Four reasons why you should study history of art

At many universities, a key component of the programme is to visit iconic museums, exhibitions and galleries in order to analyse the impact of different art forms in person.  

For example, the University of Cambridge (ranked eighth for history of art) encourages students to take advantage of its wealth of resources such as the Fitzwilliam Museum, Kettle’s Yard, and the colleges' architecture and art collections.  

You can also find yourself working on restoration projects as part of your education. Kanon, an undergraduate student at the Courtauld Institute of Art, said: “The association with the newly reopened Courtauld Gallery gave us students not only free and easy access to the exceptional museum collection but allowed us to get involved in its development through voluntary and paid opportunities such as the Digitalisation Project at Somerset House, the Student Ambassador scheme, or assisting the Gallery’s special openings or events.” 

In order to navigate complex questions, you’ll learn about approaches from other fields such as economics, anthropology and linguistics, meaning you’ll have an enriching and varied education. 

The programme at UCL (ranked 15th for history of art) offers modules in modern foreign languages and a subsidiary subject – either anthropology, archaeology, history or philosophy – to let you focus on your interests within and around the degree.  

Students can also choose the History of Art Combined Honours degree which offers a thorough grounding in the discipline of art history alongside the in-depth study of either philosophy or one of a selection of modern languages. 

History of art graduates can find a host of creative roles directly related to their degree such as museum curators, art gallery managers, conservators and heritage managers. Some of the most valuable skills you’ll learn from your degree include the following: 

• Critical thinking to form strong arguments 

• Written and oral communication 

• Analytical skills, particularly visual analysis, to interpret information from different sources 

• Ability to work independently and with others 

• Research and presentation through course assignments and dissertation 

As many of these skills are highly valued across a range of industries, graduates are also well prepared for careers in advertising, publishing, marketing, journalism and teaching.