BA (Hons) History of Art with a Year Abroad
Course
options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- V354
- Typical Offer
- AAB
- Contextual Offer
- BBB
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
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Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Are you ready to explore the global history of art in the only Art History department situated within a world-renowned museum? This degree examines how art has been created, displayed, and interpreted from prehistory to today. Based in the iconic Sainsbury Centre, you'll be part of an enthusiastic, creative and vibrant community dedicated to the study of art.
On this History of Art with a Year Abroad degree, you'll engage directly with thought-provoking art from around the world. Through close analysis of objects, artworks, and exhibitions, you'll explore key aspects of European art alongside the artists and material cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
Based in historic Norwich, you'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the city's rich artistic heritage. Through our partnerships with local museums and galleries across East Anglia, you'll gain first-hand insights from museum and heritage professionals into the region’s creative and cultural past, as well as the contemporary challenges of art-making and exhibition.
We’re part of an international network for the study and display of art. This includes the Sainsbury Centre gallery, Sainsbury Research Unit for the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, and Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures. This network provides opportunities to connect you with regional and national museums.
Our graduates have gone on to rewarding careers in the cultural, creative, and heritage sectors. We look forward to you joining our community.
Year Abroad
You’ll spend a year studying at one of our prestigious partner universities overseas in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. 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. You’ll be introduced to art history as a discipline before exploring some of its most significant aspects, beginning with the role of portraiture in shaping our identities. You’ll explore the collections of the Sainsbury Centre, and become familiar with how to critically engage with different kinds of art.
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’ll be introduced to a variety of critical ideas and methods that will enable you to cultivate key intellectual and professional skills.
Compulsory Modules
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 fields of art history and literature,
studying through a combination of lectures, small group seminars and tutorials combined with independent learning. A representative week consists of 15-20% class time, 40% work on assessments and 40% on independent learning.
Typical seminar groups have a maximum of 18 students, allowing for plenty of dialogue between tutors and students. Teaching methods vary but most sessions are organised around investigation of particular topics supported by close analysis of artworks and texts. Your lectures will be delivered by members of staff from literature and art 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 also have the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of relevant presentation styles such as catalogue entries and exhibition reviews. On the literature side of your degree, you’ll read extraordinary books, with a framework of guided tasks provided by your lecturers to help you get the most out of them.
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 diverse skills of close analysis and critical thinking you’ll need throughout the degree.
Structure
You'll have the choice to develop your own individual interests by selecting study preferences from a diverse catalogue of optional modules.
You’ll be encouraged to think about varied and fascinating museum object biographies and how art history interacts with anthropology and archaeology. In the spring semester, you’ll be invited to consider how your historical studies relate to contemporary debates about the status of art and the role of galleries and museums in the present. Alongside these lectures, you’ll choose from a range of optional modules through which you’ll develop more specialist knowledge of particular problems and periods.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)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 more familiar with different art practices and techniques, different literary texts and traditions, and diverse methodologies that can be used for interpretation.
As the course progresses, you’ll also explore more specialised topics that reflect the current research of your teachers. Each year, as your knowledge and study skills become more advanced, you’ll engage with material that will encourage your own independent research on topics that interest you. As well as continuing to draw on the extraordinarily rich resources of the Sainsbury Centre, you might find yourself using our state-of-the-art Media Suite in a module on publishing or sharing your work in one of our world-famous creative writing workshops.
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.
Structure
In your third year you’ll enhance your studies by spending the year abroad at one of our partner institutions, in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. During this time, you’ll gain knowledge, connections and confidence that will be a huge boost to your studies and your professional life beyond graduation.
For further details, visit our Study Abroad section of our website.
Compulsory Modules
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
The third year of your degree is spent studying abroad in one of our partner universities.
Assessment
You’ll spend this year studying abroad. Although you’ll need to ensure you pass the modules you take this year, the marks you achieve on your year abroad don’t count toward your final degree classification.
Structure
In your final year of study, you’ll take three optional modules which involve close engagement with advanced topics in art history.
Our optional modules address topics such as identity, psychology, memory, materiality, decolonisation, social inequality and injustice, ecology, climate change and sustainability from a broad range of historical and global perspectives.
You’ll also write a dissertation on a topic that has most sparked your interest, working closely with a supervisor to design your own research programme.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 60)Optional B 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 fourth 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 practising art history beyond university.
Assessment
In your final year, you’ll continue to receive all the feedback and support with your assessed work that has helped you to learn so far. Your final assessment is your dissertation, a piece of independent research that you’ll design and carry out in consultation with your supervisor.
Employability
After the Course
As a 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 a competitive edge.
Along with your expertise in 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. In the department, we work closely with the Careers Service, who will support you with advice on writing CVs and finding internships and will organise workshops and seminars with successful alumni.
Careers
Recent graduates have entered several fields, including:
- Museums and art galleries
- Commercial art galleries
- The heritage sector
- Publishing
- Journalism
- Teaching/lecturing
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
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.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
AAB
Contextual offer: BBB
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDD
Contextual offer: DDM
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities and Social Sciences Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 36 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 9 credits at Level 3.
Contextual Offer: Access to Humanities & Social Sciences pathway. Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and pass in 15 credits at Level 3
T levels
Obtain an overall DistinctionFoundation Year options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - History of Art with a Foundation Year.
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
33 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
4 subjects at H2, 2 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAAAA
Scottish Advanced Highers
BBC. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- 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.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
A levels
AAB
International Baccalaureate
33 points overall
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.
- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre 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.
- 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, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
-
- 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.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
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're eligible for reduced fees during your year abroad. Further details are available on our Tuition Fee pages.
Extra costs, related to items such as your travel and accommodation during your year abroad, will vary depending on location.
You may need to pay some additional costs for optional field trips, which are subsidised by the department. You’ll 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
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: