MA/PGDip Heritage Studies / Course details

Our MA Heritage Studies master's course is aimed at students who want to develop their knowledge and practical skills to pursue or develop careers in heritage policy, management, conservation, learning, engagement and enterprise.

Heritage Studies examines the theory and practice of heritage making, management and use in local, national and international contexts. It includes both the practical aspects of conservation and management and a study of social, political and economic dynamics in cultural, archaeological, built and natural heritage.

You will study comprehensive core units on critical heritage studies and key issues and approaches to heritage policy and management, as well as routes into specialisation and professional practice through a wide range of units covering distinctive topic areas such as:

• digital heritage;
• curating and engagement;
• decolonising museums and heritage;
• heritage and sustainable development;
• intangible cultural heritage and natural heritage;
• creative learning;
• heritage and learning;
• strategic planning and management of heritage projects and enterprises.

You will be able to gain intensive work experience and undertake critical reflective practice within a range of heritage organisations across the region and further afield through our long-standing placement scheme.

This scheme is shared with our sister master's courses in Arts Management, Policy and Practice and Art Gallery and Museum Studies. You can also undertake live project work with students on these sister courses by choosing practice-based course units.

You will benefit from the expertise of the Institute for Cultural Practices  and other specialists in archaeology, art history and history at the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.

You will also have access to the University's cultural heritage assets  such as Manchester Museum, the John Rylands Library and Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.

You can choose from full-time and part-time study options for an MA or PGDip award, as well as standalone course units to support continuing professional development.

We aim to:

• introduce, explore and critically evaluate emerging  approaches, issues and trends in the theories and practices of world-wide heritage policy, management, conservation, learning, engagement and enterprise;
• prepare you for advanced critical research through skills training and reflective practice;
• promote and advance specialist knowledge of theoretical perspectives and frameworks for understanding of heritage in a global context and related issues of policy and practice;
• give you the opportunity to undertake expert practical training in core and specialist areas relevant to professional and sector development;
• help you access and engage with industry professionals and opportunities for work experience in a range of heritage settings, through guest lectures, fieldtrips and placements.

Work placements  

Whilst undertaking an MA in Heritage Studies, students will have the opportunity to apply to undertake a 20-day work placement on in a heritage site and/or organisation.

Each placement involves working on a specific project, such as community learning and engagement, visitor management, volunteer coordination, research and evaluation, conservation and business development projects.

Many students find this to be such a positive experience that they carry on working in their organisation when the work placement has finished, and a few students are offered jobs by their placement hosts each year.

During the MA, students have opportunities to engage with heritage practices in partnership with Heidelberg University.

These include researching heritage audiences, developing exhibitions, producing heritage events, and working on community engagement and creative collaborative projects. Discover our student's exhibitions and initiatives  that they have created whilst studying with the Institute for Cultural Practices.

Teaching and learning on this course goes beyond the classroom. You will learn through fieldwork trips, site visits, masterclasses and workshops, with networking and specialist training provided through our engagement with visitor speakers, including professionals and academics in the field.

Most teaching takes place in small interactive seminar groups, involving, as appropriate, directed-reading, fieldwork in museums and heritage sites and contexts, staff and student presentations, discussion, debate, problem-solving and group work.

Most units run for a day or week over 12 weeks, and there are variations in the number of class hours per teaching day depending on the course/week (ie 2-5 hours).

As a general rule, a 30-credit unit includes 300 learning hours, which can be roughly divided as follows:

• a third in classes or class-related work;
• a third in independent study;
• a third in preparation of assignments.

You can also undertake an exhibition group project (as part of the Professional Practice Project unit) in collaboration with a museum, heritage or related cultural organisation in Manchester or the north-west of England.

Supervision for dissertation research is supported by staff with a wide range of interests, and by research skills training.

Full-time or part-time study?

The MA is available as a one-year full-time or a two-year part-time course. The PGDip is available as a nine-month full-time or 18-month part-time course.

We particularly welcome part-time students, as there are many advantages in combining study with work practice, whether you already have a post in a heritage organisation or are just setting out on your career.

Each year, a number of mid-career professionals take the MA degree on a part-time basis and find that the University provides a valuable space for reflection, as well as for further learning.

Part-time students have classes one day per week (usually Tuesday or Thursday, although in Semester 2 it might be a different day depending on the option course you choose). This will be in addition to weekly twilight research, professional practice and academic skills workshops.

You should also count time for library work/fieldwork that may require you to come to Manchester and, although this can be sometimes done on the day of teaching, there may be the need to come in for further directed learning or training.

When the work placements begin (about November/December in Year 1 or Year 2) you should also count one more day/week (on average) at the work placement institution, which, if appropriate or relevant, can be the organisation where you currently work (but undertaking a project different to your day-to-day work).

Introduction to Critical Heritage Studies (Semester 1 core unit, 30 credits)

This unit is assessed by: 

• a 6,000-word essay (100% of the overall course mark).  

Heritage Policy and Management (Semester 1 core unit, 30 credits)

This unit is assessed by:

• a 6,000-word individual Fieldwork Portfolio of site-specific analysis (100% of the overall course mark)  

Option units (Semester 2, 15 or 30 credits)

Option units are assessed by a combination of essays and project portfolios. For details, please see the individual unit page.

Dissertation (Semester 2 and Summer)  

This can be either a 12,000 to 15,000-word standard dissertation or a practice-based dissertation (8,000-10,000 words and appropriate evidence/outputs of the practice).