BA (Hons) History and History of Art
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- VV13
- Typical Offer
- AAB
- Contextual Offer
- BBB
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
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Course Overview
Give depth and colour to your historical studies by combining the two disciplines. You’ll study the past in all its complexity and richness, engaging not only with textual sources but also with the art and material culture of different historical periods. This will give you a uniquely nuanced grasp of how people lived, collaborated, created and competed in the past.
On this degree, you’ll benefit from the wealth of expertise in the department of Art History and World Art Studies and the School of History. UEA is acknowledged to be at the forefront of History research in the UK, and in the Times Higher Education Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 Analysis, UEA was ranked 3rd overall in the UK for research quality in History. You’ll study the most important periods of European history and the history of art, and will explore the arts and history of other cultures. You might, for example, study the medieval period through documents such as the Magna Carta and monuments such as the great Gothic cathedrals, or learn about the British Empire alongside London’s Great Exhibition in which it was celebrated. Or you could explore the 20th century through the interwoven histories of modern conflicts and modern art.
You’ll be equipped with key skills in imaginative understanding, critical thinking, and confident communication. You’ll expand and deepen your understanding of texts and artworks from a uniquely wide array of contexts while developing your intellectual and professional skills and studying with outstanding students and academics.
You’ll establish firm foundations in the related disciplines of history and art history, engaging with different documents and sources. At the same time, you’ll encounter works of art first-hand in the collections of the Sainsbury Centre, which includes works of modern European art and also outstanding works from Africa, Asia and the Americas.
In your second and third years, you’ll select from a range of optional modules in both history and history of art in order to pursue your own interests in more depth. These modules are focused on particular periods and address specific topics.
As you progress through the course, you’ll be encouraged to engage with different methods and approaches and to develop informed views of your own. You'll consolidate your independence as a scholar through the completion of a research dissertation in your final year.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
You’ll have the option to apply to study abroad for one semester of your second year. Studying abroad is a wonderfully enriching life experience – you'll develop confidence and resilience, while learning about another culture.
For further details, visit our Study Abroad section of our website.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll begin your degree by studying art, artists, and the process of creating. You’ll engage directly with artworks first-hand in order to explore different techniques and visual effects and deepen your appreciation of their functions and meanings. At the same time, you’ll be introduced to art history as a discipline and to one key period of history: medieval, early modern, or modern.
In the second semester, you’ll engage with some of the most significant topics in art history, beginning with an exploration of the role of portraiture in shaping our identities. You’ll also be introduced to periods of tension and conflict in history which have in turn provoked controversies in historical debate.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You’ll be taught by leading scholars in the field of art history and will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and field trips.
Throughout this degree your learning activities will involve a combination of lectures, small group seminars and tutorials combined with independent learning. A representative week will consist of 15-20% class time, 40% work on assessments and 40% on independent learning.
Seminars allow for plenty of dialogue between you and your tutors. Teaching methods vary but most sessions are organised around investigation of particular topics supported by close analysis of artworks and texts.
In lecture modules, you’ll engage with a range of art-historical problems and methods. Your lectures will be delivered by members of staff from art history, and history, plus specialist guest speakers.
In your first year, you’ll be guided to prepare material for classes, which you'll often later use as a starting point for an assessment. You'll given the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of relevant presentation styles such as catalogue entries and exhibition reviews.
Assessment
You won’t sit any formal examinations. Instead, in each year you’ll be assessed on written coursework, usually in the form of essays, presentations, critiques, posters, exhibition catalogues to name only a few. Our assessment methods have been developed to measure your skills, but also to aid your learning.
In your first year, assessment will be aimed at cultivating the skills of close analysis and critical thinking you'll need throughout the degree.
Structure
At this stage of your course, you’ll be able to choose from a very wide range of historical and art historical topics and begin to tailor your studies to your own developing interests. These modules will allow you to develop more specialist knowledge of particular problems and periods. In the spring semester, you’ll be invited to consider how your historical studies relate to contemporary debates about art and explore the role of galleries and museums in displaying the past in the present.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional D Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
As you progress through your course you'll expand your knowledge, skills and understanding as you become familiar with different art practices and techniques and become accustomed to reading diverse historical sources and art historical and critical texts.
As the course progresses, you’ll have the opportunity to explore more specialized topics that reflect the current research of those teaching the modules. Each year, as your knowledge and study skills become more advanced, you’ll be introduced to material that will encourage your own independent research on topics that interest you.
Assessment
In your second year, you'll have more autonomy over the way you respond to your assessment prompts, devising your own essay topics and further developing your perspective as an art historian and as a careful reader of historical sources.
Structure
In your final year, you’ll choose three modules which involve close engagement with advanced topics in history and art history. Current art history modules address topics such as identity, psychology, memory, materiality, decolonization, social inequality and injustice, ecology, climate change and sustainability from a broad range of historical and global perspectives, while history modules include the revolutions in France and Russia, the First World War, the reign of Elizabeth I, the Vikings, and the modern Middle East.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 30)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 30)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 30)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In the Spring semester of your third year, independent learning increases again in line with work towards your dissertation.
As you develop specialist knowledge in your final year, you’ll also begin work on a dissertation. This will enable you to refine your understanding of a particular topic and develop the independent perspective crucial to practicing art history beyond university.
Assessment
You’ll have a chance to dive deeply into topics related to the specialisms of our research-active staff. You’ll write an extended essay in which you'll explore a topic of your own choice through a combined historical and art-historical perspective and your final assessment is your dissertation, a piece of independent research that you'll complete under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
Entry Requirements
- A Levels
- AAB If you are taking an EPQ and three A-levels, we may offer you a one grade reduction on our advertised typical offer alongside an A in the EPQ.
- T Levels
- Not accepted.
- BTEC
- DDD excluding BTEC Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration. See below for accepted subjects and combinations.
- Contextual Offer
A Level - BBB
BTEC L3 Extended Diploma - DDM
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.
- Scottish Highers
- AAAAA.
- Scottish Advanced Highers
- BBC. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- 4 subjects at H2, 2 subjects at H3.
- Access to HE Diploma
- Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 36 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 9 credits at Level 3.
- International Baccalaureate
- 33 points.
- GCSE
- You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.
- 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 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 offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
- Interviews
- Most applicants will not be called for an interview and a decision will be made via UCAS Hub. However, for some applicants an interview will be requested. Where an interview is required, the Admissions Service will contact you directly to arrange a time.
- 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.
- Intakes
- This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
Extended Diploma: DDD
Diploma: DD plus B at A-level
Extended Certificate: D plus AB at A-level
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as BA History of Art with a Foundation Yearor as BA History with a Foundation Year.
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.
We welcome and value a wide range of alternative qualifications. If you have a qualification which is not listed here, or are taking a combination of qualifications, please contact us via Admissions Enquiries.
International Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. View our International Students pages for specific information about your country.
Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
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 for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You'll need to pay some additional costs for optional field trips, which are subsidised by the department. You'll need to pay some costs for the field trip to Venice in the second year if you choose that option.
Please see Additional Course Fees 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.
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:
Employability
After the Course
As a History and History of Art graduate, you’ll be ready for a wide range of careers in the heritage industry, the art world, academia, art publishing and other areas of business. Your experience of studying in a world-famous art museum will give you an edge.
Along with your expertise in history and history of art, you’ll graduate with excellent transferable skills including high standards of writing, research and presentation, which will help with your future career in many different industries including museums and galleries, the art market, the Civil Service and teaching.
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 internships. In the department, we work closely with the Careers Service to provide workshops and seminars with successful alumni.
Careers
Recent graduates have entered a number of fields, including:
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Museums and art galleries
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Archives
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The heritage sector
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Publishing
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Journalism
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Teaching/lecturing