<p>Hello</p>
<p>I will be applying for an undergraduate art history program soon, and I was advised to apply to as many universities as possible. I was wondering if there is much difference between American and British art history programs. What do you think? Do British univerisites offer better art history programs than American universities?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>There are large differences between American and UK programs no matter what subject you study. American u/g degrees are four years, UK ones three; American students take gen ed requirements and electives outside the major area of concentration, UK students don’t and concentrate on the chosen area of study; American students don’t usually apply as freshmen to study one particular subject (some exceptions exist) and UK students must; etc., etc. If you are not eligible for financial aid, UK universities are generally a lot cheaper if you end up paying full freight.</p>
<p>What’s your situation? Are you an international student? What are your qualifications? Do you need financial aid? There is no point picking out top US programs for comparison with UK programs if you have no shot at admission or cannot afford to attend them. </p>
<p>Rather than relying on generalizations about US/UK differences, try to identify a few schools on each side of the pond where you have a realistic shot at admission and aid (if you need it). Then compare the course offerings as well as quality of life and other factors that matter to you.</p>
<p>US colleges that combine strong art history programs and good aid to internationals would include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, and Williams. These schools are extremely selective. NYU also seems to be strong in this field, is less selective, and has a great location, but also has a reputation for poor financial aid.</p>
<p>Times Higher Education ranks the world’s top 50 arts and humanities universities. This is based on a set of criteria that is open to challenge, but it might help you identify possibilities from the included US & UK schools. It omits American liberal arts colleges (like Williams) and a few US universities (like Johns Hopkins) that might belong if art history were the focus. Some of the US state universities (like Berkeley and UCLA) may not offer financial aid to international students.
[Top</a> 50 arts and humanities universities - Times Higher Education](<a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2012-13/subject-ranking/subject/arts-and-humanities]Top”>http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2012-13/subject-ranking/subject/arts-and-humanities)</p>
<p>Where do you want to work, and what kind of work do you want to have after you finish your education? Those questions can help your planning as well.</p>