Art History - History of Art - Conversion Course

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)

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.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.



- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

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.

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.

Higher Diploma 60 ECTS credits

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date: 8th September 2025.

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