New Course FAQs: Undergraduate Certificate in the History of Art

To learn more about the changes to the part-time Undergraduate Certificate in the History of Art, starting from the autumn 2025 intake, please read our FAQs below. For full course details, please see the course page.

Page contents

Key information

► When does the new Certificate course start?

The course starts on Friday 3 October 2025. There is an online introductory meeting in late September 2025.

► What level is this course?

The part-time Certificate is taught at the first-year of undergraduate level (FHEQ Level 4) and is worth 120 CATS points.

► Will the course still be taught part-time?

Yes. The in-person contact in the classroom will be slightly reduced, but with additional online tutorials and more online content, the new course is now more flexible for part-time learners.

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Teaching content

► What is covered in the first year?

  1. The first term (Michaelmas) covers Looking at Art: Ways of Seeing;
  2. The second term (Hilary) covers What is Art?;
  3. The final term (Trinity) covers Art in the World.

The first year of the Certificate will introduce students to the key skills in the History of Art. The first term addresses visual literacy skills, teaching students how to look at works of art, the critical vocabulary they will need to conduct visual analyses, and how works of art are made.

The second term considers what makes a work of art, addressing issues of display, value, collections, and categories of art and its institutions.

The final term considers the interpretive models to understand and interpret works of art, including key theories, methods and concepts, with case studies drawn from the Italian Renaissance and French Impressionism.

► What is covered in the second year?

  1. The first term (Michaelmas) covers Classical and Medieval Worlds;
  2. The second term (Hilary) covers Renaissances;
  3. The final term (Trinity) covers Modernities.

The second year of the Certificate in the History of Art will provide students with an historical survey of the History of Art c. 500CE to the present. Although predominantly focused on Western Art History the course also engages with art in its global contexts. Students will begin by studying the late Classical and Medieval Worlds, then proceed to study the early modern world and finally end the course with the Modern and Contemporary period.

Each term’s title is in the plural, which points to the plurality of experience of these concepts in different places and times. While the overall structure is historically linear, the thematic approach will enable you to engage with themes and issues that build on each other and cut across space and time

► What skills can I gain from both years of the Certificate?

In the first year of the Certificate, attention is given to building up students’ vocabulary in visual analysis and in skills of contextual analysis and interpretation in relation to works of art, material culture, and the display and collection of art. Students will be introduced to the discipline of Art History in terms of methods and theoretical perspectives, developing their understanding of interpretive frameworks. In the second year of the Certificate, greater attention is given to the historical periods of the History of Art, enabling students to apply the visual, contextual, and interpretive skills they've learned to different time periods, media, and geographies. More details can be found on the course page here.

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How will the in-person elements be taught?

► How often do I have to be in Oxford?

Students will meet in person three times per term, on specific dates on Fridays. These days will be from 10am-5.30pm, usually consisting of two classroom sessions and a visit to an art collection or site in Oxford.

► Where in Oxford does teaching take place? 

The in-person elements of the course (three Fridays per term) will be held at Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA.

► What facilities are there at Rewley House?

Rewley has a library, common room, café facilities, and a dining room. It is also located in central Oxford with easy access to ample facilities – other Bodleian libraries, cafes and the Ashmolean Museum.

► When are the visits to galleries and museums scheduled for?

One Saturday per term is dedicated to Oxford/London trips to galleries or museums.

► Do I need to budget extra for the trips?

The gallery visits on Saturdays will be in and outside of Oxford, such as trips to collections in London or heritage houses; these trips will be an additional cost and it is assumed students will make their own way to these venues (as is standard practice now).

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How will the online elements be taught?

► How are the online elements structured?

Online asynchronous (self-paced) instruction will include reading materials (materials in the Virtual Learning Environment and set texts from journal articles, textbooks, exhibition catalogues, and books), videos, forum activities, and online exercises, as well as independent study such as essay preparation and research. Some online units will take the form of case studies, allowing students to study in-depth around a particular topic, while others will offer theoretical or methodological approaches that can be employed across periods and regions. 

► How often are the online modules?

There are seven online units per term. Terms are 10 weeks, and three of those weeks are taught in person.

► What are the online tutorials?

Students will be assigned a personal tutor for the year. Students will have four hours of online synchronous (live) tutorials for the entire year (three hours of small group tutorials – one hour per term, and two 30-minute one-to-ones with the tutor). Tutorials in small tutor groups will address essay writing, interpreting feedback, follow-up on online learning units, student presentations or student-led discussion. In addition, students can schedule Teams or in-person office hours with the Course Director.

► As some of this course is now taught online, what IT skills do I need?

Students are expected to have some IT skills, and access to a computer and the internet. IT skills related to the History of Art are built into the programme using exercises to build and test your skills. For example, the online units will provide step-by-step instructions on how to search museum websites and image databases.

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Assessment methods

► How will I be assessed?

There will be more formative assessment methods. This is to help build confidence in students’ learning journey (particularly those students who have been out of education for some time), while online forums and exercises will also help students test their knowledge without a bearing on their marks. 

  • Year 1 (3 formative and 4 summative assignments)
  • Year 2 (2 formative and 4 summative assignments)

More in-depth information about assessment methods can be found on the course page here.

► Are there any exams?

There are no formal exams for this course.

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Progression

► If I am thinking about progressing onto the Diploma after the Certificate, will anything be changing with this qualification?

There will be a new Diploma in place from autumn 2027. The Diploma is a two-year programme and will be moving to a linear approach, where you will study Diploma Year 1 followed by Diploma Year 2. There will be options built into the Friday residences, where students can choose a specialist period. To find out more about the Diploma, please see here.

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General FAQs

► Why did you decide to update the Certificate?

History of Art is a discipline that is always changing. Part-time learning has also changed dramatically since the pandemic. We wanted our curriculum to reflect the current changes in the discipline, while also providing a more flexible learning environment, combining online learning with the best face-to-face teaching Oxford can offer.

► If I am planning to apply for 2024 entry, but then defer by a year, will I still be able to study the Certificate in its current format?

No, 2024 will be the last chance that students have if they wish to study on the Certificate in its current format. From 2025 onwards, only the new Certificate in the History of Art will be offered.

► If I am planning to study for the Certificate starting in 2024, will the second year of my course be affected by these changes?

No, if students are accepted onto the current Certificate for 2024 entry, then they will go through the two years as it is currently delivered, and there will be no changes to your teaching/delivery methods.

► Will my learning be out of date if I study for the current Certificate?

We want to reassure students that the learning gained from the current Certificate will be as valuable in the future as it is today. In addition, the work we have been doing to develop the future qualifications has impacted positively on the current delivery for students and we hope students will continue to see these benefits.

► Should I wait until the new Certificate is launched in 2025?

This is entirely a decision based on individual circumstances. If individuals are working part-time or full-time or are a carer, they might find the new Certificate schedule is more flexible around other commitments. If they would like to get on with their studies and start immediately, then we advise applying for the current Certificate course for 2024 entry.

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Advice for current students

► What does the new Certificate mean for me as a student who is already studying on the current course?

This shouldn't affect you unless you need to suspend and rejoin the new course at a later date. We are continuously updating our course materials; the work we have been doing to develop the future qualifications, has impacted positively on the current delivery for students.

► If I'm currently studying on the current Certificate, will my learning be valuable in the future?

We want to reassure students that the learning gained from the current Certificate will be as valuable in the future as it is today. In addition, the work we have been doing to develop the future qualifications, has impacted positively on the current delivery for students and we hope you will continue to see these benefits.

► If I suspend my studies on the current Certificate, will I need to restart the course again?

No, students suspending from the old programme will be able to join the new programme. If, for example, a student suspends in between Michaelmas and Hilary on the old Certificate Year 1, they will be able to join the new Certificate Year 1 in Hilary. To facilitate the transition onto the new programme, students will have access to online bridging materials which will include some key readings, materials and activities, and a formative assignment (non-assessed). In terms of assessment, any students suspended from an old course onto the new one will have the opportunity to complete any of the formative assignments they missed within 8 weeks of re-joining the course. Students will be required to submit assessments based on when they return to their studies in the programme.

► Will there be transition arrangements in place so that students taking the current qualifications, and wishing to move over to a new qualification, will be able to use what they have already achieved?

Suspension and transition require students to submit a request and pending approval. Students on the old programme who are eligible for suspension will be able to join the new programme, in line with the Department's policies. Please see here for more details. For more information about how we will support you if you suspend your studies, please see the response to the previous question.

► If I am currently studying for the current Certificate, will I be able to progress to the new Diploma?

Yes. Students who have studied the previous Certificate programme will be able to join the new Diploma. Bridging materials will be provided online for students in these cases, which include some key readings, materials and activities, and a formative assignment to help them transition easily. For more information about the new Diploma, please see here.

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