History of art
Gain a global perspective of the History of Art with a part-time course
Our part-time qualifications in the history of art recognise the globally diverse range of users, makers, and viewers, offering you the chance to join a group of peers eager to learn more about visual cultures, voices, and experiences. Discover the latest debates in the history of art, through flexible learning and visits to Oxford’s world-leading museums and collections.
What can you gain?
- Get up to speed with the latest debates and methods to interpret works of art, particularly in the areas of politics, society, gender and identity, material culture and decolonising practices.
- Exchange ideas and develop questions with a group of like-minded peers.
- Gain practical knowledge and develop your interpretative skills through museum and gallery visits in Oxford and London.
- Fit study around your commitments and responsibilities by combining online digital learning with in-person teaching.
Short courses for adult learners
Explore a new topic or revisit a favourite subject over the course of a few days, a few weeks or a term. Our short courses run in person or online, with some offered in both formats – so you can choose the best study option.
Upcoming courses
Short intensive • Short courses • Professional development
Do your exhibitions stink? Scent is becoming a popular feature in museums, but what makes olfactory visitor experiences effective? We will explore the theory, practice, benefits and pitfalls, with useful tips to help harness scent as an interpretive tool.
- Tue 15 Apr 2025 – 16 Apr 2025
- 9:30am – 5:00pm
Online - live • Short courses
Medieval art glitters and enthrals. Medieval architecture elicits wonder and awe. In this introductory course you will learn about its breadth and diversity, from great cathedrals and imposing castles to sacred icons and subversive marginalia.
- Wed 23 Apr 2025 – 25 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 3:00 – 4:00pm
Online - flexible • Short courses
From Bellini and Botticelli to tapestry and tableware, the material culture of the Italian Renaissance continues to fascinate us to this day. This course is an opportunity to explore this unique period.
- Wed 23 Apr 2025 – 04 Jul 2025
Online - live • Short courses
The art of prehistoric Europe is rich with imagery such as cave paintings, carvings, body ornamentation and frescoes. This course considers a range of sites and artefacts in our exploration of the unique and creative ways people visualised their world.
- Thu 24 Apr 2025 – 03 Jul 2025
- 10 meetings
- 6:30 – 7:30pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
Discover how Ravilious, Nash and Spencer immersed themselves in the British landscape, capturing the essence of the countryside in their artworks.
- Fri 25 Apr 2025 – Fri 27 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 12:30 – 2:30pm
Online - flexible • Short courses
Examine the major concerns of artists such as Cézanne, Monet, Manet and Degas and their intimate interaction with modern life.
- Mon 28 Apr 2025 – 11 Jul 2025
History of art award programmes
Part-time undergraduate awards and postgraduate degrees in the history of art and design.Undergraduate Certificate in the History of Art
The part-time Certificate in the History of Art teaches students about the production and provenance of works of art in museums, as well as key skills such as how to view and describe works of art.Undergraduate Diploma in the History of Art
A two-year part-time course in which you study two modules from a choice of four, each of which allows you to immerse yourself in a specific period of art history. Taught at second-year undergraduate level.MSt in Literature and Arts
An interdisciplinary programme which encompasses literature, history, art, architectural history, political thought and the history of ideas. Designed around 3 sequential periods of British history, from Early Modern to the early 20th century.MSt in the History of Design
This two-year part-time master's degree explores how ordinary things and places created since 1851 reveal fascinating traces of historical experienc