History of Art (with a year abroad) BA

University of York · honours · 4 years · optional placement year · year abroad · UCAS 5218course page ↗

AAB at A level; graduates earn a median £24,500 three years on.

Typical A level offer
AAB

100% 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; you do not need an a level in history of art.

Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. Contextual offer: BBB, for applicants from under-represented backgrounds.

York course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile

Who actually got in: 100% with A levels. 5% 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
QualificationTypical offerRequired subjects
AccessObtain Access to HE Diploma with 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at MeriObtain Access to HE Diploma with 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher—
BTECDDDDDD We consider a range of BTEC qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, or in combination with A Levels or other qualifications. For example: Distinction, Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Diploma—
IB35 points—
T LevelDistinction overall including grade A in the Core T Level subjects in AccountingDistinction overall including grade A in the Core T Level subjects in Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction; Digital BusA in the Core T Level subjects in Accounting
Scottish HighersAABBB—
Years 1–4

What do you study?

5compulsory modules in year 1, 1 optional

Compulsory modules this year: arts & humanities 78% · language & communication 14% · 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 · 5 core, 1 optional · 100 credits ≈ 1,000 hours
  • 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
    HOA00005C 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00007C 20 cr
  • Transmissions and Connections
    What you learn (5)
    • identify connections between artworks and buildings across different periods and regions
    • analyse the cultural significance of selected art objects
    • analyse the material complexity of selected art objects
    • evaluate key concepts used to explain processes of cultural transmission
    • identify key publications relevant to the course themes
    HOA00012C 20 cr
  • The Practices of Art History
    What you learn (7)
    • identify key ideas and positions that have shaped art history
    • explain how major concepts have influenced art historical practice
    • explain how theoretical perspectives underpin art historical analysis
    • critically analyse written texts to identify complex arguments
    • articulate complex ideas clearly in written or spoken form
    • evaluate the challenges and benefits of engaging with difficult texts
    • describe how exclusionary practices have shaped art history as a discipline
    HOA00013C 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00015C 20 cr
1 optional module
  • The Art of Looking
    What you learn (4)
    • produce detailed descriptions of artworks
    • assess own strengths and weaknesses in visual observation
    • explain how perception influences how art is described
    • relate observation and description skills to careers in heritage and other sectors
    HOA00014C 20 cr
Year 2 · 2 core, 29 optional · 40 credits ≈ 400 hours
  • Research Skills for Art History
    What you learn (10)
    • apply close looking techniques to art historical objects
    • critique scholarly texts on art history
    • compose academic writing on art historical topics
    • produce academic work demonstrating collaborative research skills
    • produce academic work demonstrating independent research skills
    • evaluate how research methodologies have reshaped interpretations of art objects
    • analyse how new research trends challenge established assumptions in art history
    • identify personal areas of art historical interest
    • formulate a research question within art history
    • explain how research skills transfer to professional contexts
    HOA00094I 20 cr
  • Art and Its Institutions
    What you learn (7)
    • describe diverse art historical practices used within and beyond heritage institutions
    • identify different career pathways available to art historians and curators
    • analyse how artworks function within different cultural and institutional contexts
    • apply practical skills to address art-related issues inside cultural institutions
    • apply practical skills to address art-related issues outside cultural institutions
    • manage own work independently to complete tasks
    • collaborate effectively with others as part of a team
    HOA00095I 20 cr
29 optional modules
  • 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
    HOA00054I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00057I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00058I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00065I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00067I 20 cr
  • HOA00073I
  • 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
    HOA00074I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00075I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00076I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00077I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00078I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00079I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00080I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00081I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00086I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00087I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00088I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00090I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00091I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00092I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00098I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00099I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00100I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00102I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00105I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00106I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00107I 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00109I 20 cr
  • 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
    LFA00256L 20 cr
Year 4 · 1 core, 28 optional · 40 credits ≈ 400 hours
  • BA Dissertation
    What you learn (6)
    • identify a suitable range of visual and textual sources
    • engage critically with selected visual and textual sources
    • explain relevant contextual materials related to the research topic
    • apply relevant critical approaches to the research topic
    • formulate independent arguments on the chosen research topic
    • produce a dissertation demonstrating advanced research and writing skills
    HOA00030H 40 cr
28 optional modules
  • 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
    HOA00060H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00061H 20 cr
  • HOA00062H
  • 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
    HOA00063H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00064H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00065H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00066H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00067H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00068H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00069H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00070H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00076H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00077H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00078H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00079H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00080H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00082H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00083H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00087H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00089H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00091H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00092H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00093H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00095H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00098H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00099H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00100H 20 cr
  • 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
    HOA00102H 20 cr

“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£19k
Median£25k
Upper quarter£31k

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 445 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 12, 14, 24, 22, 13

Half of graduates earned between £19,000 and £30,500. Five years on, the median is £30,000. 89% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 48% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.

All outcome figures7
MeasureValueBased on
Continue after year 110% left90%10
In work or study, 15 months on13% studying89%180
Professional or managerial job48%110
Pay 15 months on, median£27,50060
Pay 3 years on, median£24,500445
Pay 5 years on, median£30,000475
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 £40,200 in fees over 4 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 2025-26

What do students say?

75%agreed the course was good overall (question 26)

NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 72% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.

National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 50 students answered

Highest: 98% agreed on question 1; lowest: 62% on question 24.

All questions26
QuestionAgree
Question 198%
Question 293%
Question 397%
Question 479%
Question 592%
Question 685%
Question 779%
Question 866%
Question 980%
Question 1078%
Question 1189%
Question 1279%
Question 1392%
Question 1472%
Question 1596%
Question 1690%
Question 1790%
Question 1890%
Question 1984%
Question 2096%
Question 2187%
Question 2292%
Question 2390%
Question 2462%
Question 2569%
Question 2675%

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.