MA/PGDip Heritage Studies / Course details

Heritage is a living process. Environmental, cultural and technological changes continually challenge us to reinterpret our history and culture.

Digital tools, like virtual and augmented reality have unlocked new possibilities for bringing heritage projects to life. At the same time, the climate crisis and postcolonial theory have highlighted a need to protect and re-evaluate the things through which we understand our history. As a result, the need for skilled and reflective heritage professionals has never been greater.

As an MA Heritage Studies student, you’ll develop crucial skills in heritage policy, management, engagement and enterprise. You’ll benefit from the expert teaching of staff across the Institute for Cultural Practices, and a diverse curriculum which utilises their expertise on topics including curating and engagement, digital heritage and decolonising museums.

Sustainability should be considered inherently important to Heritage policy, and we rank as Europe's top university for progress against the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025). Throughout the course, you'll learn to how to both drive and execute climate conscious heritage activity.

Our flexible course structure means you’ll be able to research the topics that interest you the most. In the past, students have completed projects on subjects such as dark tourism and drag as a form of intangible cultural heritage.

You’ll also have opportunities to gain valuable work experience, access our extensive collection of cultural heritage assets and take part in live heritage projects in Manchester.

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 Placement

While undertaking the MA in Heritage Studies, you can apply for a 20-day work placement on a project or programme within a relevant cultural organisation and work with heritage professionals. The Institute for Cultural Practices has many partners offering placements, such as the Manchester Museum, the John Rylands Library, the Working Class Movement Library and the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre.

Placements are completed between November and May and are supported by academic mentoring, supervision, and placement mentors. They form part of the elective course options and are assessed in semester 2 via placement reports.

On placement, you’ll benefit from a hands-on opportunity to apply and develop their theoretical knowledge and practical skill set through immersion in real-life scenarios and situations, from fundraising to audience development.

Please note that the number of placements on offer varies yearly. Students can also organise their own placements, subject to the approval of the course unit convenor.

Project Experience

During the MA, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in heritage projects in partnership with Heidelberg University.

Those projects may include a researching developing exhibitions, coordinating heritage events, and working on community engagement. 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.

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

This unit is assessed by:

• an extended essay (100% of the overall course mark).

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

This unit is assessed by:

• an 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 word standard dissertation or a practice-based dissertation (8,000-10,000 words and appropriate evidence/outputs of the practice).