History of Art will introduce you to art from different periods and world cultures.
On this programme, you will:
In Years 3 and 4 you will have the opportunity to specialise in particular aspects of the field. You will also develop independent research projects and a dissertation.
In Year 3 you will have the opportunity to study abroad or to undertake a work placement with one of our industry partners in the creative and cultural sector.
As a University of Edinburgh History of Art student, you will gain an informed and nuanced understanding of the artistic practice and visual and material culture at different historical periods. Our graduates have extensive knowledge and understanding of art history plus its methods of study, and the necessary skills to demonstrate this.
You will be taught by experts in specialist subjects. Many of our academic staff curate, or exhibit in, major international art exhibitions.
You will also have access to Edinburgh's renowned art galleries and museums.
Expand all Contract allIn Year 1 you will:
You will also practise the core skills of an art historian and humanities scholar, including:
In Year 2 you will:
In Year 3 you will start to develop your independence as a scholar.
You will take a core course on methods and approaches to art history. You will also have a choice of specialist options, including courses from architectural history.
You will largely be taught in groups of 15 students with a focus on discussion and debate.
You will have the opportunity to complete a work placement in a local cultural organisation, or study abroad.
The main focus of Year 4 is a dissertation.
This is a 10,000-word piece of original research on a topic of your choice. With guidance from a teaching staff member, you can use your dissertation:
In your final year you will also take more optional courses. These further your area of specialisation and develop your skills.
Similar to Year 3, your courses are taught in small groups. These offer opportunities to take your writing and debating skills to a very high level.
Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.
To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.
History of Art is one of five schools at the Edinburgh College of Art. We are based in the heart of Edinburgh, within the University's Central Area.
You will have access to:
You will be taught in lecture theatres and seminar rooms within ECA and across the University's Central Area.
Many of our courses also involve visits to the city's museums and art galleries.
You can take a closer look at the Edinburgh College of Art and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.
In Year 3, if you do not study abroad, you will have the option to complete a work placement.
This involves a supervised position in one of Edinburgh's:
Entry to the work placement is competitive and is based on your CV and an interview with the host institution.
You can apply to study at a partner university through international exchange schemes.
Visit the student exchanges section of the Edinburgh Global website for details.
In Years 1 and 2 learning and teaching involves:
Lectures are delivered by experts in the field and provide an overview of key themes, concepts and questions relating to the week's topic.
In tutorials the emphasis is on student discussion in small groups. Some courses also incorporate small student study groups, which help you learn from each other in preparation for tutorials.
Years 3 and 4 involve more seminars and independent study, with individual supervision of the final year dissertation.
Our courses use a variety of assessment methods, including:
This programme prepares you for a range of careers in the art world, including:
Some graduates use their skills and experience for careers in management or teaching, while some choose to go on to further study.
The standard entry requirement is:
The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:
The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.
We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
For SQA , GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.
Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS , PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT , or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.
(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)
This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.
It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.
Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.