Undergraduate students looking at art work in the Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham City Centre

Art History and Visual Culture (with Foundation Year) BA

University Park Campus, Nottingham, UK

Important information

We're busy updating our undergraduate prospectus for the 2026/27 academic year. The information here might change, so keep an eye out for updates by the end of April 2025.

Qualification	Entry Requirements	Start Date	UCAS code	Duration	Fees
BA Hons	BCC	September 2026	V35F	4 years full-time	£5,760*

How to apply

Get in touch

Faculty of Arts

Qualification	Entry Requirements	Start Date	UCAS code	Duration	Fees
BA Hons	BCC	September 2026	V35F	4 years full-time	£5,760*

How to apply

Get in touch

Course information

Alternative courses for EU/international students

This course is not available to EU/international students. Instead, you may consider the Business, Law and Social Sciences Foundation Certificate. This is offered through the University of Nottingham International College in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways.

This course is only available to Home students.

This course is not available to EU/international students. Instead, you may consider the Business, Law and Social Sciences Foundation Certificate. This is offered through the University of Nottingham International College in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways.
Start date:
September 2026

September 2026
IB score

24 points overall or 544 in 3 Higher Level Certificates

A level

BCC

Required subjects
A level

Our Foundation Year allows you to progress to a wide range of Faculty of Arts courses.

Some of our progression courses require you to have certain qualifications as well as the foundation qualification:
- BA French Studies - Required subjects: Grade C in French at A level.
- BA Modern Languages - Required subjects: Grade C in at least one of French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Russian or Spanish at A level.
- BA Modern Languages with Translation - Required subjects: Grade C in one of French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Russian or Spanish at A level.
- BA Music - Required subjects: Grade C in A level music. Grade 5 Theory ABRSM, LCM, Trinity or Rockschool may be accepted in place of A level music. See our music qualifications page for more alternatives.
GCSE

English grade 4 (C)
Additional entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements apply to 2026 entry.

The Arts and Humanities Foundation Year is part of our contextual admissions policy, reflecting a lower offer, with eligibility assessed on personal circumstances. To qualify for our Foundation Year contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.

Personal circumstances

As well as having the required grades, your current or most recent school cannot be an independent school, and you must meet at least one of the following personal background criteria:
1. You live in an area where people are less likely to go to university – check your postcode
2. You were in receipt of free school meals (FSM) on any census day in the six years before the census day of your final KS4 year (that is, the year you were aged 15-16 years old)
3. You are the first generation in your family to enter higher education
4. You will be over 21 years old when you begin your course
5. You have spent more than three months in local authority care (for this criterion you do not need to have attended a state school)
6. You have refugee status from the Home Office
7. You need to study in the East Midlands (for example, for family, cultural or financial reasons)
8. You provide long term care of a sick or disabled family member
Where relevant you should include reference to 6, 7 and 8 in your personal statement, or provide this information via artssupport@nottingham.ac.uk when you submit your UCAS application.
A level

BCC

Required subjects
A level

Our Foundation Year allows you to progress to a wide range of Faculty of Arts courses.

Some of our progression courses require you to have certain qualifications as well as the foundation qualification:
- BA French Studies - Required subjects: Grade C in French at A level.
- BA Modern Languages - Required subjects: Grade C in at least one of French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Russian or Spanish at A level.
- BA Modern Languages with Translation - Required subjects: Grade C in one of French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Russian or Spanish at A level.
- BA Music - Required subjects: Grade C in A level music. Grade 5 Theory ABRSM, LCM, Trinity or Rockschool may be accepted in place of A level music. See our music qualifications page for more alternatives.
GCSE

English grade 4 (C)
IB score

24 points overall or 544 in 3 Higher Level Certificates

Additional entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements apply to 2026 entry.

The Arts and Humanities Foundation Year is part of our contextual admissions policy, reflecting a lower offer, with eligibility assessed on personal circumstances. To qualify for our Foundation Year contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.

Personal circumstances

As well as having the required grades, your current or most recent school cannot be an independent school, and you must meet at least one of the following personal background criteria:
1. You live in an area where people are less likely to go to university – check your postcode
2. You were in receipt of free school meals (FSM) on any census day in the six years before the census day of your final KS4 year (that is, the year you were aged 15-16 years old)
3. You are the first generation in your family to enter higher education
4. You will be over 21 years old when you begin your course
5. You have spent more than three months in local authority care (for this criterion you do not need to have attended a state school)
6. You have refugee status from the Home Office
7. You need to study in the East Midlands (for example, for family, cultural or financial reasons)
8. You provide long term care of a sick or disabled family member
Where relevant you should include reference to 6, 7 and 8 in your personal statement, or provide this information via artssupport@nottingham.ac.uk when you submit your UCAS application.
UK entry requirements
Alternative qualifications

We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.

Consequently we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications including:
- Access to HE Diploma
- Advanced Diploma
- BTEC HND/HNC
- BTEC Extended Diploma
This list is not exhaustive. The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. Please contact us to discuss the transferability of your qualification. Please see the alternative qualifications page for more information.

RQF BTEC Nationals
- RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma grades DMM
- RQF Level 3 BTEC National Diploma grades DM + C
- RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Certificate M + BC
Access to HE Diploma
- Access to HE Diploma 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction, 18 Level 3 credits at Merit and 12 Level 3 credits at Pass
Mature students

At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.

Progression to direct entry degree

On successful completion of the course, you will progress directly to your undergraduate course, chosen from the full range provided entirely within the Faculty of Arts; this excludes a small number of joint honours courses where the academic partner is in another faculty. Factors to consider:
- Additional entry requirements: some degrees, notably those provided by the Department of Music, and post-A level pathway Modern Languages, have additional entry requirements.
- Year abroad: most of our Modern Languages courses, and our American and Canadian Studies (study abroad) course involve a year abroad in your third year.
- Placement year: if you choose (and successfully complete) this option, you will have ‘with placement year’ added to your degree title.
You do not have to decide your progression course yet; your Foundation Year tutors will guide you through your choices at the appropriate time.
UCAS Code:
V35F

V35F
One year foundation course, three year undergraduate course (or four years undergraduate course if you choose a course with an integrated year abroad, or take an optional year in industry or other study abroad opportunity.)

Study abroad

On the direct entry degree part of this course, you can apply to study abroad at one of our partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.

If you are successful in applying to study abroad, you will get the opportunity to broaden your horizons and enhance your CV by experiencing another culture. Teaching is typically in English, but there may be opportunities to study in another language if you are sufficiently fluent.

You can choose to study similar modules to your counterparts in the UK or expand your knowledge by taking other options.

The school you are joining may also have additional study abroad options available. Please visit the school website for more information.

Please note: In order to study abroad you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet the selection criteria of both the university and the partner institution. The partner institution is under no obligation to accept you even if you do meet the relevant criteria.

Placements and internships

You can choose to add an optional placement year to your three year progression degree.

For some of our progression degrees you could gain professional experience in film, television and other creative industries, create a network of contacts and boost your employability through our Creative Student Network internship scheme.

The Foundation Year is based within the Faculty of Arts that offers numerous placement and internship opportunities.

Please note: In order to undertake a placement or internship, you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet any requirements specified by the placement host. There is no guarantee that you will be able to undertake a placement or internship as part of your course.

Key information

Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.
Tuition fees 2026/27

This is the UK undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 25/26. It may increase for the academic year 26/27 and we will update our information once we have received confirmation of the fee from the UK Government.

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

Essential course materials are supplied.

Books

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts.

A limited number of modules may have compulsory texts which you are required to buy. We recommend that you budget £100 per year for books, but this figure will vary according to which modules you take.

The Blackwell's bookshop on campus offers a year-round price match against any of the main retailers (for example Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smith). They also offer second-hand books, as students from previous years sell their copies back to the bookshop.

Volunteering and placements

For volunteering and placements, such as work experience and teaching in schools, you will need to pay for transport and refreshments.

Scholarships and bursaries

Faculty of Arts Alumni Scholarships

Our alumni scholarships provide support with essential living costs to eligible students. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

University of Nottingham bursaries and scholarships

The university offers a wide range of funds that can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. See our bursaries and scholarships page for what's available.

Home students

Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary, worth up to £1,000 a year. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.

A 'home' student is one who meets certain UK residence criteria. These are the same criteria as apply to eligibility for home funding from Student Finance.

Course overview

Your Arts and Humanities Foundation Year will help prepare you for the BA Art History and Visual Culture. Art is everywhere, shaping how we see and understand the world. From Renaissance paintings to viral videos, images have the power to influence culture, politics and society. Learn how art and visual culture have shaped societies past and present, and gain the tools you need to decode the images that define our world.

First, through a range of engaging modules spanning the arts and humanities, you will undertake a preparatory Foundation Year. Here you will develop key skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and digital capability. You'll be able to tailor your assessment topics to explore aspects of your progression degree with elements of interdisciplinarity and real-world applicability.

Your dedicated Foundation Year tutors will support you with building these skills, and the confidence for undergraduate study.

course overview

Our foundation programme is a preparatory year designed for talented UK students with an interest in arts and humanities subjects, but whose personal circumstances make achieving our usual entry requirements difficult.

During the foundation year you will be a full member of the university, with all the opportunities this offers, including the same accommodation options as direct entry students.

As you work through your year, you may develop different ideas about your progression degree. That’s OK. Your tutors will guide you through your choices, which includes joint honours courses offered within the Faculty of Arts. For now, apply for the named pathway which most interests you.

Why choose this course?

Automatic progression to your degree upon successful completion of the Foundation Year - there's no need to reapply.
Preparation for success - gain the skills and confidence during the foundation year to thrive as an undergraduate.
Great support - benefit from dedicated foundation year tutors.
Carefully designed curriculum - each of the six modules aims to give you the best start to your progression degree.
Freedom to explore - deepen your knowledge of your favourite topics and explore new ones.
Build employability - develop your CV-boosting skills through integrated professional competencies training during the foundation year.
Change your mind – this Foundation Year allows progression to a wide range of Arts and Humanities degrees. Only music degrees, and some modern language degrees require specific subjects at A level or equivalent. If you do change your mind about this subject during the year, you can discuss your alternatives with your tutor.

When you progress to your chosen degree:

Explore real-world challenges across interdisciplinary themes with our ‘Engaged Arts’ optional modules.
Work with our dedicated Faculty of Arts Placements Team to assist with your employability skills development via a range of placements, internships and volunteering opportunities.

Our latest stats

7th best university in the UK for work experience (Rate My Placement Best Universities for Work Experience, 2025)
Top 3 most targeted UK university by leading employers (The Graduate Market, High Fliers Research, 2024)

Explore more

Your department

The Foundation Year is based within the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies but operates across the whole of the Faculty of Arts.
Once you progress to your chosen degree you will be based within one of our schools and departments.

Important information

This online prospectus has been drafted in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content) are likely to occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for the course where there has been an interval between you reading this website and applying.

Indicative modules

Foundation year

Mandatory

Year 1

Important Thinkers Through History

Mandatory

Year 1

Critical Thinking and Reflective Learning

Mandatory

Year 1

Language and Culture

Mandatory

Year 1

Media, Communication and Society

Mandatory

Year 1

Narrative and Creativity

Mandatory

Year 1

The Project / Language Centre modules

About modules

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. This content was last updated on Tuesday 8 April 2025. Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Important Thinkers Through History

Important Thinkers Through History Critical Thinking and Reflective Learning Language and Culture Media, Communication and Society Narrative and Creativity The Project / Language Centre modules

In every field of the arts and humanities there are significant people who have contributed to the intellectual and cultural development of humanity. In this module you’ll consider a selection of these ‘important thinkers’, drawn from different disciplines across the Faculty of Arts, across a broad sweep of history and representing a variety of cultural and geographical contexts.

Watch our foundation year ‘module-in-a-minute’ videos.

This module will introduce you to key skills and practices for university work and help you make the transition from school, college or work to undergraduate study. Critical thinking and reflective learning are skills that are essential for thriving on your chosen degree course but they’re also important for developing thoughtful, responsible citizens who contribute effectively to society.

Watch our foundation year ‘module-in-a-minute’ videos.

Language and culture are both fundamental aspects of any arts and humanities degree. In this module you’ll develop an analytical and critical approach to English as well as an understanding of the potential challenges and benefits involved in studying other languages and cultures.

Watch our foundation year ‘module-in-a-minute’ videos.

This module will analyse the relationship between media, communication and society. The module will allow you to explore how communication occurs and engage with different kinds of reading and texts. You will also assess the positive and negative impacts of communication through a wide range of media.

Watch our foundation year ‘module-in-a-minute’ videos.

This module will introduce you to academic theories about narrative and creativity. You’ll also encounter various forms of narrative and ‘storytelling’ to help you consider the role of narrative and creativity in different contexts. This will include exploring the role of creativity and story in society generally, reflecting on your own ‘stories’, and developing your own creativity in a variety of ways.

Watch our foundation year ‘module-in-a-minute’ videos.

Extended projects or dissertations are a key feature of many university courses, especially in the final year. This module will help you develop the skills required to design, research and produce a major piece of work for assessment, using media (written and/or other) appropriate to your chosen topic.

If you apply to go on to a modern language degree you may study in our Language Centre in place of taking ‘The Project’ module.

Exception: If you are joining the BA Russian Studies and enter the Foundation Year with A Level Russian, you will take The Project module, and follow the post A Level pathway on the degree.

Watch our foundation year ‘module-in-a-minute’ videos.

Teaching and learning

Your six foundation year modules are assessed using a wide variety of methods.

Each module has two assessment points. For example, our Critical Thinking and Reflective Learning module is assessed by an essay (50% of the module mark) and a reflective learning portfolio (50% of the module mark). These modules will prepare you for undergraduate assessment and allow you to develop a broad range of skills.

Assessment methods

Essay
Poster
Presentation
Portfolio (written/digital)
Creative piece
Workbook

If taking a language module in place of the The Project:

Exam
Oral exam

Teaching

During your foundation year you’ll have at least 12 hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and workshops. Your tutors will also be available outside these times to discuss issues and develop your understanding.

One-to-one tutorials

You will have four general progress tutorials as well as individual module-focused tutorials during your foundation year.

For learning, assessment, contact time and study information after your Foundation Year, see the course page for your progression option.

Careers

Evidence shows that students commencing their university study at foundation level achieve the same levels of undergraduate degree as their fellow direct-route students, which in turn leads to the same wide range of career options.

In addition to your study we recommend that you participate in at least some of our CV-enhancing programmes which include:

You will also be able to take advantage of the wide range of services offered by our dedicated Faculty of Arts careers team within the Careers and Employability Service.

More information about subject-related careers opportunities from our Careers and Employability Service.

Average starting salary and career progression

78.8% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Arts secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £23,974.

HESA Graduate Outcomes (2017 to 2021 cohorts). The Graduate Outcomes % is calculated using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.

Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.

Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2020, High Fliers Research).

Your Campus - University Park

University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

It's a really great introductory year with six modules all surrounding different subjects within the Faculty of Arts. It teaches you how to become a student, and is a really good foundation to university life. 

Zoe Serlin

Liberal Arts with Foundation Year

Read Zoe's experience of becoming a foundation student

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Help and support

If you’re looking for more information, please head to our help and support hub, where you can find frequently asked questions or details of how to make an enquiry.

Art History and Visual Culture (with Foundation Year) BA

Important information

Course overview

Indicative modules

About modules

Teaching and learning

How you will learn

How you will be assessed

Contact time and study hours

Careers

Careers overview

Job prospects

Careers advice

Your Campus - University Park

Your Campus - University Park

Related courses

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Cultural and Creative Industries (with Foundation Year) BA Hons

Art History and Visual Culture BA (Hons)

Liberal Arts BA Hons

Help and support

Help and support