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Art History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese)

BA (Hons)

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026
Study route:

  • Three years full-time, on campus


    UCAS code: V353

  • Four years part-time, on campus

  • Four years full-time, on campus with Foundation Year


    UCAS code: V354

  • Six years part-time, on campus with Foundation Year

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus | with Foundation Year

Key information for 2027-28

Start date:
October 2027
Study route:

  • Three years full-time, on campus


    UCAS code: V353

  • Four years part-time, on campus

  • Four years full-time, on campus with Foundation Year


    UCAS code: V354

  • Six years part-time, on campus with Foundation Year

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus | with Foundation Year

Course Overview

This BA Art History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) gives you the opportunity to study the visual arts as a central element of human endeavour expanding your interest in human culture, language and history in a supportive but challenging environment. It enables you to develop a range of key skills, from critical thinking and writing to historical research and visual analysis, enriched by the study of a modern language.

  • Why choose this course?
    • This flexible and wide-ranging course is taught by experienced teachers who are renowned academics, researchers and published writers of groundbreaking art history in periods from the medieval to contemporary.
    • We teach art history as a rich and dynamic topic that encompasses architecture, installation, exhibitions, print culture and digital media as well as painting, sculpture and photography.
    • In your chosen language, you will be taught by specialists from a centre of teaching and research excellence.
    • This art history and language course will support you in making the first steps towards working in the arts, with option modules offering an exciting range of perspectives on art history, visual culture and film from across the globe, including specialist modules focusing on Japanese and East Asian, French, Italian, Spanish and Latin American culture.

  • What will I learn?

    In art history, you will be taught by 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 to help you gain a critical understanding of the visual world around you. You will also explore the cultural and political contexts of artworks, buildings and exhibitions, and think more broadly about the role of images within society. Join us as we engage with art galleries, museums and other facilities in London and beyond, including a study trip abroad every spring.

    The languages component of this course is designed to help you reach a high level of competence in the modern language of your choice, opening a window onto other cultures through the study of the literature, history, film and visual culture associated with each language.

    You will gain transferable skills such as essay writing, oral presentations, and written reports, critical thinking and translating. You can choose French, German, Italian, Spanish or Japanese starting at the level of language learning that suits you, whether you are a complete beginner or a native speaker.

    Korean and Mandarin Chinese are offered starting from beginner level. If you decide to take either of these languages, your final degree award will be a ‘with’ degree, so for example BA Art History with Korean, because we currently offer these languages up to intermediate level only.

  • How will I learn?

    This course is available to study full- or part-time. It is designed to grow your intellectual independence and is taught via a mix of interactive lectures and small-group seminars which take place in the evening, so you can learn in a supportive environment which encourages exchange and discussion. You will also complete a dissertation on a topic that interests you the most, with support from your supervisor.

    Language teaching on this course gives you plenty of opportunities to participate actively and interact with your peers as well as with our experienced tutors. It is also delivered in the target language, allowing you full immersion in your chosen linguistic area.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time: One to two evenings a week, October to July.

    Part-time: One evening a week, October to July.

  • Foundation Year

    If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study during an additional year (full-time) or two years (part-time) of supported study. This option is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, 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.

    Once you successfully complete your Foundation Year studies, you will automatically advance onto the main full-time degree.

  • Pathways

    This course is a Pathway of the BA Art History which has additional Pathways to offer you the chance to specialise depending on your interests and career goals:

    BA Art History with Curating

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More Highlights

  • As well as regular gallery and museum visits, we offer an exciting study trip abroad every spring.
  • Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • The teaching and research of history of art was established almost half a century ago at Birkbeck. Today, we are an internationally respected centre in this area. Our Gordon Square building - once home to members of the Bloomsbury Group - houses the Jo Spence Archive and Peltz Gallery and hosts the leading journal History of Photography. Our research centres, including the Centre for Museum Cultures, the Murray Centre for History of Art, Architecture and Photography, and the Centre for Iberian and Latin American Visual Studies, play a crucial role in generating and disseminating new knowledge.
  • We are surrounded by cultural institutes relevant to the study of languages and literature, such as the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies (at Senate House), the Goethe Institute, German Historical Institute, Institut Français, Instituto Cervantes, and Japan House London, to name just a few.
  • We typically have some bursary funding available from our annual application to the Royal Female School of Art Foundation, which supports undergraduate students who are experiencing short-term financial hardship.

Modules and Teaching

School of Historical Studies

The school is intensively interdisciplinary and its research and teaching covers every period from prehistory to the early twenty-first century.

Visit the school

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.

  • Full-time study - how many UCAS points do I need?
    • Three years full-time: 112 points (e.g. A-levels BBC)
    • Four years full-time with Foundation Year: 48 points

    For full-time study on this course, you apply via UCAS. The UCAS tariff score applies if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a tariff calculator for you to work out what your qualification is worth.

  • Part-time study

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

  • Alternative entry routes

    Three years full-time or four years part-time: We welcome applications from students on Access to Higher Education Diplomas. Credits gained on the Certificate of Higher Education in Culture and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish) or Art History may be counted towards the degree.

    Three years full-time: Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma - DMM

  • What are the English language 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 about 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.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Clearing for 2026 is open
Apply now

Fees

Three years full-time, on campus

Academic year 2026-27, starting in October 2026

Full-time home students: £9,790 per year
Full-time international students: £18,500 per year

Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027

Full-time home students: £10,050 per year
Full-time international students: £19,320 per year

Four years part-time, on campus

Academic year 2026-27, starting in October 2026

Part-time home students: £7,335 per year
Part-time international students: £13,875 per year

Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027

Part-time home students: £7,530 per year
Part-time international students: £14,490 per year

Four years full-time with Foundation Year, on campus

Academic year 2026-27, starting in October 2026

Full-time home students, Year 1: £5,760 per year
Full-time international students, Year 1: £18,500 per year
Full-time home students, Year 2+: £9,790 per year
Full-time international students, Year 2+: £18,500 per year

Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027

Full-time home students, Year 1: £5,760 per year
Full-time international students, Year 1: £19,320 per year
Full-time home students, Year 2+: £10,050 per year
Full-time international students, Year 2+: £19,320 per year

Six years part-time with Foundation Year, on campus

Academic year 2026-27, starting in October 2026

Part-time home students, Year 1&2: £2,880 per year
Part-time international students, Year 1&2: £9,250 per year
Part-time home students, Year 3+: £7,335 per year
Part-time international students, Year 3+: £13,875 per year

Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027

Part-time home students, Year 1&2: £2,880 per year
Part-time international students, Year 1&2: £9,660 per year
Part-time home students, Year 3+: £7,530 per year
Part-time international students, Year 3+: £14,490 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see our Fees Policy.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this BA Art History and Language you will have gained competency in your language of choice, as well as an array of important transferable skills, including:

  • highly developed visual and analytical skills
  • an ability to develop and present your ideas
  • a sophisticated use of written and spoken English
  • an advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives
  • strong skills and initiative in collecting and organising complex materials
  • the ability to engage with the complexity of different linguistic and cultural contexts.

Graduates can pursue career paths working in:

  • arts management
  • conservation and policy
  • arts publishing and media
  • the museums and heritage sectors
  • the civil service
  • research and academia
  • teaching.

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

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.

Student Support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to Apply

You apply via UCAS for our full-time undergraduate courses or directly to Birkbeck for our part-time undergraduate courses. For more detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to apply, visit our How to apply page.

  • How do I apply to study full-time (UCAS entry)?

    If you are applying for a full-time undergraduate course at Birkbeck you apply through UCAS. Use the Apply now button on this course page which will direct you to UCAS. There you will be prompted to sign in and create an account. You will have to give UCAS a few personal details, including your name, address and date of birth, and then you can start working on your application.

    The first UCAS deadline is in January, and the majority of university applications through UCAS are made by then. Find the exact deadline date on the UCAS website. We welcome applications outside of the UCAS deadlines, so you can still apply through UCAS after the January deadline, depending on the availability of places. We also take late applications via the UCAS Clearing system in August.

  • How do I apply to study part-time?

    If you are applying for a part-time undergraduate course (usually four or six years), you apply directly to Birkbeck online by using the Apply now button. You will need to prove your identity when you apply.

    Please note that online application opens in September.

  • When should I apply?

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

  • How can I get help with my application?

    Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

    Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

  • International agents

    If you are an international agent applying to Birkbeck on behalf of an international student, please use Birkbeck's agent portal.

Study routes for Art History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) (BA (Hons))

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Important: Applications to study part-time in 2027/28 will open in October 2026.

2026-27

Full-time

Part-time

2027-28

Full-time