Course Overview

Our four-year BA Art History and Language Studies (including foundation year), will be suitable for you if your academic qualifications do not yet meet our entrance requirements for the three-year version of this course and you want a program that increases your subject knowledge as well as improves your academic skills in order to support your academic performance.

This four-year course includes a foundation year (Year Zero), followed by a further three years of study. During your Year Zero, you study three academic subjects relevant to your chosen course as well as a compulsory academic skills module, with the additional English language for non-English speakers.

You are an Essex student from day one, a member of our global community-based at the most internationally diverse campus university in the UK.

After successful completion of Year Zero in our Essex Pathways Department, you progress to complete your course with our School of Philosophy and Art History.

Our course allows you to study the history and theory of art combined with French (post-A Level), German, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese (post-A Level or ab initio).

You receive a distinctive curriculum that covers the whole history of art, enabling you to choose from a variety of specialist options, while simultaneously becoming proficient in one or more languages. Engage with artworks that range from Old Master paintings, through the Pre-Raphaelites and Surrealists, to the most up-to-date contemporary art and visual culture.

Modules explore a wide variety of media, including architecture, urbanism, photography, and video, as well as painting, drawing, printmaking, performance art, and sculpture. We have also embedded clear pathways to careers in curating and museums throughout the course should you wish to take them, with modules every year dedicated to the histories, theories, and practices of museums, exhibitions, and galleries. At the same time, you can either begin the study of a language as complimentary to your course or improve your current language skills.

General Eligibility

UK entry requirements

A-levels: ABB
If Portuguese is taken as the major language, A Level pass (or equivalent) in Italian, French, Spanish, or Portuguese or first language level fluency in Italian, French, Romanian or Spanish is required.

BTEC: DDD, depending on the subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided.

IB: 32 points or three Higher Level certificates with 655
We are also happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programmes at both Higher and Standard Levels. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard levels, and the course applied for. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Part Time Work Details

20 hours per week.

Language Requirement

• If you do not require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK then we will assess your English language proficiency/ability at your interview or audition.

  If your first language is not English and you are an international student that requires a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK then you will need IELTS 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.