Cultural Heritage & Museum Studies

This well-established programme produces the heritage managers and museum curators of the future.

On this programme you will:

• have access to leading academics and practitioners in the field;

• go on study visits to museums and heritage locations to learn about latest practice;

• learn from students who have graduated from the programme and now work in the field; and,

• undertake a placement to get hands on experience of the sector.

Key areas of investigation in this MA include:

• Policy development and management issues relating to heritage, museum and cultural sectors in Ireland, north and south;

• Analysis of the social, economic and cultural contexts of museums and heritage; and,

• International context of key issues and practice for the heritage and museum sectors.



Modules reflect innovative and current research and will equip you with the appropriate skills for further academic and professional development.



Work placement / study abroad

We arrange a work placement for you in a museum, heritage or arts centre.



Over the years our students have volunteered at National Trust in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Museums Council, National Museums Northern Ireland, and the local and independent museum sector.



When volunteering in these institutions it is very likely you will meet one of our graduates now working there. There is opportunity to use your volunteering to inform your assignments or as a basis for dissertation research.

Year one

• Exploring Heritage

• Cultures of Curatorship

• Exhibitions: Practice and Evaluation

• MA Research Project

• Research Methods in Heritage and Museum Studies

• Strategic Planning for Heritage and Museum Management

We welcome people with an honours degree in an area relevant to museum and heritage practice, such as:

• Arts and Humanities e.g. Archaeology and Anthropology, History, Fine and Applied Arts;

• Environmental Sciences e.g. Geography (including human geography and historic geography);

• Social Sciences e.g. Sociology, Policy Studies;

• Business & Marketing e.g. Tourism Studies, Management Studies.



You will find that the diverse student group will greatly enhance your learning experience.



If you do not have an honours degree, but have relevant experience or learning, we will consider your application.



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Start Date: September 2025

Career options

This course was established in the early 2000s, and we have graduates working in the heritage and museum sectors in Northern Ireland, Ireland, UK and further afield. The diversity of destinations of our graduates is a indication of the wide possibilities post graduation.



Our graduates are working at National Museums NI, Northern Ireland Museums Council, National Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, National Heritage Lottery Fund projects, National Gallery Ireland, National Museums Scotland, NI War Memorial.



The areas graduates have gone on to include:

• Museums, Archive and Galleriesin a curatorial role or working on exhibitions, documentation, education, and outreach.

• Specialist museum-related training e.g. in conservation of museum objects;

• Heritage sector such as working with built heritage, heritage landscapes and community projects; and,

• Doctoral Research: we have a thriving PhD research community, many of whom are graduates of the MA.