History of Art BA
London, Bloomsbury
History of Art BA (2024)
UCL is one of the most exciting places to study history of art in the country. This programme aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the visual arts and material culture, covering a wide range of visual imagery and making use of London's extensive public collections, libraries, museums and architecture.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
Programme starts
September 2023Application deadline
25 Jan 2023UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
- No specific subjects, though essay-based subjects are an advantage. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- BCC more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- B in essay-based subject
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 30 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades AAB
AAB at Advanced Highers (or AA at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher).
D3,D3,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
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 2
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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
UCL is one of the most exciting places to study history of art in the country — arguably in the world. This programme aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the visual arts and material culture, covering a wide range of visual imagery and making use of London's extensive public collections, libraries, museums and architecture.
What this course will give you
- High-quality research undertaken by staff, which is reflected in our research excellence profile, informs the content of our undergraduate degrees and keeps our teaching at the forefront of the discipline.
- We have specialists on all periods from the medieval onwards, with particular strengths in the study of modern and contemporary art, as well as experts in the history of materials and technologies.
- UCL Art Museum houses an important collection of artworks, which is used regularly to support our teaching. These include works by Turner and Rembrandt, as well as important 20th-century prints.
- UCL's central location in London is within walking distance of the British Museum and British Library and provides easy access to the National Gallery, the Tate Galleries and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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 History of Art. If you choose the Materials and Technology route and successfully complete 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in History of Art, Materials and Technology.
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 are 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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The programme begins with introductory modules in History of Art and its Objects and foundation modules in history of art, together with a thematic seminar taught mainly in galleries, museums and sites in London. You will continue with modules set mainly within specific periods in the second year, and in the final year you will select special subjects offered within the department.
Single-honours History of Art students will also take modules in a subsidiary subject (anthropology, archaeology, history or philosophy) to help build a solid foundation to comprehend visual culture, both past and present.
Alternatively, you can choose the History of Art, Materials and Technology (MAT) route, which includes modules in art and science and media and technologies. These modules will introduce the major classes of materials, media and technologies found within public and private collections, and address their application as artists' materials. MAT modules in the second year delve deeper into the technical aspects of art. These may include the History and Theory of Conservation; and Methods and Materials of Artists.
In the final year, all students write a dissertation of approximately 10,000 words involving individual research. For students on the MAT route, this may have a technical element, combined with art historical research. The MAT route also offers a final year module Art/Work/Space that enables you to gain practical work experience outside the department while writing an independent research project reflecting critically on this experience.
In the final year you will write a dissertation, involving independent research.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Optional modules
Your learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars, and may include visits to galleries, museums, monuments, film archives and sessions in the Material Studies Laboratory. Seminars may relate to a lecture series and involve travel within the UK or abroad. On a more frequent basis, first-year thematic seminars take place at London's many art collections and exhibitions.
Contact hours vary according to the modules you are taking. An average week may probably provide 8-10 contact hours. As well as time spent in lectures and seminars, you are expected to spend +/-30 hours a week studying independently. Students usually spend a 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.
Assessment
Coursework, essays, oral participation and written examinations will all be used as means of formal assessment of your work.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
The foundation of your career
Employability
The programme is broad and rigorous, making graduates fully competitive for jobs both within and outside the area of visual arts. The department takes seriously the need for students to develop presentational and other skills alongside the specific analytical and interpretive skills associated with history of art.
Students following the Materials and Technology route will gain the skills necessary to carry out historical and technical projects, communicate effectively, interpret material analysis and to pursue academic research or take up responsible employment in a variety of contexts. This route provides an excellent basis for any career dealing at first hand with works of art, such as museum and gallery professionals, art dealers, valuer and auctioneers. It is also a good foundation for those wishing to take up further training in any specialism within art conservation. Any profession dealing with art would benefit from the expertise gained from the History of Art, Materials and Technology degree.
UCL's History of Art graduates have a record of success in careers in museums and galleries, academia, the art trade, the heritage industry, art publishing, art conservation and teaching. The unique combination of visual sensitivity and intellectual rigour has also proved valuable in journalism, publishing and advertising.
As a student at UCL, you will have access to careers support throughout your degree to help you develop your skills and achieve your ambitions. Working with the UCL careers team, we offer a wide range of events including skills workshops, alumni panels, networking opportunities, themed weeks, and careers fairs.
UCL is committed to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship. You can hear about the careers of some of our recent graduates here.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2023/24) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2023/24) | £26,200 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2023/24 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 2023/24 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: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/funding-your-studies.
Additional costs
Students are expected to pay the entrance fee to any admission-charging exhibition or museum visited by a class; the tutor will usually negotiate a group discount where this is significantly cheaper than the individual student discount.
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
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.
Got questions? Get in touch
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