Program Overview

Introduction to Art History with Curating

The BA Art History with Curating gives students the opportunity to study the visual arts as a central element of human endeavour, and develop professional skills to participate in the curation and display of art. This course is taught by world-leading scholars using the rich art collections, monuments, and study facilities of London, as well as Birkbeck's own Peltz Gallery.

Why Choose This Course?

• This is a wide-ranging course that will help students pursue their interest in the museum industry and the visual arts, and expand their knowledge of human culture, art history, and curating in a supportive but challenging way.
• Students will be taught by experienced teachers who are published writers of groundbreaking art history in periods from medieval to contemporary, as well as qualified curators.
• The course teaches art history as a rich and dynamic topic, ensuring students gain familiarity with the conceptual and technical aspects of curating to support them in making the first steps towards working in the arts or progressing to postgraduate studies.

What You Will Learn

This course follows a structured and progressive approach to the study of works of art as socially and politically engaged objects. Students will be guided towards a critical understanding of the visual world around them by active researchers whose expertise ranges from the Middle Ages to the present and encompasses a range of media including digital media, painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, and installations.

How You Will Learn

This course is designed to foster intellectual independence and curatorial acumen. Students will learn in a supportive environment where exchange and discussion of thoughts and ideas are encouraged. The course can be studied full-time or part-time, with classes taking place in the evening, allowing students to combine studying with work or volunteering opportunities during the day. These consist of interactive lectures, small-group seminars, one-to-one tutorials, and student presentations supported by rich online resources via the virtual learning environment.

Foundation Year

If students opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare them for undergraduate study. It is ideal if students are returning to study after a gap, or if they have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if they did not achieve the grades they need for a place on their chosen undergraduate degree.

Key Information and Modules

• Art History with Curating BA (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026
  • Year of entry: October 2026
  • Duration: Three years
  • Full-time or part-time: Full-time
  • Style of study: On campus
  • UCAS code: VQ38
  • Status: Fully Approved
  • Awarding body: University of London
  • Attendance: One to two evenings a week, October to July
• Art History with Curating BA (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026
  • Year of entry: October 2026
  • Duration: Four years
  • Full-time or part-time: Part-time
  • Style of study: On campus
  • Status: Fully Approved
  • Awarding body: University of London
  • Attendance: One evening a week, October to July
• Art History with Curating with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026
  • Year of entry: October 2026
  • Duration: Four years
  • Full-time or part-time: Full-time
  • Style of study: On campus
  • UCAS code: VQ39
  • Status: Fully Approved
  • Awarding body: University of London
  • Attendance: One to two evenings a week, October to July
• Art History with Curating with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026
  • Year of entry: October 2026
  • Duration: Six years
  • Full-time or part-time: Part-time
  • Style of study: On campus
  • Status: Fully Approved
  • Awarding body: University of London
  • Attendance: One evening a week, October to July

Entry Requirements

• Birkbeck welcomes applicants without traditional entry qualifications as they base decisions on their own assessment of qualifications, knowledge, and previous work experience.
• Students may be required to attend an interview and complete a written exercise.
• For part-time courses, standard requirements are a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.
• UCAS Tariff Points:
  • 3 years full-time: 112 points (e.g., A-levels BBC)
  • 4 years full-time with Foundation Year: 48 points
• Foundation Year Degrees: The 'with Foundation Year' route is designed to give students extra support as it provides an additional year (full-time) or two years (part-time) of supported study.
• Alternative Entry Routes: Students who successfully complete Birkbeck's Certificate of Higher Education in History of Art may progress onto this BA, with the possibility of exemption from the first-year modules.
• English Language Requirements: If English is not the student's first language or they have not previously studied in English, the 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.

Fees

• Art History with Curating BA (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 202627
  • Full-time home students: ú9,790 per year
  • Full-time international students: ú18,500 per year
• Art History with Curating BA (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 202627
  • Part-time home students: ú7,335 per year
  • Part-time international students: ú13,875 per year
• Art History with Curating with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 202627
  • Full-time home students, Year 1: ú5,760 per year
  • Full-time international students, Year 1: ú18,500 per year
  • Full-time home students, Year 2+: ú9,790 per year
  • Full-time international students, Year 2+: ú18,500 per year
• Art History with Curating with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 202627
  • Part-time home students, Year 1&2: ú2,880 per year
  • Part-time international students, Year 1&2: ú9,250 per year
  • Part-time home students, Year 3+: ú7,335 per year
  • Part-time international students, Year 3+: ú13,875 per year

Teaching

• At Birkbeck, most courses are taught in the evening, and all teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments.
• Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials.
• Methods of Teaching on This Course: A combination of interactive lectures, seminars, and visits to art museums and galleries.
• Staff Teaching on This Course: May include Dr Suzannah Biernoff, Dr Dorigen Caldwell, Professor Fiona Candlin, Professor Annie E Coombes, Professor Patrizia Di Bello, Dr Mara Polgovsky Ezcurra, Dr Robert Maniura, Dr ZoÙ Opai, Dr Sarah Thomas.

Assessment

• Assessment is an integral part of university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations.
• Methods of Assessment on This Course: Short written exercises, essays which will develop in length and expected complexity as students progress through their studies, and presentations.

Careers and Employability

• On successfully graduating from this BA Art History with Curating, students will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including highly developed visual, analytical, and curatorial skills, presentation skills, and exhibition planning.
• Graduates can pursue career paths working in the museums and heritage sectors, including as a curator, arts management, conservation and policy, arts publishing and media, research, and academia.

Course Structure

• Course Structure Listing:
  • Art History with Curating BA (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026
    • Year 1: Three compulsory modules and a Level 4 art history option module.
    • Year 2: Two compulsory modules and a Level 5 art history option module.
    • Year 3: Three Level 6 art history option modules, or two Level 6 art history option modules and one offered in another subject area, and a 10,000-word dissertation.
  • Art History with Curating BA (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026
    • Year 1: Three compulsory modules.
    • Year 2: One compulsory module, a Level 4 art history option module, or one offered in another subject area, and one Level 5 art history option module.
    • Year 3: One compulsory module and either one Level 6 art history option module, or whichever two Level 5 art history option modules are not taken in Year 2, or one of the Level 5 options and an option offered in another subject area.
    • Year 4: One Level 6 art history option module or an option offered in another subject area, one further Level 6 art history option module, and a 10,000-word dissertation.
  • Art History with Curating with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026
    • For the Foundation Year, students undertake three core modules and choose one option module.
  • Art History with Curating with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026
    • Our part-time Foundation Year degrees allow students to spread out their Foundation Year studies over two years.