History of Art graduates go on to a wide range of careers within and beyond the art world, to further study and to other pursuits.
Recent graduates from the department who have chosen careers in the art world have worked as curators, museum educators and learning officers, conservators, art sales specialists and researchers. Others have roles in marketing, communications, business development, client relations, project management and more within this sector. Among others, they have worked for:
Many of our graduates have transferred skills from their degrees in the History of Art to a wide range of sectors and roles. These include:
Freelance writers; editor; social media strategist; fashion buyer; PR assistant; marketing manager; development officer; communications; project services coordinator; teaching; research assistant and research project administrator; acquisitions assistant; public housing project; prisons; start-up businesses; internships; university outreach officer; student engagement officer.
Others have gone on to MA and PhD programmes in York and elsewhere.
For more information on the wide range of History of Art and interdisciplinary postgraduate programmes here at York see Postgraduate Study.
Find out more about what you can do with your degree in the History of Art:
- Visit our History of Art alumni pages
- Take a look at York Profiles and Mentors.
- What Can I Do With My Degree: History of Art?
- To explore career options see Get Ideas.
- Further information on careers in Museums and Heritage.
Your Career Journey helps you make the most of your time at the university to enhance your employability and prepare for life after graduation through your academic studies, work, volunteering, and extracurricular activities.
Careers and Placements’ wide range of events and resources help you:
- work experience
- internships
- community projects
- volunteering
- enterprise
You can also book a one-to-one appointment with a careers consultant.
Log in to Handshake in order to book places on events and to apply for jobs, work experience and volunteer opportunities.
The University of York Students' Union also organises volunteering projects and events, and helps you set up your own projects.
Employability is embedded into all our History of Art taught degrees (BA and MA). Across all stages, our degrees deliver both transferable and subject-specific skills.
The majority of graduate jobs do not require you to have studied a specific subject, and humanities graduates develop transferable skills that are highly valued by employers across sectors. Our degrees will train you to:
We work closely with Careers to provide specific support at key points on your Career Journey. For example:
Supervisions are good opportunities to reflect on your personal, academic and professional development and to plan for the future. Supervisors can help you think about the skills and experiences you will need to develop and demonstrate to achieve your goals. They will signpost you to relevant advice and guidance from other academic staff, the Careers team, the College system and University of York Students' Union.
For more information on the value of arts and humanities degrees see:
Experience working in different roles and sectors can be invaluable in helping you discover what career is right for you and for gaining the skills and experiences to support job applications.
Careers and Placements' Work Experience has information on internships, volunteer roles, work placements and jobs. You can also apply to do a Placement Year in employment between your second and third year (or the year before your final year).
Within the department there are opportunities to gain work experience in the Museum and Heritage sector. For example,
See York Art History Collaborations (YAHCS) for examples of past placements, studentships and projects for History of Art students at BA, MA and PhD.
The student-run Norman Rea Gallery offers valuable opportunities to gain work experience during your degree.
York has a wide variety of galleries, museums and heritage sites. Careers’ Working in the Museums and Heritage Sector provides information on how to find and apply for volunteer, work experience and employment within the sector.
Careers
Careers and Placements is for all University of York students and graduates. They can help with all aspects of future career planning, and finding and applying for work experience and jobs.
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