Course Overview

How are society’s views, beliefs and actions recorded in the things we make, use and value? On this course you’ll learn how to examine the visual and material culture of societies across the world, from prehistory to the present. Based in the world-famous Sainsbury Centre(opens in a new window), you’ll become part of a unique community. We’re the only Art History Department in the UK located within a world-renowned art museum.

This dynamic course provides a strong grounding in archaeology, anthropology, and art history. You’ll analyse and interpret visual and material culture from around the world. You’ll gain key skills in interpreting the past and understanding its role in the present.

Our course is distinctive in studying creativity as a global phenomenon. You’ll gain detailed knowledge of the many ways people have made, displayed, and interpreted art by engaging with artworks. There are significant aspects of European art history. You’ll also explore the work of artists and material culture from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Your learning is enhanced with a year on a placement. You’ll gain invaluable work experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice.

This Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History with a Placement Year course allows you to immerse yourself in the historic city of Norwich. You’ll study in the collections of the Sainsbury Centre(opens in a new window), which was designed by Norman Foster. You’ll examine objects and artworks. You'll learn about the processes and politics of collecting, while considering diverse communities and audiences. Learning from world-leading experts, you’ll gain different perspectives on art and material culture.

We’re part of an international network for the study and display of art. This includes the Sainsbury Centre(opens in a new window), Sainsbury Research Unit for the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas(opens in a new window), and Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures(opens in a new window). Among the benefits of the network is to enable you to connect with local and national museums. Our graduates have gone on to careers in the cultural, creative, and heritage sectors. We look forward to you joining our community.

Placement Year

Want to graduate with professional experience? On this course, you’ll normally spend 9-12 months of your third year* in a placement, gaining invaluable work experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice. You’ll be expected to seek your own work placement, and will be supported in doing so by UEA’s Career Central Service and your School. Support for you to find your placement will start early in the first year and will be tailored to the particular needs you'll have at various stages of the process.

The field in which you'll do your placement will depend on your own interests, and some of the preparatory workshops will help you have a clearer idea of what these are, what your values are, and which career they may lead to. Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History graduates go into a wide range of sectors, and so placements can be done in fields such as heritage, business, the public sector, creative industries and many more. We'll, however, require that the tasks you’ll conduct as part of your placement meet the required learning outcomes and are complex enough to help you develop a range of skills that you’ll be able to translate and use during the final year of your degree and your post-graduation career.

*Placements may be shorter on some occasions, or take place during different years of the degree, but this has to be agreed by the Placement Director and Learning and Teaching Services.

Have a business idea? If you have an idea, you think would make a great business, you may be able to turn your Placement Year into a ‘Year in Enterprise’*. Your idea (business plan, budget etc.), motivation and academic record would have to be assessed by our team. Should you be given the go-ahead, you could use the year to start your businesses in a structured and supportive environment, accessing numerous training courses and extensive mentoring.

*Note that if you’re studying with us on a Student Visa, you can’t currently undertake a Year in Enterprise due to Visa rules.

This version of the degree gives you the opportunity and support to greatly enhance your employability by securing and undertaking a year-long placement in the third year of your degree. Find out more about this exciting opportunity on our 'Placement Years in Arts and Humanities'(opens in a new window) page.

Careers

Career Pathways

Recent graduates have entered a number of fields, including:

Museums and art galleries
Commercial art galleries
Event management
Publishing
Journalism
Teaching/lecturing

Discover more on our Careers webpages(opens in a new window).

After the Course

You’ll graduate ready for a wide range of careers in the art world, the heritage industry, academia, art publishing, teaching, and business. You’ll be equipped with sought-after skills such as independent and critical thinking, time management, teamwork, organisation and research skills, public speaking and more. Your experience of studying in a world-famous art museum will give you an edge in the sector. You’ll also be well placed to study for a postgraduate degree either here at UEA or at another university. Our Careers Service is here to support you with advice on writing CVs and applying for internships. In the department, we work closely with the Careers Service to provide workshops and seminars with successful alumni.

Entry Requirements

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.

You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.

English and Mathematics

All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.

In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.

We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page(opens in a new window).

Contextual Offers

UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).

Typical UK Entry Requirements

A levels

BBB

Contextual offer: BCC

BTEC

Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM

Contextual offer: DMM

Combinations of BTEC and A levels

Extended Diploma: DDM

Diploma: DD plus B at A level.

Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.

BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers

Access to HE Diploma

Access to Humanities and Social Sciences Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 45 credits at Level 3

T levels

Obtain an overall Pass including a B in the core of the T Level and a Merit in the Occupational Specialism.

Any subject is acceptable.

Foundation Year options:

If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - History of Art with a Foundation Year.(opens in a new window)

Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements

International Baccalaureate

31 points overall

Irish Leaving Certificate

2 subjects at H2, 4 subjects at H3

Scottish Highers

AABBB

Scottish Advanced Highers

CCC. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable

Deferred Entry

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy(opens in a new window) applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.

English and Mathematics

All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.

In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.

We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page(opens in a new window).

Typical International Entry Requirements

We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.(opens in a new window)

A levels

BBB

BTEC

Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM

Combinations of BTEC and A levels

Extended Diploma: DDM

Diploma: DD plus B at A level.

Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.

BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers

International Baccalaureate

31 points overall

INTO UEA

If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA(opens in a new window) offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

IELTS:  6.0  overall (minimum  5.5  in all components) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies (opens in a new window)for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA(opens in a new window) offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Deferred Entry

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy(opens in a new window) applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.

Book a visit to discover more

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

View our information for Tuition Fees(opens in a new window).

Scholarships and Bursaries

We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.

Course Related Costs

You may need to pay some small additional costs for field trips, which are subsidised by the department.

Please see Additional Course Fees (opens in a new window)for details of other course-related costs.

How to Apply

Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub. 

UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.

Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started(opens in a new window). 

Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.

The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.

View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:

How to apply through UCAS (opens in a new window)

BA (Hons) Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History with a Placement Year

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Course Overview

Placement Year

Careers

Career Pathways

After the Course

Entry Requirements

Fees and Funding

Course Related Costs

How to Apply

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