Options with history of art
Studying history of art allows you to explore how societies evolve by examining the visual arts through a range of historical, social, geographical, cultural and psychological contexts. As you learn to interpret the meaning or significance implied by the subject and style of different art forms you will consider the impact that art has on our lives. As well as the more specific academic skills you acquire, you will also gain a number of highly transferable skills that are desirable to future employers.
These will include:
Through your studies, you will develop analytical and problem-solving skills, time-management skills and the ability to work independently, as well as good team-working skills through group projects and assignments. All these skills are highly valued in the workplace across all sectors.
Practical experience is extremely valuable and will make you a more competitive candidate in the world of art galleries and museums. It is valued as highly as the right knowledge and qualifications, and you should take any opportunity to carry out a work placement. Placements will often be arranged as part of your course but you should also try to gain as much additional experience as possible. This may be paid or unpaid, in both vacation and term time, and will be essential if you are serious about a career in a related field.
Relevant work experience is vital for most careers in the arts world. Paid and voluntary work are equally valuable. You are likely to have to do at least some voluntary work as the competition for paid jobs can be fierce.
Any work experience in the art world will be relevant, whatever you career ambitions. Education or outreach work, for example, will add value to a curatorial career. You may find opportunities through the Museums Association - Volunteering Opportunities and the Association of Art Historians has a voluntary work fund which may be able to help if you take an unpaid internship.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) collaborative Doctoral awards encourage PhD students to gain work experience while furthering their academic career.
Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.
Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.
A 2011 HESA survey of 2010 graduates indicates that six months after graduation over half of history of art graduates were in paid employment in the UK or overseas. Of these, 7.2% had entered professional roles in areas related to their field of study such as the arts, culture or design, nearly 10.1% were in managerial roles in the public and private sector, and 10.9% had chosen to pursue careers in finance and business. Over a fifth of graduates who were in employment were working as waiting or bar staff or in retail and catering.
A degree in the history of art will equip you well for a career in arts and heritage management, galleries/museums and archives, journalism and the media, publishing and the creative arts.
Arts administration is a popular choice. Many graduates work in museums and galleries. As well as curatorial work, there are opportunities in areas such as outreach, education, marketing, public relations (PR) and events management.
Specialist booksellers, antique dealers and auctioneers are also key employers and another option is to follow an academic career in higher education.
For further details of some of the areas that may be of interest, see:
For further information on possibilities in other employment areas, see job sectors.
Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do? and your degree...what next?
Just over a quarter of students who graduated with a history of art degree in 2010 went into either full-time or part-time postgraduate study.
In many related fields, a postgraduate qualification is often necessary. For example, a Masters degree in museum and gallery studies is widely accepted as an essential requirement for a career in these areas. Other common specialist postgraduate courses at Masters level include curating and conservation science. Arts and heritage management are also popular choices, as they provide a broader skills base and open up a range of job opportunities, often at a more senior level.
Research degrees, such as PhD or MPhil, are preferred by those interested in an academic career and who wish to develop expertise in a narrowly defined area of art history.
The collaborative Doctoral awards offered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) enable students to combine academic research with vocational experience.
These trends show only what previous graduates in your subject did immediately upon graduating. Over the course of their career - the first few years in particular - many others will opt for some form of further study, either part time or full time. If further study interests you, start by thinking about postgraduate study in the UK and search courses and research to identify your options.
For details relating to finance and the application process, look at funding my further study.
