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Learn from world-class researchers and access literature and artworks in our university research library, on-campus collections and in galleries across Birmingham city and beyond.

You’ll discover visual and literary themes through a broad range of perspectives, exploring global and culturally significant narratives and art.
One of the most unique modules was Art History in the Field - we looked at Parisian art and architecture, and the module involved a week-long trip to Paris so we could go and study the art in person!

Discover more about your chosen subject at one of our Open Days or by asking us a question.
in the UK for History of Art
Complete University Guide 2026
in the UK for English
Complete University Guide 2026
In this flexible degree, you'll explore art and literature from a wide range of perspectives.
The Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies is based in the internationally renowned on-campus art gallery, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, home to masterpieces by Monet, Picasso, Kollwitz, and Van Gogh. Additionally, the University of Birmingham and the city have extensive art collections and institutions, including painting, sculpture, posters, photography, and manuscripts.
The galleries of the Barber Institute are currently closed due to essential building works. Teaching will recommence in the galleries from autumn 2027. Until then, we will maintain the object-focused learning that sits at the heart of our programmes by immersing students in the rich collections elsewhere in the university and across the city.
From the university-funded European trip in second year, to the on-site Barber Institute of Fine Art, to Birmingham Museum and Galleries, the Ikon Gallery, and Digbeth’s art scene, there are plenty of opportunities to explore art and creativity.

Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus and life in our vibrant and cultural city.
Study at the University of Birmingham and learn from world-class experts—authors of key works and leaders with global teaching and research experience.
At Birmingham, you’ll have plenty of support to help you adjust to university life:
Your degree is designed to help you achieve 120 credits per year, which equals about 40 hours of learning each week. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, revision, and assessments.
You’ll be assessed in different ways to suit each module. At the start of a module, you’ll be told how and when you’ll be assessed. Methods will vary but may include coursework (e.g., essays), group or individual presentations and projects, exams, reports or computer-based assignments.
Feedback: You will receive timely feedback on each assessment, so you can learn from it and improve your performance in future assessments.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
2026/27 Session
The following must be taken:
2027/28 Session
A minimum of 40 credits and a maximum of 80 credits must be taken in each discipline in both years (subject to a total number of 120 credits in each year).
Core modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Art History in the Field: Overseas Study Trip | 10 |
| Research Techniques in History of Art | 10 |
Students choose additional modules provided annually by the department. The following is an indicative list from History of Art:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Art, Architecture and Design in Fin-de-Siècle Vienna | 20 |
| Art, Race and the British Empire, 1837-1901: Contexts, Approaches, Legacies | 20 |
| Craft: Practices, Concepts, Activism | 20 |
| Impressionism and After: Art and Society in Late Nineteenth-Century France | 20 |
| Inside the Gallery: Curating an Exhibition | 20 |
| Making Culture: New Ways of Reading Things | 20 |
| Modern Erotica: Sex, Censorship, and Art | 20 |
| Nature framed: the art and politics of landscape 1700 to 1900 | 20 |
| Political Art | 20 |
| Post-War: Art in Britain After the Second World War | 20 |
| Power, Society, Politics: Religious Art in Northern Europe, c. 1400-1600 | 20 |
English Literature Options:
A maximum of one module from any block can be taken.
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Gothic | 20 |
| Imagined Worlds: Genre Fiction and Popular Culture | 20 |
| Shakespeare: Elizabethan | 20 |
Block B:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Eighteenth-Century and Romantic Literature | 20 |
| Literature 1950-Present | 20 |
| Restoration and Revolution | 20 |
Block C:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Earliest English | 20 |
| Reading the Renaissance | 20 |
| The Canterbury Tales | 20 |
Block D:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| British Theatre | 20 |
| Colonial/Postcolonial | 20 |
| Literature and Environment: Crisis and Resistance | 20 |
| Shakespeare: Jacobean | 20 |
Block E:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Our Digital World | 20 |
| Rags and Riches: Wealth and Poverty in American Literature and Culture | 20 |
| The Social Life of Literature | 20 |
Block F:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Aspects of Modernism | 20 |
| Gender and Sexuality Studies | 20 |
| Victorian Literature | 20 |
2028/29 Session
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dissertation in English Literature | 40 |
| Joint Honours Link Dissertation | 40 |
| Long History of Art Dissertation | 40 |
Students choose additional modules provided annually by the department.
The following is an indicative list from History of Art:
English Literature optional modules
You cannot choose two from the same block
Block A
Block B:
Block C
Block D
Students may also apply to undertake a Professional Skills module. If successful this will be taken in place of one of their semester 1 taught modules.
You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year, you will be eligible to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year.
To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.
ABB to include English Literature or English Language and Literature.
6,5,5 32 points overall.
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level. Equivalent accepted, please see below for full information.
Number of A levels required: 3
ABB. General Studies not accepted.
Required subjects and grades:
B in English Literature or English Language and Literature.
6,5,5 in Higher Level subjects plus 32 points overall, including HL English Literature / English Literature & Language.
Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in Core Maths. If you are also taking A-level Maths, you will not be eligible for an alternative offer through studying Core Maths. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.

Stay up-to-date with news and updates from the University of Birmingham including events, our courses and studying with us by registering your details. If you do so, you will be able to use our Offer Calculator.
Students who are eligible and complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive an alternative offer, which is typically two grades below the standard offer.
Our Contextual Offer scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the Contextual Offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer. You don’t need to apply for this – it will be assessed and applied at the point of application if you’re eligible.
BBC including B in English Literature or English Literature & Language.
BBB including B in English Literature or English Literature & Language.
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.
per year for domestic (UK) students for 2026/27
*The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study, normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. The fee for September 2025 entry was £9,535 for UK students. If you are applying for 2026 entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee once it is confirmed by the Government.
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.

If you're a UK student and starting university in September 2026, find out more about what financial support is available to you.

We want to help you reach your full potential. Explore our wide variety of scholarships available for international students.
Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS. The UCAS website has lots of information and advice around the process.
Application deadline for September 2026 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.
View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.
A degree in English Literature and History of Art at Birmingham offers an unparalleled opportunity explore the connections and intersections between visual and literary disciplines. You'll develop analytical, research, and communication skills that are highly valued across creative and wider sectors.
Meet Elizabeth from the BBC | Built in Birmingham | University of Birmingham
Key skills:
Our History of Art students have gone on to secure roles such as Founder, Gallery Administrator, Artist, and Director working for organisations such as:
Our English Literature students have gone on to secure roles such as 'Founder', 'Marketing Executive', and 'Project Manager', working for organisations such as:
The University has commissioned Cturtle as our data partner for tracking our alumni destinations. The data above is a subset from 43,666 alumni who completed their course up to 31 July 2024.
The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits.
The Graduate Market in 2025, High Fliers report
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Hear from some of our inspiring alumni who have gone on to work for leading employers such as the UK Space Agency and BBC Sport.
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.

Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.

Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.

Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.

Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work.

Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.