissions Tutor a clear impression of what you are like, how you think, and why you want to study History of Art. Write in a vigorous, direct style. Don’t try to be overly clever, but be confident, clear and honest. History of Art is a text-heavy discipline, so evidence of reading in or around the subject is a plus. An interest in viewing art is also considered positively, although no priority is given to students who have travelled extensively to do so over those whose experience of art is closer to home. This is the only part of the form over which you have complete control, so it is important to use it well.

5. I want to take a gap year: can I apply for a deferred entry place?

Yes, certainly. We consider deferred entry applications without prejudice.

6. Can mature students apply?

Yes.  A student is considered mature when they are over 21 at the point of entry. Rather than asking for specific qualifications, we ask mature students for evidence of recent, successful study. This is usually in the form of an Access course which should be taken at an OCN (Open College Network approved) institute of Further Education.

7. Do you accept transfers from other Universities?

Transfers into the UCL History of Art programmes from other departments
in UCL are covered by standard UCL procedures: consult the History of Art
Admissions Tutor.

Transfers from other universities: UCL does not accept transfers into
the final year of any programme. UCL History of Art's policy is only to
agree to transfers into the second year of our programmes from History
of Art courses at other universities in the UK or elsewhere if four
conditions are met: (1) there is a good match between what they have
learned already and what our students learn in Y1; (2) the student has
grades that indicate that they are as able as students already on the
course; (3) the student is faced with coercive medical or social reasons why they have to move to the London area; (4) there is space in the degree programme to which the student wishes to transfer. Please contact the History of Art Admissions Tutor to request a transfer

8. Can I study History of Art as a part time student? The department does not admit students who wish to study part-time.

9. How many students do you accept each year?

About 60-65 in all, including both UK/EU students and Overseas students, plus another 20–25 doing combined honours programmes of various sorts.

10. Can I visit the History of Art department?

UCL is an open campus. Anyone can wander round its public areas; and you should feel free to do so. The Department of History of Art does not normally arrange visits or consultations for individuals who want to look at the department: there is not a lot to see apart from offices, teaching rooms and one small laboratory.

11. Do you have Open Days?

UCL has an Open Day in late June or early July. The University of London has an Open Day in mid September. On the UCL Open day it is possible to visit the department, and on all of these days the admissions tutor is normally present to introduce the department and/or answer your queries.

12. Can I spend time at an overseas University as part of my degree?

The structure of our three-year degrees V350 and V3F2 make it impossible to take time away from UCL. Students who wish to spend a year abroad while studying history of art should apply through the ‘Modern Languages Plus’ programme (RY00)

13. Do we accept Late Applications?

The answer to that may depend on your fee status. We may indeed close the course to late applications for students whose admission is covered by the UK/EU quota system, while keeping it open for others. Practice is flexible, and varies from year to year: up-to-date information is available via UCAS.

B About my application

14. Do you hold interviews?

Yes.  UCL, unlike many universities, continues with the interview process. We normally expect those interviews to be face-to-face here in the department in January, February and/or March.

15. Do I have to attend my interview if offered one?

It is departmental policy to make offers only after interview. We normally expect those interviews to be face-to-face here in the department. The interview will be accompanied by a chance to talk to current undergraduates and to fellow candidates, and will include a tour of UCL; it is a good chance for you to interview us, as well as vice-versa. However, for some students the cost and trouble of getting to UCL would be very high; that is especially the case for overseas applicants, and for UK students who have plans to be abroad in those months. Some students resident in the UK may also find a day trip to London very difficult or prohibitively expensive. All students in such circumstances may ask us to arrange a telephone interview instead.

16. Will the department pay for any costs to come to Interviews?

No, but please see the remarks about telephone interviews in answer 15.

17. How do we communicate with interviewees?

The Department invites candidates for interview by email. Very rarely, those we invite claim they never received an invitation. In all of these cases the applicant had a Hotmail account. Please ensure (1) that you are not operating close to your quota limit, and (2) that your spam filters are not excluding communications they should be keeping in.

18. When can I expect to receive a decision on my application?

Candidates who apply by the UCAS January deadline can expect to receive a decision via UCAS by the dates given in the UCAS guides for applicants. Late applicants can expect to receive a decision by mid to late July.

We try our best to make decisions as quickly as possible. However, before interview we may hold up early applications in order to compare them with later ones before inviting a group to interview. After interview it may be some time before we make a decision about whether or not to offer a place to an interviewee (and for candidates to hear about it through UCAS), because we will be comparing candidates from different interview days as well as phone interviewees.

C Life at UCL and your degree programme

19. How can I find out about accommodation and other aspects of student life?

For queries about studying at UCL which are not related to your academic life in the History of Art Department, you should consult the UCL prospective student pages of our website for the contact details of the relevant departments e.g. Accommodation.

20. How will I be assessed?

By a combination of (written) examination and coursework. All courses are assessed during and at the end of each academic year, not just at the end of your degree. You can find out more by exploring the ‘current students’ sections of the website.

21. How many teaching hours are there a week?

This varies according to the course units you are taking. An average week may probably provide 8-10 contact hours. You are expected to spend +/-30 hours a week studying, in addition to time spent in lectures and seminars. Students usually spend of lot of their time studying in the UCL library and the nearby Senate House and British Library, as well as doing close looking in London’s museums and galleries. In addition, all academic staff and personal tutors have regular office hours, which you are encouraged to attend.

22. How can I find out more about the degree programmes?

Browse through the History of Art information for current students web-pages, and for an official and technical description, look via http://www.ucl.ac.uk/academic-services/qme/ucl-prog-specs/shs-prog-specs at the ‘programme specifications’ for History of Art Single Honours’ and for the History of art with material Studies’ degrees.

 "The wealth of resources available to people living in London is enormous.  Before I lived here, I did not realise that everything was in such easy proximity.  It is easy to walk to most places and the transport networks connect to places further out of reach.  I have spent a great deal of time in the main UCL library.  It is at the centre of UCL and is a fabulous space with an amazing collection.  UCL students also have access to the Senate House Library of the University of London.  It is amazing to have such great reference material available to us with such easy availability."

James Baskerville, 2nd Year HAMS BA 

"I have always been interested in Art; I love drawing, painting and visiting galleries, but by A level I was also very interested in History, so I decided to combine the two.  My programme allows me to explore in depth issues concerning the history of art and the materiality of the art objects we examine.  This is giving me a broad knowledge base which I will then be able to utilise in a future career or even just the next time I visit a gallery.  I am beginning to consider the possibility of working in an auction house, like Sotheby's"

Ameilia Anderson, 3rd Year BA

Transfers into the UCL History of Art programmes from other departments
in UCL are covered by standard UCL procedures: consult the History of Art
Admissions Tutor.

Transfers from other universities: UCL does not accept transfers into
the final year of any programme. UCL History of Art's policy is only to
agree to transfers into the second year of our programmes from History
of Art courses at other universities in the UK or elsewhere if four
conditions are met: (1) there is a good match between what they have
learned already and what our students learn in Y1; (2) the student has
grades that indicate that they are as able as students already on the
course; (3) the student is faced with coercive medical or social reasons why they have to move to the London area; (4) there is space in the degree programme to which the student wishes to transfer. Please contact the History of Art Admissions Tutor to request a transfer