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

Overview

The Art History and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish) (Hons) at Birkbeck, University of London offers a unique interdisciplinary approach to the study of human culture and history. Students engage with the visual arts while simultaneously achieving high-level competence in a chosen modern language. This programme is designed to foster intellectual independence through a combination of interactive lectures and small-group seminars.

The curriculum explores art history as a dynamic field encompassing painting, sculpture, architecture, and digital media. By studying a language alongside these visual subjects, you will gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and political contexts that shape global societies.

Why Art History and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish) at Birkbeck, University of London?

• Study at an internationally respected centre for art history that was established nearly fifty years ago.
• Benefit from a location surrounded by major cultural institutes, including the Goethe Institute, Institut Français, and Japan House London.
• Learn from renowned academics and published researchers whose expertise spans from the medieval period to the contemporary era.
• Participate in an exciting annual study trip abroad to explore galleries and museums in international contexts.
• Access specialist facilities such as the Peltz Gallery and the Jo Spence Archive located within the historic Gordon Square building.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: GBP 18500 per year
• National fee: GBP 9535 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

• Art History
• Artwork in History
• Debates in Art History
• Research Portfolio
• Art and Devotion in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
• Art and Modernity in the Nineteenth Century
• Art and Politics since 1900
• Curating the Contemporary
• Photography Between Art and Document

Careers with Art History and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish)

Graduates are well-equipped for diverse professional paths within the global arts and heritage sectors. The combination of visual analysis and linguistic proficiency is highly valued in international organisations and cultural institutions. You will develop transferable skills in critical thinking, translation, and complex material organisation.

Potential career destinations include roles in arts management, conservation, policy, and publishing. Many graduates find success in museums, galleries, and the civil service. Specific roles held by former students include curators at the Tate Modern and Design Museum, as well as positions within the National Maritime Museum and the Science Museum.