Fine Art and History of Art

There is a strong harmony between the disciplines of Fine Art and History of Art, with the former exploring the theory and making of art and the latter the historical analysis of art. A combination of the two subjects can lead to an especially well-rounded understanding of art. Experience in making art deepens the understanding of past practices studied by art historians, while knowledge about the development of art in the past broadens the frame of reference informing the work of practising artists. The two subjects offer a particularly strong grounding for those interested in careers in museums and galleries, from curating to art education, or for students interested in teaching art and/or art history in schools, but also open many other career possibilities.

Combining the two disciplines makes it possible to explore artefacts and the making of art from a wide range of perspectives. The programme's modules fall broadly into three types: practical, historical, and employment-oriented.

Regular career events give students the chance to meet with recent graduates and hear about their experiences, and a LinkedIn page allows them to follow and contact graduates.

If students opt to take the programme in the four-year sandwich mode, they will be able to spend a year during the degree either working in a placement or series of placements or studying at a university abroad, two options that offer great opportunities for developing employability skills and, in the former case, networking and building contacts.​

This course is appropriate for careers in a range of cultural roles such as artist, curator, journalist, arts manager, gallery assistant, and teacher, as well as being appropriate for postgraduate study.