History and History of Art BA (Hons)

University of Birmingham

Studying History of Art alongside History is a highly complementary pairing, as you investigate past and present cultures - and the process of human creativity itself.

Whatever your interests - whether cultural, social, military, political, economic or religious history - there is someone at Birmingham teaching your kind of history. Moreover, historians in other departments expand the range of modules on offer, notably in the fields of Byzantine and African history. You will have access to original works, special collections and extensive resources, such as our acclaimed on-campus gallery - the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Here you will find works by Botticelli, Van Gogh, Monet, Vigée LeBrun, Magritte and Rodin.

Study trips play an important part in your degree and include visits to galleries and museums in the UK and abroad. You will participate in a week-long, University-funded trip to a major European centre of artistic and historic importance, where you have the opportunity to examine works of art and architecture in situ. Previous study trips have been to Rome, Prague, Berlin and Paris and are led by staff with specific research interests in the city.

Why study this course?

The Golovine – An official blog for the Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies at the University of Birmingham. Students are encouraged to contribute to the blog regularly as part of the course. It gives our prospective students exclusive insight into what it’s like studying at Birmingham, alumni successes, research conducted and commentaries on art news. University-funded trips - Gallery study trips are organised in the West Midlands and London, while students enjoy a week-long, University-funded trip to a major European city in their second year. Students can also choose to study abroad for one year or one semester during their degree. Our exchange universities include Melbourne University in Australia, Lund University in Sweden and Leiden University in the Netherlands. On-campus gallery - Teaching regularly takes place in our working gallery on campus, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, which is home to a dedicated fine art library and world-class collection. Seminars and events are held here, which really help to deepen your understanding and expand your knowledge of the museum and heritage sector following our hands-on approach. A city brimming with culture - The city of Birmingham hosts many art venues and cultural festivals. You will find a thriving underground arts scene, edgy contemporary pieces in the Ikon Gallery, and stunning traditional works in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which houses the largest collection of pre-Raphaelite artwork in the world. Present day application - We believe in history as a practical and engaged endeavour that speaks to questions of social inequality, community belonging and even climate change. As a Birmingham student you have opportunities to learn about the uses of history such as through a placement in the heritage sector on our Professional Skills module.

Top 5 for History of Art in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

Top 10 for History in the Complete University Guide 2023

Top 100 for History in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2022