Dutch and History of Art BA
London, Bloomsbury
This is the programme information for 2025 entry
Our Dutch and History of Art degree offers huge scope for developing in-depth, comparative and intercultural approaches to the humanities, as well as near-native language skills. You will be able to choose from a wide range of modules including literature, linguistic traditions, history, sociology, philosophy, art, film or other aspects of the cultures associated with Dutch.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Programme starts
September 2025Application deadline
29 Jan 2025UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- ABB
- Subjects
- Modern foreign language preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- BBC more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- Foreign language preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
- Points
- 34
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5, Modern Foreign Language preferred.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 30 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. Modern foreign language preferred.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass in the Level 3 units. Modern Foreign Language preferred.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Modern Foreign Language preferred.
A,B,B at Advanced Highers (or A,B at Advanced Higher and B,B,B at Higher). Modern Foreign Language preferred.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades ABB. Modern Foreign language preferred.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 4
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
Your degree will be studied on a 50/50 ratio between Dutch and History of Art.
In your first, second and final years you will take language modules in Dutch and the literature, culture, history and linguistics related to it, as well as modules in your other discipline History of Art, (visit the History of Art department website for further details about modules).
You may also take modules offered by the School of European Languages, Culture & Society (SELCS), which offer an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on the full range of specialisms within the school.
Your third year is spent abroad in a country where your SELCS language is spoken, studying at a university or doing a work placement. We expect graduates to achieve the same linguistic competence whether or not they started from beginner level.
Over the four years, you will deepen your knowledge of the Dutch language and History of Art, while also developing valuable skills in cultural literacy and critical thinking.
What this course will give you
We provide an ideal environment for language study. UCL offers an unparalleled range of languages and facilities, including a well-equipped language learning suite, and many of our academic staff are renowned leaders in their fields.
The Year Abroad gives you the chance to attend a university or work overseas. During this time you will finesse your language skills in your target languages and gain valuable experience which will enhance future learning as well as career prospects.
UCL has a very international population, meaning you will meet people from all over the world, which provides numerous opportunities to practise and speak your chosen languages with native speakers and learn about the associated cultures and societies from them.
Our location in London provides access to frequent and varied cultural events, a huge range of museums, galleries, specialist libraries and bookshops, theatres, cinemas, cuisines and cultural societies.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Dutch and History of Art.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
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You will spend the first two years at UCL gaining expertise in the productive and receptive skills of Dutch languages as well as gaining a more developed understanding of the literature, cinema, politics, linguistics, history, culture and society of the country where Dutch is spoken. Alongside modules in your chosen discipline History of Art.
There is a compulsory year abroad in Year 3. You may study at a partner university or undertake an approved work placement. The final year is based at UCL where you will continue to study a range of advanced level modules on language, applied language (such as translation), literature, history, film and linguistics.
We are keen to ensure that students feel part of our community at UCL and therefore offer programme-specific core modules in Year 1 that students take together with their respective cohort. These offer a broader sense of their chosen discipline and an opportunity to share learning experiences. They also support students to make informed choices for their future years of study to carve out a degree pathway that suits them. Please visit our Undergraduate Modules page for more details.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Compulsory module(s)
Your degree will be studied on a 50/50 ratio between Dutch and History of Art.
In each year of study at UCL, you will take compulsory Dutch language modules, normally up to the value of 30 credits, accompanied by credits in literature, culture, history and linguistics related to your chosen language.
You will also take compulsory modules in History of Art in each year of study at UCL – for further details please see: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/art-history/undergraduate
Degrees that are 'and' another subject will usually comprise of 60 credits in SELCS modules and 60 credits from History of Art.
Optional modules
Optional modules include culture, literature, film, history and linguistics and may be language specific or interdisciplinary in focus.
Further details on modules are available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/programmes-courses/modules-and-timetable/undergraduate-modules
Optional modules
Compulsory module(s)
In each year of study at UCL, you will take compulsory Dutch language modules, normally up to the value of 30 credits, accompanied by credits in literature, culture, history and linguistics related to your chosen language.
You will also take compulsory modules in History of Art in each year of study at UCL – for further details please see: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/art-history/undergraduate
Optional modules
Further details on optional modules are available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/programmes-courses/modules-and-timetable/undergraduate-modules
Year abroad
Your third year is spent abroad. This will not only bring the language and culture you are studying to life, but also strengthen your resourcefulness and self-reliance. You will normally spend this year studying at a university in a country where your chosen language is spoken. Alternatives, such as work placements, may be possible.
For further details on the SELCS Year Abroad please consult: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/programmes-courses/undergraduate/year-abroad
Compulsory module(s)
In your final year of study at UCL, you will take compulsory Dutch language modules, normally up to the value of 30 credits, accompanied by credits in literature, culture, history and linguistics related to your chosen language.
You will also take compulsory modules in History of Art in each year of study at UCL – for further details please see: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/art-history/undergraduate
Optional modules
Further details on optional modules are available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/programmes-courses/modules-and-timetable/undergraduate-modules
Your learning
Your language classes focus on developing the active skills of speaking, listening, writing and reading through a variety of methods and media. You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, as well as undertaking web-based study and group work.
During Terms 1 and 2, approximately 35% of a student's time is spent in lectures, seminars or tutorials and the remainder in independent study. There is minimal teaching during term three which focuses on examinations and assessment.
Assessment
Modules are assessed by a mixture of written and oral examinations, essays and other forms of coursework.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
Visit us
Online - Open day
School of European Languages, Culture and Society Information Session
Watch this video to find out more about UCL's School of European Languages, Culture and Society programme, entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.
The foundation of your career
Popular career paths for modern language graduates include teaching and education (12.3%), publishing, journalism or translation (11.8%), accountancy and financial services (11.2%), media (4.8%), law (2.7%), PR, advertising, marketing (2.1%) and the civil service (1.6%)*. Employers of our graduates include KPMG, Bloomberg, BBC, Business Insider, Deutsche Bank, Houses of Parliament, Ipsos MORI, L'Oreal, London Theatre Company, Lonely Planet, Teach First, PwC and UK Government.*
Some graduates pursue careers that make special use of their language skills, including translating, interpreting and teaching, while others continue with graduate training, further study or academic research (4.8%).*
*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2021 cohorts.
Employability
There are many career opportunities for UCL's modern language graduates. We seek to embed within our teaching the acquisition of transferable skills as well as linguistic and cultural knowledge.
78% of graduates from the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS) were in work, further study or due to start work or study, 15 months after graduation.*
*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2021 cohorts.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £29,800 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions. Entry to galleries or shows and any other site visits within central London and/or beyond may incur additional costs.
In addition, please note that if you study abroad during your programme at UCL, this is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for language learning, for inter-cultural inquiry, and who have a deep commitment to developing and finessing their language proficiency to an advanced level.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Our admissions process aims to assess your linguistic abilities and attainments as well as cultural awareness and intellectual potential. We may interview candidates by telephone in order to establish a level of language ability.
If your application demonstrates that your academic ability and motivation make you well-suited to our degree and you receive an offer, then we shall invite you to a Post-Offer Open Day, where you will experience the sort of teaching we offer and life in the departments.
Got questions? Get in touch
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