Art History

Study Art History where the museum becomes your classroom and every collection tells a story.

Learn at the Sainsbury Centre through gallery-based learning, small-group teaching and direct access to internationally significant collections, where you’ll build the knowledge and practical skills for a future in the arts and beyond.

Art History at UEA explores how people, places and cultures have expressed ideas throughout history and how the past continues to shape the world today.

From your first year, you’ll learn through direct access to artworks and collections, developing practical museum and curatorial experience alongside your academic studies. Working with original objects, you’ll deepen your understanding of visual culture while building critical thinking, analytical and communication skills.

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Why choose Art History at UEA?

Top10

for History of Art, Architecture & Design

Complete University Guide 2027

9^th

for History of Art

The Guardian University Guide 2025

See the world differently

Explore art across different cultures and throughout history. Discover how people, societies and ideas have shaped our world. Encouraging curiosity and creativity, an Art History degree invites you to make connections across disciplines, looking beyond dates and styles to engage with the human experience.

You'll learn to question, interpret and analyse artworks, objects and collections, developing a deeper understanding of visual culture alongside the research, critical thinking and literacy skills valued across museums, heritage, the creative industries and many other sectors.

Find the right course for you

Start your Art History journey here

If you are considering Art History, you don’t need to have studied the subject before coming to university. We welcome applicants from a wide range of subjects and academic backgrounds.

Your first year builds the foundations you’ll need to study the subject with confidence, regardless of your previous experience.

Your study options

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Students looking at artwork in the Sainsbury Centre

A museum on your doorstep

This isn’t just somewhere you’ll visit. It’s where you’ll learn.

Home to collections spanning thousands of years of human creativity, the Sainsbury Centre, one of the world’s leading university museums, becomes an extension of your classroom. You'll regularly study within its galleries and experience exhibitions first-hand as part of your teaching.

Extend your learning outside of campus with regular study trips and site visits, in partnerships with Norwich Castle, regional museums, national galleries and heritage organisations.

Learn beyond the lecture theatre

Study at UEA is centred on direct experience.

Through lectures, seminars, gallery sessions, collection handling and study visits, you’ll explore art and visual culture first hand in a supportive learning environment that encourages you to see, question, discuss and develop your own interpretations.

Assessment is equally varied. Essays sit alongside presentations, exhibition planning and project curation.

The best part of studying History of Art at UEA has been the support from the teachers. They have given me valuable guidance in developing my own thinking and analysis and encouraged me to pursue my own interests. UEA offers plenty of opportunities to build practical skills beyond lectures through volunteering, student-led projects and societies. I feel that my time here has prepared me for my future career by helping me grow both academically and personally.

Sofiia - History of Art with Gallery and Museum Studies (graduating July 2026)

In this course, a wide breadth of art history is covered from different periods and cultures, which sparked in me a keen interest in worldwide cultural heritage. During my degree, I completed a year abroad in Tokyo, where I was able to immerse myself fully in Japanese art and culture. It was an unforgettable experience, which allowed me to build my confidence and expand my worldview. After graduating, I went on to work in Japan as an English teacher and cultural ambassador. Studying at UEA was a brilliant stepping stone in discovering my passion for cultural exchange.

Louisa - History of Art with a Year Abroad (graduating July 2026)

There are many great aspects of this course, but the cohort size was a massive bonus! We got to know each other as one big group of friends and I will leave UEA with hundreds of hilarious and heartwarming stories. Alongside uni, we fostered a great community with themed house parties, days out and group study sessions. The variety offered in the course modules allows for anyone to find their place, in our cohort you wouldn’t find two people with the same Art Historical obsession.

Zayna - History of Art with Archaeology and Anthropology (graduating July 2026)

Research that informs your learning

Learn from leading academics who are active researchers, curators and collaborators with museums and cultural institutions, alongside museum professionals who bring contemporary practice into your learning.

Build skills that take you further

An Art History degree develops much more than subject knowledge.

Develop the skills, practical experience and professional connections to pursue careers across the cultural and creative sectors.

Whether you pursue museums, galleries, heritage organisations or the wider creative industries, you'll graduate with practical experience alongside highly transferable skills.

News in UEA Art History

Your next steps

Ready to explore the courses we offer in Art History?

Or join us for a subject taster session to get a feel for what it's like to study Art History at UEA.

We also hold regular webinars on a broad range of topics about university, like personal statements, student finance, and life as a student.

All Art History courses Subject tasters and webinars Chat with us on Unibuddy