Undergraduate award: Diploma in History of Art: Renaissance and Baroque

Course highlights

During this part-time online Diploma course, you will:

• Develop academic skills in research, analysis, evaluation and problem-solving
• Prepare for further study at Advanced Diploma or postgraduate level, or simply boost your knowledge of these specialist subject areas
• Join one of two complementary level 5 courses in history of art

Explore the visual culture of Renaissance Italy and the shift from Renaissance to Baroque, beginning with Italian Baroque and moving on to other European countries and then to Baroque’s global impact. Then do a deep dive into the art of Central Europe in the final term.

As part of our learning community, you will:

• enhance your understanding of Italy’s visual culture in the 1500s to 1600s through a range of topics, including court cultures across Italy, Medici patronage, and the art and architecture of Venice
• enjoy thematic or media-focused lectures on topics such as drawing and patronage
• examine the Baroque in more detail, through questions about its nature, how it manifested itself in visual culture, and why it spread across the globe
• learn how the Baroque was used to shape ideas and promote certain religious and political points of view
• explore the art and architecture of Central Europe, including Germany, Hungary and Poland
• master the skills and methodology needed to write analyses of art and architecture.

Course breakdown 

This course will run from Saturday 11th October 2025 to Wednesday 10th June 2026.

Each term's teaching usually takes place on Wednesday evenings, with occasional Saturday sessions. Exact teaching dates and times will be confirmed in the course guide upon enrolment.

Michaelmas term: Visual Culture in Renaissance Italy

• Course (unit 1) start date: Saturday 11 October 2025
• Unit 1 end date: Wednesday 7 January 2026

Lent term: Global Baroque 

• Unit 2 start date: Saturday 10 January 2026
• Unit 2 end date: Wednesday 25 March 2026

Easter term: Visual Cultures of Central Europe: Germany, Hungary and Poland, 1400–1800

• Unit 3 start date: Saturday 11 April 2026
• Unit 3 end date: Wednesday 10 June 2026

After the course

This course gives you an insight into specialist areas of 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 learn more? Consider moving on to the Diploma in History of Art: British Visual Culture. On completion of both diplomas, you can apply for the award of Diploma of Higher Education in History of Art. You may decide to study at a higher level, including the Advanced Diploma, and we would be happy to advise on this.

Entry requirements  

To be accepted onto a Diploma course, you will normally have passed a Certificate (level 4) qualification, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject.   

We are able to make exceptions, especially if you have evidence of relevant professional experience that demonstrates your suitability for the course.  

Please tell us about any previous study or relevant educational and professional experience when you apply. 

Your application will be reviewed by the Course Director or Academic Director, who will decide whether to make you an offer of a place.  

If you are still unsure which academic level to study, would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, or would like to know more about the admissions process, please use the 'Ask a question' button.

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

https://ielts.org/

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 a written 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 second year of a full-time undergraduate degree. You will earn 60 CATS credits on successful completion. CATS credits 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.

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.