Skip to main content

Art History

Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma

Application options include:

Full-time Part-time
On campus

Course Overview

This art history course, from which you will gain either a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma, is designed to introduce you to the study of art history, particularly if you are a graduate from another discipline. It will prepare you for postgraduate study if you wish to pursue your studies further in this area, and will deepen your understanding of this fascinating subject.

Why choose this course?

  • This course is taught by world-leading researchers who will support and challenge you as you develop as an art historian.
  • It will strengthen your understanding of the visual arts and its expression of ideas and values in different times and places.
  • It will enable you to gain high-level academic experience to continue on to postgraduate courses in art history, and has previously provided a swift and successful route for students with degrees already in science, social science and other humanities disciplines.

What you will learn

On this course, you will engage with the visual, material and cultural attributes of art objects across a range of different media and contexts.

Your studies begin with a core module that introduces you to the key skills and approaches of the art historian. You will then be able to tailor your course choosing from specialist-led option modules that allow you to focus on a particular period of interest in more depth.

Through your coursework choices, you will have the opportunity to develop your own research project and your own voice as an art historian.

How you will learn

This course is designed to foster your intellectual independence and research skills within a supportive environment that emphasises exchange with your tutor and fellow students.

You will be taught via interactive lectures and seminars supported by rich online resources via our virtual learning environment. You will also be supported by a personal tutor and will have access to additional learning development covering everything from IT skills to academic writing. 

This course is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Art History (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma).

Key information and modules

Highlights

  • 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 more than half a century ago at Birkbeck. 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 and the Murray Centre for History of Art, Architecture and Photography, play a crucial role in generating and disseminating new knowledge.  
  • We offer information evenings for prospective students interested in our history of art courses throughout the year. As well as regular gallery and museum visits, we offer an exciting study trip abroad every spring. 
  • 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. 
Come and meet us Request a prospectus Contact us

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 Key Information section under Attendance.

  • Entry Requirements Entry Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    A second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.

    If you do not already hold a first degree, but believe that you are a suitable candidate for either the Certificate or Diploma through other experience and educational achievements, please contact the admissions tutor.

    Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

    On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

    Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

    English language requirements

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course 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.

    If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

    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 for our full-time courses 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 as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

    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, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

  • Fees Fees

    Fees

    Art History Graduate Certificate: 1 year part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026-27

    Academic year 2026–27, starting October 2026

    Part-time home students: £3,780 per year
    Part-time international students: £6,950 per year

    Art History Graduate Diploma: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026-27

    Academic year 2026–27, starting October 2026

    Part-time home students: £3,780 per year
    Full-time home students: £7,560 per year
    Part-time international students: £6,950 per year
    Full-time international students: £13,900 per year

    Art History Graduate Diploma: 3 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026-27

    Academic year 2026–27, starting October 2026

    Part-time home students, Year 1: £3,780 per year
    Part-time international students, Year 1: £6,950 per year
    Part-time home students, Year 2&3: £1,890 per year
    Part-time international students, Year 2&3: £3,475 per year

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

    If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

    Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

    International scholarships

    We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship.

  • Teaching and Assessment Teaching and Assessment

    Teaching

    At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

    Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

    In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

    Methods of teaching on this course

    Teaching is based around a mixture of lecture-hall learning and classroom seminar-style teaching in small groups (maximum 21). Classroom teaching is varied and may include interactive lectures, class discussion, set readings, group work and class visits to galleries or museums.

    See individual modules for the details of staff teaching on this course. 

    Teaching hours

    Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

    On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

    Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

    Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

    On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

    Timetables

    Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

    Indicative class size

    Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

    Independent learning

    On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

    Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

    Study skills and additional support

    Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

    • academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
    • written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
    • numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

    Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

    Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

    Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

    Assessment

    Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

    Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

    Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

    Methods of assessment on this course

    Coursework consisting of essays, including a 5000-word extended essay, research exercises and a research portfolio.

    Across the course you will build from a short visual-analysis-based essay through to longer pieces of writing and ultimately your own, self-devised research essay on a topic of your choice. You will be guided on this learning journey by a personal tutor and detailed, supportive feedback on each piece of work you submit.

    See individual modules for specific assessment details for each module. 

  • Careers and employability Careers and employability

    Careers and employability

    On successfully graduating with either a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Art History, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including: 

    • a sophisticated use of written and spoken English 
    • highly developed visual skills
    • an advanced critical ability in understanding and applying complex theories 
    • strong skills and initiative in collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented assignments and fluent critical arguments.

    Graduates can pursue career paths in a variety of fields, particularly where progression on to postgraduate study is valued, including:

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

    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.

  • How to apply How to apply

    How to apply

    You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

    You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification.

    When to apply

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course 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.

    You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

    Help and advice with your 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.

    Apply for your course

    Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section.

Visit the School of Historical Studies

Related courses

Course structure

Course structure listing