- UCAS course code
- V360
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
BA History of Art
History of Art at Manchester explores art history and visual culture from the Medieval period to the present day.
Duration: 3 years
Year of entry: 2026
UCAS course code: V360 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Study abroad
- Typical A-level offer: ABB
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBC
- UK refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 34 points overall with 6,5,5 at HL
Overview
Course overview
- Gain a broad-based foundation in Art History in the vibrant city of Manchester, home of renowned art galleries and museums, including the Whitworth and the Manchester Museum.
- Explore your interest in Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, Victorian, Modern and Contemporary Art, as well as the art of the Global South.
- Learn the skills to place artworks in their social and historical contexts. Consider factors such as gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, patronage, connoisseurship, science, religious beliefs, ecology, post-colonialism, and display methods.
- Ranked a UK top-10 for Art History (Complete University Guide 2024). In addition, the University of Manchester is a world-leading institution, ranked in the top-50 globally across all of Arts and Humanities by Times Higher Education 2025 .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 509 2871
- ug-ahvs@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/art-history/
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: About us
Related courses
- Art History and History BA (3 years)
- Film Studies and History of Art BA (3 years)
- Art History and English Literature BA (3 years)
- Art History and Arabic BA (4 years)
- Art History and Chinese BA (4 years)
- Art History and French BA (4 years)
- Art History and Italian BA (4 years)
- Art History and Japanese BA (4 years)
- Art History and Portuguese BA (4 years)
- Art History and Russian BA (4 years)
- Art History and Spanish BA (4 years)
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
A-level
ABB, including one essay based subject.
It is not necessary to have studied Art or Art History before taking this course. However, we welcome students who can show an active interest in and enthusiasm for the subject by visiting museums and galleries or by their choice of reading.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
We accept native language A Levels provided they are taken in the same sitting as your other subjects.
A-level contextual offer
Grades BBC, including one essay based subject.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Contextual offers are available for applicants who:
- live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
- live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
- have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
UK refugee/care-experienced offer
BBC including one essay based subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:
- have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
- have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
International Baccalaureate
34 points overall. 6,5,5 in Higher Level subjects
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
GCSE/IGCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Grade 4 in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.
Other entry requirements
Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Country-specific entry requirements
English language requirements
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade 6, or;
IELTS 7.0, or;
An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
- Find out more from student finance
- Eligible UK students can apply for bursaries and scholarships
- Funding for EU and international students is on our country-specific pages
- Many students work part-time or complete a student internship
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Home-schooled applicants
Non-standard educational routes
Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences. Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to. Further information for mature students can be found here ( http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mature-students/ )
How your application is considered
Returning to education
We actively welcome applicants from mature students with an interest in the visual arts. We will consider applicationsfrom a variety of educational backgrounds, whether they have completed A-levels, Access courses or other qualifications.
Overseas (non-UK) applicants
Deferrals
Deferrals are normally allowed; however, we do ask applicants to let us know as early as possible if they are intending to defer. This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in order to achieve the required number of students in a given year.
Re-applications
Transfers
We will consider applications to transfer to Manchester from other universities and would normally ask for a letter explaining why a transfer was needed, relevant transcripts, a copy of the applicant's UCAS form and a confidential reference from one of the applicant's current university tutors.
We will consider applications to transfer from other degrees within the University of Manchester but applicants are required to have the A-level grades (or other qualifications) needed for entry to that degree programme.
Both of the above are subject to our having enough places to accommodate such applicants. Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details).
Course details
Course description
"My favourite thing was how close-knit the department feels.
"When I hear of my friends being on courses with hundreds of other students, I feel fortunate that I was one of just 60, which meant we all got to know each other by name, and it was easy to make a lot of friends."
Miriam Dafydd / 2017 graduate
BA History of Art is a wide-ranging degree which explores art history and visual culture from the Medieval era to the present.
As you progress to Years 2 and 3, tailor your studies by selecting pathways of study that align with your interests.
The range of staff expertise offers you the opportunity to study a varied and exciting curriculum.
We provide a wide selection of subject areas, paired with in-depth research and study. Our expertise lies in Medieval, Renaissance, Post-Renaissance, Modern, Contemporary, and Global art history.
Additionally, we benefit from the expertise of faculty members within the Institute of Cultural Practice. Course units cover topics such as the study of museums as institutions, collecting, practical aspects of curating and exhibition-making, and art writing.
Special features
Placement year option
In your third year, apply what you've learned to the real world through a placement year, boosting your employability, and unlocking your dream career. Plus, you'll build valuable connections that could launch your future.
Overseas opportunities
We offer two unique summer internships at the world-famous Venice Peggy Guggenheim Collection. In your second year, you'll go on a five-day field trip to a European city, such as Paris, Rome, Barcelona, or Berlin. The trip combines guided tours and talks with independent research and culminates in an extended essay on your return to the UK.
You may also apply to spend one semester studying abroad during the second year of your degree. Exchange partners are offered via the Worldwide Exchange scheme, in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore.
Extracurricular opportunities
Join student societies including the the Manchester Art Group , Arts Emergency and the Whitworth Young Contemporaries Student Society, who all aim to bring together students who have an interest in the arts, culture and creativity and encourage the production of a new generation of thinkers.
Teaching and learning
Teaching takes place in a variety of formats, including lectures, small seminar groups, workshops, gallery visits, and one-to-one tutorials.
Our aim throughout is to support your interests and to help you to improve your skills and become confident independent learners.
Seminars are normally very interactive, they are an opportunity for you to discuss readings and ideas in a supportive environment and to build your skills and confidence. Some course units feature group projects culminating in online content development or a physical exhibition/display.
Your learning will be supported by material on our virtual learning environment, Blackboard, including access to core texts and recorded lectures.
Where possible our courses include fieldwork visits to galleries or special exhibitions throughout the UK. This means regular classes in Manchester at places like HOME, the City Art Gallery and the University's own Whitworth Art Gallery.
We offer several travel bursaries through the Lady Chorley Fund to assist final-year students with their dissertation research.
Coursework and assessment
We use assessments including essays, exams, presentations, small-scale practical assignments, and learning logs - designed to help you develop a range of skills. Many course units are assessed through a mixture of techniques. In your final year, you will write a dissertation on a subject of your choice.
Throughout, you will benefit from expert support and supervision provided by lecturers and professors who are authorities on their subjects.
You will get written and verbal feedback and will be able to meet with your tutors on a one-to-one basis to discuss your progress. As a student here you'll gain both academic writing skills and insight into the development of arts-specific composition, such as catalogue entries, gallery interpretation, exhibition reviews and journalistic articles.
Course content for year 1
This is a foundation year that introduces key art historical concepts and methods of analysis and interpretation as well as skills in academic writing.
It includes a substantial amount of gallery-based teaching.
In your first year you will follow five main course units.
The lecture/seminar courses 'Art Works in History' (1 and 2) and 'Art Spaces' are designed to familiarise you with a range of materials from the ancient world to the present from around the world; they will also introduce you to the institutional and other spaces that mediate the reception of art, from the Renaissance to the present, from art academies, to the rise of the museum, through to art fairs and biennials.
Lectures are complemented by weekly 'Art History Tutorial' seminar courses, which run in both semesters.
These courses offer interactive, personalised learning in small groups on a range of topics designed to refine critical and writing skills, and to introduce current issues in Art History.
Finally, you must take one outside course unit from a wide-ranging selection of courses in other disciplines.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| HART10051 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| HART10381 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| HART10382 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| SALC10041 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| SALC10042 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| SALC10002 | 20 | Optional | |
| SALC11002 | 20 | Optional |
Course content for year 2
In second year, you take a mix of core and optional course units.
The objective is to provide you with a deeper understanding of theories and approaches in the study of art history, and a broad-based knowledge of both pre-modern and modern art, architecture and visual culture.
You will learn about different historical periods in the optional courses.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| HART20431 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| HART20701 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| HART20152 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART20172 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART20801 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART22121 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART22812 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART23711 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART24232 | 20 | Optional | |
| ITAL21011 | 20 | Optional | |
| Displaying 10 of 11 course units for year 2 | |||
| Display all course units for year 2 | |||
Course content for year 3
In the third year you take two seminar courses each semester, allowing you in-depth contact with a wide range of subjects (many of which are the specialist areas of the members of teaching staff).
These 'Option' courses are focused on an area of study defined by genre, artistic identity, medium or approach.
They are taught in small groups and encourage participation and active learning.
Finally, you will also write a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words on a topic of your own choosing.
The dissertation, supervised by a member of staff, gives you the chance to research a subject in depth and helps you to refine your research and study skills.
It also gives you the skills necessary to organise a coherent argument over a long piece of writing.
Your four option course units will be chosen from a wide array of choices.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| HART30000 | 40 | Mandatory | |
| HART30012 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART30021 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART30032 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART30041 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART30561 | 20 | Optional | |
| HART33612 | 20 | Optional |
Facilities
The Manchester Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery offer unique access to the environment of the working museum and art gallery, as well as to important works of art.
The Whitworth is a major resource, and its outstanding collections of paintings, prints, textiles, and wallpapers are used extensively in our teaching.
You can also explore original art in the city's famous galleries, such as the Lowry, Manchester Art Gallery, and the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art.
At the heart of our academic resources lies the University Library, ranked among the UK's finest, with arguably the best access to electronic resources of any library in Europe.
This is one of the largest academic libraries in Britain and houses a Special Collections Department (the John Rylands Library), an internationally renowned resource which holds one of the finest collections of rare books, manuscripts, illustrated books and other material relevant to Art History.
Art History students also enjoy a discipline-specific library in the same building as our department providing a pleasant and quiet working environment for students.
Learn more on the Facilities page.
Disability support
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants from the Disability Support Office. Email: disability@manchester.ac.uk
Careers
Career opportunities
From career events and placements at local galleries to the amazing internship at the Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Manchester really helps students to acquire the essential skills employers look for.
It's my first year and I have already started an Internship at the Whitworth Art Gallery as a member of the curatorial team for a new exhibition.
Francesca Casaburi / BA History of Art with French Studies (Year 1)
A degree in Art History not only prepares you for a career in the art world but also equips you with intellectual and practical skills applicable to many spheres of employment.
In our image-saturated world, understanding the power of images and having the skills to interpret and analyse them can lead to a satisfying career in a variety of industries.
Studying Art History at Manchester will provide you with the chance to gain practical experience, and students can gain placements across Manchester, including at the Whitworth, the University's art gallery, and further afield.
Our recent graduates have gone on to pursue a variety of careers in fields such as law, banking, fashion, advertising, accountancy, business management, commerce, new media, computing, and archive studies.
- Recent graduate career destinations include:
- Education Officer, De Morgan Collection;
- Royal Collections Exhibitions Curator;
- Archivist, Tate Liverpool;
- Art Officer, English Heritage.
- The creative economy accounts for 1 in 11 jobs across the UK and employs 700,000 more people than the financial services industry (Creative Industries Federation).
The University of Manchester is the second most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2024).
Our award-winning careers service provides a wealth of tools, advice, development opportunities and industry links. You'll have access to dedicated, subject-specific support throughout your studies and for up to two years after graduation.
Our undergraduate courses are also designed to provide an easy transition into postgraduate study if desired. We offer a wide range of specialist master's courses within the University and fast-tracked enrolment to high-achieving undergraduate students.
You can also take part in the University's Stellify programme alongside your degree, developing professional and leadership skills while contributing to local and global communities through volunteering.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.