English and History of Art BA
AAB at A level, an A in English Literature; graduates earn a median £24,500 three years on.
Typical A level offer
AAB
an A in English Literature · 95% of entrants came with A levels · 90% stay on after year 1 · York course page, Discover Uni
Year 13 · applying
What do you need to get in?
AABtypical A level offer; aab including an a in english literature (english language and literature is also acceptable)
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. Contextual offer: ABC, for applicants from under-represented backgrounds.
York course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
- 1an A in English Literature
Who actually got in: 95% with A levels, 5% with other higher education. 10% arrived with 208 or more UCAS tariff points — roughly A*A*A or better. Based on 20 entrants.
UCAS tariff points — a points scale for grades: A* = 56, A = 48, so A*A*A = 160. Entrants’ totals include extra subjects.
Other qualifications5
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 36 credits at Distinction, including at least 9 credits in Literature-related un36 credits at Distinction, including at least 9 credits in Literature-related units, and 9 credits at Merit or higher | — |
| BTEC | DDDDDD with an additional A Level or equivalent qualification in English Literature at grade A | — |
| IB | 35 points35 points including 6 in English Literature at Higher Level (Higher Level English Language and Literature is also acceptable) | 6 in English Literature at Higher Level |
| Scottish Highers | BBBB | — |
| Advanced Highers | B in English Literature plus | — |
Years 1–3
What do you study?
6compulsory modules in year 1
Compulsory modules this year: arts & humanities 80% · language & communication 10% · transversal skills 9%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
York course page · optional modules vary by year
Year 1 · 6 core · 120 credits ≈ 1,200 hours
- Other Worlds
What you learn (9)
- identify key genres and forms in medieval and early modern literature
- analyse representative texts from the medieval and early modern periods
- describe the cultural context of medieval and early modern literature
- explain the historical context shaping medieval and early modern literature
- discuss key scholarly debates relating to the period
- apply critical approaches to the study of the period's literature
- construct a reasoned argument supported by textual evidence
- conduct basic research into literary topics
- produce written work demonstrating critical thinking skills
- Writing Modernity
What you learn (6)
- explain the concept of modernity in literary contexts
- identify genres and forms used from the eighteenth to twentieth century
- describe debates surrounding the emergence of the novel
- explain how modern subjectivities were formed historically
- evaluate critical approaches to defining the modern period
- construct a critical argument using independent research
- Reading Now
What you learn (5)
- describe essential skills for literary research
- compare a range of literary genres including poetry, drama, prose and film
- describe principles of literary criticism and critical writing
- construct close readings and literary arguments at university level
- produce a portfolio of literary critical writing
- The Materials of Art and Architecture
What you learn (7)
- analyse visual material through close critical observation
- interpret the meaning of visual material
- describe materials and techniques used by artists and architects across periods and places
- explain how materials and techniques shape the final artwork
- describe the history of how artworks have been received by viewers
- explain how works are designed to engage viewers and consumers
- explain concepts relating to materiality in art and architecture
- Objects in Focus
What you learn (4)
- describe a specific art historical subject in detail
- evaluate scholarly literature related to an art historical topic
- identify varied approaches used in art historical enquiry
- present art historical findings to different audiences
- Art History Now
What you learn (7)
- identify key debates within art history as a discipline
- describe current scholarly issues shaping art-historical study
- locate specialist art-historical resources using appropriate tools
- apply specialist resources effectively to support art-historical study
- identify different types of art-historical writing
- evaluate the quality and arguments of art-historical texts
- present academic work using conventions appropriate to art history
Year 2 · 0 core, 48 optional
48 optional modules
- Age of Extremes: Twentieth-Century British and Irish Literature
What you learn (7)
- analyse texts published in twentieth-century Britain and Ireland
- relate literary texts to contemporary cultural and political developments
- discuss representations of class, gender and race in literary works
- evaluate critical debates surrounding modernism and postmodernism
- construct a well-reasoned written argument on a literary topic
- present a coherent oral argument supported by critical analysis
- conduct independent research to support literary analysis
- American Literature: From the First World War to the End of Empire
What you learn (4)
- describe american novels, plays, poems and short stories of the 20th-21st century
- explain social, cultural, political and economic contexts of american literature
- discuss modernism, postmodernism and later critical debates
- construct written arguments demonstrating critical and research skills
- The Shock of the New: Medieval Literature
What you learn (9)
- analyse a range of medieval texts spanning different genres
- explain major literary innovations across the medieval period
- describe the multilingual and international nature of medieval literature
- evaluate key scholarly debates surrounding medieval texts
- perform close reading of texts written in Middle English
- perform close reading of medieval texts in translation
- construct a reasoned written argument on a medieval literary topic
- present a reasoned oral argument on a medieval literary topic
- apply research skills to support critical literary analysis
- The Renaissance
What you learn (6)
- analyse a range of Renaissance literary texts and genres
- explain the social, religious, political and cultural contexts of the Renaissance
- evaluate key scholarly debates surrounding Renaissance literature
- construct a coherent written argument using critical analysis
- present a coherent oral argument using critical analysis
- apply research skills to support literary arguments
- Inventing Britain, 1700-1830
What you learn (8)
- analyse texts published between 1700 and 1830 in relation to historical concerns
- relate literary works of the period to the conventions of their time
- explain accounts of Britishness and national identity in period texts
- relate literary texts to their cultural and political contexts
- examine debates raised by writers on marginalised social groups
- examine writers' arguments on abolition, gender equality and human rights
- construct a spoken argument supported by critical analysis and research
- construct a written argument supported by critical analysis and research
- Making the Modern: Global Literature in the Victorian Age
What you learn (7)
- identify a range of Victorian literary texts, movements and genres
- analyse Victorian texts in relation to their literary movement and genre
- relate Victorian texts to their historical and cultural context
- examine key critical debates surrounding Victorian literature
- construct a coherent written argument supported by research
- present a coherent oral argument supported by research
- apply critical thinking skills to literary analysis
- Modern French and Francophone Literature
What you learn (11)
- analyse a range of French and Francophone literary texts across three centuries
- describe key features of symbolist poetry and the nouveau roman
- explain themes of postwar feminist writing and French Caribbean poetry
- explain themes and context of French Algerian fiction
- evaluate critical debates using poetic analysis and narratology approaches
- evaluate literary texts through feminist theory and historicist approaches
- construct a well-reasoned critical argument on a literary topic
- conduct independent research to support literary analysis
- produce clear academic writing on literary topics
- discuss key challenges involved in literary translation
- evaluate issues arising from studying literature in translation
- Medieval Arabic and Persian 'Global' Narratives
What you learn (11)
- describe key themes and forms in medieval Arabic and Persian poetry and prose
- analyse selected medieval Arabic and Persian literary texts
- relate medieval Arabic and Persian narratives to their social and cultural settings
- explain the historical context shaping medieval Arabic and Persian literature
- evaluate critical debates on global literature in a pre-modern context
- assess the role of cross-cultural exchange in medieval literary production
- critique the concept of orientalism as applied to pre-modern texts
- construct a reasoned literary argument supported by research
- apply critical thinking skills to develop original interpretations
- identify key issues arising in the translation of literary texts
- discuss the implications of reading literature through translation
- The World of Beowulf
What you learn (7)
- describe the sense of place and time in early medieval England
- explain the social, cultural and political contexts of early medieval England
- evaluate key critical debates on early medieval English literature
- construct well-supported arguments using critical thinking
- conduct research to support academic writing
- identify basic vocabulary and grammar of Old English
- discuss key challenges in translating Old English texts
- European New Cinema
What you learn (8)
- engage critically with selected post-war European films
- explain the historical and political context of selected filmmakers' work
- analyse the aesthetic features of selected filmmakers' work
- examine key debates relevant to European cinema studies
- apply critical and theoretical approaches to film analysis
- construct arguments supported by research evidence
- produce written work demonstrating critical thinking
- identify key issues involved in translating literary texts
- Introduction to Greek and Roman Literature
What you learn (9)
- explain the main themes and genres found in Greek and Latin literature
- analyse how Greek and Roman literary traditions influenced each other
- relate classical texts to their cultural and historical contexts
- examine scholarly debates on the evolution of literary genres in classical texts
- trace the history of translating Greek and Latin texts
- construct a coherent argument supported by critical analysis of sources
- produce academic writing demonstrating independent research skills
- discuss key challenges involved in translating literary texts
- evaluate the implications of studying literature through translation
- Modern Latin American Literature
What you learn (9)
- analyse texts from diverse Latin(x) American literary genres
- discuss major debates within Latin(x) American literary culture
- explain connections between literature, history and politics
- evaluate critical approaches to colonialism and race in Latin(x) American texts
- evaluate critical approaches to indigeneity, class and gender in Latin(x) American texts
- construct well-supported critical arguments on literary topics
- conduct research to support literary analysis
- produce coherent academic writing on literary topics
- identify key issues in translation and translated literature
- Old Norse Literature
What you learn (11)
- identify key themes and features across various Old Norse texts and genres
- analyse selected Old Norse sagas and poems in detail
- describe the historical background of the Viking Age
- explain the cultural context of medieval Icelandic society
- evaluate major scholarly debates on Old Norse literary studies
- compare different critical approaches used in interpreting Old Norse texts
- construct a coherent academic argument supported by evidence
- conduct independent research to support literary analysis
- produce well-structured written work on literary topics
- recognise basic vocabulary and grammar of the Old Norse language
- discuss challenges involved in translating medieval literary texts
- Eros: The Literature and Philosophy of Love
What you learn (9)
- analyse a range of literary works about love
- explain cultural contexts shaping love literature across periods
- evaluate critical debates and approaches to love literature
- examine representations of queer and other sexualities in literature
- apply theoretical frameworks of love to literary analysis
- construct well-reasoned critical arguments about literary texts
- conduct independent research to support literary analysis
- produce clearly structured academic writing on literary topics
- discuss key issues involved in literary translation
- Post-War Italian Cinema
What you learn (9)
- analyse post-war Italian films in relation to their cultural context
- relate post-war Italian films to their socio-historical background
- interpret secondary critical texts written in Italian
- apply Italian-language scholarship to film analysis
- examine key scholarly debates on italian cinema
- apply critical and theoretical approaches to film study
- construct well-reasoned arguments supported by research
- produce clear academic writing on film topics
- discuss key challenges involved in literary translation
- African Imaginations and Afrophone Literatures
What you learn (12)
- explain styles and themes found across Afrophone literatures
- relate literary works to their cultural, historical and political context
- apply world literature approaches to studying Afrophone texts
- describe features of African oral storytelling traditions
- explain how orature has shaped the evolution of African literatures
- analyse critical debates surrounding Afrophone literary studies
- evaluate how translation and digital media shape the visibility of Afrophone literatures
- assess the role of multilingualism and orature in raising literary recognition
- construct well-reasoned arguments using critical thinking skills
- conduct research to support academic writing
- discuss central challenges involved in literary translation
- examine issues arising when studying literature through translation
- Creative Writing: Contemporary Practice
What you learn (9)
- identify key conventions used within selected literary genres
- apply genre conventions when producing creative writing
- describe core creative writing techniques such as form and structure
- apply narrative voice and imagery techniques in original writing
- format creative work according to genre presentation standards
- analyse current critical debates within creative writing practice
- produce a portfolio of creative work responding to critical contexts
- construct oral arguments demonstrating critical and creative reasoning
- produce written work supported by independent research
- French Autofictions
What you learn (5)
- analyse texts that blend autobiography and fiction in first-person narration
- relate selected literary works to their relevant historical and cultural contexts
- construct well-supported literary arguments using critical research skills
- produce clear academic writing to present literary analysis
- discuss key issues involved in translating and studying literature in translation
- Beyond the Book: Community Projects
What you learn (9)
- apply literary analysis techniques to texts
- conduct research relevant to literary studies
- produce written work transferable to workplace contexts
- create public-facing written content
- produce a podcast recording
- design digital or online content for an audience
- evaluate own professional development through reflective writing
- plan a collaborative project with peers
- manage project work to meet a partner organisation's needs
- Cut / Bite / Stamp: The Power of the Printed Image in Eighteenth-Century Britain
What you learn (10)
- identify leading British printmakers of the long eighteenth century
- describe the techniques used in eighteenth-century printmaking
- explain how printed images were distributed in this period
- evaluate different art-historical approaches to printed imagery
- construct an original response to art-historical debates
- discuss methodological challenges in studying reproducible graphic art
- relate graphic art study to recent visual culture historiography
- explain key cultural concepts linked to eighteenth-century graphic art
- evaluate how historical art shapes contemporary political debate
- evaluate how historical art shapes contemporary cultural debate
- The English Country House
What you learn (6)
- describe the social evolution of the English country house across four centuries
- explain key architectural changes in English country houses over time
- describe the distinctive features of eight significant country houses
- analyse the design and construction of complex historic buildings
- interpret historic interiors in relation to their original context
- interpret historic gardens and landscapes within their design tradition
- Art in the USA 1942-1975
What you learn (7)
- identify key questions raised by American art of 1942-1975
- describe the social context surrounding the artworks studied
- explain debates in art criticism during the period studied
- describe the development of artists' writing within its context
- select a suitable artwork to support a concise essay argument
- articulate a personal position on seminar topics
- locate personal opinions within relevant critical literature
- Made in Italy
What you learn (5)
- explain key historical debates on national identity formation
- evaluate critical interpretations of how national identity is defined
- describe the social context behind the works studied
- articulate a personal position on seminar discussion topics
- situate personal arguments within relevant critical literature
- From Brick into Stone: Islamic Architecture in Anatolia During the Long Thirteenth Century
What you learn (8)
- analyse monuments in detail to identify construction techniques
- explain the transition from brick to stone construction
- describe key innovations in the architectural use of glazed ceramics
- identify the diverse influences craftsmen combined into a new style
- explain how architectural patronage expressed power and authority
- identify sources contributing to a distinctive medieval regional style
- evaluate scholarly readings critically
- construct a coherent argument based on research findings
- Contemplation, Knowledge and Power: Medieval Maps
What you learn (3)
- identify key examples of medieval maps
- describe the intellectual and cultural contexts of medieval maps
- explain scholarly debates and approaches to studying medieval maps
- Art Law
What you learn (6)
- identify key legal areas relevant to the art world
- explain how general legal principles are adapted to art-related contexts
- explain the implications of classifying artworks as property
- describe how the art market operates
- explain the legal duties of museum and heritage organisations
- explain the ethical responsibilities of museum and heritage organisations
- The Arts of Italy and the ‘Global Renaissance’
What you learn (4)
- describe the arts of selected italian renaissance cities
- explain how ideas and techniques circulated across the italian peninsula
- analyse italian renaissance art and its transcultural connections
- analyse artworks within current and past scholarly debates
- Art in Renaissance Florence: Materials, Making, Agency
What you learn (3)
- identify a wide range of artworks and artefacts from Renaissance Florence
- explain how the contextual significance of artworks changed over time
- explain how materials and techniques of artmaking shaped the meaning of artworks
- Material Encounters in Northern Renaissance Art
What you learn (4)
- identify varied objects produced in northern Europe (14th-16th centuries)
- describe the historical contexts of production and use of these objects
- explain how an object's material construction relates to its intended function
- evaluate how period viewers may have engaged with artworks in different media
- The Future is Still Female: Art and Feminism since the 1970s
What you learn (6)
- identify key artistic and critical feminist practices since the 1970s
- prepare a structured oral presentation with visual illustrations
- construct a clear argument to communicate within a presentation
- lead a group discussion among peers
- describe key theoretical and art historical texts on feminist art
- analyse artworks using theoretical and historical perspectives
- Images as Knowledge
What you learn (5)
- identify key examples of early modern scientific imagery from Europe
- describe the historical range and variety of scientific images produced 1400-1700
- explain how image-making techniques reflected contemporary ideas about nature
- relate design choices in visual images to beliefs about the structure of the world
- evaluate the significance of visual representation across fields like astronomy and botany
- Painting in Eighteenth-Century Britain
What you learn (7)
- identify key painters who shaped eighteenth-century British art
- describe the contribution of major painters to the period's art world
- evaluate changing scholarly interpretations of British art history
- construct reasoned arguments engaging with art historical debates
- explain connections between art production and imperial expansion in Britain
- analyse how art theory influenced painting practice in the period
- use digital resources relevant to eighteenth-century art studies
- Three Rogue Architects
What you learn (7)
- describe the biographical and professional context of three selected architects
- identify the distinctive design approaches and works of each architect
- describe the formal and spatial features of complex buildings
- analyse the design strategies used in complex buildings
- interpret the meaning and significance of complex buildings
- explain the concept of tradition in western architecture
- explain how anti-traditional movements challenged architectural tradition
- Indo-British Art, c.1527-1947
What you learn (4)
- describe specific images and objects from the 1660-1947 period
- analyse visual and material features of selected artworks from the period
- outline the overall development of Indo-British art between 1660 and 1947
- evaluate different historiographical approaches to Indo-British art
- Camera South Asia
What you learn (6)
- describe the development of photographic practice in south asia 1837-1947
- evaluate key photographic works and practices from the period critically
- explain the cultural contexts surrounding indo-british photography
- analyse how cultural factors shaped photographic production in the period
- identify historiographical approaches used to study south asian photography
- apply appropriate methodological frameworks to analyse photographic sources
- Interwoven: Fashion and Clothing Communities in Art History (1800 - the Present)
What you learn (3)
- explain how art history and dress/textile history methodologies intersect
- identify how clothing is represented within particular cultural contexts
- analyse medium-specific challenges in representing dress and textiles visually
- What is Pop Art?
What you learn (7)
- explain the critical writing that legitimised pop art as fine art
- describe how pop art was interpreted differently across global cultures
- explain how the art market and museums shaped the pop art movement
- analyse how pop art changed notions of taste in art criticism and collecting
- examine the relationship between mass culture and fine art practice
- evaluate how pop art's reception challenged ideas of gender, race, sexuality and class
- apply pop art concepts to analyse contemporary contexts
- Journeys, Histories, and Methods of Display
What you learn (8)
- describe the history of exhibition-making across different cultural contexts
- explain how diverse art institutions have developed historically
- describe the historical links between collecting, archiving and curating
- explain an expanded definition of the term exhibition
- critique established assumptions within the canon of art history
- analyse scholarly texts through critical interpretation
- conduct bibliographical research using academic sources
- apply practical research techniques to curatorial projects
- The Emergence of Photography
What you learn (5)
- identify key critical texts relating to photography
- describe a range of photographic practices
- analyse photographs using critical frameworks
- evaluate the discursive effects of photographic images
- compose a clear written response to photographic works
- Art and Iconoclasm: The Power of Images
What you learn (4)
- explain key theories of images and iconoclasm from historical and modern scholarship
- analyse artworks across different media through close visual examination
- evaluate primary and secondary sources critically
- compose clear and concise written accounts of complex historical and theoretical ideas
- How to Be a Critic
What you learn (3)
- identify key modern critical voices in art writing
- evaluate the scope and significance of art writing as a response mode
- develop an experimental personal style for writing about art
- Curating the Dressed Body in Fashion History
What you learn (4)
- explain challenges involved in curating historical garments
- identify opportunities arising from curating dress collections
- combine theoretical and practice-based approaches to analyse fashion history
- describe how heritage science contributes to the study of dress
- Fashion, Sustainability, and Ethics
What you learn (5)
- describe material, visual and textual sources relevant to fashion history
- compare and analyse diverse sources critically
- evaluate interdisciplinary debates on fashion and sustainability history
- apply conceptual frameworks to examine fashion's relation to sustainability
- articulate links between fashion and social or political forces
- Babylon-Berlin: Ancient Art and Modern Museology
What you learn (7)
- describe key developments in Mesopotamian art and architecture across two millennia
- identify how different historical periods have engaged with the ancient past
- conduct close visual analysis of artworks in different media
- critically evaluate primary and secondary historical sources
- analyse the relationship between ancient art, archaeology and museology
- evaluate how colonial histories have shaped museum practices
- write clearly about complex historical and art-historical ideas
- The First Cities: Art and Architecture of Ancient Mesopotamia
What you learn (8)
- describe key works of art and architecture from ancient Mesopotamia
- explain how archaeology and museology shape interpretations of ancient art
- evaluate the influence of colonial histories on display and study of ancient artefacts
- identify non-Western conceptions of images and image-making in ancient Mesopotamia
- conduct close visual analysis of artworks across different media
- critically analyse primary and secondary historical sources
- explain relationships between artistic production and socio-political structures over time
- write clearly and concisely about complex historical and conceptual material
- Looting, Acquiring, Gifting: The Islamic Art Market and Museums
What you learn (7)
- describe relationships between dealers, collectors and curators historically
- explain how terminology used for Islamic art has evolved
- describe changes in legal frameworks governing Islamic art trade
- identify ethical issues in trading and displaying Islamic art
- identify key geographic centres and sources of Islamic art trade
- describe methods of faking and forging Islamic art objects
- explain how geopolitics and global economics shape the Islamic art market
- Italian for Art History Level 2
What you learn (6)
- interpret complex authentic italian texts on art and heritage
- apply italian grammatical structures common in art-history texts
- translate complex italian art-historical texts using specialist vocabulary
- explain key italian heritage-protection concepts and laws
- analyse how italian art and artists have been mythologised abroad
- produce short italian texts and presentations on familiar topics
Year 3 · 2 core, 38 optional · 80 credits ≈ 800 hours
- Bridge Dissertation with English Supervisor
What you learn (5)
- select a suitable range of primary texts and art historical sources for study
- engage critically with contextual and theoretical materials relevant to a topic
- evaluate key debates within relevant critical or theoretical frameworks
- construct original arguments based on independent critical analysis
- produce advanced academic writing presenting research findings
- Bridge Dissertation with History of Art Supervisor
What you learn (7)
- identify relevant primary texts and art historical sources for a topic
- conduct independent research on a focused art history topic
- apply relevant contextual and critical materials to a research topic
- apply theoretical frameworks to analyse an art history topic
- evaluate key debates within relevant critical or theoretical frameworks
- construct original arguments based on independent critical analysis
- produce written work demonstrating advanced research and writing skills
38 optional modules
- Pulp Fictions of Medieval England: Romance and Popular Literature
What you learn (6)
- analyse a range of Middle English romance texts
- explain the social, political, religious and material contexts of Middle English romance
- analyse how Middle English romance texts were produced and circulated
- construct original critical arguments on literary texts
- conduct independent research to support literary analysis
- produce academic writing demonstrating advanced critical skills
- From Tennyson to Tolkien: The Middle Ages and Modern Literature, 1840-1940
What you learn (7)
- analyse a broad range of modern literature influenced by medieval themes
- explain the cultural and historical context of medieval-inspired literature
- explain the political context influencing medieval-inspired literature
- evaluate major scholarly debates relating to medieval-inspired literature
- construct original critical arguments about medieval-inspired literature
- conduct independent research to support literary analysis
- produce clear academic writing presenting literary arguments
- Modernism's Queer Spaces
What you learn (9)
- analyse a range of queer modernist literary texts
- engage critically with diverse queer modernist writing
- relate literary texts to their historical and political context
- relate literary texts to their legal context
- evaluate critical debates in modernist studies
- evaluate critical debates in queer studies
- construct an original argument on a literary topic
- apply independent research skills to literary study
- produce academic writing demonstrating critical thinking
- The Villains of Romantic Gothic
What you learn (7)
- analyse a range of Gothic literary texts in depth
- explain the literary context of the Romantic period
- explain the social and political context of the Romantic period
- evaluate major debates in gothic literary criticism
- construct original arguments on gothic literature
- conduct independent research on literary topics
- produce academic writing demonstrating critical thinking
- Green Romanticism: Nature, Ecology, Calamity
What you learn (7)
- analyse key concepts in ecological and environmental thought
- analyse Romanticism as a distinct literary movement
- explain the influence of Romantic literature on later environmental movements
- evaluate critical debates on ecological themes in Romantic nature writing
- construct original critical arguments on literary and ecological topics
- conduct independent research to support literary analysis
- produce advanced academic writing on literary and ecological subjects
- The Writer's Notebook: A Prose Fiction Workshop
What you learn (6)
- apply creative writing techniques appropriate to form and genre
- adapt writing style to suit an intended audience
- redraft prose fiction to improve critical and creative quality
- reflect critically on personal creative writing practice
- conduct research to inform creative writing development
- write a reflective essay evaluating one's own creative practice
- Black Writers of the Global Nineteenth Century
What you learn (6)
- explain the literary history of anglophone Black nineteenth-century writers
- analyse how racial politics shape global nineteenth-century literature
- evaluate central debates in black studies and critical race theory
- construct original critical arguments on literary texts
- apply advanced research skills to develop independent ideas
- produce well-structured academic writing demonstrating critical thinking
- The Stuff of Poetry
What you learn (4)
- explain anglo-american, african-american and francophone poetry
- explain modernist, postwar and contemporary poetics
- evaluate debates on poetics, materiality, politics and literary form
- construct independent arguments at an advanced critical level
- Spices and Spies: Renaissance Global Travel
What you learn (7)
- analyse diverse genres of early modern travel writing
- engage critically with primary travel texts from the period
- apply textual analysis methods to Renaissance sources
- apply object-based analysis to historical artefacts
- evaluate scholarly debates on Renaissance travel and colonialism
- construct original arguments through independent research
- communicate critical ideas through advanced academic writing
- Borders Bodies Bridges: Migration and Racialisation in Modern Literature and Culture
What you learn (4)
- analyse literary and cultural depictions of migration across diverse regions
- examine how form and content interact in literary and cultural works
- evaluate critical debates on migration and racialisation in culture
- construct original critical arguments supported by independent research
- Art Law
What you learn (8)
- identify key legal areas relevant to the art world
- explain how general legal principles are adapted to art-related situations
- explain the legal implications of treating artworks as property
- describe how the art market operates
- explain the legal duties of museum and heritage organisations
- discuss the ethical responsibilities of museum and heritage organisations
- conduct independent research to locate new source material
- evaluate the credibility and relevance of newly found sources
- The Arts of Italy and the Global Renaissance
What you learn (6)
- describe the artistic production of key Renaissance cities in Italy
- explain how ideas, materials and techniques circulated across and beyond Italy
- explain the transcultural connections of Italian Renaissance art
- analyse artworks in relation to historical and current scholarly debates
- identify new primary source material through independent research
- evaluate critically the reliability and relevance of newly identified sources
- Contemplation, Knowledge and Power: Medieval Maps
What you learn (8)
- identify key examples of medieval maps
- describe the distinctive features of major medieval maps
- describe the intellectual context surrounding medieval maps
- explain the cultural context shaping medieval cartography
- explain scholarly debates concerning medieval cartography
- evaluate different approaches used to study medieval maps
- identify new primary source material through independent research
- critically evaluate newly identified source material
- Art in Renaissance Florence: Materials, Making, Agency
What you learn (8)
- identify a wide range of artworks and artefacts from Renaissance Florence
- explain the influence of works from within and outside the Italian peninsula
- explain how contextual factors shaping artworks changed over time
- explain how materials and techniques shaped the meaning of artworks
- analyse artworks with reference to viewing contexts and audiences
- apply period-specific art theory and language to interpret artworks
- situate Renaissance art within past and current scholarly debates
- evaluate the reliability and significance of newly found sources
- Material Encounters in Northern Renaissance Art
What you learn (6)
- identify a range of northern european objects from the late medieval to renaissance period
- describe the historical contexts in which these objects were produced and used
- explain how an object's materials and design relate to its intended function
- evaluate how period viewers might have engaged with artworks in different media
- locate new primary or secondary sources through independent research
- critically appraise the value and reliability of identified sources
- The Future is Still Female: Art and Feminism since the 1970s
What you learn (6)
- identify a range of feminist artistic and critical practices
- structure a coherent illustrated oral presentation on an argument
- lead a peer group discussion
- describe key theoretical and art historical texts on feminism
- analyse artworks from theoretical and historical perspectives
- evaluate new source material gathered through independent research
- Images as Knowledge
What you learn (3)
- identify key scientific images produced in europe c.1400-1700
- explain how image-making techniques reflected contemporary ideas of material structure
- evaluate newly identified source material through independent research
- Made in Italy
What you learn (6)
- explain key historical debates on national identity formation
- compare critical interpretations of how national identity is designated
- describe the social context underlying the studied works
- articulate a personal position on seminar topics
- situate personal opinions within relevant critical literature
- evaluate critically the reliability of newly found sources
- Painting in Eighteenth-Century Britain
What you learn (6)
- identify key painters who shaped eighteenth-century British art
- critique developments in the historiography of British art
- explain the relationship between art and empire in eighteenth-century Britain
- analyse the relationship between art theory and artistic practice in the period
- use digital resources designed for eighteenth-century studies
- evaluate the reliability and relevance of new source material
- Cut / Bite / Stamp: The Power of the Printed Image in Eighteenth-Century Britain
What you learn (12)
- identify prominent British printmakers of the long eighteenth century
- describe printmaking techniques used during the period
- explain how prints were distributed and circulated
- evaluate different art-historical approaches to printed imagery
- construct a creative critical response to scholarly debates
- identify methodological challenges in studying reproducible graphic art
- relate methodological debates to recent visual culture historiography
- explain key cultural concepts in eighteenth-century graphic art
- evaluate how historical art shapes contemporary political debate
- evaluate how historical art shapes contemporary cultural debate
- locate new primary source material through independent research
- evaluate the reliability and relevance of newly found sources
- Three Rogue Architects
What you learn (6)
- describe the biographies and works of three selected architects
- describe the formal and structural features of complex buildings
- analyse the design and construction of complex buildings
- interpret the meaning and significance of complex buildings
- explain the concepts of tradition and anti-tradition in western architecture
- evaluate the credibility and relevance of new source material
- The English Country House
What you learn (4)
- describe eight key examples of english country houses in detail
- analyse complex buildings including their historic interiors
- interpret historic gardens and landscapes
- evaluate critically the reliability of new source material
- Indo-British Art, c.1527-1947
What you learn (6)
- identify key images and objects from Indo-British art, 1660-1947
- describe stylistic and historical features of selected artworks from the period
- outline the overall development of Indo-British art between 1660 and 1947
- evaluate differing scholarly interpretations of Indo-British art history
- locate relevant primary and secondary source material through independent research
- critically assess new source material for its historical value
- What is Pop Art?
What you learn (8)
- explain the critical writings that legitimised pop art as art
- describe how pop art was interpreted differently across global cultures
- explain the roles of the art market and museums in shaping pop art
- analyse how pop art transformed notions of taste in criticism and display
- analyse the intersection between mass culture and fine art practice
- evaluate how pop art's reception challenged ideas of gender, race and class
- apply pop art concepts to analyse other contemporary art contexts
- evaluate newly identified source material critically
- Camera South Asia
What you learn (7)
- describe the development of photographic practice in South Asia under colonial rule
- evaluate critically the practices of photography in South Asia between 1837 and 1947
- explain the cultural context surrounding Indo-British photography
- evaluate critically how cultural factors shaped Indo-British photographic practice
- describe historiographical approaches used in studying South Asian photography
- critique methodological approaches applied to South Asian photography studies
- evaluate critically newly identified source material
- Interwoven: Fashion and Clothing Communities in Art History (1800 - the Present)
What you learn (4)
- explain how art history and dress/textile history methodologies intersect
- describe cultural practices of making, marketing and wearing clothing
- analyse medium-specific challenges in representing dress and textiles
- evaluate the critical value of newly identified source material
- Art in the USA 1942-1975
What you learn (9)
- identify key questions raised by american art of the period 1942-1975
- describe the social context surrounding american art production in this era
- explain key debates in art criticism from the period
- describe how artists' writing developed within this critical context
- select a suitable artwork to support a focused essay argument
- compose clear concise written analysis of complex ideas
- articulate a personal viewpoint on seminar topics
- situate personal opinions within relevant critical literature
- evaluate the critical value of newly identified sources
- Journeys, Histories, and Methods of Display
What you learn (7)
- describe the history of exhibition-making across western and non-western contexts
- describe the historical development of varied art institutions
- explain the historical interconnections between collecting, archiving and curating
- explain the concept of exhibition in its broadened meaning
- critique established art-historical canons and their assumptions
- interpret and critically analyse studied texts
- apply bibliographical research techniques to locate scholarly sources
- From Brick into Stone: Islamic Architecture in Anatolia During the Long Thirteenth Century
What you learn (8)
- analyse monuments in detail to infer craftsmen's construction methods
- explain the transition from brick to stone construction
- identify the diverse sources craftsmen used to create a new aesthetic
- explain how architectural patronage projected power and authority
- identify the diverse influences shaping a regional medieval style
- evaluate scholarly readings critically
- construct a coherent argument based on research findings
- evaluate new source material identified through independent research
- Art and Iconoclasm: The Power of Images
What you learn (6)
- describe key theories of images and iconoclasm from past and current scholarship
- analyse artworks in various media through close visual examination
- evaluate primary and secondary sources critically
- compose clear concise written accounts of complex historical ideas
- relate historical iconoclasm to current debates on artwork excavation and preservation
- evaluate the credibility and relevance of newly found sources
- The Emergence of Photography
What you learn (6)
- identify key critical texts relevant to photography history
- describe significant photographic practices
- analyse photographic works using critical frameworks
- evaluate the discursive effects of photography
- compose clear written responses to photographic works
- evaluate the credibility of newly identified sources
- How to Be a Critic
What you learn (5)
- identify key modern critical voices in art writing
- evaluate the boundaries and significance of art writing as response
- develop an experimental personal approach to writing about art
- research independently to locate new source material
- evaluate critically the quality and relevance of sources
- Curating the Dressed Body in Fashion History
What you learn (6)
- explain difficulties encountered when curating dress-related objects
- identify opportunities offered by curating clothing collections
- combine theoretical and practice-based approaches to analyse fashion history
- describe how heritage science contributes to dress studies
- research independently to locate new source material on fashion history
- evaluate critically the validity of newly identified source material
- Fashion, Sustainability, and Ethics
What you learn (5)
- describe material, visual and textual sources relevant to fashion history
- compare and analyse a range of fashion-related sources critically
- evaluate interdisciplinary debates on fashion and sustainability history
- apply theoretical frameworks to explore links between fashion and society
- critically evaluate newly identified research sources
- Babylon-Berlin: Ancient Art and Modern Museology
What you learn (8)
- describe key art and architectural developments in ancient Mesopotamia
- identify how different historical periods have interpreted the ancient past
- analyse artworks across different media through close visual examination
- evaluate primary and secondary sources critically
- explain the relationship between ancient art, archaeology and museum practice
- critique the influence of colonial histories on museum collections
- locate relevant new source material through independent research
- evaluate the reliability and relevance of newly found sources
- The First Cities: Art and Architecture of Ancient Mesopotamia
What you learn (5)
- describe key artworks and buildings of ancient Mesopotamia across its historical periods
- evaluate how archaeology and museum practice have been shaped by colonial histories
- explain non-Western conceptions of images and image-making in ancient Mesopotamia
- conduct close visual analysis of artworks across different media
- critically analyse primary and secondary sources relating to ancient art
- Looting, Acquiring, Gifting: The Islamic Art Market and Museums
What you learn (9)
- explain how terminology used for Islamic art has changed over time
- describe the evolving legal framework governing Islamic art dealing and display
- identify ethical issues arising in dealing with and displaying Islamic art
- identify major geographic centres and markets for Islamic art
- identify sources of supply for Islamic art objects
- describe types of faking and forgery in the Islamic art market since the 19th century
- explain how geopolitics and the global economy influence the Islamic art market
- conduct independent research to locate new source material
- evaluate newly identified source material critically
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
After graduating
Where does it lead?
£24,500median pay three years after graduating
Lower quarter£20k
Median£25k
Upper quarter£29k
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 245 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 13, 14, 24, 23
Half of graduates earned between £20,000 and £29,000. Five years on, the median is £30,500. 92% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 67% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 10% left | 90% | 15 |
| In work or study, 15 months on10% studying | 92% | 120 |
| Professional or managerial job | 67% | 85 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £27,000 | 55 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £24,500 | 245 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £30,500 | 250 |
Money
What does it cost?
£10,050a year for UK students, 2027/28 entry
Tuition fee loan — paid straight to the university; repayments start the April after you leave, at 9% of income above the threshold. UK fees are capped by government and rise with inflation; placement and study-abroad years are usually charged at a lower rate.
York fees page · source
About £30,150 in fees over 3 years, covered by a tuition fee loan you repay only when earning above the threshold. International students: £27,800 a year (2027/28).
National Student Survey 2024-26
What do students say?
60%agreed the course was good overall (question 26)
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 67% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 10 students answered
Highest: 100% agreed on question 2; lowest: 56% on question 21.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 92% |
| Question 2 | 100% |
| Question 3 | 92% |
| Question 4 | 92% |
| Question 5 | 92% |
| Question 6 | 83% |
| Question 7 | 92% |
| Question 8 | 67% |
| Question 9 | 83% |
| Question 10 | 67% |
| Question 11 | 100% |
| Question 12 | 67% |
| Question 13 | 75% |
| Question 14 | 83% |
| Question 15 | 83% |
| Question 16 | 92% |
| Question 17 | 67% |
| Question 18 | 73% |
| Question 19 | 80% |
| Question 20 | 100% |
| Question 21 | 56% |
| Question 22 | 90% |
| Question 23 | 70% |
| Question 24 | 70% |
| Question 25 | 88% |
| Question 26 | 60% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of York’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of York is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.