Intro

Is politics as much a war of images as a struggle between competing interests? How is art complicit in manipulating appearances to frame our view of the world?

These are just two of the questions you’ll examine on this course combining three disciplines: history of art and design, the politics of art, and philosophical aesthetics.

You will critically engage with artistic, political and philosophical ideas developed by individual thinkers and schools of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, applying these to real-world problems. You will develop your own understanding of how art and art making intersect with political movements.

Studying at Brighton, you’ll be immersed in a lively culture of artistic practice, exhibition and critique – and our active student community is diverse and friendly.

Key facts

Location Brighton: City campus

UCAS code D2SC

Full-time 3 years

Clearing 2019

Places are available on this course to start in 2019.

01273 644000

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Book your open day place

Course content

Year 1

You start your study with a grounding in the key disciplinary areas, learning how best to benefit from lectures, small-group seminar discussions and debates, and from individual tutorials.

Modules

  • Art, Culture and Commerce

    In this module you will explore core concepts and historical phenomena, including colonialism, consumption, national identities and class constructions, which impacted on art, design and culture from the closing decades of the eighteenth century to the opening decades of the nineteenth. Through lectures and seminars, you will explore how enlightenment ideas and philosophies, as well as revolutionary upheavals and developing institutional practices, informed the conditions in which art and design was produced and consumed.

  • Art, Design and Modern Life

    Through lectures and seminars, you will examine how ideas of ‘the modern’ and the contradictions of modernity are manifested in a wide range of visual and material culture including realist paintings, photography, advertising, dress, cities and international exhibitions during the long nineteenth century. The module relates practices of art, design, exhibition and dress to changing social structures and occupational patterns that informed many of the debates around art and design in the period.

  • Philosophical Inquiry

    This module introduces you to key topics in philosophy. Studying moral and political philosophy will enable you to explore questions such as How can I act ethically? and Could a more equal society be built? Philosophy of science and epistemology will empower you to interrogate arguments behind various truth claims encountered today. You will explore Plato, Hume, Kant, Utilitarianism; inquire into the nature of art and freedom; and interrogate philosophy’s historical complicity in sexism and racism.

  • Critical Approaches: Core Concepts in History of Art and Design

    This module will introduce you to core concepts and key words in the humanities (including ideology, gender, class, nationality and ethnicity) and will provide opportunities for evaluating your utility as a means of understanding art and design through your application to practices, sites and artefacts.

  • Art: Philosophy and Politics of Representation

    This module is an introduction to current issues in the philosophy of art and aesthetic theory, and their relation to politics and to social and historical contexts.

  • Introducing Themes in History of Art and Design

    In this module you will undertake an intensive themed study related to your individual preferences and/or programme of study. The module will introduce you to the teaching and learning methods most relevant to the investigation of a particular area of inquiry within the History of Art and Design programme.

Our courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that what you learn with us is relevant and that your course enables you to develop appropriate skills. When you apply to study with us, we will inform you of any new developments in your chosen programme through our applicant portal.

 

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Year 2

Modules

  • Modernism, Ideology and the Avant-garde in the Twentieth Century
  • After Modernism: Postmodernism and Beyond
  • Constructing Histories: Research Methods and Professional Practice in History of Art and Design

Options*

  • Image Object Text**
  • A Trip to Europe
  • Considering Debates**
  • Behind the Scenes: Arts and heritage placements
  • Creative option (examples of modules include Experimental Art Writing and Creating Exhibitions)

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

**These modules may explore themes including modernism in Asia; museums, material culture and representation; cold war cultures; reading dress.

YPavillion Paradeou will study with a close community of students from the History of Art and Design programme in our Pavilion Parade building.

Final year

In your final year you develop your individual research project with one-to-one supervision on a topic in which you become an expert. This can take a variety of forms (academic dissertation or a catalogue of a virtual exhibition, for instance) and may involve a placement in a professional studio, gallery, exhibition or conference.

Modules

  • Art, Politics, Philosophy: Representation and Engagement after Postmodernism
  • Project for Philosophy, Politics, Art

Options*

  • Image Object Text**
  • A Trip to Europe
  • Considering Debates**
  • Behind the Scenes: Arts and heritage placements
  • Creative option (examples of modules include Experimental Art Writing and Creating Exhibitions)

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

**These modules may explore themes including modernism in Asia; museums, material culture and representation; cold war cultures; reading dress.

Arts books

Resources

The university has close relationships with local festivals and organisations such as CineCity, the Brighton Photo Biennial, Brighton Festival, Brighton Festival Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Fabrica and Lighthouse. These connections provide a range of opportunities for students.

Students at the design archives

Students have access to the world-class Design Archives.

Meet the team

The University of Brighton was one of the founding institutions for research in design history and our teaching team are world authorities in both design and dress history and the culture of photography, integrating their own research with their teaching.

Dr Nicola Clewer, course leader

Dr Nicola Clewer’s research focuses on the relationship between aesthetics and politics. Her current research explores the relationship between neoliberalism and the rise of the far-right through the lens of the aesthetic concept of the sublime.

Find out more about Dr Nicola Clewer.

Find out about our other staff:Dr Lara Perry, Dr Harriet Atkinson, DrCathy Bergin, Dr Thomas Bunyard, Dr Verity Clarkson, Dr Jonathan Gilhooly,Dr Anthony Leaker, Dr Yunah Lee, Dr Charlotte Nicklas, Dr Annebella Pollen, Dr Louise Purbrick,Dr Megha Rajguru and Dr Anna Vaughan Kett.

Lara Perry

Dr Lara Perry

Our latest news

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Explore your options through Clearing

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Humanities lecturer curates exhibition taking a new look at Picasso’s Guernica

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Hannah Francis talks about how her student ambassador role aids her studies

Hannah Francis talks about how her student ambassador role aids her studies

Hannah Francis (front row, third from left)  is about to start her third year as a student on the History, Literature and Culture degree.
Graduate Show 2019: Briar Grootveldt: Philosophy, Politics, Art

Graduate Show 2019: Briar Grootveldt: Philosophy, Politics, Art

My dissertation focusses on the extensive and rather timeless topic of death and the trauma that often follows alongside it.

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Careers

 Prepare for your career

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree. 

  • You’ll develop your capacity for critical inquiry and hone your research skills.
  • You’ll learn to analyse objects and source materials which will equip you for careers in archives, galleries, museums, heritage sites and auction houses.
  • You have the chance to undertake a work placement and gain experience for your CV.
  • There are opportunities for activity outside of the curriculum including conferences with world-leading experts, participation in Humanities Society events and publication in the student blogs.
  • Your final major project will be displayed at the graduate show.
Mosaic

Graduate destinations 

The course has a healthy employment record; many of our graduates take up careers in museums, galleries, arts administration, auction houses, journalism, publishing and education. 

Graduates from the History of Art and Design programme hold senior appointments at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada and the Edinburgh College of Art and many take up careers in museums, galleries, heritage sites, arts administration and auction houses.

Further study 

This degree also opens up postgraduate study options. At Brighton, for example, you could progress on to:

You could also choose to complete your PhD at Brighton alongside our team of world-leading researchers in our Centre for Design History.

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • find part-time work that you can combine with your studies
  • find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme
  • develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network
  • get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips
  • meet potential employers at our careers fairs
  • find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you find out more about what makes you tick, and build your CV

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Employability is ... a set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that make graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy. Professor Mantz Yorke

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BCC–CCC (104–96 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

We will generally make you an offer if your predicted grades are at the top of this range. If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still make you an offer if you have a good GCSE (or equivalent) profile or relevant non-academic achievements.

International Baccalaureate
27 points.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Humanities, history or politics diploma preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least English language and maths.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International requirements

International requirements by country
 
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Fees

Course fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,460 GBP

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with us for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly. You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city’s reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year. Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements, live briefs and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

We provide support and venues for key events in the city’s arts calendar including the Brighton Festival, the Festival Fringe, the Great Escape, the Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Photo Biennial and the CineCity Brighton Film Festival. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate Show transforms our campus into the largest exhibition space in the South East as we celebrate the outstanding talent and creativity of our students.

As a student you’ll get lots of opportunities to experience these events at first hand and to develop your skills through the volunteering and other opportunities they offer.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Campus where this course is taught

City campus

Located in central Brighton, this campus is home to 3D design and craft, fine art, graphic design and illustration, digital music, digital media design, fashion and textiles, history of art and design, humanities, media, photography and film.

The facilities for making and designing, the theatre, galleries, workshops, studios, archives and the independent arts organisations based on site provide a unique and inspiring environment where creativity thrives.

St Peter’s House library and Phoenix halls of residence are close to the exhibition and learning facilities in the Grand Parade main building where you will also find the student centre with careers, counselling, student advice service and disability and dyslexia support. Edward Street provides extensive teaching and gallery space for media, photography and film.

Also on site are Photoworks, Screen Archive South East and University of Brighton Design Archives. Leading visual arts agency Photoworks runs the Brighton Photo Biennial and a national programme which frequently features the work of our graduates, staff and students. Screen Archive South East holds a wealth of material capturing life, work and creativity from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries. Our Design Archives received the Sir Misha Black Award for Innovation in Design Education in recognition of our contribution to design history scholarship and the quality of primary materials about British design held in the archive.

The Brighton Pavilion, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, the iconic pier and beach are a very short walk away. The independent shops and businesses of the North Laine and Kemptown, and Brighton main line station, with frequent express services to London, are 10 minutes walk.

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Grand Parade exhibition space

Accommodation

Brighton: City campus

Looking for clearing accommodation? Accommodation is available, we can help you find your home from home.

All eligible students applying for 2020 are guaranteed an offer of university-managed accommodation.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • City campus is linked to Phoenix halls.
    • Phoenix halls are all self-catered. The halls are a short walk from City campus in the centre of Brighton. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there's a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Unihomes and unilets
Unihomes and unilets are student houses that we let to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option can work particularly well when you're balancing learning with placements and other commitments. We have unihomes and unilet properties at locations across the city.

Starting in 2019 and looking for accommodation advice? Find out more about our accommodation options.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private rented accommodation. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Phoenix Brewery Halls Accommodation

Accommodation for City campus is in the nearby Phoenix Halls

Student kitchen in Phoenix Halls

Student kitchen in Phoenix Halls

Relaxing in nearby Pavilion Gardens

Relaxing in nearby Pavilion Gardens

Maps

house Accommodation
campus University building

City campus map

Stay in touch

Book your open day place

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Subscribe to our School of Humanities blog
 to find out about student and staff news, and events.

Statistics

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats enable you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Unistats data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

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