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Undergraduate Study

BA Art History & Visual Culture and Film & Television Studies - 2025 entry

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code QV36
Duration 3 years
Entry year 2025
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Art History & Visual Culture
Contact

Web: Enquire online
Phone: 0300 555 6060 (UK callers) 
+44 (0)1392 723044 (EU/International callers)

Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A-Level: ABB
IB: 32/655
BTEC: DDM

Contextual offers

A-Level: BBC
IB: 28/554
BTEC: DMM

Overview

  • Interpret visual imagery (including photography and design) as well as objects and practices in order to understand contemporary and past societies
  • Explore the media, techniques and historical contexts relevant to the production of artistic works, the terminology used to describe and evaluate them, and the institutions that present them to the public 
  • Study modules designed to provide you with a sense of the range and variety of artistic and visual works and engage critically with these works in their historical and theoretical contexts
  • Art, history and culture embedded on campus with the Exeter Northcott Theatre, The Bill Douglas Cinema Musuem, Lemon Grove and Great Hall as music venues and student theatre at Roborough Studios.

View 2024 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open Days and visiting us

How to apply

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Top 10 icon

Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction

in all seven themes (National Student Survey 2024: Film)

Classical statue icon

Internationally recognised fine art, heritage and film collections on site, including the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

Rosette icon

Top 15 in the UK for History of Art, Architecture and Design

12th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Second icon

2nd in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics

2nd in the Complete University Guide 2025

Top 10 icon

Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction

in all seven themes (National Student Survey 2024: Film)

Classical statue icon

Internationally recognised fine art, heritage and film collections on site, including the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

Rosette icon

Top 15 in the UK for History of Art, Architecture and Design

12th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Having studied Art History at A-Level, I came to my degree expecting a very traditional course, focusing on old masters, and European works.

However, the breadth of specialism amongst the lecturers is phenomenal. The variety of module choices, despite being challenging, is something to be welcomed and contrasts with the more conventional course I had originally expected. The size of the course has actually been one of the most enjoyable elements of the degree as it enables you to get to know everybody and fosters a great environment that makes you feel at ease very soon after starting at university.

Read more from Alicia

Alicia

BA Art History & Visual Culture

Entry requirements (typical offer)

Qualification Typical offer Required subjects
A-Level ABB n/a
IB 32/655 n/a
BTEC DDM n/a
GCSE C or 4 English Language
Access to HE 24 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade. N/A
T-Level Distinction N/A
Contextual Offer

A-Level: BBC
IB: 28/554
BTEC: DMM

Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers.

Other accepted qualifications

View other accepted qualifications

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

NB General Studies is not included in any offer.

Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply

Course content

30 credits of compulsory Art History & Visual Culture modules, 60 credits of compulsory Film Studies modules, and 30 credits of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules.

 

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
AHV1011 Questions and Methods in Art History and Visual Culture 30
EAF1501 Major Debates in Film Theory 30
EAF1506 Interrogating Screens 30

Optional modules

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

a - select either AHV1012 (30 credits) or AHV1005 AND AHV1009 (15 credits each), selecting 30 credits in total.

CodeModule Credits
AHVC Stage 1 Combined Hons Option Modules 2024-5 [See note a above]
AHV1006 Visual Media 15
AHV1008 Topics in Art History and Visual Culture I 15
MLM1014 Chinese Art and the Art of Living 15
AHV1012 Approaches to Art History and Visual Culture 30
AHV1005 Inside the Museum 15
AHV1009 Topics in Art History and Visual Culture II 15
MLF1121 French Visual History 15

30 credits of compulsory Art History & Visual Culture modules, 30 credits of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules, and 60 credits of optional Film Studies modules.

 

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
AHV2015 Art History and Visual Culture Field Study for Blended Learning 30

Optional modules

Subject to selecting 120 credits overall in the stage you must:

b - select 0-30 credits from this list of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules; we recommend selecting at least one module from AHV2002 and AHV2007.

c - select 30-60 credits from this list of optional Film Studies modules.

CodeModule Credits
AHVC Stage 2 Option Modules 2024-5 [See note b above]
AHV2012 Revolutions: Art and Society in France, 1770-1848 30
AHV2016 Contemporary Art and Curation 15
AHV2018 Comics Studies: Histories, Methodologies, Genres 30
AHV2021 American Photographs 15
AHV2022 Animals in Nineteenth-century Art and Visual Culture 15
AHV2023 Global Impressionisms 15
AHV2208 Ideal Cities? Urban Cultures of Renaissance Italy 15
AHV2013 Photography and Evidence 15
AHV2019 Common Threads: Art, Craft and Activism 15
AHV2020 Deconstructing the Dutch Golden Age: Nationalism, Exceptionalism and Decline 15
AHV2024 Renaissances North and South: Italy and the Netherlands 15
MLM2003 Chinoiserie and Europeenerie: Artistic and cultural exchanges between China and Europe 15
EAS2089 Creative Industries: Their Past, Our Future 30
AHV2002 Debates and Contestations in Art History [See note b above]15
AHV2007 Contemporary Visual Practices [See note b above]15
Film & Television Stage 2 Option modules 2024-5 [See note c above]
EAF2510 Adaptation: Text, Image, Culture 30
EAF2515 Contemporary Latin American Cinema 30
EAF2512 European Cinemas: Art, Industry, Entertainment 30
EAF2500 European Cinemas: Art, Industry, Entertainment 15
EAF2514 Scrublands, Sanctuary, Screens: Co-creating Knowledges alongside Donkeys 30
EAF2502 Shots in the Dark 30
EAF2511 Television: Times, Trends and Technologies 30

Typically, any placement year will take place in Year 3. If you are not taking a placement year please see the Final Year modules for year 3.

30 credits of compulsory dissertation, 90 credits of optional modules (including 30-60 credits of Art History & Visual Culture modules, and 30-60 credits of Film Studies modules).

 

Compulsory modules

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

d - select either AHV3000 or EAF3514 or EAF3516 (you cannot choose more than one module from this group).

CodeModule Credits
AHV3000 Art History and Visual Culture Dissertation [See note d above]30
EAF3514 Film Studies Dissertation [See note d above]30
EAF3516 Creative Film Dissertation [See note d above]30

Optional modules

e - if selecting EAF3514 or EAF3516, select 30-60 credits from this list of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules.

f - if selecting AHV3000, select 30-60 credits from this list of optional Film Studies modules.

CodeModule Credits
AHVC Final Stage Option Modules 2024-5 [See note e above]
AHV3002 Understanding Space in Renaissance Italy 15
AHV3007 Global Modernisms 15
AHV3008 Performance Art 15
AHV3009 Paris to the World: Modelling the Modern City 15
AHV3012 Installation Art 15
AHV3017 'Queen City of Europe': Art, Culture and Society in Renaissance Antwerp, c.1500-70 15
EAF3515 Something to See: War and Visual Media 30
EAS3245 The 21st Century Museum 30
EAS3421 Picturing the Global City: Literature and Visual Culture in the 21st Century 30
EAS3504 Surrealism and its Legacies 30
HUM3015 The Place of Meaning: Gardens in Britain and China 15
MLG3036 Dictatorships on Display: History Exhibitions in Germany and Austria 15
AHV3013 Art, Industry and the Modern, 1840-1900 15
AHV3019 Artists' Film and Video 15
AHV3018 The Body in Art and Disability Studies 15
AHV3020 Subjectivity and Storytelling: From Decorative Arts to Digital Futures 15
THE3229 Syriac Christianity: Monks, Monasteries and Mimre 30
Film & Television Final Stage Option modules 2024-5 [See note f above]
EAF3501 American Independent Film 30
EAF3513 British Screens 30
EAF3519 Cinema in the Anthropocene 30
EAF3106 Female Screens: Representation, Agency and Authorship 30
EAF3521 Film Audiences 30
EAF3515 Something to See: War and Visual Media 30

Course variants

UCAS code: QV37

Our four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.

Why Study Abroad?

Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.

Where can I Study Abroad?

We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the Study Abroad website.

Does it count towards my degree?

Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are Studying Abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree. Please refer to your Study Abroad co-ordinator for further details.

How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?

For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your Study Abroad year.

UCAS code: QV38

Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements within the UK as part of your degree.

Why choose to include Employment Experience?

Undertaking graduate-level work during your degree unlocks a world of experience that allows you to develop essential employability and interpersonal skills that relate to your degree and future career. A work placement will dramatically boost your confidence, enhance your CV and develop graduate level skills and competencies that employers are looking for.

Where will I do my work placement?

The sector you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.

How does it affect my tuition fees and funding?

For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.

Find out more

Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities. 

UCAS code: QV39

Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements as part of your degree.

Why choose to include Employment Experience Abroad?

Spending up to a year living and working in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. By carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements abroad you can demonstrate to employers your adaptability, cultural awareness, independence and resourcefulness and, depending on where you stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language.

Where will I do my work placement?

The sector and country you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.

How does it affect my tuition fee?

For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.

Is the placement paid?

You will be paid in accordance with the rules of the country you work in and there may be visa restrictions or requirements which you need to consider when applying.

Find out more

Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities. 

Fees

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £24,700 per year

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.

Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

How will I learn?

You will be taught by internationally respected staff who are leading researchers in their specialisms. We use a wide variety of techniques and approaches including seminars, lectures, study groups and web-based learning, as well as valuable field study. We integrate the latest approaches with traditional learning and teaching to give you a varied and challenging programme. As you study the compulsory modules, you will learn through individual practical and project work, team work and a research project, all of which are designed to help you develop key skills for success throughout your degree and into your future career. 

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed in a variety of ways but primarily through exams and coursework. Coursework includes essays, a dissertation and presentation work. The ratio of formal exams to coursework is on average 40:60 (depending on your choice of modules). Your first year doesn’t count towards your final degree classification, but you do have to pass it in order to progress. In order to be eligible for ‘with Study Abroad’ programmes, you will need to attain an average of 60 per cent or more in your first year. The assessments in the second year, year abroad (if applicable) and final year will contribute to your final degree classification

Contact time

In your first year, you will receive a minimum of 10 hours of contact with academic staff per week. You will also be expected to attend other activities such as study groups, workshop activities and film screenings. Your total workload should average about 40 hours per week during term time. The exact amount of time spent working independently varies from module to module.

Research-inspired teaching

Teaching that is inspired by research ensures lectures are up-to-date and relevant: you will benefit from access to the latest thinking, equipment and resources. All options are taught by staff with expertise including art history, architecture, film, photography, visual media, art and technology, curation and exhibition, mixed and virtual realities, performance art and visual culture in the UK and abroad.

Academic support

All students have access to a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There are also a number of services on campus where you can get advice and information, including the Students’ Guild Advice Unit.

Optional modules outside of this course

Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.

  • A Foreign Language
  • Data Science
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • Law (Penryn Campus only)
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Social Data Science

Find out more about proficiency options

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Your future

Employer-valued skills this course develops

Studying Art History & Visual Culture equips students with a broad range of highly desirable transferable skills in analysis, critique, research and theoretical and practical creativity. These will prepare you to enter a wide variety of professions. You will also develop specialist knowledge of everything from traditional art forms such as architecture and sculpture, to today’s visual practices such as film, video, performance and digital art. You will benefit from productive engagement with collections, institutions and art groups in the area, in tandem with the wider arts community in the South West and beyond.

Further study

The Art History & Visual Culture programme prepares its graduates to undertake postgraduate study or training in areas such as education, arts management and journalism, amongst others. Recent graduates have gone on to study:

  • MA Publishing
  • MA Multimedia Broadcast Journalism
  • MA Creative Advertising
  • CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
  • MA Fine and Decorative Arts
  • MA Marketing & International Management
  • Graduate Diploma in Law
  • MA Stage and Event Management

Career support and pathways

We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service, ensuring you have access to careers advisors, mentors and the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field on graduation. We offer the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award which include employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market. 

Art History & Visual Culture graduates compete very successfully in the employment market, with many employers targeting the University when recruiting new graduates.

Examples of roles recent graduates are now working as include:

  • Art Gallery Intern
  • Brand Intern in fashion industry
  • Civil Service Fast Stream
  • Collections Information Officer
  • Editorial Assistant
  • Events Planner
  • Marketing Intern
  • PR Account Executive
  • Researcher
  • TV Promotions Assistant

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2nd in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics

2nd in the Complete University Guide 2025