Course Overview

This course is distinctive in its study of art as a global phenomenon. Through close engagement with artworks and small group teaching, you’ll gain detailed knowledge and understanding of the many ways people have created, displayed, and interpreted art from prehistory to the present day. Central to your learning is the opportunity to study at first hand the extraordinary collection of the Sainsbury Centre, a celebrated icon of modern museum architecture.

About

On this degree programme, you’ll encounter engaging and thought-provoking artworks from around the world. Alongside significant aspects of European art history, our modules will also present you with the opportunity to explore the work of artists from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. From drawing to photography, painting to video, sculpture to performance, our inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to teaching will enable you to learn about how art has been made, collected, and exhibited across many different time periods.

In your first year, you’ll establish firm foundations for the study of artworks and artefacts from diverse artistic and cultural traditions. Through the close study of artworks in a dynamic gallery environment, you will be introduced to a variety of critical ideas and methods that will enable you to cultivate key intellectual and professional skills.

In your second and third years, you have the choice to develop your own individual interests by selecting study preferences from a diverse catalogue of optional modules. In addition to modules that address specific topics and themes in art history, the interdisciplinary character of our teaching staff enables us to regularly offer options that facilitate alternative approaches to the study of art and material culture, such as archaeological and anthropological perspectives.

This course is delivered by UEA’s world-leading department of Art History and World Art Studies. Our main areas of research are the history of art and architecture in Europe and North America; the arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America; the archaeology and anthropology of art; and museum studies and cultural heritage. Staff specialisms include the art and archaeology of the climate crisis, postcolonial discourse, medieval visual cultures, artists’ photography and film, heritage studies, visual art and poetry, and contemporary art and exhibition making.

We are part of a close network of internationally renowned centres for the study and display of art: the Sainsbury Centre , the Sainsbury Research Unit for the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, and the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures. Students benefit from these networks as well as our links with local and national museums and galleries in Norwich, London and further afield.

You’ll also spend 9-12 months of your third year in a placement, gaining invaluable working experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice.

Placement Year and Study Abroad

Want to graduate with professional experience? On this course, you will 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 will 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 will have at various stages of the process.

The field in which you will 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. History of Art 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 will, however, require that the tasks you will 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 will 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' page.

Employability

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 will 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 by advising with writing CVs and internships. In the department we work closely with the Careers Service to provide workshops and seminars with successful alumni.

Careers

A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.

Recent graduates have entered a number of fields, including:

Museums and art galleries
Commercial art galleries
The heritage sector
Publishing
Journalism
Teaching/lecturing

Discover more on our Careers webpages.

Entry Requirements

A Levels

ABB. 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

Obtain an overall Pass including a B in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism. Any subject is acceptable.

BTEC

Extended Diploma: DDM excluding BTEC Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration. See below for accepted subjects and combinations.

Contextual Offer

A Level – BBC

BTEC L3 Extended Diploma – DMM

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

AAABB.

Scottish Advanced Highers

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

Irish Leaving Certificate

3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3

International Baccalaureate

32 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

BTEC Combinations

Extended Diploma: DDM.

Diploma: DD plus grade B at A-level.

Extended Certificate: D plus BB 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 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.

INTO University of East Anglia

If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA 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:

International Foundation in Business Economics Society and Culture

International Foundation in Humanities and Law

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy 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.

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

How to apply through UCAS

BA (Hons) History of Art with a Placement Year

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