BA History of Art and...

Program Overview

Key Information

Duration

3 or 4 years

Start of Programme

September 2025

Attendance Mode

Full-time

Location

Campus

Fees

• Home: £9,535
• International: £22,870

Entry Requirements

• AAB-ABB
• For joint degrees, the offer is based on the subject with the higher entry requirements
• Contextual: ABB-BBB

Course Overview

The BA History of Art (combined degree) is an unrivalled opportunity to study the visual arts, architecture and material culture of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The Department of History of Art and Archaeology has world-leading experts in Asian and African art history and archaeology, whose groundbreaking research informs and is informed by their teaching.

In the first year, you will be introduced to the art and archaeology of different regions. You will also receive theoretical and methodological training to prepare you for the study of Asian and African art. In subsequent years, students broaden and deepen their knowledge and have the chance to specialise in particular regions or themes. An emphasis is placed on training students in visual analysis, through the close study of images and objects. Students are also provided with a critical introduction to the creative and cultural industries.

Some two-subject programmes are completed in three years while others take four years and include a year abroad.

Why Study BA History of Art (combined degree) at SOAS?

• SOAS is ranked top 30 in the UK for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Combined Courses

• BA Arabic and History of Art (Year Abroad)
• BA Chinese and History of Art (Year Abroad)
• BA East Asian Studies and History of Art
• BA History and History of Art
• BA History of Art and Africa and Black Diaspora
• BA History of Art and Africa and Black Diaspora including year abroad
• BA History of Art and Global Development
• BA History of Art and International Relations
• BA History of Art and Japanese (Year Abroad)
• BA History of Art and Korean (Year Abroad)
• BA History of Art and Music
• BA History of Art and Politics
• BA History of Art and Social Anthropology
• BA History of Art and World Philosophies
• BA Languages and Cultures and History of Art
• BA Languages and Cultures and History of Art including year abroad

Teaching and Learning

All first year modules involve a weekly lecture and tutorial. In the 2nd and 3rd year, where student numbers may be lower, a seminar may replace the lecture.

For most modules, assessment involves coursework and an unseen examination.

• Year 1: In the first year coursework entails short, concentrated pieces of work.
• Year 2 and 3: coursework emphasis shifts to longer papers.
• Year 4: In the final year students are required to complete an Independent Study Project on a subject of their choice, and are also encouraged to undertake projects, supervised by members of staff, in the form of an essay-based advanced.

Year Abroad

A 4-year combined degree involves a year abroad

Contact Hours

All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 15 credits. They are taught over 10 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. In the School of Arts, most undergraduate modules have a one- or two-hour lecture or seminar every week. Some, but not all, also have a 1-hour seminar or tutorial every week.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Fees and Funding

Fees for 2025/26 Entrants per Academic Year

Employment

Students in the School of Arts develop a critical and theoretically informed approach to global arts and culture. In addition to an intercultural awareness and practical expertise, graduates gain a wide portfolio of transferable skills which are especially sought after in the creative and cultural industries.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

• Christie’s
• Christine Park Gallery
• Crisis
• Design Museum
• Hong Kong Museum Of Art
• India Foundation For The Arts
• Japanese Gallery
• Museum of East Asian Art
• Music in Detention
• National Gallery
• Pan Arts
• People Projects Culture & Change
• Roundhouse Trust
• Somerset House Trust
• Songlines Magazine
• Sotheby's
• South Asian Art UK
• Stratford Circus Arts Centre
• Taiwan Embassy
• The Alliance for Global Education
• The British Embassy
• The National Museum Of Korea
• The Royal Collection
• Victoria and Albert Museum

Research

Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Collections Today

Documenting the collections of Chemrey Monastery Museum in Ladakh.

The "Summer Palace" Diaspora

Tracing the trajectories of Yuanmingyuan objects from China to Britain and France.

Related Content

SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art

Object-based study of the arts of Asia, run in association with the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. Available in-person and online.

Specialist Art Short Courses

In-person and online short courses specialising in the arts of Asia.

Online Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art

Offered by the SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art, in association with the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. Join us from anywhere in the world for a fully-online pathway of study.

Program Outline

The structure of modules reflects the importance given to conceptual clarity, methodological rigour and the independent interests of students. Special emphasis is placed on the exploration of arts and artefacts as evidence in historical, religious and cultural studies of societies and cultures, and particular importance is given to enhancing students' visual analysis skills.

One purpose of the introductory year is to provide a basis for the student's selection of modules in the second and third years. The selection of modules in the third year is normally intended to develop the chosen specialisations of the second year.

Occasionally the availability of optional modules changes as a result of staffing and other circumstances. Students who had signed up for such modules will be notified as soon as possible and given the opportunity to choose from available alternatives.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes. However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Students will take the following compulsory modules.

And

Modules from second subject

Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Students will take the following compulsory modules.

And

Year 2 guided options

Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from either list A

or

And

Modules from second subject

Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

Year 3 - Independent Study Project in History of Art

Year 3 guided option

And

Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from either list A

or

And

Modules from second subject

Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

Year 3 (for students not completing an Independent Study Project in History of Art)

Students must take an Independent Study Project, either in History of Art, or in their second subject.

Year 3 guided options

Students take modules to the value of 60 credits from either list A

or

And

Modules from second subject

Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

Guided options

List A and list B will be offered in alternating years.

List A

List B

All first year modules involve a weekly lecture and tutorial. Iin the 2nd and 3rd year, where student numbers may be lower, a seminar may replace the lecture.

For most modules, assessment involves coursework and an unseen examination.

Year abroad

A four-year combined degree involves a year abroad

Contact hours

All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 30 or 15 credits. They are taught over 10 or 20 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. In the School of Arts, most undergraduate modules have a one- or two-hour lecture or seminar every week. Some, but not all, also have a 1-hour seminar or tutorial every week.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library

Students in the School of Arts develop a ​​critical and theoretically informed approach to global arts and culture. In addition to an intercultural awareness and practical expertise, graduates gain a wide portfolio of transferable skills which are especially sought after in the creative and cultural industries.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

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