Our exciting and wide-ranging courses are taught by a team of specialists, leading research in the field.

Full entry requirements

History of Art at Leicester

We live in a world dominated by images – still and moving – which interact in complex and subtle ways. Images are fundamental to the way people understand the world and other people, and they have always played this role. Images encapsulate and therefore give us access to some of the most profound and contentious issues in civilisation, such as religious beliefs, scientific concepts, social commentaries, ethnic and gender prejudices, ideals of beauty, fashion and taste, and many other things besides.

This course traces the enduring power of images through centuries of human history, and it will equip you with the skills necessary not only to analyse and evaluate them on their own terms, but also to read through them into the historical cultures, ideas and people that lie beyond.

The Department of History of Art and Film welcomes all applicants who display enthusiasm and commitment. Previous study of History of Art is not required: the core modules will equip you with all the specialist skills and terminology needed to enter fully into the discipline. Whether you come as a history student fascinated by past cultures, a fine arts student stimulated by creativity and diversity, or a literature student delighting in the subtleties of meaning and communication, you will find these courses a rigorous and satisfying means of engaging with art history.

Why Study History of Art at Leicester?

National Student Survey Ranking: 100% of students satisfied with their course.
Research Rating: 90%
Places: 22
Applications: 129

At Leicester we offer an exciting and wide-ranging interdisciplinary approach taught by a team of dedicated specialists. You will explore the history and theory of art from classical antiquity through to the present day.
You will participate in the critical examination and debate of key themes such as: the role of art in society, the effect of art upon human emotions, the relationship between the written word and the visual image, the nature of creativity and the notion of artistic ‘genius’.

You will learn how to grapple with the classic texts of philosophical aesthetics and more recent critical theory. In summary, you will come to understand art as a window that looks out onto many of the most interesting aspects of our culture, both past and present. And throughout, of course, we place special emphasis on the first-hand study of art and architecture – as something simply to be enjoyed.

The degree is taught through a series of lectures, seminars, art workshops, interactive student presentations, IT training, field trips and site visits to galleries, exhibitions and museums. You can choose from a wide range of supplementary subjects such as Practical Art, Film Studies, American Studies, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, History, Archaeology, Ancient History, Computer Science, Politics, or English Local History.

Course Opportunities

Practical Art is offered by the Department in collaboration with Embrace Arts, the University's arts centre. Fine Art specialists teach in the Centre’s purpose-built studios. The Practical Art course is designed to help students explore artistic techniques and problems and it requires enthusiasm and commitment rather than a Fine Arts background. Although not compulsory, the Practical Art component offers a stimulating and imaginative programme and is very popular with History of Art students. We also offer a five-week subsidised study trip to Rome, Siena and Florence.

This is an exciting and valuable part of the History of Art degree, providing you with extended first-hand study of Italian art and architecture in the company of a Renaissance expert. As we are a Department of History of Art and Film you will be able to take several exciting options in this field and explore the relationship between the different media. You can extend your degree with a year of study at a European university making it a four-year BA History of Art (European Union). We have links with Bonn, Pisa, Rome, Aarhus and Amsterdam as part of the Erasmus Student Exchange Scheme. Participating students have benefited enormously from the Scheme which has given them the opportunity to become familiar with and communicate effectively in a foreign culture.

Skills Gained

A degree in the History of Art will provide excellent training for visual, verbal and written communication careers in a world saturated by images. You will cultivate your ability to address complex problems critically, historically and objectively. You will develop your skills as a researcher, which includes how best to seek information in libraries, archives, databases and even through interviews.

You will be coached in how to present your findings and ideas, not only in essays and dissertations written to a high academic standard, but also through well-illustrated presentations utilising the latest audio-visual technologies. You will gain experience in how to engage in debate and how to conduct group work with other people. You will also learn skills in time-management and how to meet deadlines. And fundamental to it all you will gain an impeccable education in ‘visual literacy’.

Career Opportunities

We offer students the opportunity to study both the still and the moving image which opens up a wide range of career opportunities in museums and galleries, auction houses, country house management, heritage management, arts administration, scholarship, journalism, advertising, public relations, marketing and publishing. A series of lectures and talks by leading art world professionals will introduce students to a whole variety of careers. Many of our graduates proceed to MA programmes and further study.

Full entry requirements

Opportunities to Visit and Further Information

Choosing where and what to study at university is an important decision for you. We believe it is crucial to give you the opportunity to talk to our Admissions Team, so you can find out whether our programmes are the right choice for you.

For further information on BA History of Art, BA History of Art (European Union) and BA History of Art and English please contact :

Admissions Tutor: Dr Simon Richards (History of Art)

For course enquiries or details about one of our open days:
0116 252 2838/2866
Fax: 0116 252 5128
gaj3@le.ac.uk
www.le.ac.uk/ha

For further information on BA Modern Languages with History of Art please contact:
Admissions Secretary, School of Modern Languages
0116 252 2032
modern.lang@le.ac.uk
www.le.ac.uk/modlang

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