Cultural Heritage & Museum Studies

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Cultural Heritage & Museum Studies

Overview
Develop your career and learn from key academics and practitioners in the museum and heritage sectors.

Summary
Study Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at Ulster University in the United Kingdom.

This well-established programme at the Ulster University is delivered through the School of Creative Arts and Technologies and is taught on the Belfast campus.

It has many links with the museum and heritage profession in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and students have the advantage of meeting with practitioners through lectures and visits. Graduates have been successful in securing positions in the museum and heritage sectors.

The degree programme has been designed for individuals seeking further career development in the heritage and museum sectors, as well for graduates of Art and Design, Art History, Geography, History, Archaeology, Sociology and allied disciplines, who wish to develop their research interests in these fields.

About

Key areas of investigation in this MA include:

Policy concerns relating to heritage, museum and cultural sectors in UK and Ireland;

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

Exploration of issues in relation to collections care; exhibitions; learning and management in the heritage sectors;

Impact of digital technologies on the heritage experience; and,

Consideration of national issues in the international context.

Modules have been designed to reflect innovative and current research in these areas and will equip both graduates and those already working in the heritage sectors with the appropriate skills for further academic and professional development.

Work placement / study abroad
We support all students in finding a work placement, which they complete alongside their studies.Students have had placements at National Museums Northern Ireland, local museums, Linen Hall Library, PRONI and the National Trust.

Academic profile

All lecturers on this programme contribute to the fields of museum and heritage studies or the arts, publishing in such journals as the International Journal of Heritage Studies and the book Companion to Museum Studies. We regularly invite people senior in the museum, heritage or arts sectors to contribute to our programme. Lecturers work closely with the sectors, for instance the Course Director is currently Chair of Northern Ireland Museums Council Board.

Entry requirements

Entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the Universitys General Entrance Requirements. For general entrance requirements go to:
https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/entrance-requirements

Entry Requirements

You should preferably hold a good honours degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline. Typically applicants have a degree either in archaeology, history, geography, art or art history, social sciences or education.

Exceptionally, candidates who do not satisfy these requrements may, by virtue of relevant experience or learning, be admitted.

The deadline for submission of applications is 15th May. We will consider late applications but these may experience delays in processing.

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.

Duration

This course is taught on the Belfast campus.

Full-time students attend lectures and seminars two days a week (typically Tuesday and Thursday) and Part-time students one day a week (typically a Thursday in the first year and a Tuesday in the second year).

Careers or further progression

Career options
This programme was introduced in 2001 and since that time our graduates have pursued careers in museums, exhibition design, archives, the cultural sector and further education. Alumni from the programme now form a vibrant community and are having a positive impact on the sector.

The areas graduates have gone on to include:
Museums, Archive and Galleries, entry level posts such as documentation, education, and outreach;

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

museum based internships
Archaeology (mainly excavation and research);
Heritage (such as National Trust) and the Arts
PhD research

Graduates also pursue other interests such as travelling.

For information on postgraduate research opportunities see: www.arts.ulster.ac.uk/rgs 

Further enquiries

Course Director: Professor Elizabeth Crooke
T: +44 (0)28 7167 5431
E: em.crooke@ulster.ac.uk 

Faculty Office (Ms Wenli Xu)
T: +44 (0)28 7012 3373
E: w.xu@ulster.ac.uk  

Enquiries
E : artsdirectentry@ulster.ac.uk 

Academic Fees
T: + 44 (0)28 7012 4252

Assessment method

Teaching and learning assessment

This course is delivered by academics in the fields of museum, heritage and the arts. We invite practitioners as guest lecturers on the programme. All assessment is by coursework.

Exemptions and transferability

Those applicants seeking entry with advanced standing, (eg. transfer from another institution) will be considered on an individual basis.