FsB vom 02.05.2017
Welcome to the Bachelor's degree programme in Art History and Historical Image Studies at Bielefeld University. The teaching staff will familiarise you with art, images, artefacts and visual culture from the Middle Ages to the present day. You will learn to describe and analyse paintings, sculptures, architecture, technical images such as photography and visual products such as diagrams, maps, carpets, etc., and to ask questions about this material.
The speciality of Bielefeld Art History and Historical Image Studies is that we work with a broad, media- and material-informed concept of the image. All images - including those from seemingly trivial contexts - are not "simply there and show something": an image does not simply duplicate an object of reality, but rather the representation produces this object visually and theoretically in the first place. This structure is common to images from different times and cultures. It applies equally to the designs of medieval books of hours and to AI-generated installation art.
The study of Art History and Historical Image Studies includes media (technologies) and examines the power and organisational structures un_consciously inscribed in them. We are thus not only dealing with a broad field in terms of content and theory, but one that is constantly transforming, shifting, developing and demanding adjustments to the knowledge to be negotiated.
Another special feature of our Bachelor's degree programme is the close and proven cooperation with museums and institutions in the region. You can test the theoretical knowledge you have acquired on site and expand and intensify it with practical experience.
Our graduates with a degree in Art History and Historical Image Studies have a wide range of options open to them: on the one hand, they are ideally prepared for a corresponding master's degree programme; for those who want to enter the professional world after completing their bachelor's degree, there are a variety of fields open to them, such as exhibitions, museums, galleries, academia, the art market, journalism, archives, publishing, cultural tourism and much more.
You will find the programme of lectures for this course in the eKVV.
An overview of the introductory and information events is provided by the central student counselling services.
Studies can be commenced in both winter and summer semesters. Courses are targeted to commencing studies in winter semester. Student counselling to plan the course of studies is recommended.
The standard period of studies is 6 semesters. Information on studying part time can be found on the following webpage.
The studies Minor Subject (Academic), 30 CPs Art History and Historical Image Studies comprise 30 credit points.
Find out about the academic structure model and note the possible combinations as well as the rules regarding the individual supplementary area.
Access to the Bachelor programme is granted to those who have a university entrance qualification suitable for Germany (e. g. German ‘Abitur’).
Special conditions apply to applicants with a foreign certificate of education.
Likewise, special conditions apply to those qualified in vocational education and training.
The study places are not subject to any admission restrictions (numerus clausus). Nevertheless, you need to apply within the currently applicable application deadlines. Afterwards, however, you can submit your application for enrolment directly in the application and status portal, provided that you meet the access requirements.
Step by step to a bachelor programme without NC
To the application portal
Special conditions apply to applicants with a foreign certificate of education.
Likewise, special conditions apply to those qualified in vocational education and training.
This subject can be combined with the following subjects in the Combined Bachelor's Degree:
Internet pages of the subject Art History and Historical Image Studies
Internet pages of the responsible institution(s):
Department of History with the courses offered
The information on admission restrictions / numerus clausus (NC) refers to applications for the winter semester 2025/26 and summer semester 2026.
Information on NC values from previous years
The courses
Course start
Length and scope of studies
Access requirements
Application, admission and enrolment
Possible Combinations
Further links