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Art History

(Certificate of Higher Education)

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Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Status:
Approved
Duration:
Two to four years part-time
Awarding body:
University of London

Course Overview

This Art History Certificate of Higher Education gives you an ideal introduction to this fascinating subject area. Our modules offer you informative and enjoyable introductions to the skills and ideas shaping the study of art history. They are led by experienced and enthusiastic lecturers, and teaching is rigorous and engaging. You will learn to look in detail at a range of art works, paintings, sculptures, architecture and photography, and gain understanding in the interpretation and discussion of art.

All of our art history courses are taught on campus, enabling you to expand your understanding of art and culture in a supportive classroom environment. Classes are based around interactive lectures in which you will be introduced to relevant themes and ideas and invited to explore these through various artworks.

Our modules are taught as part of our undergraduate degrees, so you can study alongside first-year undergraduates and get a real sense of what it's like to study art history at university.

This Art History Certificate of Higher Education gives you the opportunity to:

  • develop knowledge and understanding of the history of art
  • gain expert experience of art objects and images
  • develop your critical analysis and judgement
  • gain experience of close textual analysis of different kinds of art historical writing
  • develop your understanding of the importance of context and the relationship of art history to other disciplines such as literature, social history, film and visual media and the history of ideas.

You can enrol directly onto any of our modules without any prior knowledge of art history. The core course is Doing Art History and it is recommended you start with this if you are new to art history.

More Highlights

  • Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the most recent 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • Our RIBA-award-winning cinema and Peltz Gallery, a specially designed small exhibition space, provide students with a lively cultural hub in central London, in a historic building that was home to key members of the Bloomsbury Group including Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell.
  • With our location in Bloomsbury in central London, you can explore some of the world's best architecture, galleries and museums, collections and arts spaces - many of which are on our doorstep or a short distance away.
  • We offer information evenings throughout the year for prospective students interested in our art history courses.

Teaching and Modules

Teaching

Our courses are taught at first-year university level, but designed for students with no prior knowledge of art history. Doing Art History is intended as an introduction to both the subject and the skills necessary for further study.

Courses are taught in seminar groups of 12-20 students. Teaching is varied and may include interactive lectures, class discussion, set readings, group work and class visits. 

How will I be assessed?

Assessment on this course is mostly via coursework essays. Doing Art History introduces you to the skills of academic essay writing. Each essay receives careful feedback to enable you to improve as you progress through the award. Other means of assessment include class presentations and take-home, end-of-year examinations.

For more specific details of assessment, please see each individual module. 

Entry Requirements

All modules are taught at university level, so you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.

What are the visa requirements?

Please note that Birkbeck does not sponsor Student visas for Certificate of Higher Education courses.

This means that if you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency or a valid visa here, then you can only study a Certificate of Higher Education on a Standard Visitor visa for courses of less than six months’ duration.

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

Fees

Fees are payable per module and vary depending on the course. Please view the Modules and teaching section and then click on the title of individual modules to see the fees for each module. The overall cost of the certificate will depend on the modules you choose.

Please note: Modular CertHE study is not eligible for student loan funding for study commencing January 2027 onwards.

Careers and employability

Our students develop the ability to think critically and creatively, and to articulate their ideas persuasively. Intellectual rigour, visual sensitivity and informed debate are fundamental to the discipline of history of art, as well as being transferable skills relevant to a range of careers. 

Graduates can pursue career paths in:

  • arts management
  • conservation and policy
  • education
  • marketing and publishing
  • the museums and heritage sectors
  • research and academia.

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.

How to Apply

This is a modular enrolment certificate, so you will need to register onto individual modules (rather than onto the course itself). Please view the Modules and Teaching section and then click on the title of individual modules to see class dates and times and to register.