Visual and Art History is a six-course major available to students in the Humanities Faculty studying towards a BA degree. The courses provide an opportunity to study both the history of the fine arts and the history of other key visual traditions and cultures, including architecture, interior and industrial design and dress.

This thematic breadth and historical emphasis gives it an exceptionally wide reference in relation to other Humanities subjects, and positions it as an ideal major for those considering second majors in the fields of film and media, English literature, classics and foreign languages, sociology, political studies, philosophy and social anthropology.

Michaelis currently offers the following Art History degrees:

Bachelor of Arts

Visual and Art History is a six-course major available to students in the Humanities Faculty studying towards a BA degree. The courses provide an opportunity to study both the history of the fine arts (painting, sculpture, drawings, prints and photography) and the history of other key visual traditions and cultures, including architecture, interior and industrial design and dress. This thematic breadth and historical emphasis gives it an exceptionally wide reference in relation to other Humanities subjects, and positions it as an ideal major for those considering second majors in the fields of film and media, English literature, classics and foreign languages, sociology, political studies, philosophy and social anthropology.

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Honours in Art Historical Studies

  • Admission requirements for Honours courses:
    • Faculty requirements are set out under Rules FH3 and FM3 in the Postgraduate student handbook, see downloads.

  • Programme requirements:
    • A major in Visual and Art History or in a cognate discipline;
    • Acceptance is on the recommendation of the Head of Department.

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Research Master’s

Applicants must have the required academic background and submit an acceptable research proposal for which supervision is available. In Fine Art the application should include presentation of a body of work integral to the proposed course of study. The proposal should indicate the candidate’s plans for executing and presenting his or her creative work. A candidate for Art Historical Studies should have at least an upper-second-class pass in Art History honours or honours in a cognate field.

Acceptance is on the recommendation of the Head of Department and selection is based on the assessment of the research proposal and the availability of suitable supervision.

Examination is by thesis. In Fine Art the thesis may incorporate creative work integral to the overall argument. The creative work may comprise an original portfolio, installation or other audio-visual display, which together with the written component of not less than 40,000 words, forms a coherent whole. Otherwise a PhD thesis should not exceed 80,000 words.