Art History (Bachelor's Degree Subject)Study where the art is

With one of the densest and most diverse museum landscapes in Europe, Basel is the ideal place to study art history. Art Basel, the Kunsthalle, Kunstmuseum, Fondation Beyeler, the Antikenmuseum Basel, Swiss Architecture Museum, Schaulager and many other institutions offer authentic contact with influential works, artists, trends and events. Working directly with original artworks is a fundamental component of the bachelor’s program, which encompasses the history of the visual arts (painting, sculpture, plastic arts, object art, arts and crafts, design, photography, video, installation, performance, new media) and the architecture of European cultures from late antiquity to the present. In Basel, we place particular emphasis on identifying, investigating and conveying the historical, social, political and aesthetic dimensions of artistic and cultural heritage. Connecting contemporary questions with historical research forms the core of our approach.

Focal areas of teaching and research

The Department of Art History focuses on the art of the Middle Ages, Byzantine art, the reception of the Middle Ages, the art and architecture of the Renaissance, nineteenth- and twentieth-century art in Europe and areas influenced by Europe, contemporary art, and art and image theory. The department is divided into the following fields, each represented by one professor:

  • Medieval Art History (late antiquity, the early to late Middle Ages including Byzantine art until around 1500, reception of the Middle Ages)
  • Early Modern Art History (Renaissance and baroque, fifteenth to nineteenth centuries)
  • Modern Art History (modern and contemporary art, late eighteenth century to present day)
  • Theory of Art (Schaulager Professor)
  • Contemporary Art (Laurenz Assistant Professor)

These comprehensive thematic areas are complemented by teaching by research associates (for example on historical preservation, film and museum work), interdisciplinary lecture series, block courses. Teaching combines practical skills with comprehensive knowledge of historical works of art and discipline-specific theoretical skills. The bachelor’s program also includes theoretical components in which students reflect on methods and art history as a discipline. In addition to historical skills, the program develops students’ visual and argumentative skills in particular, as well as their understanding of hermeneutics in critical interpretation. 

The introductory module and the «Genres of Art History» modules (painting, sculpture and architecture) provide basic knowledge of the categories, criteria, analytical methods and specific terminology of art history. Students also learn about general and discipline-specific academic approaches and learn to present connections and contexts in the form of short presentations. The seminars, practical courses and lectures expand and deepen their knowledge of every era (medieval, early modern, modern and contemporary) and genre of art. Excursions encourage students to engage directly with artworks, while practice-oriented courses provide experience in future career paths.

Short profile

DegreeBA in Art History
TypeDegree subject
Start dateFebruary, September
Credit points180
Program structure

The bachelor's degree is the first degree. It comprises a total of 180 credit points (CP). Art History is studied as one of two degree subjects, each worth 75 CP. In addition, there are free electives (30 CP).

One ECTS credit point corresponds to approximately 30 hours of work.

Subject combination

In addition to subjects from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, a second bachelor's degree subject can also be an extra-faculty subject.

The free electives are at the free provision of all students. It is generally used to acquire general skills (foreign languages, IT, rhetoric, etc.), interdisciplinary learning (non-subject or interdisciplinary courses), further deepening of one's own subject studies or the acquisition of a certificate.

Language of instructionGerman
Subject area

Art History

Bachelor’s admission requirements

The Student Administration Office at the University of Basel is responsible for admitting students to bachelor’s programs in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This is based on the admission regulations of the President’s Office:

  • with Swiss educational qualifications, 
  • foreign educational qualifications, or
  • as a visiting student (not working toward a degree at the University of Basel)

Holders of a Swiss federal Maturität certificate will be admitted to all bachelor’s degree programs.

If you have any further questions, please consult the information provided here.

Registration dates

Students must register for their bachelor’s or master’s degree program within a specified timeframe – even in cases of delayed registration.

Information events

The University of Basel organizes regular information events for bachelor’s and master’s programs. Details can be found on the <link de/fakultaet/aktuelles/ - external-link-new-window "Öffnet internen Link im aktuellen Fenster">events page</link> of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. 
Some subject areas also offer their own separate information or welcome events. Please consult the page for the relevant subject area for event dates and locations.

Bachelor Prüfung & Abschluss

Fristen und Termine Bachelorstudium (siehe Merkblätter unter Dokumente und Merkblätter)

Zur Bachelorprüfung können sich Studierende anmelden, die im zu prüfenden Fach 60 KP bzw. im Studiengang 120 KP erbracht und die für den Abschluss zählenden Seminararbeiten im zu prüfenden Fach oder im Studiengang absolviert haben. Der Nachweis erfolgt durch Vorlegen der Modulzuordnung.

Es kann neu auch nur ein Fach pro Session geprüft werden. Das bedeutet, die beiden Bachelorprüfungen können auf zwei Sessionen verteilt werden (Achtung: nur bei Studienfächern – bei Studiengängen ist eine Trennung der beiden Prüfungen nicht möglich).

BA-Prüfungen: Auf Grund der freien Verfügbarkeit von KI-Textgeneratoren (wie bspw. ChatGPT) hat die Phil.-Hist. Fakultät beschlossen, die Durchführungsart der BA-Prüfung anzupassen. Mit dieser Anpassung soll die Eigenleistung der Studierenden sichergestellt werden. Neu werden ab FS23 die BA-Prüfungen wieder in den Räumen der Universität unter Aufsicht geschrieben. Dabei handelt es sich um digitale «bring-your-own-device» Prüfungen. Die Prüfungstermine bleiben unverändert bestehen. Prüfungskandidat*innen beachten bitte unbedingt das aktualisierte Merkblatt zum Ablauf der BA-Prüfungen sowie das neue Anmeldeformular (Studienfach, Studiengang). Bei Rückfragen wenden Sie sich an die Studienadministration.

 HS 2024FS 2025HS 2025FS 2026HS 2026
Anmeldeformulare (Studienfach / Studiengang) verfügbar ababgelaufen20.01.2501.09.2526.01.2631.08.26
Anmeldezeitraumabgelaufen03.03. - 21.03.2529.09. - 17.10.2509.03. - 27.03.2628.09. - 16.10.26
Schriftliche Prüfungenabgelaufen05.05. (NEU) & 09.05.2505.12. - 12.12.2511.05. - 18.05.2604.12. - 11.12.26
Notenmitteilungenabgelaufen01.07.2523.01.2601.07.2615.01.27
Abschlussantragformulare spätestens verfügbar ababgelaufen02.06.2505.01.2601.06.2604.01.27
Prüfungseinsicht und Antrag auf Abschlussabgelaufen04.08. - 22.08.2526.01. - 13.02.2603.08. - 21.08.2618.01. - 05.02.27
Diplomfeier26.04.2518.10.2518.04.2617.10.2617.04.27

Unter Vorbehalt nachträglicher Änderungen.

Teaching committee

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