BA Art and History of Art

Art and the history of art complement one another perfectly. Whilst developing your practical knowledge and skills at Reading School of Art, you can explore the theories and ideas behind different periods and styles of art with our BA Art and History of Art.

The first year of this course gives you a broad art foundation, encouraging you to experiment with a wide range of subjects and media. You can explore casting, welding, printing making and digital and technical media as well as more traditional approaches. Modules in Contemporary Art Theory and History of Art complement your core practical learning. Studying history of art will give you an insight into past societies and the different media they used to express themselves. You will consider painting, sculpture, photography, architecture and the decorative arts across a range of periods.

You will receive your own dedicated studio space, accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. We focus heavily on exhibitions, and regular field trips to national and international museums, art institutions and galleries will give you the chance to consider the diverse conditions in which art is created, displayed and received. Throughout this course you will have lots of opportunity to gain professional experience by taking part in your own exhibitions, public art commissions and events. Debate and constructive criticism are actively encouraged and you will openly discuss your work with peers and teaching staff.

After your first year you will be assigned a studio tutor and focus on developing your individual and professional practice, working towards your final project and dissertation in the final year. Placements and collaborations are actively encouraged and there is also the chance to experience life in another country. You can also learn a modern language to complement the study abroad option your third year. Throughout your degree you will receive advice and guidance in career development.

In the National Student Survey 2023, 91% of our students said that teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (91% of respondents studying in the Reading School of Art).

Placement

You are encouraged to work with different artists and designers in hosting events and exhibitions. Previous external exhibitions have included Urban Utopia, a partnership between Fine Art and Deutsche Bank, and an exhibition at the Beaconsfield Gallery in London.

You are also expected to undertake placement opportunities. Past students have enjoyed internships at Studio Voltaire and Frieze Art Fair. Others have performed at the ICA, taken part in an Arts Council-supported film project at the Museum of English Rural Life, and participated in an international exhibition at the Seoul Institute of Arts in South Korea.

Regular field trips to national and international museums, art institutions and galleries allow you to consider the diverse conditions in which art is displayed and received. There are also many opportunities for you to apply to study abroad: Reading School of Art has links with universities in countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, France, Switzerland and Finland.

For more information, please visit the Reading School of Art website.

Overview

In the National Student Survey 2023, 91% of our students said that teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (91% of respondents studying in the Reading School of Art).

Placement

For more information, please visit the Reading School of Art website.

Entry requirements A Level BBB

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.

Our typical offers are expressed in terms of A level, BTEC and International Baccalaureate requirements. However, we also accept many other qualifications.

Typical offer

BBB

You will be asked to provide an online portfolio of your work when you apply.

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma

Merit

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Compulsory modules

Art Studio

Art Studio 1 will introduce you to contemporary art and its global histories, models of practices and practical and professional skills. You will learn the codes of good practice, health and safety, and sustainability in the studio while being given the opportunity to produce and present artworks that help develop your critically reflective and analytics skills.

History of Art 1

You will be introduced to the diversity of practices and theories that constitute the field of global art and its historicization in the first half of the 20th century. You will study a variety of perspectives, theories and accounts of the development of modernity and their social, geo-political and aesthetic factors.

History of Art 2

You will be introduced to the diversity of practices and theories that constitute in the field of global art and its historicization in late 20th century/early 21st century. You will consider artists and their works alongside a variety of perspectives and theories of different art periods and their social and geo-political factors. You will explore narratives in which a wide range of art practices were shaped.

Drawing

Expand your drawing competence as you are introduced to a range of different methods, techniques, materials and tools. You will equip a growing range of drawing skills as you develop your ability to choose between them to apply your enhanced proficiency to different contexts and subject specialisms.

Presenting the Past: An Introduction to Museum Studies

Explore the past, present and future of museums in a global context. You'll examine the origins of museums, collecting histories, and the role of audiences in curation, as well as the central ethical debates around social justice, repatriation, decolonisation and inclusivity.

These are the modules we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they're informed by the latest teaching and research methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Art Studio 2

Learn how to identify and investigate your own interests and concerns through practical engagement in the studio. You will develop your capacity for self-criticism through informed debate alongside your confidence and the ability to present exhibitions.

Optional modules

History of Art 3

Explore different forms of art writing from criticism and visual analysis to interpretation to digital culture. You will consider how Art History shapes and is shaped as you develop your research and communication skills and reflect critically on the different purposes of art writing.

History of Art 4

Consider your own artistic concerns in relation to the experiences of visiting speakers. You will become equipped with the knowledge to analyse contemporary ideas, practices and discourses through discussion and theoretical research as you develop an understanding between first-hand account, archival resource and theoretical research.

Art Practice 2

Engage in-depth with a chosen specialism from options including painting, printmaking, sculpture or video. You will gain knowledge on your disciplines specific histories and debate their contemporary relevance as you are guided through demonstrations and self-led experimentation that will develop your practical skills and material understanding.

International Study

Embark on a supervised study visit to a major European art centre where you will encounter and experience contemporary art and art history first hand. You will visit major museums, galleries, and collections as you enhance your understanding of art history beyond an academic context. Recent visits have included Madrid, Berlin, Paris and Venice.

Museum Learning and Engagement

Examine the role of museums in society by observing and evaluating museum learning resources and events. With input from museum-based professionals, you'll explore learning theory, programme and event management, resource design, evaluation and visitor research. Interactive lectures, seminars and museum visits will enable you to contextualise and apply your learning.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Art Studio 2b

Situated Art Practice

Shape your understanding of the global and historical diversity of models in artistic. As you work, you will realise your active role as an artist in shaping and being shaped by the world as you effectively apply research methods to your material and present in an appropriate format.

Optional modules

Independent Study with Work Placement

Gain real world experiences developed through intensive investigation into an organisation, museum, or gallery. You will engage as an active and responsible learner, managing your own work schedule and organisation talent that will allow you to nourish your independence and self-motivation.

History of Art 5

You will be provided with a rigorous critical forum to consider your own artistic concerns in relation to the experiences of visiting speakers. You will be equipped with the knowledge to compare a range of contemporary ideas, practices and discourses as you develop your communication skills and an understanding of the relationship between first-hand account, archival resource and theoretical research.

History of Art 6

Develop a critical understanding of a range of historical and philosophical problems that emerge from contemporary art and evaluate the potential solutions. You will also develop a critical understanding of aesthetic and advance your research skills as you format an essay that evaluates the problems and solutions associated with contemporary art from an independent critical position.

Curatorship and Collection Management

Explore the methods used by museum professionals to store, catalogue, research and display objects, and how they communicate their meaning to the general public. Gain a hands-on introduction to curatorship and collections management, with the opportunity to research and interpret an object chosen from the University's collections.

International Study 2

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Art Studio 3b

Challenge yourself by developing an independent, creative and critically informed art practice as you advance your own interests and concerns through practical engagement in the studio. Expand your research skills in relation to your individual art practice, and in the understanding of both historical and contemporary practices of art.

History of Art Dissertation

Produce a sustained, in-depth study into contemporary art and aesthetics, researching a specific area that relates to studio practice and forming a coherent argument or critical position.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250

New international students: £25,250

UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Placement year fees

If you spend a full year on placement, you will only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee for that year. For more information, please see our fees and funding pages or contact placements@reading.ac.uk.

Careers

As well as the practical experience gained on this degree, our students graduate with a range of transferable skills, such as self-motivation, time management and strategic thinking. They also have greater self-confidence and become better able to express themselves.

97% of our graduates are in work and/or study 15 months after the end of their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2018/19, based on first degree art responders.

Many of our graduates develop successful careers as artists, writers and curators. These include a number of famous alumni, such as Turner Prize-nominated artists, and PhD students who are award-winning artists and curators at influential museums. Others have found employment in galleries, education, art therapy and film and video production. Recent employers include Tate, Whitechapel Gallery, Christies, Microsoft, the BBC, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Manolo Blahnik.

BA Art and History of Art

Placement

UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

EU student fees

Additional costs

Financial support for your studies

Ready for more?