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PhD Art History Online Programs are becoming increasingly popular. With the advent of online learning and more diverse course offerings, students now have more opportunities than ever to get their PhD in Art History.

But with all these choices, how do you know which program is right for you? This guide to PhD Art History Online Programs explores why art history phd programs online are becoming popular, job market prospects for graduates of PhD Art History online programs, some of the best programs in this field, and future trends for online phd art history.

Art history is the study of art and its development over time, a look at objects of art in their historical context. It is the academic discipline that deals with the history of art and the practices that produce and interpret works of art.  Art historians examine items such as paintings, sculptures, architecture, and other forms of art to understand how they have been created and what they mean.

Art history can also involve the study of different cultures and their art. In short, Art history is a broad field that covers a wide range of topics. It can be divided into several subfields, such as Renaissance art, baroque art, and modern art. Art historians often specialize in one particular period or style of art. It’s indeed a fascinating subject that can offer insights into the past and the present.

In contrast, history is the study of all past events. It is not limited to works of art, but encompasses everything from political events to natural phenomena.

So often, the value of art history is overlooked. In a world that seems to be increasingly focused on the present and the future, it can be easy to forget the importance of understanding the past. But the study of art history is essential for understanding the world we live in today. It helps us to see how the events of the past have shaped the present, and how the artist’s view of the world has changed over time.

By understanding art history, we can gain a deeper view and appreciation of the cultures that have shaped our world. We can see how the human experience has been expressed through art, and we can learn to appreciate the beauty and significance of works of art that we might otherwise take for granted. Art history is important not only for those who study it professionally, but for everyone who wishes to understand the world we live in today.

Why are PhD art history online PhD programs becoming popular?

There are several reasons why PhD programs in art history are becoming increasingly popular. For one, the job market for graduates of these programs is very good. According to the most recent reports from governments, private companies and academia, the unemployment rate for art and design majors is lower than the overall unemployment rate in the United States, for example,  which can sometimes be alarming. What’s more, job prospects for graduates with a PhD in art history are even better. In fact, many museums and galleries are now looking for employees with advanced degrees in art history.

Another reason for the growing popularity of online PhD art history programs in particular is that they offer a lot of flexibility. Students can often choose the courses they want to take, and they can complete their degree at their own pace. Finally, online PhD art history programs are affordable and convenient. They allow students to learn from anywhere in the world and without having to leave their jobs or families.

So, if you’re thinking about pursuing a PhD in art history, an online program may be a great option for you.

The average time it takes to complete a PhD in history including online PhD in art history is between five and seven years. This includes time spent completing coursework, writing and revising the dissertation, and passing oral and written exams. Of course, the actual time to completion can vary depending on the individual student’s research topic, teaching responsibilities, and other factors.

Students who are able to devote themselves full-time to their studies may be able to finish somewhat sooner than those who have to balance their academic work with other obligations. However, even full-time students should expect it to take at least five years to complete all the requirements for a PhD in art history.

PhD Art History Online Program Rankings

There are many great programs to choose from, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. To help you make your decision, we have compiled a list of the top PhD Art History Online Programs based on internal analysis as well as rankings from independent sources.

The first and most important criterion in coming up with this ranking is the quality of the faculty. The second criterion is the quality of the curriculum. The third criterion is the program’s student support services. The fourth criterion is the program’s graduation rate. And the fifth criterion is the employment rate of the program’s graduates. All of these factors are important in determining the quality of an online PhD Art History program.

The Bristol University Distance learning online Art History PhD Program is a three-year, full-time program that finishes with an 80,000 word thesis. The program begins with a September or January intake. Application should always be submitted one month before the intake month.  For example if you intend to start the program in January, you need to apply by December.

The program offers students the opportunity to research a range of topics related to art history, including modern and contemporary art, Renaissance and Baroque art, global art history, and museum studies. In addition to this, students are also required to complete the 80,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choosing.

The course is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in art history or a related discipline. Applicants are also required to have an impressive IELTS score or an equivalent score in a different language test.

Birmingham University is home to one of the most highly respected art history PhD programs in the world. The program is available to students all over the globe, with no need to relocate. The program can be completed online, making it the perfect option for busy professionals or those with family and work obligations.

The coursework is rigorous and challenging, but it is also tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. Graduates of the Birmingham University Art History PhD Program are highly sought after by top employers in a variety of industries. The program has a proven track record of preparing students for successful careers in academia, museum work, and more.

The future of online education is constantly evolving, and Birmingham University is at the forefront of this movement. In addition to this course, the university offers a wide range of online programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, making it one of the most well-rounded online universities in the world.

The History of Art history program at the University of Leicester was the first program in history of art to be offered in the United Kingdom. The program is designed for students who want to specialize in the history of art, but who also want the flexibility to study at home.

The program is taught by a team of highly respected and experienced historians of art, who are dedicated to providing students with a world-class education. The core traditional program has been running since 2001 and has a strong track record of preparing students for successful careers in the arts.

The History of Art program at York University started in 1990 as a way to offer a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program that would explore all aspects of the history of art. The program is designed for students who want to pursue graduate studies and careers in the arts, museum, and educational fields.

The online format was introduced recently as a way to offer the same high-quality program to students anywhere in the world. The art history PhD online program is taught by faculty who are experts in their field, and students have access to all the same resources as on-campus students.

Graduates of the PhD Art History Online Program have found success in a wide range of careers, including teaching, curating, writing, and consulting. The future trends for online phd art history look very promising, and we expect this university to continue being a leader in offering the very best in art history education.

Earning a PhD in art history online is a great way to gain the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career in this field, without the usual hustle and expenses of on-campus programs. As more and more schools begin to offer online PhD art history programs, it’s becoming increasingly popular for students to pursue their degree in this way. And with the job market for art history graduates becoming more competitive, earning a PhD will give you a competitive edge. So if you’re interested in pursuing a career in art history, an online PhD program will most likely be the right choice for you.

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PhD by Distance

All PhD programmes at ECA have the PhD by Distance option, with full-time or part-time study.   

The programmes are: 

• PhD in Architecture   
• PhD in Architecture by Design    
• PhD in Architectural History    
• PhD in Art    
• PhD in Creative Music Practice    
• PhD in Cultural Studies    
• PhD in Design    
• PhD in History of Art    
• PhD in Landscape Architecture    
• PhD in Music    
• PhD in Musical Composition   

How you will study

The PhD by Distance mode is available to all applicants for eligible ECA PhD programmes, who will apply via the Postgraduate Degree Finder. Applicants will select between on-campus and distance options, as well as between part-time and full-time options. 

Students enrolled on the PhD by Distance mode will not be expected to come to Edinburgh to study but visits for particular activities (tutorials, annual reviews, research training courses, workshops, etc) can be considered on a case-by-case basis and within UKVI visa regulations. 

• View UKVI visa regulations   

It is however expected that PhD by Distance students will come to Edinburgh for their oral (viva voce) examination, although options for online vivas may be considered on a case-by-case basis. For practice-based students, how practical work will be shared with supervisors will be explored in detail at the point of application by both subject area PGR Director and potential supervisor(s); in-person presentation of work (such as a musical performance) may occasionally be necessary. Access to studios and workshops for PhD by Distance students will be limited, as these require to be prioritised for on-campus students. 

PhD by Distance students will receive the same level of support and supervision as on-campus students but with supervisory sessions taking place via Teams, Zoom, or another video conferencing platform, rather than on-campus and in-person. The frequency with which students will meet with their supervisors will be provisionally agreed at the point of application and confirmed during induction. Supervisors (and examiners) will not make site visits to PhD by Distance students.  

There are no mandatory courses for ECA PhD students. A range of generic and specific research methods and skills training courses are available online from university.  

PhD by Distance students will have access to all University of Edinburgh support services and will be able to access online library resources/support and home use software through University site licenses in the same way that all students can. 

Please be aware that some scholarships and funding are not open to PhD by Distance applicants, for example AHRC regulations currently state that students must live within a reasonable distance from their University so are only eligible for applicants to on-campus PhD programmes.

How to apply and entry requirements

If you'd like to study on a postgraduate research programme at Edinburgh College of Art, you must apply through EUCLID, our online application system. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh website, where you'll also be able to: 

• see detailed entrance requirements for each programme on the Degree Finder  
• get information on what to expect after you apply  
• find out about study modes, start dates and fees  
• find out if, and how, you need to submit a portfolio, showreel or research proposal  
• find out where to go for further advice and guidance 

Application process

Before you apply  .

Students are assigned two research supervisors, the second of which may be from another discipline within ECA, or from somewhere else within the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) or wider University. 

Please ensure that at least one member of staff (see below) maintains an active research programme that aligns with the themes of your proposed project.  

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to make contact with the relevant member(s) of staff via email to explain your research interests prior to submitting an application. Please note that we only accept applications and review application materials submitted through the official EUCLID application portal.

After you apply 

Once your application has been submitted for consideration, it will be sent to a team of academic reviewers for their attention. They will then make a decision about your application and research topic, and decide whether it is possible to make an offer of a place to study with us. You may be asked to attend a brief online interview but if this is the case, you will be notified in advance. 

Apply through the Postgraduate Degree Finder on the University of Edinburgh website

Complete the distance learning application form (Word document download)

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4 Distance Learning PhD Degrees in Art Studies Arts Art History 2024

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Distance Learning PhD Degrees in Art Studies Arts Art History

An art history program is usually designed to encourage students to learn about and study artwork throughout history. This often includes looking deeper at artists and movements that caused changes in the course and style of art.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.

Online learning refers to use of electronic media and information and communication technologies (ICT) in education. With online learning one has the flexibility to access their studies at any time and from anywhere they can log on.

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Before you apply, you should contact a potential supervisor to discuss your research proposal and the feasibility of conducting your project at a distance. You and your potential supervisor should discuss whether your research can be undertaken completely at a distance or whether some campus trips will be necessary, especially with regards to acquiring necessary research skills.

You are welcome to visit Aberdeen before the start of your research to become acquainted with your supervisor and the university. If you are interested in undertaking a PhD via distance learning but are uncertain who to approach, please contact the  Postgraduate Administrator .

You can make your application for a PhD or research masters  online . Please read the  FAQ page  to help you complete your application form.

Alongside your application form, you will need to upload the following supporting documents online:

• Copies of your undergraduate and graduate degree certificates
• Academic transcripts for your undergraduate and graduate degrees. The transcript, which lists all of the classes taken and marks gained, must be requested by the student. You should therefore get in touch with the University where you gained your degree, and arrange for this to be sent to you.
• Two academic references; either the details of your referees provided on your application form or uploaded online with your application.
• Your research proposal
• If English is not your first language and you have not studied previously at an institution in the UK, you will need to demonstrate your proficiency in English by taking an IELTS, TOEFL or PTE academic test .

If you need to send some of your supporting documents at a later date, you can upload your supporting documents online after you have submitted your application. Please note that your application will not be processed until all supporting documents have been submitted.

Full fees apply.

If you have any queries, please contact the Postgraduate Administrator at dhpa-pg-admissions@abdn .ac.uk  or alternatively call +44 (0) 1224 27 2199.

Study the history of art online

Short online courses in the history of art

Our short online courses in the history of art  include live-time weekly classes, day schools, lecture series and flexible online courses.

Credit earned from some of these courses is transferable towards our Certificate of Higher Education  – a part-time undergraduate programme in which you study a main subject discipline, but also undertake study in other academic subjects.

View all online courses in the history of art .

Upcoming courses

The impressionists: painting modern life (online).

• Mon 09 Sep 2024 – 22 Nov 2024

Art Nouveau across Europe (Online)

• Mon 16 Sep 2024 – 29 Nov 2024

Learning to Look at Modern Art (Online)

Learning to look at the visual arts (online), islamic art and architecture (online).

• Wed 18 Sep 2024 – 29 Nov 2024

Part-time qualifications:

Undergraduate Certificate in the History of Art

Undergraduate diploma in the history of art, mst in the history of design, mst in literature and arts (mla), history of art, further information.

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The School of Advanced Study offers students with an appropriate topic and level of local resource the opportunity to undertake a PhD by distance learning.

Students are required to attend our London campus at set intervals to complete an intensive research training module, for upgrade, and for the viva but will otherwise study at their own location. This option is available to UK, EU, and international students on the same basis as our on-campus PhD programmes (three years full time, six years part time).

If you would like to be considered for our Research Degree via Distance Learning programme, please complete the  Research Degrees by Distance Learning form  and attach it to your online application.

Course structure

Compulsory attendance in London is required on three occasions: 

• Induction, the first week of the first term,  to meet supervisors and to undertake an intensive research training course (an optional second week of research training is offered that can be completed either in the week after the initial compulsory induction week or online during the first term);  
• The point of upgrade to PhD status  (usually between years 1 and 2 for full time students and between years 3 and 4 for part-time students)
• The final viva (oral defence of the thesis)

Note: The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies' week-long induction/research training for research students (whether on campus or distance learning) is usually held in January. 

The induction week provides guidance in the following areas:

• Research ethics
• Academic writing
• Working with your supervisor
• Planning your thesis
• Building a bibliography
• Working in archives

Students are required to engage with further research training online as their programme commences.

The programme is run on the same basis as campus-based programmes.  Regular contact with the supervisor is required via video conferencing software.  Students will meet with their supervisor in the induction week where future arrangements will be made for the occurrence and means in which meetings will take place.  Students will need to demonstrate that they have the appropriate local resources, IT equipment and infrastructure before they can commence study.

Students will benefit from the School’s extensive research training portfolio, online e-resources, podcasting, video recordings, transcriptions and live streaming of research seminars on a wide range of topics to help them complete their research degree. 

Research modules will include, but are not limited to, Organising Successful Academic Events, Getting Research Published, Public Speaking, Research Data and Ethics.

Distance students will be supported in the same way that the on-campus students are with the use of video conferencing to supplement face-to-face interaction. Within the induction week distance students will be given the opportunity to meet their student representatives and other students beginning their PhD.

To ensure that the students are fully supported and provided with the best tools and guidance throughout their PhD, applications will be considered on an individual basis. As not all Institutes offer the distance program, each student’s needs will be considered individually and an appropriate Institute and supervisory team recommended.

For complete fees and funding information, please visit the  relevant course page . 

Distance Learning Subject Areas

PhD at the Institute of English Studies

Study from a number of literature-related subject areas, ranging from book history to contemporary literature, and from book illustration to author-focused studies.

PhD at the Institute of Historical Research

Study the history of the world from the fourth to the 21st century, with the Institute's particular strengths being in British and European history.

PhD at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Study in the field of humanities and cognate social sciences, particularly on the subjects of human rights, globalisation and development, politics and Commonwealth history.

PhD at the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies

Study modern languages, literature and culture and their comparative relationships with the mobility of people, practices and ideas.

PhD at the Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Study with Latin Americanists whose expertise are in colonial and post-colonial history, political anthropology, human geography, environmental politics, cultural studies and multilingualism.

Digital Humanities PhD

Study texts, images, histories, languages, cultures and more through an interdisciplinary subject area using a range of computational, quantitative, innovative and collaborative methods.

PhD at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

Study the theoretical basis of law, the sources and documentation of the law and the direct impact of law on human lives within your particular area of research.

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PhD Art History and Visual Studies / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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International applicants must provide one of the following:

• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 
• Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Please ensure you include all  required supporting documents  at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered. 

Application Deadlines 

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by  12 January 2024. 

 If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self–funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed.

• For September 2024 entry:  30 June 2024
• For January 2025 entry:  30 September 2024

Programme options

Programme overview.

• 91% of our research activity was recognised as 'world leading' or `internationally excellent' REF2021.
• Be part of a vibrant teaching and research environment, where the interests of academic staff, students and professionals converge.
• Take advantage of our strong working relationships with museums and galleries throughout Britain and abroad.
• Explore original art in Manchester's many galleries.

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We will be conducting our Humanities PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out more about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,393

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Please note for the majority of projects where experimentation requires further resource: higher fee bands (where quoted) will be charged rather than the base rate for supervision, administration and computational costs. The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including AHRC NWCDTP and School of Arts, Languages and Cultures studentships is 12 January 2024. 

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.  

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for. 

• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Paul Nash Bursary (Art History and Cultural Practices) 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures New Generation PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry

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Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Art History and Visual Studies

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The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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PhD by Distance

The PhD by Distance programme allows students who are unable to commit to basing themselves in Edinburgh to study for a PhD in a field of History, Classics or Archaeology from their home country or city.

What's involved?

The PhD by Distance mode is available to all applicants for eligible HCA PhD programmes, who will apply via the Postgraduate Degree Finder . Applicants will select between on-campus and distance options, as well as between part-time and full-time options.

PhD by Distance students will receive the same level of support and supervision as on-campus students. The frequency with which students will meet with their supervisors, and method of communication for supervision sessions, will be provisionally agreed at the point of application and confirmed during induction. 

Please be aware that some funding bodies do not permit students to study by distance, for example both  ESRC  and  AHRC  regulations currently state that students must be residents at the Institution where they are studying.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for the PhD by Distance are the same as for the School’s on-campus PhD programmes.  

In addition, applicants to the PhD by Distance will also be required to complete a PhD by Distance Applicant Admission Form. This form must be emailed to the Postgraduate Research Office ( [email protected] ) who will upload this to your application on your behalf.

Applicants should provide information about previous experience of distance study together with a statement detailing the potential risks and characteristics of distance learning. It is important that student’s applying for this mode of study recognise its particular challenges. While experience of studying at a distance is desirable in applying for the programme, this is not a specific requirement for admission. All of this should be discussed with the potential supervisor(s) prior to application and can be reflected on further during the admissions interview.

Applicants should also use this additional application form to provide details of the access they will have to research facilities at the normal site of study and where the core datasets that they will rely on are located.

Working whilst studying

The School understands that many students will take on paid work alongside their studies. The University’s guidance for full-time PhD students is that they should work no more than an average of 9 hours per week for across the academic year, to ensure they have time for their studies . While there are no specific rules about how many hours part-time students can work, the School recommends that part-time students allocate at least two to three days a week, on average across the year, to their PhD research. You should discuss any working patterns that you have with your proposed supervisor and reflect on the time you are devoting to your studies throughout your programme, particularly if you are struggling to make sufficient progress; this might well be a topic for discussion at annual reviews. Please note that if you need to apply for an extension at the end of your programme, you cannot use the fact that you had a job alongside your studies as a justification for this – an extension request can only be based on unforeseen circumstances. If you need to take on more work for a temporary period of time and this will impact on your studies, you should consider an Authorised Interruption of Studies.

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Online Postgraduate Courses in Art History - 7 Courses

University of birmingham department of art history, film and visual studies.

• History of Art Doctor of Philosophy - PhD MA (Res)

The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh College of Art

• History of Art Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of St Andrews Art History

• Digital Art History MLitt Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Digital Art History (Online) MLitt Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip

Open University The Open University

• Art History (F33) MA
• Humanities (C20) Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert

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Department of History

PhD in History (by distance learning)

Join our rich and thriving academic community and deliver research on key research areas in history, with the flexibility to study online.

Year of entry: 2024/25

If your passion lies in research, our doctoral degrees give you the independence to focus on a specialism of your choice. You'll have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world. Study with us and receive expert research guidance from our supportive staff.

Your research

You'll focus on an independent research project on a topic of your choice. Your research will culminate in a dissertation of up to 90,000 words.

Join one of our leading research groups, which bring together historical expertise in various fields. Find out more about  our research groups .

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3rd in the UK for research impact

and 11th overall in the Times Higher Education ranking of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Committed to equality

We are proud to hold an Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of the work we do to support gender equality in history.

Access to exclusive resources

Our Borthwick Institute for Archives houses one of the most extensive collections of archives in the UK. York Minster Library is the largest cathedral library in the UK and holds material spanning 1000 years of history. We also have strong partnerships and consultancies with museums, archives, heritage sites, the media, artists and community organisations.

Explore funding for postgraduate researchers in the Department of History.

Supervision

We'll help match your research interests to our supervisory expertise. Explore the expertise of our staff.

Training and support

Your progress throughout your degree will be continually guided by your supervisor , who will help you to hone your focus and deliver specialised research. Alongside regular online meetings with your supervisor, you'll attend a Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP), consisting of at least one member of staff in addition to your supervisor. You'll meet twice a year (yearly for part-time students) to discuss your research project, including more general professional development and career training.

Course location

This course is run by the Department of History.

You can study this course from around the world. You must attend a five-day induction programme in York at the beginning of your first year. You'll also visit York in your second and third years (every other year for part-time students).

Entry requirements

You should have, or be about to complete, an MA degree in History or an equivalent subject with a distinction or very high merit.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.

Check your English language requirements

Apply for this course

Take a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.

Find out more about how to apply .

Identify a supervisor

As part of any application for a research degree you will need to name one or more academic staff who could supervise your research. You should approach them informally to discuss your proposed project before you apply.

Find a supervisor

As part of your application, you'll be interviewed by one or two academic staff members, including your prospective supervisor. The interview will last around 30 minutes to an hour, with plenty of time for you to ask questions and find out what York can offer you. Your interview can be in-person or online.

Careers and skills

Your PhD will help to extend your qualifications, giving you the ability to use research and historical thinking to shed light on historical problems and communicate this knowledge with others. You will become equipped with transferable skills in communication, data analysis, archival research and collaboration, opening the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

Our dedicated careers team offer specific support including a programme of professional researcher development and careers workshops and 1:1 career support sessions. They will help you to build up your employability portfolio and to engage in activities that will build up your skills and experience within and outside of your research work.

Career opportunities

• archives practitioner
• heritage manager
• academic researcher
• museum professional
• historic buildings conservation officer
• lecturer or teacher

Discover York

Distance learning at York

Learn more about the York approach to distance and online learning.

Support and resources

Explore the support and resources we offer for distance and online learners.

Discover more about why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.

Meet us online or on campus

Find out all you need to know about applying to York

Scholarships

Find scholarships to support your studies

DPhil in History of Art

• Entry requirements
• Funding and Costs

College preference

• How to Apply

About the course

The DPhil in History of Art is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of successful completion of an individual research thesis and an oral examination. 

The Department of History of Art, which operates as part of the Faculty of History, offers research degrees in a broad range of fields within the discipline of art history and visual culture.

History of Art at the University of Oxford draws on a long and deep tradition of teaching and studying the subject. The core academic staff work on subjects from medieval European architecture to modern Chinese art. Over fifty associated academic staff (eg in Anthropology, Classics, History, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, and the Ruskin School of Art) include teachers and researchers across the full global and historical range of art and visual culture. This offers students exciting possibilities to develop their own interests in art history and to receive supervision on a very wide range of topics.

The DPhil programme enables you to acquire the research skills necessary to complete a substantial piece of original research. You will work under the guidance of a supervisor who is a specialist in their subject. As part of your doctoral research, you will produce a thesis of not more than 100,000 words.

Current DPhil students are writing theses on a diverse range of topics, including the print-making techniques of the eighteenth-century British artist Alexander Cozens; the role played by the political economy of silver in the invention of photography; the elite tombs of late Medieval Castile; the visual and material culture of pilgrimage in the Este courts of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Italy; the relationship of colour and race in late nineteenth-century French painting; the erotic in Venetian popular prints made between 1550 and 1620; the work of the twentieth-century Italian photographer Ugo Mulas; illustrated books about China published in Edo Japan; the visual culture of the British railway system in Western Anatolia; the pictorial work of the nineteenth-century English polymath John Herschel; and the function and agency of religious images in late-medieval England.

All DPhil students are expected to attend and to contribute to the wide range of research seminars, conferences and workshops organised by the department and faculty. You also have access to specialist training courses offered by the Bodleian Libraries and IT Services.

Further information about studying part time

The faculty is able to offer the programme in full-time as well as part-time mode of attendance. Please note that any published statistics as regards acceptance rates are not an indication of applicants having a better chance of acceptance in part-time mode. All DPhil applications are assessed together and compared with each other, irrespective of the mode of study.

History of Art research degrees are not available by distance learning. Although there will be no requirement to reside in Oxford, part-time research students must attend the University on a regular basis in term-time: October and November, mid-January to mid-March, and late April to mid-June. Part-time students are required to attend seminars, skills training and supervision meetings in Oxford. The dates of attendance will be determined by mutual agreement with your supervisor.

We cannot sponsor student visas for part-time study as the study patterns are not compatible with Home Office regulations on attendance monitoring. However, other options may be available and you should contact the admissions office to discuss.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of History of Art, and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under some circumstances a supervisor outside the Department of History of Art may be nominated.

All students for the DPhil in History of Art will be supported by a supervisor or supervisors who will help them develop a programme of research and writing. You will also benefit from the advice and support of other members of the department who will be involved in the progression of students through the transfer and confirmation stages of the degree, and can draw on the expertise of scholars and colleagues throughout the faculty and University.

It will be up to you and your supervisor to decide on the frequency of meetings, though generally speaking in the first year you should plan to meet them at least every few weeks during term time, and keep in frequent contact. As you become more engaged with your research, you may meet your supervisor less frequently, but you are encouraged to maintain regular contact with them.

Please note that if you have contacted a potential supervisor prior to submitting your application, any indication made by an academic that they may be willing to supervise a potential project, is not a guarantee that you will be offered a place or that the supervisor in question has capacity to supervise you in that particular year. 

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student or eight terms as a part-time PRS student, you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. This application is normally made in the second term for full-time students and by the fifth term for part-time students.

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require a statement, a piece of written work and the support of your supervisor. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status to show that your work continues to be on track. This will need to done within nine terms of admission for full-time students and eighteen terms of admission for part-time students.

Both milestones normally involve an interview with one or two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

Full-time students will be expected to submit a thesis of not more than 100,000 words after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. If you are studying part-time, you will be required to submit your thesis after six or, at most, eight years from the date of admission.

To be successfully awarded a DPhil in History of Art you will need to defend your thesis orally ( viva voce ) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

A number of doctoral students in the history of art have gone on to academic teaching or research positions, have gained Junior Research Fellowships and other postdoctoral awards, or are producing work as independent scholars. Many now occupy a variety of senior roles in international museums and galleries. Other career destinations include teaching, conservation, TV production, auction houses and law.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a master's degree with distinction or a high pass ; and
• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any subject.

If you plan to apply without a prior degree in history or history of art you should ensure that you link your proposed thesis topic with your previous expertise when you present it in your application. You should also show that you have already done a considerable amount of background research into the topic. Your submitted written work should demonstrate that you have the necessary skills for art historical research and writing.

Professional experience in research, such as holding a research assistantship with an individual researcher or on a research project, may be an appropriate substitute for a master's degree.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.75 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• In the case of mature students/intended career changes professional experience in cognate areas may compensate for shortcomings in the formal academic record. 
• Publications are not required.

Further guidance

When assessors judge that a formally qualified and otherwise promising applicant requires strictly limited further training to embark on a doctoral programme, a doctoral place may be offered but only on the stipulation that the student successfully complete relevant elements of one of the department's master's courses before attempting 'transfer' to full doctoral status, meaning that the student may be asked to attend seminars or classes intended for master’s students.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews may be arranged for some doctoral applicants as part of the admissions process. Interviews can take place in person or via telephone or Skype if travel to Oxford would be inconvenient for you.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Intellectual life and community

Working as an Oxford graduate student can be an exhilarating experience. The History of Art Department brings together a tightly knit community of scholars working on a wide range of periods and subjects, including associated academics working on visual culture more widely.

Students are also integrated into the wider Faculty of History, which includes scholars working from circa 300 A.D. to the present, and embraces an exceptionally broad geographical range. It comprises an active research community of up to 800 academics and graduate students. The faculty’s research is organised around historical periods, research centres, or in collaborative and individual research projects, and graduates are key participants in the wide range of seminars, workshops and conferences run by the Faculty of History.

Further opportunities for exchange are provided by the interdisciplinary communities fostered within individual colleges, which also offer dedicated support for graduates by means of personal advisors. The department’s Centre for Visual Studies and  The Oxford Centre for Research in the Humanities (TORCH)  offer a stimulating range of interdisciplinary activities. History of art graduates are also encouraged to join the  Oxford History Graduate Network (OHGN) , which fosters friendships, conversations and collaboration.

The Oxford environment provides a unique opportunity to develop intellectual curiosity whilst remaining focused on one’s own work without becoming blinkered - an integral part of a successful graduate career.

Libraries and archives

Graduates in Oxford are fortunate in having access to over a hundred libraries. The University's core research resource in the humanities are the Bodleian Libraries, whose combined collections contain more than 11m printed items, in addition to more than 50,000 e-journals and a vast quantity of manuscripts, maps, music and other materials, including the Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library, a major research centre for the study of art history and the ancient world. Bodleian Libraries’ Special Collections Department attracts scholars from all over the world. Further strengths include the countless databases and digital resources currently offered by the Bodleian and being developed through Oxford’s Digital Humanities programme.

Graduates are also able to draw on the specialist resources offered by the Bodleian History Faculty Library which provides dedicated support and training courses for all graduates. They also have access to the many college libraries and to college archives which can house significant collections of personal papers as well as institutional records dating back to the middle ages. There are also major research libraries as well as libraries attached to faculties, departments and other institutions.

Museums, collections and galleries

Few universities in the world boast the quality and range of Oxford’s collections, which provide an invaluable basis for the study of all forms of art. The Ashmolean Museum, the Pitt Rivers Museum, , Christ Church Picture Gallery, the Museum of the History of Science, Modern Art Oxford and other museum collections – together with the wealth of architectural monuments in the city – are an integral part of studying at Oxford. The department’s own Visual Resources Centre is available for student use. Students have the opportunity to work closely with curators on individual objects from many cultures. From drawings by Raphael to totem poles, the range of possibilities is vast.

This range of resources for art historians differentiates the Oxford programme from others.

Departments offering this course

This course is offered jointly by the following departments:

History of Art Department

Oxford is an outstandingly exciting setting for the study of the history of art. Although art history has traditionally concentrated on the ‘fine’ arts of painting, sculpture and architecture, it shares many of its fundamental questions and methods with related disciplines such as archaeology, anthropology, literary studies, and political, social and cultural history. The department is uniquely positioned to reflect this cross-disciplinary potential. 

Working within the Faculty of History, teaching and research is supported by world-class museums, galleries and collections, including the Ashmolean Museum, the Bodleian Libraries, Christ Church Picture Gallery, the Pitt Rivers Museum, the Museum of the History of Science, and Modern Art Oxford, as well as The Ruskin School of Art.

The core academic staff of the department work on subjects from medieval European architecture to modern Chinese art, and over fifty associated academic staff include teachers and researchers across the full global and historical range of art and visual culture. This offers students the opportunity to take courses and receive supervision on a very wide range of topics and develop individual interests in art history.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

Faculty of History

History in Oxford stretches from c 300 to the present, and embraces in addition to its British and European heritage an exceptionally broad range of World history. It comprises an active research community of up to 800 senior academics and graduate students, all contributing to a range of research seminars, lectures, academic societies, and personal contacts.

Research in the faculty is organised around historical periods and research centres, or in collaborative and individual research projects, and you will always be welcome at seminars, workshops and conferences across all periods and themes.

You will be encouraged to make use of these opportunities as widely as possible without endangering your own degree work. Striking the right balance between intellectual curiosity and temptation and intellectual discipline, and remaining focused without becoming blinkered, should be an integral part of a successful graduate career. The Oxford environment provides all the ingredients for this.

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Full-time study.

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Part-time study

Information about course fees.

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur further additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

• Balliol College
• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Christ Church
• Corpus Christi College
• Exeter College
• Harris Manchester College
• Hertford College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Merton College
• New College
• Oriel College
• The Queen's College
• Regent's Park College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Trinity College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines and when to apply  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You do not need to contact anyone in the faculty before you apply and you are not responsible for finding your own supervisor. However, you are strongly encouraged to familiarise yourself with the research expertise within the department when preparing your research proposal, to make sure that there is a supervisor available in the same area as your proposed project. Offers will only be made if appropriate supervision is available. The faculty determines supervision arrangements, taking due account of the workload and commitments of its academics. If you are made an offer, a supervisor will be assigned to you, and identified in the offer letter.

If you are not sure who to contact, or if you think your topic is out of the ordinary and/or requires a specialist supervisor, please contact the department using the contact details provided on this page (see the Further information and enquiries section for further details).

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known. If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

If known, under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) who you would like to supervise your research. Otherwise, leave this field blank.

Referees Three overall, generally academic

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

References should generally be academic, though if you are returning to study after extended periods of non-academic employment then you are welcome to nominate professional referees where it would be impractical to call on your previous university tutors.

Your references will support intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, ability to work in both a group environment and sustained individual and self-motivated investigation.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Research proposal: A minimum of 500 words to a maximum of 1,500 words

Your research proposal must be written in English. Any footnotes should be included in the word count. A bibliography may also be provided and is not included in the word count.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

This should be a developed proposal of your individual research project. It will provide crucial evidence of your readiness for doctoral research. Your proposal should cover all of the following:

• a research question: the central issue or problem with which you intend to grapple, and a working title;
• historiography: some account of the current state of scholarship in this area. You may want to explain why you are dissatisfied with existing scholarship: is it limited, dated or unconvincing? What kind of contribution will your work make?
• sources: an indication of the sources you expect to use, where these can be found, how they will contribute to your research, what if any technical skills you will need to work with them (eg language, quantitative, use of specialist software), and whether you already have, or will need to acquire, those skills; and
• method: some discussion of your approach to dealing with sources and constructing your thesis. Some of the following considerations may apply. At what level is your inquiry: micro or local, regional or national, comparative or transnational? Will you be using qualitative or quantitative techniques? Samples or case studies? Will your research draw on a body of theory? Does your approach draw on the agenda or methods of related disciplines such as anthropology, or literary studies?

This will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• the coherence of the proposal
• the originality of the project
• evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
• the ability to present a reasoned case in English
• the feasibility of successfully completing the project within three years
• preliminary knowledge of research techniques
• capacity for sustained and intense work
• the ability to contextualise, and analyse the evidence.

It will be normal for your ideas subsequently to change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and method at this moment.

Written work: An academic writing sample of no more than 4,000 words in total length

Written work should be from your most recent completed qualification, but does not need to relate closely to your proposed area of study. Extracts from a longer piece of work are welcome, but please include a preface which puts the work in context.

The work will be assessed for your:

• understanding of problems in the area
• ability to construct and defend an argument
• powers of analysis
• powers of expression.

It must be submitted in English (if this work has been translated, you must indicate if the translations are your own, or what assistance you had in producing the English text).

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document. Any footnotes should be included in the word count. A bibliography may also be provided and is not included in the word count.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide Apply - Full time   Apply - Part time

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

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12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 5 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2024-25

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the History of Art Department within the Faculty of History

• Course page on the History of Art website
• Funding information from the department
• Academic and research staff
• Humanities Division
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected]

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

Visa eligibility for part-time study

We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.

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History PhD/ MA by Research (On-Campus or by Distance Learning)

Annual tuition fee 2024 entry: UK: £4,778 full-time, £2,389 part-time International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only) More detail .

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As a postgraduate researcher in the Department of History you'll work alongside academic staff whose research is at the forefront of current historical scholarship.

The Department of History is ranked eighth in the country based on Grade Point Average in the Research Excellence Framework 2021, according to the Times Higher Education. The Department is unrivalled in the geographical and chronological breadth of its research. 

Free Webinar - Masters programmes in History and Cultures - 7 December 2023, 12pm-1pm (GMT)

We are hosting an online webinar specifically for prospective students interested in our Masters programmes in the School of History and Cultures. The event will be taking place via Zoom on Thursday 7 December, from 12pm – 1pm (GMT). It will cover our Masters programmes in African Studies and Anthropology; Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology; Heritage Studies; and History.

Book your place

Funding available for 2021 entry

The John Pagett Scholarship offers £4,000 to fund historical, archaeological or natural history postgraduate research focusing Shropshire or the immediate region. Deadline 30 June 2021.

Find out more and apply now

AHRC funding for PhD students

The University of Birmingham is part of the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (M4C), offering Arts and Humanities Research Council PhD studentships for campus-based programmes. These include a number of Collaborative Doctoral Award opportunities. Each studentship includes research fees, a substantial maintenance grant and additional research training support. Applications are open until 12:00 (noon), 13 January 2021.

Find out more

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

We offer two postgraduate research-only programmes, whether you are looking to complete your academic studies with a PhD or pursue your research at Masters level. Find out more about what to expect from a PhD and MA by Research .

At Birmingham, Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research students also have the opportunity to learn graduate academic languages free of charge, to support your studies.

• Graduate School Language Skills

The library facilities at Birmingham have been essential to my work, as has the ongoing and thoughtful support I’ve received from my supervisors. To help the transition back to academia, there are a number of courses and seminars available that have enabled me to develop my editing, writing and presenting skills, which are important to my day-to-day work. Howard

Why study this course?

• Breadth of expertise : From medieval Iran to the modern United States, our staff provide expertise across British, European and world history from around 500 to the present day. Our core strengths include medieval history, cultural and social history, politics, economics, religion, war studies, the history of the Midlands, the history of sexuality and emotion, and the history of the environment.
• Stimulating environment : We offer exciting opportunities to participate in the broader research culture of the Department of History. This includes seminars and workshops run by postgraduate research students and those organised by members of staff, which generate a lively inter- and multi-disciplinary research culture, through delivery of papers and broadening intellectual horizons.
• Research opportunities :There are a number of opportunities for collaboration across the University, particularly in the fields of Byzantine, Latin American, and Art History, as well as Philosophy, Politics and Anthropology. The extensive holdings of the University’s library, and ready access to other regional archives and libraries, offer abundant raw material for research.
• Training and support : Extensive support in academic writing, research skills, and career development is available to our research students through the College of Arts & Law Graduate School as well as our library and careers network teams .
• Develop research leadership : Our postgraduates run international and interdisciplinary workshops, seminar series, and conferences and are supported to develop leadership in their fields through publications and public engagement.

The postgraduate experience

The College of Arts and Law offers excellent support to its postgraduates, from libraries and research spaces, to careers support and funding opportunities. Learn more about your postgraduate experience .

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024 entry are as follows:

• UK: £4,778 full-time; £2,389 part-time *
• International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only)

The same fees apply to both campus-based and distance learning study. The distance learning programme also includes one fully-funded visit to campus in the first year of study.

The above fees quoted are for one year only; for those studying over two or more years, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

* For UK postgraduate research students the University fee level is set at Research Council rates and as such is subject to change. The final fee will be announced by Research Councils UK in spring 2024.

Eligibility for UK or international fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students .

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding .

How To Apply

Application deadlines.

Postgraduate research can start at any time during the year, but it is important to allow time for us to review your application and communicate a decision. If you wish to start in September 2024, we would recommend that you aim to submit your application and supporting documents by 1 June 2024.

If the programme has a Distance learning option then students will usually attend a residential visit in September or January, and those students wishing to attend the September residential are also encouraged to apply by 1 June 2024. The visit will take place at the end of September/beginning of October and you will receive further details once you have accepted your offer.

Six easy steps to apply for a postgraduate research course in the College of Arts and Law

Six steps to apply for our Postgraduate Research courses

Do you have an idea for an interesting research project? You can follow our six easy steps to apply to study for our postgraduate research courses . These include guidance on identifying funding opportunities and writing your research proposal .

Please also see our additional guidance for  applicants to the PhD Distance Learning study mode .

Please note: While our PhD programmes are normally studied in three years full-time or six years part-time, and Masters-level research programmes one year full-time or two years part-time, many programmes have a longer length listed in course or funding applications. This is because the course length is defined as the maximum period of registration, which includes a period of supervised study plus a thesis awaited period. The maximum period of registration for a full-time PhD is four years (three years supervision plus one year thesis awaited). For a full-time Masters-level research programme, it is two years (one year supervision plus one year thesis awaited). For part-time programmes, the periods are double the full-time equivalent.

Making your application

• How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page . Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our Standard Requirements

Our requirements for postgraduate research are dependent on the type of programme you are applying for:

• For MRes and MA by Research programmes, entry to our programmes usually requires a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK, usually in a relevant area.
• Applicants for a PhD will also need to hold a Masters qualification at Merit level or above (or its international equivalent), usually in a relevant area.

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience you may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases, form an integral part of the entrance requirements.

If you are applying for distance learning research programmes, you will also be required to demonstrate that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study by distance learning.

If your qualifications are non-standard or different from the entry requirements stated here, please contact the admissions tutor.

International students

IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 21 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 59 in all four skills
• Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

Learn more about international entry requirements

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below.  Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2022 (full table)  ,  Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2023 .

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2022（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2023 。  

Business School    - MSc programmes (excluding MBA)  

商学院硕士课程（MBA除外）入学要求

School of Computer Science – all MSc programmes 计算机学院硕士课程入学要求

College of Social Sciences – courses listed below 社会科学 学院部分硕士课程入学要求 MA Education  (including all pathways) MSc TESOL Education MSc Public Management MA Global Public Policy MA Social Policy MA Sociology Department of Political Science and International Studies  全部硕士课程 International Development Department  全部硕士课程

  All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please note:

• Borderline cases: We may consider students with lower average score (within 5%) on a case-by-case basis if you have a relevant degree and very excellent grades in relevant subjects and/or relevant work experience. 如申请人均分低于相应录取要求（5%以内），但具有出色学术背景，优异的专业成绩，以及（或）相关的工作经验，部分课程将有可能单独酌情考虑。
• Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements. 如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Holders of a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10, or a post-2000 Magistrs, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Licenciado, with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Grado de Bachiller is equivalent to an ordinary degree, so grades of 15+/20 are required.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Research in the Department of History has unique chronological and geographical depth, covering a wide range of British, European and world history from the early medieval period to the present, so we are able to provide expert supervision across a variety of topics.

Please contact a staff member working in your area of interest in the first instance. A summary of our key research areas, and staff working within those, can be found below.

• Early modern history
• Environmental history
• Gender, sexuality and race
• Global history
• Medieval history
• Modern British history
• Modern European history
• Religious history
• War and conflict

Related research

• Birmingham Research Institute for History and Cultures
• Centre for Modern and Contemporary History
• Centre for Reformation and Early Modern Studies
• Centre for the Study of the Middle Ages
• Centre for War Studies
• Centre for Midlands History and Cultures

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report .

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network  provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated  careers and employability team  who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

• Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
• Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
• Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
• Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation.

Postgraduate employability: History

Our History postgraduates develop a broad range of transferable skills that are highly valued by a range of employers. These skills include: familiarity with research methods; the ability to manage large quantities of information from diverse sources; the ability to organise information in a logical and coherent manner; the expertise to write clearly and concisely and to tight deadlines; critical and analytical ability; the capacity for argument, debate and speculation; and the ability to base conclusions on statistical research.

Some of our History postgraduates go on to use their studies directly, for example in heritage or in museums. Others use their transferable skills in a range of occupations including finance, marketing, teaching and publishing. Employers that graduates have gone on to work for include Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence, University of Birmingham, Royal Air Force Museum and University of Oxford.

• Online chat events
• Ask our students

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Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degrees in art history.

25 degrees at 24 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• PhD Art History
• PhD 3d Design
• PhD Animation
• PhD Art Curation
• PhD Art History and Criticism
• PhD Art Studies
• PhD Art Techniques and Practical Art
• PhD Art Theory
• PhD Art and Design
• PhD Art of Specific Cultures and Periods
• PhD Arts and Crafts
• PhD Ceramics Arts and Crafts
• PhD Creative Arts and Design and Illustration
• PhD Design History
• PhD European Art
• PhD Fashion
• PhD Fashion and Textiles Design
• PhD Fine Art
• PhD Glass, Ceramics and Stone Crafts
• PhD Graphic Arts
• PhD Illustration
• PhD Modern Art
• PhD Non-Industrial Design
• PhD Spatial Design
• PhD Textile Design
• PhD Visual Arts

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

History of Art PhD

Birkbeck, university of london.

The Department of History of Art has an international reputation for its research in medieval, Renaissance and modern art. Our range of Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,500 per year (UK)

PhD Art History and Theory

University of essex.

For our PhD in Art History and Theory, we offer supervision across a range of fields and have a long tradition of postgraduate training in Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

University of Glasgow

We have a vibrant student community in the History of Art with many research projects and external collaborations. Areas available for Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Archaeology and Ancient History PhD, Mphil - Material Culture Studies

University of leicester.

The School of Archaeology and Ancient History offers supervision for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - full-time and Read more...

• 4 years Distance without attendance degree: £5,913 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

Art History PhD

University of nottingham.

Take the time to create your own original research in art history and visual culture. At Nottingham you'll receive • expert supervision Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree

University of Plymouth

Explore 21st century art history and learn about this ever-expanding discipline, marked by interdisciplinary cross-overs, varied and Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,500 per year (UK)
• 4 years Part time degree: £3,030 per year (UK)

Human Geography MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

UCL Geography is an established international leader in geographical research. We are committed to theoretically informed empirical Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,930 per year (UK)

History of art PhD

University of brighton.

The University of Brighton has an established reputation for pioneering research into art, design and material culture and is a recognised Read more...

• 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

History of Art PhD (On-Campus or by Distance Learning)

University of birmingham.

By pursuing research in History of Art at Birmingham, you will joining a vibrant and dynamic research community thanks to the Department’s Read more...

• 3 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,389 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £4,778 per year (UK)

History of Art MPhil/PhD

UCL History of Art is top-rated for research; our staff are active researchers in a range of specialist fields and there is a thriving Read more...

PhD Art History and Visual Culture

University of exeter.

You will have the opportunity to study a topic which incorporates a number of established subject areas, including art history and Read more...

• 8 years Part time degree

PhD Art History and Visual Studies

University of manchester.

Programme description Our Art History and Visual Studies PhD programme offers the opportunity to conduct in-depth research in an area of Read more...

DPhil in History of Art

University of oxford.

The DPhil in History of Art is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of successful completion of an individual research thesis Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £10,540 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £5,270 per year (UK)

University of Warwick

Undertake original research on the PhD in History of Art at the University of Warwick. Course The PhD in History of Art is an advanced Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,950 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree

PhD in History of Art

University of york.

PhD The PhD requires a dissertation of not more than 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' Read more...

• 3 years Distance without attendance degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

University of Bristol

The Department of History of Art is a thriving and collegial centre for the study of art, visual culture and theory. Staff specialisms Read more...

• 4 years Distance without attendance degree: £4,758 per year (UK)
• 8 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,379 per year (UK)
• 4 years Full time degree: £4,758 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £2,379 per year (UK)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Open university.

What is a PhD A PhD is a Doctorate of Philosophy, a prestigious qualification which is the highest level of degree that a student can Read more...

• 8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

University of Sussex

From world-leading research to our radical approach to the histories of art, from exceptional links with museums and galleries to Read more...

The University of Edinburgh

The MSc by Research programme is for students with a good general knowledge of the subject area, who wish to focus their interests and Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree

PhD History of Art

University of buckingham.

Course Info Course outline Students are registered initially for the degree of PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), although their status is Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £7,680 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,840 per year (UK)

1-20 of 25 courses

Course type:

• Distance learning PhD
• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Universities:.

• Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Study, University of London
• University of Aberdeen
• University of St Andrews
• University of Cambridge

Related Subjects:

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• History at Leicester
• Midlands Graduate School ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership
• Midlands4Cities PhD funding opportunity
• Stanley Burton Centre PhD Scholarship
• Collaborative Doctoral Studentships
• PhD Students
• Past PhD projects

Research degrees

45% of our current PhD students have won scholarships funded by the AHRC or ESRC. We also have an exceptionally strong record of attracting highly competitive UKRI-funded Collaborative Doctoral Awards  which embed our students in major cultural organisations. History at Leicester offers opportunities for doctoral research in a wide range of subjects.

Apply for a PhD or MPhil in History . 

Minimum and maximum periods of registration

• PhD full-time:  Minimum 2 years*, Maximum 4 years
• PhD part-time: Minimum 3 years*, Maximum 6 years
• MPhil full-time: Minimum 1 year, Maximum 2 years
• MPhil part-time: Minimum 2 years, Maximum 4 years

*This excludes the one year writing up period.

Our PhD programmes are either campus-based or by distance learning, allowing you to gain a University of Leicester research degree wherever you are in the world.

Supervision

All research students are allocated a primary and secondary supervisor, who you meet regularly and receive expert supervision from on an individual basis or through joint supervision. Supervisors will provide guidance on the planning of your research programme, using literature and sources and requisite techniques. They will also help you plan, define goals and monitor the progress of your research.

Research students on PhD, MD, PsyD, or MPhil programmes must complete an initial probation period at the start of their research degree. Before the end of your probation period you will be required to complete a probation review; this will be after nine months (for full-time students) or 18 months (for part-time students). This usually lasts for around an hour, and allows the examiners (your supervisor/s and another member of staff) to assess your progress and advise you on the future direction of your research.

Research training 

The Doctoral College provides an introduction to research at the University in the first week of the autumn term, and also provides training courses and practical workshops  for postgraduate students during the year.

Funding and scholarships

• Midlands4Cities PhD funding opportunities
• Collaborative Doctoral Studentships (AHRC and ESRC scholarships)
• Stanley Burton Centre PhD scholarships
• M4C DTP Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA)

The University of Leicester offers a range of additional scholarships and discounts for Home and International research students. 

PhD projects

• Current PhD research projects

International students

We welcome applications from students of all nationalities . Our postgraduate community includes researchers from all over the world, including Brazil, China, France, Germany Italy, Iraq, Kuwait and the United States. We have extensive research expertise in European, American, Global and Colonial History.

There are a number of current  funding opportunities  for international students wishing to study at Leicester.

Accredited Online Colleges

Find a trustworthy and flexible online college learning option that works best for you using U.S. News rankings, data and expert advice.

Online college is no longer just an option for many students – it has become the norm. Experts say colleges are poised to offer even more online degree programs and develop new ones as well. Advancements in technology, course design and high-speed internet availability are moving online learning forward. One reason students enroll in online degree programs is for the flexibility to study from anywhere. Students with family responsibilities or full-time jobs may also be able to work around their own schedules. Online students need to have good time management skills and be able to overcome distractions in their environment. Though online formats still present students with unique challenges, accredited institutions usually offer tailored support for students to adjust to online courses and plan their academic futures however they learn.

Online College Degree Programs

Earning a bachelor's degree – in person or online – can open doors to employment opportunities. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , the employment rate among 25- to 34-year-olds in the U.S. with a bachelor's degree or higher was at 87% in 2022. Compare that with the 73% employment rate for those with only a high school diploma. In fall 2020, about 11.8 million of all undergraduate students were enrolled in at least one distance education courses at degree-granting postsecondary institutions, and 7 million were enrolled exclusively in online classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics . Students in online programs usually earn the same degree as on-campus students. The curriculum for an online bachelor’s degree typically matches the on-campus curriculum at the same school, and the diploma usually doesn’t state whether that specific degree was earned online or in person. This can help ease fears that employers won’t accept applicants with online undergraduate degrees. Many online bachelor’s programs require students to complete general education requirements in the arts, humanities and sciences if they haven’t already done so at another college or university. Prospective students will likely need to decide between a liberal arts major and one that is more career-focused, with the latter being the route many take to change career fields or advance professionally. Still, experts say it may make sense for some online students to major in a liberal arts discipline if it’s a subject they are truly passionate about. Academic advisers can offer guidance on which route is best for you.

Pros and Cons of Online Degrees

Students can take classes virtually, allowing them to learn anywhere.

Students can pursue the best program for their field of study, even if the school is far from home.

Students can plan around busy schedules to complete their coursework.

Students need greater self-motivation, time management skills and discipline to complete coursework.

There's no face-to-face interaction with an instructor.

Networking with classmates may be difficult.

An online degree can be a great choice for students who want to continue their education and have either an associate degree or no postsecondary education. A variety of online bachelor’s programs exist, so prospective students should explore all options before enrolling. Those who want to earn their online degree as quickly as possible may wish to pursue a competency-based program or one with an accelerated schedule. The majority of incoming online undergraduates have previously earned some college credits. Individuals in this group should check early in the process whether the prospective online program will accept those credits. Students with an undergraduate degree also can earn a master’s degree completely online. This path is a great choice for working professionals who want to advance in their career or change fields completely. You can find out more through U.S. News’ best online master’s degrees rankings and resources.

What Current Online College Students Say

Olga Nikuradze , senior at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, class of 2023, Bachelor of Science in data science.

Diana Mansfield , senior at Unity Environmental University, class of 2024, Bachelor of Science in marine biology and sustainable aquaculture.

Jennifer Rose , senior at Indiana University, class of 2026, Bachelor of Science in informatics.

How to Choose the Best Online College for You

The best online college is the one that fits your needs. As you’re evaluating programs, consider how each school’s research, resources and reputation line up with your career interests and goals. An online program’s accreditation, tuition and flexibility are other factors that come into play. A good place to start your research is the U.S. News rankings of accredited online bachelor's programs . Once you narrow down what colleges you’re interested in, make sure the programs are in your ideal format – whether that’s fully online or a hybrid model. Review admission requirements and application fees and compare the availability of financial aid. Look into the school’s costs beyond tuition, including book, course material and online delivery fees, and research its student services and faculty.

Check the Accreditation Status of the School or Program

When choosing an online degree program, prospective students should ensure the school is accredited by an organization recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the nonprofit Council for Higher Education Accreditation. These organizations monitor programs and schools and renew their accreditation every few years. The Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs contains information from recognized accrediting agencies and state approval agencies that reported to the U.S. Department of Education. Information regarding whether an online degree program is accredited is often available on a school’s website. Accreditation is a process that an outside authority conducts to ensure a school or degree program – either on campus, online or a combination of both – meets certain standards of quality and rigor. Accreditation is a voluntary process, though it has several benefits and essentially validates a program to employers and other institutions. There are a few types of accreditation , but the main two are regional and national. Designated regional agencies determine whether a school is regionally accredited. This is a widely recognized type of accreditation. Credits transfer easily between regionally accredited schools. National accreditation is usually less rigorous and awarded to schools of a similar type, like vocational or technical institutions. For-profit online programs are more likely to have national accreditation. Credits from a nationally accredited college are not transferable to a regionally accredited college. Students can speak with their academic adviser to learn more about what types of accreditation are expected from employers in a given career field. Employers may verify that a job candidate’s degree comes from an accredited program, especially if the school name is unfamiliar to them. Should a student decide to change programs, a transfer-friendly school is more likely to accept course credits that come from an accredited institution.

Choose a College Major

Choosing an undergraduate major can seem daunting. As you research options, think about what subjects you enjoy and what majors might prepare you for careers you’d want to pursue. Make sure you understand how salary may vary by field over the course of a career. The right major can set you up for success in college and beyond. The six most common bachelor’s degrees earned in 2020-21, according to the National Center for Education Statistics , were business, health professions and related programs, social sciences and history, biological and biomedical sciences, psychology, and engineering. Students who receive bachelor’s degrees in certain engineering fields have some of the highest starting salaries. According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data on students who received federal financial aid, computer engineering, petroleum engineering and industrial engineering majors make a median starting salary of more than $65,000 per year. Students shouldn’t pick an area of study solely because it is popular or high earning. The same goes for online graduate students – they should weigh the professional benefits of an advanced degree. Those with job experience should consider their professional goals when deciding what to study.

Determine Which Online Learning Option Works for You

The structure of online degree programs varies. That’s why prospective students must research a program thoroughly to ensure it meets their needs. In general, however, online courses require students to regularly log in to a learning management system, or LMS. This is a virtual portal that serves as a classroom, where students can access relevant course materials and monitor their progress on lessons. Different formats require different levels of communication with fellow students. Online students may interact with each other through a variety of channels, including discussion forums, social media, videoconferencing, by phone and through email. Students should not expect an online class to be easier than an on-campus one just because of the format. Programs may require students to attend what are often referred to as synchronous class sessions. These sessions are held in real time through videoconferencing, which can help students interact and build relationships with their classmates and the instructor. This type of program’s activities adhere to a preset schedule of classes, lectures, conversations and assignments. Most online courses have an asynchronous, or self-paced, component. Students complete readings, listen to lectures and participate in discussions with classmates whenever they wish but must follow weekly deadlines. Open-schedule courses give students the freedom to begin courses whenever they want and complete assignments based on their start date. Students don’t adhere to regular semester dates. In this format, communication with other students can be sparse. Students working full time might find the convenience and flexibility of open-schedule courses the most desirable. Then there’s fixed-time courses where students attend all classes virtually, with no in-person meetings required, but must log on to attend class at specific times. This format is the best for those who want the structure of a set schedule but need the class to be entirely online. Lastly, hybrid online courses allow students to do coursework remotely but require a few in-person meetings.

Top Online Colleges

U.S. News evaluated several factors to rank the best online bachelor's degree programs, including graduation rates, faculty credentials and support services available remotely.

Find an Online College

Use the filters below to search ranked online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

How to Get Financial Aid for Online College

1. Submit the FAFSA. To receive financial aid, the first and most important step is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This is available online on Oct. 1 each year. To receive the most financial aid possible, prospective students should check school and state grant deadlines and apply early. The FAFSA requires applicants to fill in basic information, such as their contact information and Social Security number, as well as provide their latest federal income tax returns and bank statements. Undergraduate students who are younger than 24 years old – and not married, veterans or active military members – will need to file as a dependent and provide their parents’ financial information. Nearly all students who apply for financial aid qualify for some form of it. 2. Fill out other financial aid forms and apply for scholarships. Many colleges offer their own source of financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and loans. You may need to fill out additional forms to receive this aid. This information – including deadlines – is generally available on a school’s website. Applicants can also search online for scholarships available at specific schools or from organizations tied to their discipline. Online learners may be eligible for the same scholarships available to on-campus students, and there may even be additional scholarships for online or adult learners. 3. Review and correct the FAFSA Student Aid Report. A few days after submitting the FAFSA online, applicants will receive a Student Aid Report from the Federal Student Aid office. This report restates answers that applicants provided as well as other relevant information, and it’s an opportunity for applicants to correct any errors on the FAFSA, including adding or removing colleges. 4. Compare awards. Each school will calculate applicants’ financial need, which determines their financial aid eligibility. Students will receive an award letter stating what financial aid they are being offered. They can compare their award packages based on the aid they are eligible to receive, the school’s tuition and other costs. 5. Reapply for financial aid each year. To continue receiving financial aid each year, applicants need to fill out the FAFSA annually for as long as they plan to be a student. A degree can be a major investment, and financial aid can help ease the burden of costly tuition. Much like financial aid for on-campus students, aid for online students is available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and even federal work-study jobs. That said, some online degree programs may not offer work-study opportunities, as many online students are already working full time. The online degree financial aid process is often identical to that of students earning a degree in person. Online students also need to meet similar – if not the same – requirements to be eligible for financial aid at a given school. Additionally, whether a student is full- or part-time can affect that person’s ability to qualify for financial aid. To receive certain amounts or types of aid, many online programs require students to meet specific credit-hour requirements. Applying for financial aid is a complex process. In a 2022 survey of online students by Wiley University Services, 36% of online students indicated that determining how to pay for school was the most difficult part of the application process, while 27% said completing financial aid forms was the hardest. Luckily, accredited online colleges often have financial aid advisers to answer questions and help applicants through the process. To learn more, read U.S. News’ paying for college coverage . There you’ll find expert advice and resources to help you through the process.

How to Apply to Online College

The admissions process for online college is usually similar to that of on-campus programs. Step 1: Fill out the Common App. To start, you’ll need to fill out the application. At the bachelor’s level, the Common Application is accepted by more than 900 schools, including some colleges outside the U.S. It’s likely that an online degree-seeking student will also need to complete this application. Because master’s degree applications are usually tied to a specific program in a school, what application students need to complete may vary. Step 2: Write essays. Applicants at both levels will likely have to submit an essay of some kind. Because many online students already have some work experience, experts recommend that they emphasize their professional skills as part of their application and explain how their experience has prepared them for online college. Step 3: Collect letters of recommendation. Undergraduate and graduate online programs often require letters of recommendation . These may come not only from teachers and school counselors but also current or previous employers who can speak to a student’s work ethic. At the graduate level, a recommendation letter will more likely come from an employer. Step 4: Submit test scores. Applicants may need to submit standardized test scores as part of their application. Many undergraduate online students already have some previously earned college credits and therefore may be able to forgo submitting an SAT or ACT entrance exam score if enough of their credits transfer. At the graduate level, whether the GMAT or GRE graduate school entry exam is required depends on the school and area of study. Some may not require any test scores. This information is typically available on a program’s website. Consult an admissions officer at schools of interest to determine the exact requirements. Step 5: Submit transcripts. Students also may need to submit school transcripts and, depending on the program’s requirements, their prior work experience and previously earned credit hours. Note that just because a program is offered online doesn’t guarantee that getting admitted will be easier. Step 6: Keep track of deadlines. Make sure you follow directions carefully and keep track of deadlines for the school’s admissions application, financial aid and test score submission. Prospective students can find deadline information on each school’s website. Because online program academic calendars may be structured differently from on-campus offerings, deadlines may differ for these applicants.

How to Avoid Online College Scams

Beware of diploma mills, which award illegitimate degrees or certificates to students on the internet. Among the most important steps a prospective student can take is to ensure an online degree program is accredited by an organization recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. It’s also essential to look for red flags on a program’s website. Anything that seems too good to be true – earning a degree in a very short time period, for instance, or at an extremely low cost – is a warning sign. The opposite is also true: If a program seems abnormally expensive, conduct further research. Other red flags include a program not listing a campus or business address online, the website having a lot of grammatical or spelling errors or lacking a “.edu” URL, and the school failing to post information about student support services.

For-Profit Online Colleges

When exploring programs, a prospective student may encounter for-profit and nonprofit schools. Students may perceive for-profit online colleges as a more financially risky option, but experts recommend taking what they hear in the media and through word-of-mouth with a grain of salt. For-profit online schools became more prevalent in the late 1990s. At the time, these schools accepted most applicants, including those who weren’t prepared for college. This contributed to low graduation rates and higher debt, as well as a negative reputation toward for-profit schools. That’s changed in recent years, however, as these schools began placing a greater emphasis on student support services and started requiring some students to take entrance exams to gauge their college readiness. Experts say for-profit and nonprofit schools are becoming increasingly similar, but a few primary differences remain. For one, experts say, admissions are typically less selective at for-profit schools. These online colleges are more likely than nonprofits to have rolling admissions, along with academic calendars that don’t operate around the traditional semester schedule. For-profit institutions tend to have national rather than regional accreditation. Experts recommend looking beyond the nonprofit and for-profit classification when choosing an online degree program. Instead, they say, focus on accreditation, tuition, faculty and support services. Prospective students can also look at reviews of different for-profit programs to get a sense of other students' experiences.

For-Profit Schools

• Historically had a negative reputation due to lower graduation rates and high student debt.
• More likely to have national versus regional accreditation, which is preferred by employers.
• Less competitive in the application process than nonprofit schools.

Non-Profit Schools

• Have historically prioritized student support.
• Are more likely to be regionally accredited compared with nonprofit programs.
• Require students to demonstrate readiness through a more competitive application process.

Online Colleges Near Me

While online education offers students the opportunity to study from anywhere in the world, many students still choose a program with a campus close to home. Cost is a big factor in staying local. Online programs at public universities and colleges often charge different tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students. For example, the University of Florida charges in-state residents $112 per credit hour for enrollment of its online programs, while residents of other states pay $500 per credit hour. That’s a significant savings for Florida residents. Additionally, this in-state tuition is much lower than what Florida residents might pay to attend an online public school based in another state like Ohio or Texas. Sticking with a public school in your state can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your degree. You might also choose a nearby online college so you can easily visit the campus to meet with professors or advisers. Visiting the school can help you better connect with the school community and join on-campus student clubs or attend events. Some students enroll in a local online degree program because they are already familiar with its culture and traditions, or they have family or friends with ties to the institution. The school may also be more recognizable to local employers. Certain online degrees have in-person residency or orientation requirements where students have to visit campus a few times each term or throughout the course of the program. In this case, a local program makes sense.

Online Colleges by State Near Me

• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions About Online College

How much does an online bachelor's cost.

The cost of an online bachelor’s degree varies based on what school you choose, whether it’s a private school or a public school, and by your state of residence, among many other factors. An online bachelor’s degree cost can differ from that of an in-person bachelor’s when accounting for fees and how tuition is calculated. While on-campus programs may charge fees for housing, transportation, recreational activities and meals, online programs tend to lack these costs. That said, online programs may charge a distance education or technology fee . Online programs may charge tuition by the credit hour instead of by the semester, which may save online students some money. Most schools post information online about tuition and required fees for online programs, just as they do for campus-based bachelor’s programs. You can also request info from the bursar’s office, which is responsible for handling college tuition payments. There are also several ways students can reduce the cost of an online degree. For instance, they can transfer previously earned college credits or enroll in an accelerated program. If they’re in a competency-based program, students demonstrate mastery of specific skills to progress faster through what they already know, spending more time on the new information and paying a set price per billing period. Employer tuition reimbursement – where an employer pays for some or all tuition – and scholarships for online students can also help reduce the price of getting a degree. Prospective students can contact a financial aid adviser to ensure they are on track with paying each term. Generally, online programs accept payments online by credit card, debit card or electronic check; by mail via a check or money order; or by wire transfer. Most online degree programs also permit students to pay tuition for a given term in several sums rather than all at once.

How Long Does an Online Bachelor's Take?

An online bachelor’s degree can take the same amount of time as an in-person bachelor’s, which is four years, since the coursework is the same. Most bachelor’s degrees require around 120 credits, though the number varies by program and degree type. But an online degree can be completed in less time depending on whether you choose a full- or part-time program, for example. Full-time students can take more classes per term, but a part-time program may be easier to manage on top of other obligations. Bear in mind that most online undergraduates do not start their bachelor’s degree from scratch. Many have previously earned college credits that can be applied toward their new degree, which can save them time and money. Students generally need to submit transcripts from their previous college so that the new school can evaluate which credits will transfer. Academic term length is another important factor. While some programs have a traditional monthslong semester system for online courses, others have an accelerated time frame.

How to Talk to Prospective Employers About Your Online Degree?

You can talk about your online degree openly with a potential employer – it’s a good opportunity to showcase the rigor of the program you attended, your time-management and collaboration skills, and your work ethic. In the interview process, let them know how the skills you learned from the degree apply to the role you want. Several years ago, employers were more hesitant to accept online degrees as legitimate, with concerns that online students didn’t gain the same vital skills as they would in a traditional campus environment. But in recent years, that perception has changed dramatically, as even the top-tier schools have embraced online education and launched high-quality degree programs. And now, experts say it usually isn’t necessary to indicate on a resume that a degree was earned online, as the school’s reputation and accreditation will be significantly more important. While some employers may still be hesitant about online degrees, many have come to recognize the value of having their employees further their education while working, in part because students can apply what they learn directly to their careers. In fact, roughly one-third of online college students have access to tuition reimbursement benefits from their employer, according to the Wiley University Services survey.

What Are Some High Paying Online Degrees?

An online degree can help prepare you for a range of lucrative careers. On the list of U.S. News’ 25 Best Paying Jobs , petroleum engineers , who design equipment that extracts oil from reservoirs, are at No. 17 with an average salary of $142,800 in 2022, according to the BLS . This career path requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, which is available online. In front of petroleum engineers on the list are information technology managers at No. 12, with an average salary of $173,670 in 2022. Online degrees in the IT field are prevalent at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Business and management degrees, also offered online, can help an employee climb the ladder at a company and earn a higher salary. In May 2022, the average wage for chief executives was $246,440, according to the BLS , and the average annual salary for general and operations managers was $122,860. Also on U.S. News' Best Paying Jobs list, marketing manager ranks No. 15, with an average salary of $158,280 in 2022; financial manager is at No. 14, with an average annual salary of $166,050; and sales manager ranks at No. 19, with an average salary of $150,530.

What Online Degrees Are In Demand?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs projected to have the fastest growth from 2020 to 2030 that require a bachelor’s degree include agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes, at 46% growth; and film and video editors and camera operators, at 33% growth. Suitable degrees for these jobs include a bachelor's degree in a field related to business and management or film and broadcasting, respectively. In addition, some of the projected fastest-growing occupations for 2020 to 2030 were in health care and related industries. That’s good news for online students, as programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels are prevalent in this discipline. This increasing demand is due, in part, to an aging population and a rise in individuals living with chronic illnesses. Health care jobs in high demand include nurse practitioners and occupational therapy assistants. Online degrees exist that can prepare students for these roles. According to the statistics bureau, computer and mathematical occupations – for which an online degree in engineering or information technology may be relevant – account for some of the fastest-growing occupations. Demand for statisticians, for example, is expected to rise 35% between 2020 and 2030. Concerns over online security are also leading to a greater demand for employees with cybersecurity experience and knowledge. For positions such as information security analysts, employment is expected to grow by 33% through 2030.

Methodology

U.S. News has been publishing school rankings in the education sector since 1983 and has done so specifically for online degree programs since 2013. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, U.S. News calculates rankings based on a variety of factors, which hold different weights depending on the ranking category. A program’s score for each factor, or ranking indicator, is calculated using data that online programs report to U.S. News in an annual survey. The rankings methodologies for online programs are separate from those for U.S. News’ Best Colleges and Best Graduate Schools rankings. Ranking methodologies are typically updated on an annual basis. In developing the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings, U.S. News assessed online colleges based on four general categories. Engagement constitutes 35% of each school’s rank, referring to the extent to which a degree program enables students to effectively interact with instructors and classmates as they would in an on-campus environment. Services and technologies made up 25% of each school’s rank, focusing on how programs incorporate diverse technologies to allow students more flexibility to complete their coursework at a distance. This category also takes into account the quality of student support services, career guidance and financial aid resources. Accounting for 20% of each school’s rank was faculty credentials and training, measuring the degree to which online instructors’ credentials mirror those of on-campus faculty. This category also measures the effectiveness of the resources used to train instructors to teach distance learners. Finally, expert opinions from surveys of high-ranking academic officials make up another 20% of each school’s rank. These insights help account for factors affecting program quality that hard data can’t capture. U.S. News calculates rankings for online graduate programs using similar methodologies, with an additional category taken into consideration. Student excellence is also considered – a category that measures the extent to which students who enter an online program have proven aptitudes, ambitions and accomplishments that enable them to handle the rigors of online learning.

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Best Online Colleges

Best online colleges of 2024.

Updated: Feb 22, 2024, 9:47am

Years ago, employers might have scoffed at the idea of online school—but those days are long gone. The distance learning landscape has changed significantly in recent years, and online degrees from accredited institutions now hold the same esteem as traditional degrees.

Today, online college is a convenient and cost-effective higher education option that allows you to earn your degree without sacrificing too much of your professional or family life.

We’ve used a strict methodology to rank the best nonprofit, accredited colleges offering online bachelor’s degrees. We take into account each college’s credibility, affordability, student outcomes and student experience. We’ve also provided tips on how to find the right online college for your goals and learning style.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

• 6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
• 52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
• All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
• Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
• Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

Our Methodology

We scored 552 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online degree programs in the U.S. using 17 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes and student experience. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites. Data is accurate as of January 2024.

We scored schools based on the following categories:

Student Outcomes:

• Overall graduation rate
• Median earnings 10 years after graduation
• Pell Grant recipient graduation rate
• Retention rate
• Pell Grant graduation rate vs. overall graduation rate

Affordability:

• Average annual net price for students receiving federal aid
• Median federal student loan debt
• Percentage of students in federal student loan deferment
• Percentage of students who take out federal loans

Student Experience:

• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Socioeconomic diversity
• Availability of programs with coursework (excluding student orientations, field experiences and labs) available 100% online
• Portion of undergraduate students enrolled in at least some distance learning courses

Credibility:

• Fully accredited
• Nonprofit status

Application Process:

• Acceptance rate
• Uses Common App

We chose the 10 best schools to display based on those receiving a curved final score of 90% or higher. All of the schools on our final list offer at least five fully online bachelor’s degrees.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

• Best Online Colleges With A 100% Acceptance Rate
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Florida State University

Northwestern university, san jose state university, san diego state university, university of central florida, simmons university, fresno pacific university, california state university-east bay, florida agricultural and mechanical university, baptist university of florida.

Undergraduate Tuition

$180/credit (in-state)

Overall Student Retention Rate

Overall Graduation Rate

Florida State University ’s distance learning program offers six online bachelor’s programs covering computer science, criminology, financial planning, interdisciplinary social science, and public safety and security.

Through a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous classes, online students experience the same courses and faculty as on-campus students. They also have access to various support systems, including academic tutoring, online mentoring, library services and technical support.

Distance learning students pay a lower tuition rate than on-campus students, plus a distance learning fee. This fee helps pay for technical support, curriculum development, support services and course mentors.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
• School Type: Public
• Application Fee: $30
• Online Enrollment Options: Full-time
• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Science in criminology, Bachelor of Arts in computer science
• Notable Scholarships Available: Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
• In-Person Requirements: No

$2,179/course

Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, offers five online bachelor’s degrees through its School of Professional Studies. Offerings include enterprise leadership, information systems, social sciences, strategic communications and health sciences.

Courses cater to students’ busy schedules and take place entirely online with no in-person or location-based requirements. Online students pay a $125 distance learning fee per class.

• School Type: Private
• Application Fee: $75
• Online Enrollment Options: Accelerated, full-time, part-time
• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Science in information systems, Bachelor of Science in Enterprise Leadership
• Notable Scholarships Available: School of Professional Studies scholarship

$450 to $495/credit

Students enrolled in one of San Jose State University ’s seven online degree programs enjoy a flexible learning environment that allows them to participate in classes according to their schedule and on weeknights and weekends.

Courses are offered year-round through five eight-week sessions, allowing motivated students to graduate in as little as two to three years. Students pay tuition per unit, with 50 to 60 units required to complete a program.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
• Application Fee: $70
• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Arts in anthropology, Bachelor of Science in public health
• Notable Scholarships Available: Spartan scholarships

$2,871/year (in-state)

San Diego State University ’s global campus offers a combination of online and hybrid undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Courses are self-paced, allowing students to complete coursework during times that fit their busy schedules. The same faculty who teach on-campus courses also teach their online counterparts.

Online students are responsible for technology, student engagement, associated student fees and general tuition. Those fees help the university create an immersive online experience and provide a dedicated support team.

• Online Enrollment Options: Full-time, part-time
• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Science in business administration, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice
• Notable Scholarships Available: Aztec scholarships

$105/credit (in-state)

With more than 30 online bachelor’s degree programs to choose from, students at the University of Central Florida can find courses that match their interests and career goals. Many courses combine online and on-campus students, ensuring all students receive the same education regardless of how they attend.

Online students pay lower tuition rates than those attending in person, even with a distance learning fee of $18 per credit.

• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Science in lodging and restaurant management, Bachelor of Arts in political science
• Notable Scholarships Available: Charlotte Willis Memorial Endowed Scholarship

$500/credit

Simmons University , located in Boston, Massachusetts, began offering online undergraduate and graduate programs in 2013. Today, the university provides nontraditional learners with an immersive digital experience with dedicated mentors and support staff.

Undergraduate programs are women-centered, while graduate programs are open to all. Students interact face to face with instructors and classmates through live online sessions, and they are encouraged to join student clubs and organizations.

• Application Fee: Free
• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Arts in communication, Bachelor of Science in nursing
• Notable Scholarships Available: N/A

$525 to 550/credit

Fresno Pacific University ’s online degree completion programs feature flexible and convenient options for working professionals who’ve completed some undergraduate courses and are looking to complete a degree after taking time off or starting a family.

Courses are taught in six- and eight-week intervals, allowing students to enroll at times that suit their schedules. Online learners also pay less per credit than those who attend in person.

• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Arts in social welfare, Bachelor of Arts in criminology
• Notable Scholarships Available: Mennonite Brethren Scholarship

$7,105/year (in-state)

California State University East Bay offers various fully online and hybrid bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Online students log in three to four times weekly to access course materials, turn in assignments, participate in discussions and take exams.

Students can also accelerate their degree progress by taking courses year-round or choosing accelerated classes with shorter completion times. They can finish within two years by attending full time and completing prerequisite courses before beginning.

• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Arts in ethnic studies, Bachelor of Arts in human development
• Notable Scholarships Available: Pioneer Scholarships

$2,277/semester (in-state)

Located in Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is a historically Black university that offers a variety of online undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The university’s online courses allow students flexibility and convenience through asynchronous lectures and live learning opportunities. Students can progress through each program at a pace that works best for them.

• Application Fee: $35
• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Science in information technology, Bachelor of Criminal Justice
• Notable Scholarships Available: No

$420/credit

Located in Graceville, Florida, the Baptist University of Florida is a private Christian school whose mission is to graduate students with strong academic and ministry skills. All of the university’s courses and majors are available online, allowing students to participate anytime and from any location with an internet connection.

Online courses cost the same as campus courses, but distance learners may save money on housing and parking fees.

• Notable Online Programs: Bachelor of Arts in history and social studies, Bachelor of Arts in elementary education
• Notable Scholarships Available: Strickland Scholarship

More than 58% of four-year college students took distance education courses in the fall of 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), indicating that online college has become a popular choice. But is it right for you?

Consider the following when comparing online and in-person degrees.

Your Outside Commitments

Whether you work an irregular schedule or have a busy personal life, your school schedule should adapt to your needs.

Online programs with asynchronous classes usually work best for people who need to plan their assignments around their other commitments. Asynchronous formats provide a high level of flexibility, allowing learners to view lectures and complete assignments at their convenience.

If you can manage a few hours of live instruction each week, a program that blends asynchronous and synchronous classes could work well for you. Synchronous classes have set meeting times for interaction with your instructor and peers, with many schools offering convenient weekend and evening classes to suit working professionals.

Your Budget

If you plan to attend a public college in another state, be aware that you could get charged an out-of-state tuition rate, which is usually considerably higher than in-state tuition. However, some schools offer a special online tuition rate for all distance learners, making out-of-state learning more affordable for online students.

Also, by attending college online, you may avoid some of the costs you’d pay if you attended in person, like on-campus housing and commuting expenses.

Your Learning Preferences

If you appreciate the face-to-face learning you get in a traditional classroom, online learning could be a challenging change. Many modern online programs offer interactive activities with peers and instructors, but you might still miss the social aspect of working with others in person.

Some students struggle to stay motivated to work on their assignments when learning at home. With that said, taking some time to prepare for online classes may help you feel more confident in an online learning environment.

Best Online Colleges By State

• Best Online Colleges In Arizona
• Best Online Colleges In California
• Best Online Colleges In Florida
• Best Online Colleges In Georgia
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• Best Online Colleges In South Carolina
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While the flexibility of an online degree may sound tempting, consider the pros and cons before committing to a virtual education.

On the plus side, most online college courses are taught by the same professors and have the same expectations and requirements as in-person courses. Plus, your degree won’t specify how your courses were delivered. Online students also qualify to apply for loans, grants and scholarships.

The overall cost of your degree may also be less if you attend online, even if the tuition is the same. You can save money on common expenses like commuting, parking, dining and housing. However, check to see if the college charges a distance learning fee, and understand how that will impact your overall costs.

Potential Drawbacks

Distance learning could be challenging if you’re not technologically savvy or have outdated or slow equipment. Some courses are taught live, meaning you’ll have to show up on time with a reliable internet connection to get the most out of class.

Also, not all learning styles are well-suited to online college. You’ll have to be organized and motivated to stay on top of your courses and complete your assignments without the structure of scheduled class times.

Even though online programs offer virtual interaction opportunities, you may miss out on the social aspect of interacting face to face with classmates and professors.

There are two types of accreditation to look for in online colleges: institutional and programmatic. Institutional accreditation is the most important distinction.

You must attend an accredited higher learning institution to qualify for federal student aid. Institutional accreditation signifies that a college meets a strict set of standards set by a third-party organization approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation standards include having highly qualified faculty, quality academics, positive student outcomes and a dedicated mission statement.

Programmatic accreditation applies to a specific degree program within a college or university. This designation is not generally mandatory but could be necessary for specific fields like nursing or law if you plan to apply for graduate programs or professional licensure.

CHEA’s online directory offers a searchable list of accredited institutions.

The great news about earning an online degree is that you have a variety of top online colleges to choose from. Here are a few factors to consider before deciding where to earn your online bachelor’s degree.

Consider Your Future Goals

How will your degree help further your career or future education? If you’re working full time and want to graduate quickly, look for a college with an accelerated program. If your schedule is demanding and you’re not in a hurry to graduate, consider a part-time or asynchronous program for added flexibility.

Are you planning to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree or a doctorate? If so, consider attending an online bachelor’s program at a university that also offers graduate programs in your field. This could make your transition to the next level easier.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

The online colleges listed in the guide charge from as little as $105 per credit for in-state students to more than $500 per credit, translating to between $12,600 and $60,000 for a 120-credit bachelor’s degree.

By comparison, annual undergraduate tuition and fees in the 2021–22 school year averaged $9,596 at in-state, public universities and $34,041 at private colleges, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). For a four-year bachelor’s degree, this totals around $38,400 and $136,200, respectively.

Financial aid is a great way to make online college more affordable . You can apply for loans, grants and work-study opportunities by filling out the FAFSA ®. You can also check with the school’s financial aid office for information about scholarships and third-party loans.

How To Apply to an Online Program

You can apply to most online programs through the university’s web-based application. Here’s a basic guide for completing the application process:

• Navigate to the university’s admissions website to review the requirements and application deadline.
• After confirming you’ve satisfied the requirements, create an account and complete the application.
• Provide any requested supplementary documentation, such as letters of recommendation , official transcripts and college essays .
• After you’ve applied, you can track your application status on the college’s applicant portal.

Some schools use the Common App to make the application process even easier by allowing students to use a single application for multiple colleges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Online Colleges

Is online college a good option.

Yes, in many cases, online and in-person degree programs demonstrate the same academic rigor. Plus, online programs allow busy students the flexibility to watch lectures, study and complete assignments at their convenience, and the resulting diploma does not specify whether it was earned online or on campus.

Are online college degrees respected?

Yes, employers recognize that online college degrees from accredited universities and degree programs meet the same academic standards as traditional degree programs. Also, diplomas typically don’t indicate whether a student attended online.

How do I know if an online college is legitimate?

Legitimate colleges hold institutional accreditation, which indicates that an accrediting body has determined that a college’s coursework, faculty and academic outcomes meet strict quality standards. You can find a college’s accreditation status on its website and verify it with the listed accrediting body.

What online degrees are popular?

The most popular undergraduate majors are in business, health professions and related fields, according to NCES data. This data includes online degrees.

How long does it take to earn an online degree?

Most online degree programs mimic the length and timing of traditional on-campus offerings. Associate and master’s degrees typically take two years, while a bachelor’s degree takes four. You may be able to finish faster if your college offers an accelerated track or accepts transfer credits.

How do I choose an online college?

Start by finding an accredited college that offers a distance learning degree in the field you want to study. Then, compare options to see which best suits your schedule and can help you meet your future goals. Next, consider your budget and financial aid resources to choose a program you can reasonably afford.

How do I apply to an online college?

Most online colleges use a web-based application form that provides guidance on what materials you need to submit. Application materials might include a high school transcript and a college essay.

Suzie loves researching, interviewing experts and breaking down complex information into understandable and actionable advice to help others improve their lives. Based in Denver, Suzie and her husband are parents to a 14-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl and two rescue dogs.