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Undergraduate Study

BA Art History & Visual Culture and Drama - 2025 entry

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code WW42
Duration 3 years
Entry year 2025
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Art History & Visual Culture
Contact

Web: Enquire online
Phone: 0300 555 6060 (UK callers) 
+44 (0)1392 723044 (EU/International callers)

Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A-Level: ABB
IB: 32/655
BTEC: DDM

Contextual offers

A-Level: BBC
IB: 28/554
BTEC: DMM

Overview

  • An excellent grounding in the main themes and methods of Art History & Visual culture while developing your critical, imaginative and practical engagement with the social, historical and cultural contexts of theatre
  • Develop essential tools to interpret works of arts (including architecture and design) as well as images, objects and practices
  • Study traditional fine art and contemporary visual forms including painting, sculpture, illustration, architecture, film, video, performance and digital art 
  • Studio-based work will equip you with communication and organisation skills and will enhance your creative development and analytical skills 
  • Throughout the programme you will get equal opportunities and challenges to act, direct, write or create dramatic events

View 2024 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open Days and visiting us

How to apply

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

1st in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics

1st in the Complete University Guide 2024

Professional standard performance spaces and state-of-the-art production facilities for video, sound and scenic design

Top 10 for History of Art, Architecture and Design

10th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

Internationally recognised fine art, heritage and film collections on site, including the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

Studying at Exeter has been a brilliant experience, it felt like the right choice from the first open day I visited.

Exeter has provided me with access to work experience in the local arts centres and museums, and has given me the opportunity to travel and visit the art we study in class. In my experience lecturers go above and beyond to provide academic support for students, as do the Wellbeing and Accessibility Services. I have also been able to join a range of academic and social societies, in which I have made friends for life.

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Entry requirements (typical offer)

Qualification Typical offer Required subjects
A-Level ABB n/a
IB 32/655 n/a
BTEC DDM n/a
GCSE C or 4 English Language
Access to HE 24 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade. N/A
T-Level Distinction N/A
Contextual Offer

A-Level: BBC
IB: 28/554
BTEC: DMM

Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers.

Other accepted qualifications

View other accepted qualifications

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

NB General Studies is not included in any offer.

Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply

Course content

30 credits of compulsory Art History & Visual Culture modules, 60 credits of compulsory Drama modules, and 30 credits of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules.

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
AHV1011 Questions and Methods in Art History and Visual Culture 30
DRA1016 Performance Analysis 30
DRA1018 The Creative Actor 30

Optional modules

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

a select either AHV1012 (30 credits) or AHV1005 AND AHV1009 (15 credits each), selecting 30 credits in total.

CodeModule Credits
AHV Stage 1 CH Option Modules 2023-4 [See note a above]
AHV1006 Visual Media 15
AHV1008 Topics in Art History and Visual Culture I 15
MLM1010 China of the Senses: Approaching Chinese Culture and Environments 15
AHV1005 Inside the Museum 15
AHV1009 Topics in Art History and Visual Culture II 15
MLF1121 French Visual History 15

30 credits of compulsory Art History & Visual Culture modules, 30 credits of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules and 60 credits of optional Drama modules.

 

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
AHV2015 Art History and Visual Culture Field Study for Blended Learning 30

Optional modules

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

b select 30 credits from this list of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules (including HUM2000 and HUM2001 Humanities in the Workplace).

c select 60 credits from this list of optional Drama modules (including HUM2000 and HUM2001 Humanities in the Workplace) - Students can only take one practice module and one Drama seminar module.

CodeModule Credits
AHV Stage 2 CH Option Modules 2023-4 [See note b above]
AHV2002 Debates and Contestations in Art History 15
AHV2013 Photography and Evidence 15
AHV2018 Comics Studies: Histories, Methodologies, Genres 30
AHV2021 American Photographs 15
AHV2022 Animals in Nineteenth-century Art and Visual Culture 15
AHV2208 Ideal Cities? Urban Cultures of Renaissance Italy 15
EAS2089 Creative Industries: Their Past, Our Future 30
AHV2007 Contemporary Visual Practices 15
AHV2009 The New York Avant-Garde 1955-1980 30
AHV2012 Revolutions: Art and Society in France, 1770-1848 30
AHV2019 Common Threads: Art, Craft and Activism 15
AHV2020 Deconstructing the Dutch Golden Age: Nationalism, Exceptionalism and Decline 15
MLF2066 Intimate Spaces of the French Enlightenment 15
MLM2003 Chinoiserie and Europeenerie: Artistic and cultural exchanges between China and Europe 15
DRA Stage 2 Option Modules 2023-4 [See note c above]
DRA2026 Applied Drama: Interactive Theatre 30
DRA2028 Performance and Participation 30
DRA2044 Acting Shakespeare 30
DRA2045 Theatre and Health 30
DRA2047 Interpretive Acting 30
DRA2061B Digital Theatrecrafts 30
DRA2071 Adaptation in Contemporary Theatre and Performance 30
DRA2072 Culture in / as Performance 30
DRA2083 Intermedial Performance Practice 30
DRA2087 Activism and Performance 30
DRA2092 Modernist Drama in Contemporary Theatre 30
DRA2104 Approaches to Comedy 30
DRA2105 Eco-Theatre: Outdoor and Immersive Performance 30
DRA2106 Theatres of Space, Form and Colour 30
DRA2107 Popular Performance Practices 30
DRA2108 Introduction to Creative Producing: Making Change and Shifting Cultures 30
DRA2109 Ensemble Acting: Co-Creation 30
HUM HUM2000-HUM2001
HUM2000 Humanities in the Workplace 30
HUM2001 Humanities in the Workplace 15

Typically, any placement year will take place in Year 3. If you are not taking a placement year please see the Final Year modules for year 3.

0-30 credits of compulsory Art History & Visual Culture modules, 0-30 credits of compulsory Drama modules, 30-60 credits of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules, and 30-60 credits of optional Drama modules.

Compulsory modules

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

d select either AHV3000 or DRA3094 (you cannot choose more than one module from this group).

CodeModule Credits
AHV3000 Art History and Visual Culture Dissertation [see note d above]30
DRA3094 Theatre Dissertation [see note d above]30

Optional modules

e if selecting DRA3094, select 30-60 credits from this list of optional Art History & Visual Culture modules.

f if selecting AHV3000, select 30-60 credits from this list of optional Drama modules.

CodeModule Credits
AHV Final Stage CH Option Modules 2023-4 [See note e above]
AHV3003 The Face 15
AHV3008 Performance Art 15
HUM3015 The Place of Meaning: Gardens in Britain and China 15
MLG3036 Dictatorships on Display: History Exhibitions in Germany and Austria 15
EAF3515 Something to See: War and Visual Media 30
EAS3245 The 21st Century Museum 30
EAS3421 Picturing the Global City: Literature and Visual Culture in the 21st Century 30
EAS3504 Surrealism and its Legacies 30
AHV3002 Understanding Space in Renaissance Italy 15
AHV3007 Global Modernisms 15
AHV3009 Paris to the World: Modelling the Modern City 15
AHV3012 Installation Art 15
AHV3016 Conceptual Art 15
AHV3017 'Queen City of Europe': Art, Culture and Society in Renaissance Antwerp, c.1500-70 15

Course variants

UCAS code: WW24

Our four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.

Why Study Abroad?

Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.

Where can I Study Abroad?

We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the Study Abroad website.

Does it count towards my degree?

Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are Studying Abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree. Please refer to your Study Abroad co-ordinator for further details.

How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?

For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your Study Abroad year.

UCAS code: WW22

Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements within the UK as part of your degree.

Why choose to include Employment Experience?

Undertaking graduate-level work during your degree unlocks a world of experience that allows you to develop essential employability and interpersonal skills that relate to your degree and future career. A work placement will dramatically boost your confidence, enhance your CV and develop graduate level skills and competencies that employers are looking for.

Where will I do my work placement?

The sector you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.

How does it affect my tuition fees and funding?

For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.

Find out more

Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities. 

UCAS code: WW23

Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements as part of your degree.

Why choose to include Employment Experience Abroad?

Spending up to a year living and working in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. By carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements abroad you can demonstrate to employers your adaptability, cultural awareness, independence and resourcefulness and, depending on where you stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language.

Where will I do my work placement?

The sector and country you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.

How does it affect my tuition fee?

For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.

Is the placement paid?

You will be paid in accordance with the rules of the country you work in and there may be visa restrictions or requirements which you need to consider when applying.

Find out more

Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities. 

Fees

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

UK students: £9,250 per year
International students: £23,700 per year

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*. Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

How will I learn?

You will be taught by internationally respected staff who are leading researchers in their specialisms. We use a wide variety of techniques and approaches including seminars, lectures, study groups and web-based learning, as well as valuable field study. As you study the compulsory modules, you will learn through individual practical and project work, teamwork and a research project, all of which are designed to help you develop key skills for success throughout your degree and into your future career.

Drama will mainly be taught through studio sessions, which means you will practise the subject as you learn. At the start of the programme, the emphasis is on group collaborative work, which becomes the basis for the development of your individual interests and skills later on. Practical class sizes are limited to around 20.

Assessment for Art History and Visual Culture

You will be assessed in a variety of ways but primarily through exams and coursework. Coursework includes essays, a dissertation and presentation work. The ratio of formal exams to coursework is on average 40:60 (depending on your choice of modules). Your first year doesn’t count towards your final degree classification, but you do have to pass it in order to progress. In order to be eligible for ‘with Study Abroad’ programmes, you will need to attain an average of 60 per cent or more in your first year. The assessments in the second year, year abroad (if applicable) and final year will contribute to your final degree classification.

Assessment for Drama

Assessment of each module varies and may include continuous assessment, essay, performance and portfolio or viva interview. In the first year, most work is assessed continuously through studio practice, seminars and essays. There are currently no written exams for Drama Single Honours Drama students, however Combined Honours students should refer to the relevant subject’s entry for their other subjects. You are required to pass your first year in order to progress, but these results do not count towards your final degree classification. In order to be eligible for ‘with Study Abroad’ programmes, you will need to attain an average of 60% or more in your first year. The assessments in the second year, year abroad (if applicable) and final year will contribute to your final degree classification.

Facilities

Drama is based on two sites on the Streatham Campus. All the practical spaces we use are reserved solely for Drama students, giving us a high degree of flexibility. Our facilities include two digital media suites and upgraded technical facilities. We have six studios fully equipped for stage lighting and sound, 10 other studios and seminar rooms, two sound studios, a video and multimedia studio, state-of-the-art computer facilities for lighting and sound design, costume and props stores and workshops for set construction, costume and prop-making.

Museums, galleries, and field trips

We believe it’s really important for you to gain first-hand exposure to works of art and other visual artefacts. You will profit from engaging with the museums and galleries in the region, in addition to field trips to collections in London and elsewhere. You will also can develop expertise in curation through the University’s Bill Douglas Cinema Museum.

Art History and Visual Culture field trip abroad

In the second year of the programme we offer a core module, Art History & Visual Culture Field Study, which involves an intensive study trip abroad to immerse our students in the art, architecture and visual culture of a specific location in Europe. In recent years our study abroad trip has taken place in Florence Italy*.

Other opportunities

The Term Three Festival is a fringe-style experience, providing Drama students with exciting opportunities to showcase additional self-directed, non-assessed work. Students produce their own performances, take part in workshops, receive technical and practical training, participate in careers and employability sessions and watch over 50 brand new performances as part of the event. All students have the option to get involved with the Drama Society and a number of student-run theatre companies supported by the Students’ Guild.

Research-inspired teaching

Teaching that is inspired by research ensures lectures are up-to-date and relevant: you will benefit from access to the latest thinking, equipment and resources. All options are taught by staff with expertise including art history, architecture, film, photography, visual media, art and technology, curation and exhibition, mixed and virtual realities, performance art and visual culture in the UK and abroad. In Drama, all staff teach second and third year options which are linked to their own interests, including areas such as theories of actor training, non-western performance, 20th and 21st century theatre practitioners, site-specific performance, applied performance, gender and performance, theatre history, music theatre, arts management and the politics of culture.

*Field course destination subject to change

Optional modules outside of this course

Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.

  • A Foreign Language
  • Law
  • Social Data Science
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Leadership

Find out more about proficiency options

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Your future

Employer-valued skills this course develops

Art History and Visual Culture at the University of Exeter is a bold interdisciplinary programme, which will enable you to stand out in the job market. This programme will give you specialist knowledge of everything from traditional art forms such as architecture and sculpture, to today’s visual practices such as film, video, performance and digital art. You will develop a broad range of highly desirable skills in analysis, critique, research and theoretical and practical creativity.

Career paths

Art History & Visual Culture graduates compete very successfully in the employment market, with many employers targeting the University when recruiting new graduates.

Examples of roles recent graduates are now working as include:

  • Art Gallery Intern
  • Brand Intern in fashion industry
  • Civil Service Fast Stream
  • Collections Information Officer
  • Editorial Assistant
  • Events Planner
  • Marketing Intern
  • PR Account Executive
  • Researcher
  • TV Promotions Assistant

Career Zone

The services offered by the careers and employability team are complementary to the services offered by our central Career Zone, where you can participate in practical sessions to develop your skills; access paid internships and volunteering opportunities; explore postgraduate study options; meet prospective employers; get one-to-one advice and learn how to secure the right job for you.

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