Looking for a way into the captivating world of art history? Explore this exciting discipline, its key objects and principles as our expert tutors introduce you to a broad survey of visual culture across millennia, from classical and early Christian art to the Renaissance.
Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Our learners
Key Features
Course highlights
During this part-time online certificate course, you will:
- Be introduced to art history with reference to Cambridge collections
- Combine the analytical and visual skills needed to interpret works of art
- Develop key study and writing skills.
Join a global community of students who will enrich each other’s experience on this wide-ranging introduction to the history of art. Through remote learning, you will have the opportunity to study a diversity of art objects, with reference to the collections of the Museum of Classical Archaeology and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. By the end of the course, you will have a deeper understanding of the social and historical contexts, influences and interpretations of the art, architecture and applied arts of a variety of cultures.
As part of our learning community, you will:
- explore the painting, sculpture, architecture (including the classical Orders) and applied arts of the Greeks and Romans
- consider these visual arts within their social and historical contexts
- investigate the impact of Christianity on art and architecture, in particular in relation to the Emperor Constantine and the period 330 to 1000 that saw the rise of several new styles including Byzantine and Anglo-Saxon
- trace the rise of Romanesque and Gothic art and architecture and its artistic influences, including its associated sculptural decorations, the rich resources of painting and other crafts such as metalwork, embroidery and ivory carving
- examine the revival of interest in classical culture that constituted the Renaissance in Italy and other parts of Europe from the 15th to 17th centuries
- explore the transition period of the High Renaissance to Baroque.
Course breakdown
This course will run from Saturday 11th October 2025 to Wednesday 10th June 2026.
Each term's teaching usually takes place on Thursday evenings, with occasional Saturday afternoon sessions. Exact teaching dates and times will be confirmed in the course guide upon enrolment.
Michaelmas term: Classical and Early Christian Art
- Course (unit 1) start date: Saturday 11 October 2025
- Unit 1 end date: Wednesday 7 January 2026
Lent term: Medieval Art
- Unit 2 start date: Saturday 10 January 2026
- Unit 2 end date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Easter term: Renaissance Art
- Unit 3 start date: Saturday 11 April 2026
- Unit 3 end date: Wednesday 10 June 2026
After the course
This course gives you a wide-ranging introduction to art history and equips you with visual analysis skills that you can go on to apply in your life, whether personally or professionally.
Want to continue your studies with us at this level? You can apply for the Certificate in History of Art: Early Modern to Contemporary. On completion of both certificates, you can apply for the award of Certificate of Higher Education in History of Art. You may decide to study at a higher level, including the Diploma in History of Art, and we would be happy to advise on this.
Entry requirements
There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course, which is open to all students with an interest in the subject area.
English language requirements
If you are applying to study an Undergraduate Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma and your first language is not English, you will need to meet the requirements of one of the language proficiency tests below:
IELTS (Academic), IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake
Overall score of 7.0, with not less than 7.0 in Speaking, Listening and Writing, and 6.5 in Reading.
TOELF iBT or TOEFL Home Edition
https://www.ets.org/toefl.html
Overall score of 100, with no element below 25.
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency/
Overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185.
IT requirements
The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
You will therefore need to have access to:
- the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device
- speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material
- a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available
Identity Check
As part of your application, you are required to provide a copy of your ID. At the beginning of the course, you will be required to attend a live zoom session, so that we can verify your identity. Please note we will not be able to issue the award if an identity check has not been completed.
As part of our open and inclusive learning environment, you can enjoy the world-class resources and expertise of the University of Cambridge wherever you are on your academic journey.
Our video-based teaching platforms offer a flexible way to access lectures, while our Virtual Learning Environment makes it easy to study and learn online and interact with your tutor and fellow students.
Our teaching methods include lectures and live seminars that include interactive learning activities. We will also give you reading and assignments to complete outside of classroom sessions.
You will be asked to submit an assignment at the end of each unit to demonstrate your learning. There are more details about how this course is assessed in the course guide we will send you once you have enrolled.
Qualifications
This course is equivalent to half of the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree. It offers 60 CATS credits, which are recognised by higher education institutions and employers.
How many hours of study are required?
The award of academic credit is a means of quantifying and recognising learning and within the UK, one credit notionally represents 10 hours of learning. This course attracts 60 credits, so students should expect to need to study for approximately 600 hours in total to complete all units successfully. However, it is recognised that students study at different paces and use a variety of approaches, so this is a recommendation, rather than a hard-and-fast calculation.
SEEC Credit Level Descriptors for Higher Education (2021) here.
The fee for this course is £3,300. You can either pay:
- in full when you enrol,
or - Your account will be set up for you to pay in 3 equal instalments: the first when you enrol, the second by 1 January, and the third and final instalment by 1 April – (standard instalment plan). The exact dates will be confirmed in your booking details.
Important: your place on the course is not secured until we receive your first payment along with any required documents, such as proof of English language proficiency.
If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. Please note that places are limited and on a first-come first-served basis.
Help with fees
We have many sources of financial support that you can explore.
Refunds
This course will require a minimum number of students to run. In the rare event that the course is cancelled by us, due to minimum numbers not being met, or for any other reason, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid.
If you would like to cancel your place on the course, please refer to our Cancellations and Refunds policy, which we encourage you to read in full before applying.
Disability Support
The University’s Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre Non-Matriculated Service (ADRC NMS) provides advice, guidance, and resources to University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) award-bearing undergraduate and postgraduate students who have a diagnosed disability or medical condition, including mental health conditions. The support provided can include:
- appointments with a Senior disability adviser or Neurodiversity disability adviser
- reviewing/assessing medical or diagnostic evidence
- production of a Student Support Document (SSD)
- signposting to sources of disability-related funds (Disabled Students’ Allowances [DSA], as well as other internal funds for home and international students)
- coordination of human support, such as specialist mentoring or specialist study skills
- neurodiversity screening service (Autism, Specific Learning Difficulties, ADHD)
- signposting to disability library services
- signposting to assistive technology and software support
If you would like to access support then please indicate this on your course application form and then complete the ADRC NMS online Student Information Form so they can work with you to fully support your studies. Please upload medical evidence (written in English) when prompted to within the Student Information Form. The following links to guidance on medical evidence or diagnostic evidence will help to answer any questions you may have.
If you have any questions concerning disability support then please contact the ADRC NMS team via [email protected] or view their website.
Wellbeing Support
It is important that all our learners feel safe in their learning environment and student wellbeing is our key priority. We have a dedicated Student Support team who can offer a variety of support mechanisms to those who are experiencing challenges maintaining positive mental wellbeing. The PACE Student Support Team are here to support you throughout the duration of your studies with us and can:
- meet with you via teams/zoom (camera can be off) to discuss any concerns surrounding your wellbeing, mental health, academic pressures, or welfare
- advise you on options and signpost you to appropriate sources of guidance which range from self-guided resources to wellbeing conversations
- direct you to specialist support and help concerning welfare, wellbeing, safeguarding and prevent
- in specific circumstances (where there is a clear need unmet elsewhere) provide access to counselling
- provide access to study skills resources
If you have any questions concerning learning support, then please contact us.
