History and History of Art
Degrees in History and History of Art
Our History and History of Art degrees will help you develop skills of critical and historical analysis through small group teaching, frequent study trips and object-based learning.
As one of our flexible honours students, you have the freedom to tailor your History or History of Art degree to reflect your interests and passions by combining with a wide range of other subjects taught here at the University.
Alternatively, you can combine either History or History of Art with a Heritage Management Minor offering a combination of theoretical and vocational study during your degree.
For our History of Art students, two specialist MA options allow students to complete both a BA and an MA in three years which is the same time it would take to complete a BA elsewhere.
A unique feature of our BA History and History of Art degrees is the opportunity to study with an inspiring term in Florence, focusing on the historical city, it’s culture, art and architecture.
Why choose ³Ô¹ÏÍø
Study History and History of Art at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, the home of the two-year degree, ranked 2nd for Graduate Prospects (on-track, The Complete University Guide, 2023). Students are at the heart of everything we do: our award-winning small class tutorials ensure every student is known by name and supported throughout their studies. You will love our personalised teaching model, dedicated student support team, and beautiful, safe campus.
Featured History and History of Art courses
Student feedback
“Doing a History degree at The University of ³Ô¹ÏÍø provided me with a solid foundation for going forward with my career – and a passion for learning that remains undimmed five years after graduation. The teaching staff truly made each lecture come alive with rich detail, anecdotes, and passion. For those considering studying History, The University of ³Ô¹ÏÍø is an outstanding choice for both enjoyment of the subject and going forward in life.â€
Alex, History
Experience History and History of Art
Meet our lecturers
Dr Adriano Aymonino, Programme Director for the undergraduate History of Art programme
Specialising in the reception of the classical tradition in the early modern period, Dr Aymonino’s areas of research cover the impact of the Antique on seventeenth- and eighteenth-century art and architecture, with a particular focus on Britain and the culture of the Grand Tour.
Dr Thomas Jones, Senior Lecturer in History
Dr Jones specialises in the history of Europe since the French Revolution, with a focus on Britain and France.
Sarah Fitzpatrick, Head of the Department of History and History of Art
Teaching on a wide array of modules, concentrating on heritage studies, Ms Fitzpatrick is the Programme Director for the History of Art in Florence programme. Her research focusses on board knowledge and the governance of small museums.
Dr Lindsay Macnaughton, Lecturer in History of Art
Lindsay Macnaughton is a cultural historian of France who has lectured and published on decorative arts and historic interiors, the history of collecting, and eighteenth- and nineteenth-century France. She is the course tutor for the French strand of the MA in Decorative Arts and Historic Interiors.
Dr Mike Humphries, Lecturer in History
Dr Mike Humphries is a Lecturer in History within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Prof Jeremy Howard, Professor of History of Art
Jeremy Howard is the Head of the Department of History of Art and Tutor for Admissions for the BA in History of Art and Heritage Management and MA in Historic Arts and Decorative Interiors, as well as Head of Research at the art dealers, Colnaghi.
Prof Jane Ridley, Professor of History
Prof Jane Ridley teaches History and runs the MA in Biography.
Your future career
Studying a humanities programme teaches you to think critically and independently and by the end of your degree, amongst other skills, you will be able to construct and present a strong evidence-based argument in written and spoken form. Soft skills, such as persuasion, are in strong demand by employers – as evidenced by the 2019 LinkedIn employer research.
Our postgraduate programmes offer a range of placement opportunities: we work with leading museums and galleries across Britain and Europe – including partnering with the renowned Wallace Collection – to ensure our students have access to a breadth of experts in the field.
We support your employability through a Professional Development Portfolio, in which you write reflectively about the professional skills you acquire and use during your time at university. These skills will help you in your studies as well as being crucial for your future career.
Industry links
Aside from partnering with the likes of the Wallace Collection, each year we run a specialist careers evening where external speakers come from a broad range of organisations in the arts and creative industries. Former speakers include Rosalind Savill, ex Director of the Wallace Collection; Michael Prodger, from the New Statesman; Melanie Gerlis of the Art newspaper and the FT; and other speakers from museums, English Heritage and the National Trust.