The BA Art History, Visual Culture and Media Studies program at the University of Essex is designed for students with a passion for examining and understanding visual media from a historical, cultural, and critical perspective. This program involves the critical study of a variety of forms of visual culture, including art, film, and media, from a range of historical periods and geographical contexts. It aims to equip students with the theoretical understanding and practical skills required to interpret and analyze the visual world around them. It also offers students the opportunity to undertake in-depth research and to engage with contemporary debates and issues in the field. The program is taught by experienced and enthusiastic staff who are experts in their respective fields of art history, visual culture, and media studies.

The University of Essex is a public research university in Essex, England. Established by royal charter in 1965, it is one of the original plate glass universities. The university shield consists of the ancient arms attributed to the Kingdom of Essex, and the motto, "Thought the harder, heart the keener", is adapted from the Anglo-Saxon poem The Battle of Maldon.It comprises three campuses in the county, in Southend-on-Sea and Loughton with its primary campus in Wivenhoe Park, Colchester. Essex is rated Gold for Teaching Excellence by the TEF since 2017,named University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards in 2018, and is ranked an internationally excellent research-intensive university by the REF. Essex's Department of Government received Regius Professorship conferred by Her Majesty, The Queen in 2013 and the university was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize on two occasions for advancing Human Rights in 2009 and Social and Economic Research in 2017.The annual income of the institution for 2021–22 was £272.6 million of which £30.2 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £313.8 million. Essex has produced many distinguished alumni in several fields across the world least but not limited to: Nobel Prize laureates, a head of state, senior governors and politicians, executives and economists, scientists, artists, academics, authors, and film directors.