Distance learning fine art history advice needed

[Naicemum]

Hello, can anyone advise me on the best place to study fine art history part time? I'd need it to be an online course as am a SAHM although I could travel for occasional lectures (we live about an hour from London). Thinking of starting with gcse or A level and hopefully work towards a degree so courses that have transferable credits would be perfect. I know the OU is an obvious answer but looking for advice as to where would be most respected in the industry, would an academic institution like Cambridge be best, or is it better to go with an arts institution? Are UK based ones best or an international one? Thanks for reading

I’ve never heard of fine art history. Do you mean fine art - more practical - or history of art - more theoretical?

Sorry, history of art

Go with a University for Art History. Birkbeck, University of London has an excellent department and you can study in various modes, part time, accelerated, decelerated and so on - mainly evenings. Also very close to several main stations.

Ah, mised the online bit. Sorry!

Thanks for replying, have looked at Birkbeck, they have some distance courses but not in art history unfortunately.

I too would suggest Birkbeck. Their foundation course in art history is just one evening a week between 6 and 8pm. Is that possible?

Thanks for your suggestion Daisypond (not sure how to bold a name?) but a weekly evening is not really possible for me at the moment - I'd need to allow an hour and a half to get there which would mean leaving at 4.30, DH would still be at work and we don't have family nearby, he could cover an odd evening as he often works from home but not every week, it could be doable once kids are old enough for after school clubs but right now we can't afford to use any more childcare. Am itching to get studying so hoping there's a decent distance learning course that I could fit around nursery/after bedtime.

Not my area of expertise, but I do know that the Courtauld Institute is one of the top places to study art history. They seem to have various short courses, if that might work: courtauld.ac.uk/learn/art-history-short-courses-lectures-tours

Have you also checked the art museums to see if they offer anything? It depends how formal you want your studies to be.

If you're wanting to work in the art world, then a degree and most likely an MA will be needed. Short courses won't count for much. For curatorial posts in national art galleries such as Tate and V&A you generally now need a PhD. It's very competitive, and you'll need to also be doing internships during university vacations. It partly depends on what you mean by "the industry" (public museum, commercial gallery, auction house, dealers, etc). PM me if you'd like more info.

Cambridge isn't online but you can do their degree equivalent face to face on day courses at weekends. It isn't many days per term.

However you do need library access to get books for essay writing so if you aren't near Cambridge for the University Library it would be a pain unless you have access to another university library.

Online I only know of the OU.

I have done most of Cambridge and debating whether to credit transfer into the OU to finish.