BA (Hons) Art History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) at Birkbeck, University of London

This BA Art History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) gives you the opportunity to study the visual arts as a central element of human endeavour expanding your interest in human culture, language and history in a supportive but challenging environment. It enables you to develop a range of key skills, from critical thinking and writing to historical research and visual analysis, enriched by the study of a modern language.

Faculty: School of Historical Studies  |  Duration: Three years full-time, on campus; Four years part-time, on campus  |  Study mode: full-time, part-time  |  Intake: October 2027  |  Location: London, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

In art history, you will be taught by active researchers with expertise ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day, and encompassing a range of media from painting, sculpture and architecture to photography, installations and digital to help you gain a critical understanding of the visual world around you. You will also explore the cultural and political contexts of artworks, buildings and exhibitions, and think more broadly about the role of images within society. You must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits. Compulsory modules include Language learning module 1, 2, 3 or 4, Year 2, Compulsory research portfolio, Language learning module 2, 3, 4 or 5, a Level 5 art history option, a Level 5 language-specific culture option, Comparative Themes in the Novel or Themes in European and Japanese Cinema, a comparative culture option, e.g. Reading Transnational Cultures, a Level 5 art history option, a Level 5 language-specific culture option.

Career pathways

Jobs gained by some of our BA and MA graduates include: Head of Learning, Design Museum, Curator, Schools Programmes, Tate Modern, Curatorial Assistant, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Curatorial Officer, National Army Museum, Head of Campaign Management, Science Museum, Curator, Handel House Museum, Head Curator, National Maritime Museum, Director, Foundling Museum, Curator, British Art 1850-1915, Tate Britain.

Official programme page