Art Schools Worldwide
Compare0

Subject · 453 verified programs

Art History degrees

Degrees on the study of visual art and material culture in historical, social and critical context, based on reading, looking and writing.

Also called: History of Art, Art History and Visual Culture, Art and Architectural History, Kunstgeschichte, Histoire de l’art.

235 BA / BA (Hons) · 100 MA · 59 PhD · 24 Other bachelor’s award · 18 Other master’s award · 13 BFA · 3 Other research doctorate · 1 MFA · 398 dedicated degree, 41 official concentration, 4 documented pathway, 10 named major

453 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About art history study

Art history is the academic study of art, architecture and visual and material culture across periods and places. Degree study teaches students to look closely at objects, research their origins and meanings, and write about them using historical, theoretical and critical methods. Programs may cover regions and eras from antiquity to the present and increasingly include global and non-Western perspectives.

Learning is primarily through lectures, seminars, readings, essays and often visits to museums, collections and sites. Students develop skills in visual analysis, archival and object research, and argument. Many programs also teach languages, theory and approaches such as provenance, conservation awareness, curatorial practice and the history of collecting, culminating in a dissertation or thesis.

Art history differs from studio-based subjects in this directory, where students make work as the main activity, although some studio programs include art history courses. It also differs from art education, which concerns teaching. Some programs combine art history with museum studies or archaeology, which are separate fields. Students interested in making should look at fine arts or related studio subjects.

What study typically involves

  • Survey and period-based courses across regions
  • Visual and formal analysis
  • Research methods and use of archives and collections
  • Art theory, criticism and historiography
  • Language study in many programs
  • Museum and exhibition studies in some programs
  • A dissertation or thesis

Award titles. Art history is commonly studied within BA or BA (Hons) degrees and, at postgraduate level, MA or research degrees such as MPhil and PhD. Some countries use other titles or integrated structures. Naming varies, so rely on the official program page.

Art history may appear as a major, a track within a humanities degree or a combined program with another field. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Art history programs generally do not ask for a visual portfolio. Instead, applicants are often asked for a personal statement, academic transcripts and, at postgraduate level, a writing sample such as an essay or thesis chapter. Some programs request a research proposal, references or language evidence.

Requirements vary by country and program. Undergraduate admission may depend on school qualifications and sometimes an interview, while doctoral programs usually expect a defined research topic and a supervisor match. Some programs ask for demonstrated reading ability in relevant languages.

Confirm what is required, including formats, word limits and deadlines, on each official admissions page. Admission is never guaranteed, and no universal template applies.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At PhD level, funding in some programs may come through fellowships, teaching or research assistantships, tuition remission or external research council and foundation awards. Master’s funding is generally more limited and often competitive.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial or no support. Verify details directly with the program and funding bodies.

Costs beyond tuition. Costs beyond tuition may include books and image rights, travel to museums, archives and sites, language courses and conference attendance.