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Picture of Picasso's Guernica as painted on a wall.

Philosophy, Politics, Art BA(Hons)

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Intro

What is art? What makes it political? How does it both reflect and subvert dominant understandings of the world we live in?

These are just some of the questions you’ll explore on this exciting interdisciplinary course which combines the approaches and concerns of the history of art and design, philosophy and theories of art and the politics of representation.

The course explores the relationship between art, philosophy and politics in a range of different context. You’ll encounter and develop your own understanding of the work of thinkers including Kant, Marx, Freud, Rosalind Krauss and WTJ Mitchell and key artistic movements and schools of thought from the 18th to the 21st century, including: Realism, Futurism, Dada, Conceptualism and Relational Aesthetics.

Exploring the relationships between these ideas, movements and the contexts from which they emerged, you will develop the knowledge and critical and analytical skills you need to engage in contemporary debates in art, philosophy and politics.

Studying at Brighton, you’ll be part of a lively culture of philosophical and political debate, artistic practice, exhibition and critique.

Key facts

Location Brighton: City campus

UCAS code D2SC

Full-time 3 years

Come to a campus tour

Apply now with UCAS

Studying at Brighton, and particularly in the humanities department, feels like a rare and very special place to be. I cannot thank the staff enough, and I also cannot recommend immersing yourself with art and philosophy enough!

Briar Grootveldt, Philosophy, Politics, Art BA student

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.

Year 2

Modules

  • Modernity: Interrogation and Representation
  • 
Art, Politics and Philosophy from Modernism to Postmodernism
  • Modernism, Ideology and the Avant-garde in the Twentieth Century
  • 
After Modernism: Postmodernism and Beyond

  • Critical Traditions in Western Thought 1: Dare to Know: Enlightenment and Social Change for PPA

Options*

Choose one from

  • Critical Traditions in Western Thought 2: Post-Enlightenment Dilemmas

  • Creative option (students choose from a range of options)


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

Pavilion ParadeYou 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.

Modules

  • Art, Politics, Philosophy: Representation and Engagement after Postmodernism
  • Project for Philosophy, Politics, Art
  • Special Subject: students engage in an intensive themed study of a subject specialism within the History of Art and Design programme. You can choose from a range of modules.

Options*

Choose one from

  • Real World Research in Art and Design History
  • Professional Paths in Art and Design History

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

Arts books

Resources

  • You will have opportunities to take part in subject-related events at the university including evening lectures and debates organised by the student-run Humanities Society and the Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics.
  • The university's excellent art and design library is nearby.
  • Screen Archives South East, a moving image archive, is based on campus.
  • Our Dress and Textiles Teaching collection gives you the chance to closely examine and photograph historical and world fabrics and garments.

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 many 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

Nicola is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and course leader for the Philosophy, Politics, Art BA. Nicola graduated from the University of Brighton with a BA in Humanities before studying for her MA in the History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She returned to Brighton to do her PhD where she also began lecturing on the Humanities BA and MA programmes and the History of Art and Design BA programme. Her research and teaching are focused on the relationship between aesthetics and politics. More specifically, her work to date has interrogated the philosophical, political and aesthetic dimensions of memorialisation in the neoliberal conjuncture. Her current research explores the question of the limits of representation and the politics of the sublime in a range of different, although interrelated, contexts.

Find out more about Nicola.

Find out about our other staff: Dr Lara Perry, Dr Harriet Atkinson, Dr Zoe Sutherland, Dr Naomi Salaman, 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.

Our latest news

Last chance for campus tours before UCAS deadline!

Last chance for campus tours before UCAS deadline!

Campus tours offer a great opportunity to visit the campus where your course is based and get a feel for what it will be like to be a student here.

Come to Brighton Election Question Time!

Come to Brighton Election Question Time!

On 5 December (6pm) join Caroline Lucas (Green MP, Brighton Pavilion), Joe Miller Conservative Candidate, Brighton Kemptown), Adam Imanpour (Labour Candidate, Brighton Pavilion) and Beatrice Bass (Liberal Democrat, Hove and Portslade) at Moulsecoomb Campus for a question time debate in the lead up to the General Election.

John Bercow at the University of Brighton: “We degrade parliament at our peril”

John Bercow at the University of Brighton: “We degrade parliament at our peril”

Just before he stepped down as Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP launched an impassioned defence of the parliamentary system in a guest lecture.

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

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

Picasso’s anti-war masterpiece of 1937 is seen anew in a multi-art form exhibition curated by a University of Brighton Humanities lecturer Dr Nicola Ashmore.

Read more from our blog

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.
  • 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.
Mosaic

Graduate destinations 

Graduates from our History of Art and Design programme have 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 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:

  • Cultural and Critical Theory MA
  • Globalisation: Politics, Conflict and Human Rights MA
  • Cultural History, Memory and Identity MA
  • War: History and Politics MA
  • Curating Collections and Heritage MA
  • History of Design and Material Culture MA.

You could also choose to complete your PhD at Brighton alongside our team of world-leading researchers in one of our research centres, which include: Centre for Design History, Centre for Memory, Narrative and Histories or the Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics.

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 discover 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...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Emlployable

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.

International Baccalaureate
26 points, with three subjects at Higher level.

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

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 a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
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.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

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

International (full-time) 14,604 GBP

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. 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. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in the fee, while studying a course in the School of Humanities are listed here.

  • For a number of courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits. These are optional and are not required to pass your course but under normal circumstances we would expect a budget of approximately £150 per year will cover the costs of particular trips. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget up to £150 per year for printing.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2020–21.

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.

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

All eligible students applying for 2020 are guaranteed an offer of university halls of residence.

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.

Want to live independently or in a university-managed house? We can help – find out more about unihomes and unilets or private renting.

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

City campus map

Stay in touch

Come to a campus tour

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

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website. Discover Uni will be launching a widget this month that will show top line stats for this course. Once live, the widget will appear below. 

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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‹ ›

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