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  • History of art and design

History of art and design degrees

At Brighton our courses in history of art and design critically examine how politics, culture and society influence design, art and art-making.

You’ll graduate well prepared for roles including archivist, curator, teacher and for careers in the heritage sector, press and PR and the arts. Placements and field trips build experience and you’ll benefit from our links with local galleries and museums.

See our upcoming events

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History of Art and Design programme dissertation catalogues 2021. View catalogues from previous years on Issuu.

My degree has allowed me to understand the heritage and museum sector more and made me realise that this is what I want to pursue in the future. I have developed my confidence and independence hugely whilst studying. Brighton has been the perfect place to study because of the creative and accepting lifestyle here. I love being by the sea and the connections to London are perfect.

Rachel Ng, Fashion and Dress History BA(Hons) graduate 2021

Why study history of art and design at Brighton

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Graduate with experience

We have established links with museums and galleries. On our undergraduate courses you can gain valuable experience on placement. Our curating masters was developed in partnership with the Royal Pavilion & Museums, and on our design history MA you can take a module taught behind the scenes in a museum or collection. There are opportunities to attend conferences with world-leading experts and publish work on student blogs.

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Excellent resources

The University of Brighton is home to the Design Archives, the Dress History Teaching Collection and Screen Archive South East. And collections in Brighton and Hove include The Keep, home to the Royal Pavilion & Museums Local History Collections, and the Mass Observation Archive.

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Join a community of art historians

Our history of art and design programme area is a small and friendly community of staff and students who are passionate about the subject. You’ll learn from lecturers with years of expertise both working in the sector and of guiding students towards their own area of interest. Class sizes are small and you will be encouraged to find your independent voice in spoken and written form.

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Check out our on-site resources

  • Design Archives
  • Dress history teaching collection
  • Screen Archive South East
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School of Humanities and Social Science

Find out more

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Our degree courses

Undergraduate degrees

Fashion and Design History BA(Hons)

Art History and Visual Culture BA(Hons)

Postgraduate degrees

Curating Collections and Heritage MA

History of Design and Material Culture MA

You may also be interested in

Related subjects

  • Fashion, textiles and 3D design
  • Fine art
  • Literature
  • Photography
  • Politics
  • Visual communication

Short courses

  • Creative courses for adults

What's happening?

New Student Exhibition: From Disney to ‘Disneyfication’

New Student Exhibition: From Disney to ‘Disneyfication’

New Student Exhibition – Alison Settle: An Observation

New Student Exhibition – Alison Settle: An Observation

New Student Exhibition: Kids’ Entertainment – Nostalgia and Modernity

New Student Exhibition: Kids’ Entertainment – Nostalgia and Modernity

BA History of Art and Visual Culture students Tiffany Barron, Poppy Phelps, Olivia Heim Romero and Alfie Mancell announce their new exhibition, now on display at St Peters House Library What memories do you have as a child?

New Student Exhibition: HIV Positivity: Work of those Affected

New Student Exhibition: HIV Positivity: Work of those Affected

BA Visual Culture students Imre Bitirim, Ruby Cumiskey, Simona Moccetti and Samantha Williams announce their new exhibition, now on display at St Peters House Library at the University of Brighton HIV Positivity: Work of those Affected is an exhibition curated to inform and celebrate science, society and the people who have fought this horrific disease.

Read more from our blog

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University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

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