Art History & Visual Culture and History

Art History and Visual Culture combined with History is a degree that examines how human beings have made and understood visual objects, images, and spaces alongside the broader historical forces and events that have shaped societies over time. Art History and Visual Culture is concerned with painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, film, and the full range of visual forms, asking how they were made, for whom, and what meanings they have carried across different times and cultures. History provides the contextual frameworks and analytical methods for situating those visual objects in their political, social, and intellectual environments.

At the University of Exeter, this three-year, full-time degree takes seriously both the close analysis of visual objects and the rigorous historical argument that context demands. You will develop skills in looking carefully, interpreting visual evidence, researching across archival and visual sources, and writing with precision and clarity about complex material. The degree includes a sandwich year, work placements, and the option of a year abroad, all of which provide opportunities to encounter the art and history you study in person and to develop professional skills in cultural and heritage settings.

Access to local arts centres and museums enriches the experience throughout the programme.

Graduates of this combination pursue careers in museums, galleries, auction houses, arts journalism, heritage management, arts administration, cultural policy, education, publishing, and the cultural and creative industries more broadly. The combination of visual literacy, historical understanding, and analytical communication skill is valued across a wide range of professional contexts. Postgraduate study in art history, museum studies, heritage management, or cultural studies provides routes to more specialised roles.