BA (Hons) History of Art Bachelor's degree at Courtauld Institute of Art
BA (Hons) History of Art at CIA is taught in English and leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. You'll study across core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills…
About this course
Where does a degree in art history take you? It makes you highly employable, and opens paths to careers in all sectors of the economy. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) History of Art is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at CIA, based in Vernon Square. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For History of art, architecture and design graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £26,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Architecture, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 89% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year one 5 modules
- Foundations 1Core30 credits
Module details
A series of lectures, dealing with a range of major themes and issues from antiquity to the present day across the globe, runs in two parts in semesters 1 and 2. It is supported by discussion classes of about 15 students which help you to build up your confidence in looking, thinking, discussing and writing about Art History.
- Foundations 2Core30 credits
Module details
A series of lectures, dealing with a range of major themes and issues from antiquity to the present day across the globe, runs in two parts in semesters 1 and 2. It is supported by discussion classes of about 15 students which help you to build up your confidence in looking, thinking, discussing and writing about Art History.
- TopicsCore15 credits
Module details
In each semester, you will join a module that focuses on the first-hand study of art in London, making the most of the world class works in museums and galleries that surround us. These are taught in groups of ten to twelve students and meet weekly.
- Principles of Art HistoryCore15 credits
Module details
Principles of Art History will introduce students to the ideas and methods fundamental to the discipline of art history. The first semester focuses on best practices and sets out to answer the question, 'How does one do art history?' Students will learn about the art of visual analysis, the tenets of rigorous research, and the pillars of expository writing specific to our field. The second semester focuses on key concepts and sets out to answer the question, 'What is art history?' Students will
- LanguageCore15 credits
Module details
We strongly believe in the importance of offering you the chance to learn or improve a foreign language. It gives you insights into another culture, helps connect you with other people, and provides you with access to new literature and ways of thinking. It is also increasingly important as a way to stand out in the job market. You will study a language initially during your first year, though you may elect to take it further over the course of your degree. Language teaching is provided through
Year two 19 modules
- Physical HistoriesCore15 credits
Module details
Physical Histories is a pioneering module taken in semester 1, taught with input from colleagues in our conservation department, which encourages you to understand and interpret works of art via close looking at their material characteristics.
- Exhibiting ArtCore15 credits
Module details
In semester 2, you will move to considering the role of museums, galleries and exhibitions in societies (past, present,and future), and how display contexts can shape (and also limit) the understanding of works of art and architecture. Making use of London collections, you will think analytically about the display choices, methods and narratives adopted by different museums and galleries.
- Art and the CrusadesOptional15 credits
- Artists, Radicals, Mystics: European Art, 1760–1830Optional15 credits
- Landscape and Environment in Early Modern ChinaOptional15 credits
- American Art and American Landscape, 1800–1920Optional15 credits
- Reality and Fantasy in French Art, 1863–97: From Haussmannisation to Enchanted GroundOptional15 credits
- The Modern InteriorOptional15 credits
- Art and Cold War PoliticsOptional15 credits
- Beyond the Great Wall: Mapping Contemporary Art on the 'New Silk Road'Optional15 credits
- Radical Light: The Experimental Moving Image Since 1945Optional15 credits
- Art History and Social JusticeOptional15 credits
- Approaches to Islamic Ornament c.650–1350Optional15 credits
- Thinking with Things: Theories of Materiality and Material CultureOptional15 credits
- Sexual PoliticsOptional15 credits
- Facsimile Debates: From AI to PlatoOptional15 credits
- Ways of Seeing and Being Seen: The Politics of Vision in Modern and Contemporary ArtOptional15 credits
- Postcolonialism and Contemporary ArtOptional15 credits
- Ecologies, Environments and Nature in Art and ArchitectureOptional15 credits
Year three 4 modules
- BA ResearchCore30 credits
Module details
Beginning in semester 1, you will be supported in honing your skills in independent research, defining an area you wish to explore and establishing appropriate parameters, research questions and approaches before embarking on a sustained piece of work, supervised by a member of our teaching faculty. The research module culminates in the writing of an 8,000- word dissertation, to be submitted at the end of semester 2.
- Arts at the Courts of France, c.1360– 1420Optional30 credits
- Art and the Modern Nation: from Medieval Islam to Post-Modern IranOptional30 credits
- The Shape of Thought: Art Science and Knowledge in the Early Modern PeriodOptional30 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This degree emphasises how art history develops your employability across all sectors of the economy. You'll usually begin with foundations in visual analysis, historical context and research methods, progressing to more specialised study in particular periods, regions or movements. A course like this normally combines seminars and independent research, moving from broader surveys towards focused dissertation work. In later years, you'll typically choose areas of depth, such as particular historical periods, artistic media or curatorial practice, and complete a substantial written project that showcases your analytical and scholarly skills.
Who it's for
This course suits students with strong A-level results or equivalent qualifications. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent; the typical UCAS tariff band among entrants was 160–175 points. You should be genuinely interested in art history as an intellectual discipline, not simply as a casual interest. The course demands sustained engagement with complex texts, images, and historical contexts across different periods and cultures.
University & format
The BA (Hons) History of Art is a full-time, three-year degree taught in English at Courtauld Institute of Art, a public university in Vernon Square, London. The award is nationally recognised through the UK degree-awarding body system. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent; the typical UCAS tariff among entrants was 160–175 points.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 77% |
| Other | 9% |
| a Baccalaureate | 8% |
| another higher-education qualification | 6% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at CIA →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Architecture graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £26,500 | £24,000 – £30,000 | 255 |
| 3 years after | £24,000 | £20,000 – £30,000 | 35 |
| 5 years after | £31,500 | £25,500 – £36,000 | 45 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 255. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in architecture · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Architecture nationally
National figures for Architecture graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 255. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Architecture courses at the same study level.
Compared with 228 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Architecture graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Architecture graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Architecture practices
- Property developers
- Local-authority planning
- Construction firms
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Architecture graduates.
Architecture Design Lead EMEANeko HealthArchitecture Director - Data CentresAECOMArchitecture Managing Consultant: Consumer & Manufacturing GrowthAstro Studios, Inc.Architecture Lead on Equipment ManagementAirbusArchitecture - Senior Solutions Architect - IT1Parkdean Resorts UK LimitedArchitecture Managing Consultant, Consumer & ManufacturingPA ConsultingIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £26,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.4 out of 10: NSS 78.7% · continued 89%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Courtauld Institute of Art
Architecture, building and planning across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Vernon Square
7,591 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Architecture right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to CIA from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by CIA; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check CIA’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with CIA and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
Common questions
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What are the entry requirements?
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