Are you fascinated by art, architecture and landscapes? Are you curious about the meaning, history, and impact of art, architecture, and landscapes? Then Art History is your programme.
The Department of History of Art, Architecture and Landscape in Groningen is unique because it combines the ecologically informed study of the visual arts, urbanism, architectural history and the history of landscapes. It examines the relationships between artwork, city and landscape and relates them to their respective environments. Our Bachelor's programme offers a combination of historical, theoretical, and practice-based courses in which our international faculty collaborates with distinguished experts and leading institutions. You are introduced to the professional world from the beginning. Because art historians study objects, buildings and landscapes in context. You will therefore go on an excursion abroad to a large European metropolis like Berlin, London, or Florence. The Department also organizes many excursions in the Netherlands.
After your Bachelor's degree you can continue your studies in the Master's programme Arts and Culture. You can choose between the following tracks:
The first-year courses introduce you to important works in the history of art, architecture and landscape from Classical Antiquity to Rembrandt, from Michelangelo to Mondriaan, and Warhol to Ai Weiwei. From Gothic churches to Rietveld and Rem Koolhaas, from Italian gardens to the Dutch polder landscape.
You learn everything about the most important artistic periods and movements, you take courses in visual analysis, iconography, and materials and techniques. Fridays are usually reserved for excursions and you explore a European metropolis.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Beyond Antiquity: Architecture 400-1400 (5 EC) | ||||
| Beyond Antiquity: Visual Arts 400-1400 (5 EC) | ||||
| Seeing and Knowing: Visual Analysis & Iconography (5 EC) | ||||
| Paint to Pixel: Artist's Materials & Techniques Through the Ages (5 EC) | ||||
| Towards Modernity: Architecture 1400-1800 (5 EC) | ||||
| Towards Modernity: Visual Arts 1400-1800 (5 EC) | ||||
| Cultural History of European Gardens and Parks (5 EC) | ||||
| Reality Contested: Visual Arts 1800-1914 (5 EC) | ||||
| Style & Modernity: Architecture & Urbanism 1800-1914 (5 EC) | ||||
| Blurring Boundaries: Architecture & Urbanism 1914-now (5 EC) | ||||
| Blurring Boundaries in Arts 1914-now (5 EC) | ||||
| European Cultural Metropole Excursion (5 EC) | ||||
The second year has a two-fold approach: on the one hand it deepens the knowledge you obtained during the first year by focusing on distinct subject matters, such as contemporary art, the design of landscapes, architectural theory, or Italian Renaissance art.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Architecture, City & Freedom (5 EC) | ||||
| Cultural Heritage in Landscape & Architecture (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Modern East Asian Art & Visual Culture (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Renaissance Art: Individual/Institution (5 EC) | ||||
| Art & Institutions (5 EC) | ||||
| Art Now (5 EC) | ||||
| Designed Landscapes 1800-present (5 EC) | ||||
| Art & Architecture's Global Potentials (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Art & Architecture of the Netherlands (5 EC) | ||||
| European Country House Landscapes (5 EC) | ||||
| Trending Topics (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Architecture, Nature & Enlightenment (5 EC) | ||||
| Art & Environment (5 EC) | ||||
| Perspectives in Art Theory (5 EC) | ||||
The first semester of the third year is reserved for your Minor. We recommend that you choose a Minor at one of our partner universities abroad. But you can also opt for a Career Minor that includes a placement or a Faculty Minor.
After you have finished your Minor, you go on a field trip to a major art or architectural metropolis, like Berlin, London, Vienna, or Brussels. You finish your programme with a thesis on a topic of your own choosing. You acquire the skills necessary for the job market in all of your classes.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Minor (30 EC) | ||||
| Practice Lab: Architecture/Art/Landscape (5 EC) | ||||
| Research Skills: Art/Architecture/Landscape (5 EC) | ||||
| BA Thesis (10 EC) | ||||
| Excursion abroad: Art & Architecture/Landscape (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Excursion Landscape (10 EC, optional) | ||||
Please note that above is the programme for the current academic year (2025-2026). From 2026-2027, the courses of this programme will change. More will be announced in autumn 2025.
| Programme options |
|---|
| Modern and Contemporary Art (specialization) |
| Early Modern Art (specialization) |
| Architecture and Urbanism (specialization) |
| Landscape History (specialization) |
| Minors (minor) The fifth semester (year 3 semester 1) of your studies is dedicated to your Minor: a coherent set of future-oriented course units. It prepares you for a follow-on Master's degree program or for entering the labour market. You can opt for a Career Minor, a Minor abroad, a University Minor or a Faculty Minor. |
| University of Groningen Honours College (honours program) The Honours College will give talented, motivated students the chance to be challenged even more by following Honours programmes and taking part in numerous other activities. The Honours College comprises a broadening part and a deepening part and has a study load of 30 ECTS credit points besides the 180 ECTS credit points from your regular Bachelor programme |
Art history is an international discipline. Our department offers the opportunity to intern or take classes abroad for bachelor students. For instance at one of our partnership universities in Ghent, Louvain, Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Münster, Rome, and Bern.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
Language requirement English: Minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. For more information, see: https://www.rug.nl/let/studeren-bij-ons/bachelor/aanmelding-en-inschrijving/language-requirements-ba
The degree programme will organize a matching procedure. Attendance is optional. The advice is not binding.
The Faculty of Arts believes students can decide for themselves whether they match with their chosen programme based on the available bachelor programme information, by visiting the Open Days, and by participating in a Webclass and/ or Student for a Day. If you are unable to attend one of these activities, a final opportunity for matching is to contact one of the students of the programme in June.
If you have any further questions about matching, check out: www.rug.nl/matching
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
The Faculty of Arts believes students can decide for themselves whether they match with their chosen programme based on the available Bachelor's programme information, by visiting the Open Days, and by participating in a Webclass and/ or Student for a Day. If you are unable to attend one of these activities, a final opportunity for matching is to contact one of the students of the programme in June.
If you have any further questions about matching, check out: www.rug.nl/matching
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
A Dutch VWO diploma, a German Abitur, an International Baccalaureate diploma, a European Baccalaureate or another diploma that is sufficient for acceptance to a Dutch university. For other VWO-equivalent qualifications, see: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/application-informatie/with-non-dutch-diploma/entry-requirements/bachelor-entry-requirements/vwo-equivalent-qualifications. Students with a Dutch 'hbo-propedeuse' diploma also need to meet the language requirements mentioned below. |
| other admission requirements |
Language requirement English: Minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
If you want to continue with a Master's degree programme after your graduation, as most students do, you will have a wide range of programmes to choose from. With a Bachelor's degree in Art History, you have access to the following Master's tracks at the University of Groningen:
Art, Architecture and Landscapes are of great importance to society. The reference of our program to environmental and ecological aspects relates this importance to current challenges. Consequently, there are many career opportunities, depending on your specialization, master degree and personal interests. Our Department's graduates pursue a wide variety of jobs and professions.
As a graduate of our Department you are either specialized as an art historian, an architectural historian, or a historian of landscape. The term 'specialization' is relative: you have completed a versatile programme and you have acquired in-depth knowledge of works of art and architecture and their makers and designers, their patrons and historical context, and their function and audience. Art History graduates work in museums, they curate collections and exhibitions, and they design educational programmes. They work in television and radio, for newspapers and magazines, as art critics, and in the publishing industry. Historians of art and architecture also work for (local) government agencies, for example for cultural heritage management. The last couple of years there has been a lot of attention for cultural historical heritage and its societal meaning (cultural tourism). This field needs people who are skilled in presenting and producing information about art, monuments, historical landscapes-or a combination of these topics-in an appealing manner.
The term 'scholarly' or 'scientific' education points to the fact that research and teaching are connected. All faculty staff members are engaged in scholarly research in their respective areas. The classes you take are therefore partly based on current research within the Faculty of Arts.
Take a closer look at the current research in our department here.
Ciao a tutti! My name is Alessandra Gugliandolo, I am 20 years old, and I come from the warm and beautiful Sicily. I am a third-year BA Art History student and I decided to dedicate the first semester of this last bachelor year to the Anthropology minor. In addition to my love for art, I am obsessed with languages, and I use every available occasion to learn something new about a new culture. I love anything related to theatre and musicals and I myself for many years was part of a choir and a musical theatre group! I consider my time on stage among the best moments of my life. As for my hobbies, I like reading, drawing, and playing the ukulele. This last activity specifically reminds me of my sister, whom I wholeheartedly love. I care for animals and nature, that is also why I enjoy going on walks in the forest nearby my house here in Groningen as it allows me to be in contact with them. Of course no, I won’t kill that spider for you!
I realized I wanted to study art history at university when, in high school, I was the only one actively taking notes and engaging in conversations with the teacher during the art history lessons. I was always eager to talk about art in my assignments and in front of my classmates. I tried to listen to my heart and desires and observed how I spontaneously behaved in class. Sometimes the right answers are simpler and closer to us than we expect them to be. From that moment on, I felt like nothing interested me more than art, in all its expressions, and it was then clear in my head: I wanted to study art history at the university. The beauty of this academic field lies in its ability to deepen our understanding of human history since all art is a reflection of its time and its respective values, beliefs, and customs. Moreover, it enhances our critical thinking skills as we are constantly required to analyze works with careful observation and compare each one of them with examples from all kinds of cultural backgrounds. Apart from the appreciation of artistic skill and technique, every artwork becomes the mirror of a story yet to be discovered: the story of thousands of lives, of an array of cultures, which inevitably encourages a profound appreciation for diversity and a broader understanding of the world and those who lived, live, and will live in it.
Read more about Alessandra and why she chose to study Art History in Groningen!
Hi everyone! My name is Lia. I am 20 years old and I am the child of autumn. I am from Moldova and I deeply care about my background and roots. I am a second-year BA Art History student and I am also enrolled in the Honours College programme. I write poetry and read to soothe my soul, and visit local museums every time I travel. I love Pilates and I walk a lot because it helps me relax. Last but not least, I prefer sunflowers over roses.
The personalised approach of this programme develops your understanding of human society and culture, whilst shaping your critical analysis and perspective on art, architecture, and landscapes. It covers a broad historical background and helps you understand the chronological development of art. At the same time, the variety of courses, from ‘Beyond Antiquity’ to ‘Art Now,’ provide socio-political commentary on historical events that have shaped humanity. The courses cover a wide range of topics and methodologies that provide a framework for your approach to art history. If you are not sure about your specific field of interest, the programme will help you find which particular region, time period, or movement your wish to specialise in. Whenever someone asks me ‘Why do you study Art History?’, I remember a quote from ‘Dead Poets Society’ that says, ‘Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are all noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.’
Hi! I am Marina and by the time you read this, I wil have received my Bachelor’s diploma in Art History. I will now continue my studies as a Master’s student of Art History, specializing in Curatorial Studies at the University of Groningen. Being a Russian student abroad and having passion for art, culture and architecture, I have an open outlook on the world around me, full of new knowledge and adventure. As a student ambassador, I would like to give you any information and welcome you to Groningen!
Since my teenage years, I have known that my future academic and work interests would lay mainly in the field of art history. From a personal perspective, I believe I have found a way to connect my goals and interests with a professional career. Art History is a fascinating discipline that opens the door to endless areas of knowledge, where one can find their true calling. Completing an Art History degree does not only mean that you have a great basis for understanding the field of arts and culture, but also that you are skilled in critical analysis and creative thinking. Ranging from writing about art and power in the Medici family or the history of Islamic pottery, to researching an emerging artistic collective or collaborating with contemporary artists in interdisciplinary projects – the topics are endless and give you a space to explore.
Hi there! My name is Mattanja and I'm 21 years old. I am a third year student of the bachelor Art History. Besides my love for art, I enjoy writing and making music. I am also active as a member of the University's Green Office.
My study choice was a long and tedious process. I was in secondary school and I was struggling to choose between applied sciences and university. Eventually, I ended up following two extra years of pre-university education in order to go to university after all. Since History and visual arts were my favourite subjects in secondary school, I love writing and art works tell stories, I became intrigued by the subject of art history. A few months later, I found myself wandering around on the open day of the bachelor Art History in Groningen.
I enjoyed the open day very much, but I was still left with a lot of doubts. Studying art history sounded like fun, but I was afraid that the job opportunities would be very limited. During the student for a day, however, I found out that the bachelor is not limiting at all. Art History at the University of Groningen has a very broad vision on the arts. For example, besides the courses on visual arts, you also follow a lot of courses on architecture and landscaping which make for a versatile and unique programme.
As I mentioned before, I doubted a lot between the applied sciences and university when I was in secondary school. The practical approach to learning of the applied sciences spoke to me, but the great thing about following the programme of Art History, is that you can apply the theory you learn in practice. For example, there are classes in collaboration with the art academy Minerva and excursions are organized regularly so that the material in your book becomes tangible. There’s another advantage to following this study: on your next city trip you can guide your friends or family around the city and tell them all about the churches, city halls and museums that you pass. This way, you’re constantly applying the studied material in practice and you can function as a free city guide!
Are you at secondary school and want to know what studying at university is like? The Art History programme is offering a web class! This online course from the University of Groningen is specially designed for secondary school students.
Are you interested? Please register here.
