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1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Higher Diploma
5. History of Art

Course Fact File

Code	HDAHA
Duration	1 Year Full-Time; 2 Years Part-Time
Teaching Mode	Full-time, Part-Time
Qualifications	HDip in Arts
NFQ Level	Level 8
Closing Date	Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing Date	Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.
Start Date	8 September 2025

Course Outline

Our Higher Diploma History of Art course is for those who already have a degree, preferably in the Arts or the Sciences, and who wish to study art history intensively over one (full-time) or two (part-time) academic years.

This HDip is ideal for individuals who:

• have an active interest in the history of art but do not already possess a degree in the discipline;
• are currently employed in some branch of the arts and wish to obtain an academic qualification in the area;
• require a conversion course to apply for graduate study in art history such as the taught MA Art History or the MRes/MPhil/PhD research degrees at UCC. (Note that completion of the HDip does not guarantee a place on a graduate course.)

This is a full-time course, taken over one academic year, during which you will take courses in the history of art to the equivalent of 60 credits.

Part-time option

For the two-year part-time option, you will take courses to the equivalent of 30 credits in each year. The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

The HDip programme is made up of modules from the second- and third-year courses in the BA degree. You will choose 60 credits in consultation with the course coordinator, taking into account timetable constraints and the suitability of course combinations.

Modules

• HA2003 Modernism in Europe - Semester 1 (5 credits)
• HA2005 Art & Patronage in Renaissance Italy - Semester 2 (5 credits) 
• HA2009 Creator & Subject: Themes in Portraiture - Semester 2 (5 credits) 
• HA2011 From Modernism to Postmodernism - Semester 1 (5 credits)
• HA2012 The History of Art History & Method - Semester 2 (5 credits)
• HA2013 Representations - Semester 2 (5 credits)
• HA2014 People & Places - Semester 1 (5 credits)
• HA2017 Legible/Visible: Art & Interpretation - Semester 1 (5 credits)
• HA2022 Extended Essay 1 - Semester 1 (5 credits)
• HA2023 Extended Essay 2 - Semester 2 (5 credits) 
• HA3005 Roma Caput Mundi - Semester 1 (5 credits)
• HA3006 The Art of the Academy in the 19th Century - Semester 2 (5 credits)
• HA3013 Supervised Research Project - Full Year (10 credits)
• HA3015 Approaches to the History of Art - Semester 2 (5 credits)
• HA3020 Themes in Italian Baroque Art - Semester 2 (5 credits)
• HA3023 Themes in Modern Art - Semester 1 (5 credits)
• HA3027 Special Studies Seminar - Semester 2 (5 credits)
• HA3028 Global Artistic Interventions - Semester 1 (5 credits)
• HA3029 Art & Gender Identities - Semester 1 (5 credits)

See our History of Art page for information on this HDip Arts - History of Art programme.

Course Practicalities

• Full-time: Depending on the modules selected, class contact time in lectures and seminars will be approximately 12 hours per week. If possible optional weekend study tours to Florence, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Rome are also planned.
• Part-time: Depending on modules selected, class contact time in lectures and seminars will be approximately 6 hours per week. If possible optional weekend study tours to Florence, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Rome are also planned.

Lectures and tutorials are mandatory, while field trips within and outside Ireland are optional.

Assessment

Assessment is based partly on written assignments, consisting of critical research essays ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 words in addition to class tests and some degree exams. 

Connected Curriculum

Our learning approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections across the discipline. Our History of Art academic & administrative staff include:

• Dr Flavio Boggi, Head of Discipline and Senior Lecturer
• Dr Mary Kelly (née Healy), Lecturer
• Dr Simon Knowles, Lecturer
• Dr Sabine Kriebel, Lecturer

Why Choose This Course

UCC is an ideal place to study the history of art because it is supported by the award-winning facilities of the Glucksman Gallery on campus, by institutions such as the Crawford Art Gallery and the National Sculpture Factory in Cork City, and by the energetic artistic community that sustains them.

Skills and Careers Information

The Higher Diploma in the History of Art guarantees you a high level of visual literacy and critical awareness which, combined with fluent verbal and written skills, are highly desirable when pursuing a career in the following fields

• journalism, media, and film
• museum and gallery work
• teaching and research
• design and fashion
• advertising and public relations
• the heritage industry and cultural tourism
• information technology and the Internet
• arts administration
• art market, auction houses, and antiques consultancy work

Requirements

It is intended for those who already have a 3- or 4-year primary degree, preferably in the area of Arts or the Sciences, and who wish to study the subject History of Art intensively over one academic year.  The Higher Diploma in Arts is a conversion programme and applicants would not normally have studied the relevant subject to Honours Degree level previously.

Fees and Costs

How To Apply

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning, and professional training relevant to this programme.

• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

• Please detail your computing/technical/IT skills.

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

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