Art History and Visual Culture (with Foundation Year) Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Your Arts and Humanities Foundation Year will help prepare you for the [BA Art History and Visual Culture](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/art-history-and-visual-culture-ba-hons.html "Prospectus page for Art History and Visual Culture BA"). 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. Our curriculum is carefully designed, with [each of the six modules](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/Foundation-year-module-in-a-minute.html "Video overviews of Foundation modules") giving you the best start to your progression degree. 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. 

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?

Course highlights

* Automatic progression to your degree upon successful completion of the foundation year – there’s no need to reapply.

* Get support from dedicated [foundation year tutors](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/your-foundation-arts-staff.html "Profiles of Foundation staff").

* You can change your mind – this Foundation Year allows progression to a [wide range of Arts and Humanities degrees](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/arts-and-humanities-foundation-year.html "Options for undergraduate degrees").

Proven results

* We’re 5th in the UK for history of art, architecture and design (Daily Mail University Guide 2026).

* We’re 1st for graduates entering highly-skilled jobs (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2025).