Art History with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Birkbeck, University of London

United Kingdom, London

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408

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Birkbeck, University of London

United Kingdom , London

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

V352

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesOctober-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 4 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 18,500 / year

Next Intake October-2026

Art History with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

About

Course Overview

Our BA Art History offers you the opportunity to study the visual arts as a central element of human endeavour in an accessible, engaging and flexible way. It is taught by world-leading scholars and makes the most of the amazingly rich art collections, monuments and study facilities of London.

Why choose this course?

On this course you will explore the cultural and political contexts of artworks, buildings and exhibitions, and think more broadly about the role of images within society.
We teach art history as a rich and dynamic topic, encompassing architecture, installation, exhibitions, print culture and digital media as well as painting, sculpture and photography.
You will be taught by experienced and skilled teachers who are also published writers of groundbreaking art history in periods from medieval to contemporary.

What you will learn

You will pursue a structured and progressive approach to the study of works of art understood as socially and politically engaged things. Working with active researchers with expertise ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day, and encompassing a range of media from painting, sculpture and architecture to photography, installations and digital, you will be guided towards a critical understanding of the fabricated world around you.

How you will learn

You will learn in a supportive environment which encourages exchange between both students and tutors, and between students, with a mix of interactive lectures and small-group seminars. Teaching is supported by rich online resources via our virtual learning environment.

This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening.

Foundation Year

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Find out everything you need to know about Foundation Years.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Art History (BA (Hons)).

Requirements

Entry Requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

You may be required to attend an interview and complete a written exercise.

For part-time courses, standard requirements are a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.

English Program Requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

If you don’t meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details of how we can help.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

Career

On successfully graduating from this BA Art History, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

a sophisticated use of written and spoken English
an advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives
the ability to use analytical tools
the initiative to collect and organise complex materials and the ability to write up clear, well-presented reports or fluent critical arguments.

Graduates can pursue career paths working in:

arts management
conservation and policy
education
marketing
publishing
the museums and heritage sectors
research and academia.

Jobs gained by some of our BA and MA graduates include:

Head of Learning, Design Museum
Curator, Schools Programmes, Tate Modern
Curatorial Assistant, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Curatorial Officer, National Army Museum
Head of Campaign Management, Science Museum
Curator, Handel House Museum
Head Curator, National Maritime Museum
Director, Foundling Museum
Curator, British Art 1850-1915, Tate Britain
Courses and Events Programmer, National Gallery.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.