Undergraduate Diploma in History of Art: British Visual Culture

Explore British visual culture within a global context from the end of the 16th century to the start of the 18th. We will discuss the interaction of arts of all media with aspects of wider culture, from the literary to the historical and political.

As part of our learning community, you will:

• enhance your understanding of British visual culture through a range of topics including the influence of the court and wider culture, and the sites of royal palaces and aristocratic house;
• examine arts of all media, from architecture, painting and sculpture to gardens, murals, miniatures and tapestries;
• consider to what extent we can talk about ‘British’ art when, in fact, many of the artists and craftsmen of the period were migrants from the Continent;
• investigate the emergence of new hierarchies of genres during the ‘golden age’ of British art;
• look at notions of Britishness in the context of imperialism;
• address current issues around the interpretation of art in museums and heritage sites.

Course breakdown

This course will run from 19 October 2024 to 13 June 2025.

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

Michaelmas term: British Art in a Global Context: The long seventeenth century (core unit)

• Course (unit 1) start date: Saturday 19 October 2024
• Unit 1 end date: Wednesday 8 January 2025

Lent term: The Eighteenth Century: The ‘golden age’ of British art? (core unit)

• Unit 2 start date: Saturday 11 January 2025
• Unit 2 end date: Wednesday 26 March 2025

Easter term: Art for the Tudors: Paint and Politics

• Unit 3 start date: Saturday 5 April 2025
• Unit 3 end date: Friday 13 June 2025

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 Undergraduate Diploma in History of Art: Renaissance and Baroque. On completion of both diplomas, you can apply for the award of Undergraduate 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 complete this enquiry form with your questions.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our English language requirements for Undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas pages for further information.

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.

The fee for this course is £3,000. You can either pay:

• in full when you enrol,
  or
• in 3 equal instalments: the first when you enrol, the second by 1 January, and the third and final instalment by 1 April. 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

The University has many sources of financial help that you can explore. Please visit our pages on bursaries and sources of funding and Disabled Student’s Allowances (DSAs) for more information. 

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.
 

Are sessions recorded?
Where teaching is delivered remotely (via Zoom, for example), and wherever possible, sessions are recorded. There may be some instances where we are not able to share a recording or part of a recording; for example, for technological, confidentiality or copyright reasons.

It is worth noting that regular attendance is a requirement of the course, whether that be in person or by participating remotely (via Zoom) in the live and interactive teaching sessions.

What if I can't attend a session? 
We understand that you may need to miss a session from time to time. We would simply ask that you let your tutor and/or Course Director know, and ideally in advance of the session. We will do what we can to ensure that you are able to catch up on any work missed, and we encourage you to listen to recordings of sessions where available.

Is any financial help available?
Details of any bursaries available through ICE are listed on our website.

Information about other sources of funding (including loans, Disabled Students’ Allowance etc.) may also be useful.

Can I apply for/undertake multiple courses at any one time?
You are welcome to apply for multiple courses. However, you would not normally be able to undertake more than two Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level courses in any one year.

When considering whether to undertake more than one course, you will firstly need to ensure that there are no date clashes between teaching sessions. We would also advise you to carefully consider the workload of undertaking more than one course - consider any reading you will want to do as well as the time required to attend classes and complete assignments. You may also want to consider what commitments you have beyond your studies.

If you would like to undertake a second course, we would ask you to contact us so that we can liaise with both Course Directors. They will need to approve your application on the understanding that you will be undertaking two courses simultaneously.

If I complete a Certificate/Diploma/Advanced Diploma with ICE, does it guarantee me a place on another course at ICE, including an MSt?
We are delighted that many of our students want to return to study with us again and again. Unfortunately, however, completion of one course does not guarantee that you will be offered a place on another.

To ensure quality of teaching, places on courses are necessarily limited, and where an offer is made, places can only be confirmed subject to availability.

A Course Director may also feel that a higher level course is not the best fit for you. In this case, the Course Director may recommend another more suitable Certificate-level course or a non-award bearing short course or online course. This is, by no means, a rejection, but a way for us to help you to prepare more fully for study at a higher level.

Do I need to have completed the Certificate-level course before applying for a place on the Diploma?
The Certificate and Diploma courses have been designed to provide a progression path for your studies, and some students on the Diploma will have previously completed the Certificate; however, completion of the Certificate is not a requirement for entry onto the Diploma. It very much depends on your experience, the information you provide in your Personal Statement, and on your writing sample.

If you apply for a place on the Diploma, our Course Directors will let you know if they would recommend you complete the Certificate first. Please don’t be deterred – ultimately, we want you to find the course that is the best fit so that you are comfortable and feel a sense of achievement throughout.

Can I transfer credits/CAT points from a course completed elsewhere?
For queries regarding credits please visit European Credit Transfer and Accumulation

Is the course accredited by the University of Cambridge?
All qualifications offered by ICE are qualifications of the University of Cambridge, endorsed by the relevant Faculties or Departments and approved by the University’s Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee.

Will I become the member of a College by undertaking a Certificate/Diploma/Advanced Diploma course?
Enrolment on a Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level course does not lead to College affiliation.

Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. When you come to confirm your course place with payment, you will be given the option to pay in instalments. Course fees for Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses are normally split into three equally weighted instalments spread throughout the year, with the first instalment due by way of deposit at the point of confirming your course place.

How many hours of study are required to complete a Certificate/Diploma/Advanced Diploma course?
The course webpage in each case should provide you with an idea of the study hours you can expect - see ‘Teaching and Assessment’ tab.

Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas equate to 60 credits. Credit is generally calculated in terms of hours of study and assumes that each credit is awarded for around 10 hours of successful learning; so, by this calculation, a 60-credit course will involve around 600 hours of successful study. Examples of how study may be broken down are: pre-class preparation, classroom time (lectures, seminars, discussion, presentations, debates, case-studies etc.); engagement with the VLE; peer-to-peer interaction, preparations for assignments, assignment writing and feedback etc.