The MA in International Heritage Management draws upon cutting-edge theory and adopts a global, interdisciplinary approach to considering why the past matters; how and why it is cared for in the present; and the ways in which it can inform the future. By using heritage as a lens through which to consider current global challenges such as climate change, conflict, and decolonisation, the MA will prepare you to compete in the growing field of heritage and consultancy.
You will gain theoretical and methodological training; experience the challenge of practical problem-based learning; have access to professionals in the field; gain hands-on expertise in-situ across different heritage contexts; complete work-based placements; and build sector relevant networks, all vital to future employment.
The programme incorporates regular opportunities to visit national heritage sites and an inclusive international field trip to Vancouver, Canada*, allowing you to learn first-hand about heritage management from on-site experts.
Based at our Penryn campus, this programme is convened by the Humanities department (History and English) and taught in collaboration with leading interdisciplinary researchers and industry specialists from across the University; enabling you to develop the skills relevant to real life consultancy.
Benefit from the way the course is enriched by an Industry Advisory Group and links with our leading research centres for Environmental Arts and Humanities, and Environment and Sustainability.
* Flights and accommodation included in the cost of your MA
Please note constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced in future years as a consequence of programme development. Details at any time may be obtained from the programme website.
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/history/int-heritage-ma/#Programme-structure
Recent examples of compulsory modules are as follows;
Optional modules can include:
As an MA International Heritage Management and Consultancy student you will have access to the academic excellence and research resources of the University of Exeter. On this truly interdisciplinary programme, you will be taught by academics from The Business School, Law, Geography, Politics and Renewable Energies, as well as from History and English. You will also be taught by industry experts and guest lecturers, ensuring that the teaching you receive is highly relevant to the sector.
You will learn through a broad variety of methods, including: lectures and seminars; guided independent study; workshops; work based learning via an optional work placement; research projects; and through participation in an international field course. This programme also provides a wealth of opportunities to learn about the heritage sector in situ, with site visits being an important aspect of the course.
Alongside essays and research reports, we use a range of innovative methods of assessment. You will give individual and group presentations; produce portfolios and logbooks; have the opportunity to write community engagement plans; consider funding and budgets; plan research projects and write reflective essays. In your final term you will work on your dissertation, providing you with an opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of original research into a topic of your choosing.
The programme offers an optional Heritage Placement which provides the experience of learning about the heritage sector through work.
You will have the opportunity to plan and arrange a placement with an external heritage organisation and work on an agreed project with them. The Heritage Placement offers you the chance to find and organise your own placement or project in line with your individual professional goals. For example, you may choose to research a priority theme, develop an exhibit for public display, or design a project in relation to gaps identified by the heritage organisation.
With the assistance of a Work Placement Coordinator, you will gain the tools you need – the preparation and support – to gain significant professional experience in the heritage sector. You will also have an allocated academic supervisor for the duration of your placement who will liaise closely with you and the host heritage organisation.
By gaining hands-on knowledge you will develop essential employability skills, including: planning and completing a live project; interpersonal skills; working autonomously to a specified timescale; negotiating with others; and working effectively as part of a team.
In your third term you will take part in our field course to Canada, where you will visit Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Our field course offers a unique opportunity for you to explore issues of heritage, environment, industry and community, locating these issues in the context of key global challenges such as decolonisation, reconciliation indigeneity, and climate change.
As part of the field course, you will learn from international professionals, specialists, and community members in-situ and in-context; visit world renowned heritage sites and museums; participate in different forms of tourism, such as ecotourism; and gain awareness of potential opportunities for, and threats to, the local heritage, culture, and environment. Through this process you will develop an understanding of a different cultural approach to heritage management and witness competing heritage agendas in action.
This varied field course includes workshops in the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia; an opportunity to experience ecotourism first-hand; visits to First Nations Cultural Centres (for example, U’mista Cultural Centre or Nuyumbalees); museums and galleries such as the Bill Reid Gallery; and meet and learn from heritage professionals on site visits.*
Your expenses for accommodation and travel are included in the cost of the programme.
*Please note that the exact itinerary can vary from year to year.
MRes, PgCert and PgDip pathways are also available
World Heritage, both tangible and intangible, increasingly affects a significant proportion of the world’s population.
It is now an essential concept for all engaged in the protection, development and management of heritage.
This unique one-year programme is aimed at those who wish to acquire both a deeper understanding of the concepts and processes surrounding World Heritage in its cultural forms (tangible and intangible), its natural forms and as cultural landscapes. This course will provide you with necessary skills that will allow you to critically appraise and effectively manage World Heritage and its impacts in a sustainable manner. It is linked to the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site, providing you with a unique academic experience and offering you access to unrivalled resources and over 30 years of management expertise.
As well as providing you with an excellent grounding for working in the heritage sector, the course offers ideal preparation for PhD study.
This programme is also available to study part-time by distance learning. For more information, see World Heritage Studies MA (distance learning).
The MA World Heritage Studies draws upon international cases and practical experience and will provide you with an insight into the processes of World Heritage inscription and management.
In addition it will allow you to take an informed position in policy debates regarding the implications of designation for local and national identities, community well-being and tourism and associated development.
You will study five core modules:
You will also choose one optional module from a selection. The list of available modules in any one year can vary, depending on staff specialisms and availability. Modules available typically include:
The programme also features an overseas visit. This is likely to be to the World Heritage Centre at UNESCO, Paris, to learn directly of the challenges of linking the protection and conservation of Sites with present and future environmental, social and economic needs.
Modules are assessed by written assignments. You will complete the MA with a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice, relevant to World Heritage.
Teaching within modules takes many forms, including lectures, debates, seminars and presentations.
You will also work closely with a personal tutor throughout the course.
As a postgraduate on the World Heritage Studies MA programme, you will become part of the Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage, based at the University of Birmingham. With over 30 years of experience in the field of heritage it seeks to equip all of its students with appropriate management skills and a critical approach to heritage studies. You will benefit from our research, our international networks and partnerships and our dedication and enthusiasm to better understand and manage cultural heritage around the world.
As a postgraduate student in the College of Arts and Law, you have access to the Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) which aims to help your transition from undergraduate to taught Masters level, or back into academia after time away. The service offers guidance on writing assignments and dissertations for your MA/MSc programme with individual support from an academic writing advisor via tutorials, email and the provision of online materials.
International students can access support for English Language development and skills through the Birmingham International Academy (BIA).
Your degree will provide excellent preparation for employment and this will be further enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University.
The University's Careers Network provides advice and information specifically for postgraduates that will help you to develop an effective career and skills development strategy, and to make the most of your time with us at the University. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated careers and employability team to deliver tailored programmes of careers events and local support.
You will have opportunities to: meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs; attend employer presentations and skills workshops; receive individual guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique; and access to comprehensive listings of hundreds of graduate jobs and work experience opportunities.
You will also be able to access our full range of careers support for up to two years after graduation.
Postgraduate employability: Cultural Heritage
Graduates from the Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage can boast a wide combination of skills that can be applied to a number of careers, including museums work, conservation and regeneration, the management of historic buildings and landscapes, and cultural tourism.
Over the past three years, over 96% of our postgraduates were in work and/or further study six months after graduation. Employers that our graduates have gone on to work for include: Birmingham Museums Trust; National Trust; Canal and River Trust; English Heritage; Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust; and Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Designed for a new generation of heritage leaders, this programme provides the interdisciplinary skills needed to deliver the heritage programmes and projects of the future. The programme combines aspects of cultural heritage - historic buildings, museums, collections, sites and landscapes - with the best preventive conservation and heritage management policies, projects, methodologies and practices.
Students are encouraged to take a long view of preservation and heritage management and challenged to define problems, set objectives and explore a range of sustainability issues and strategies. Concepts of value, sustainability, life expectancy, stewardship, ownership, vulnerability and risk are interwoven with the scientific study of historic materials, assemblies, technologies and systems.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (120 credits), a research report (60 credits) and an optional project placement (not credit bearing).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months) is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All MSc students submit a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic related to the main themes of the programme. The topic can be chosen to enhance career development or for its inherent interest.
Teaching and learning
The programme is taught using a variety of media and strategies including problem-based and case-based learning, discussion groups, project work, exercises, coursework and reports. Assessment is through written assignments, oral examination and the 10,000-word dissertation.
Fieldwork
A two-week study visit to Malta forms an integral part of the degree. This is hosted by Heritage Malta, the national agency responsible for the management of national museums, heritage sites and their collections in Malta and Gozo.
A video of the 2016 Malta field trip can be seen here Malta field trip .
Travel and accommodation expenses for the visit to Malta are covered by the programme.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Built Environment: Sustainable Heritage MSc
Most graduates are expected to assume responsibility for directing major projects within museums, libraries, archives, or organisations responsible for historic buildings and archaeological sites; or as a part of interdisciplinary architectural, engineering or project management practices. Additional career enhancement may be achieved by using the MSc as a foundation for PhD research.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
The programme, which is accredited by RICS, is an internationally recognised qualification from a world-leading university that equips students with the skills and expertise needed to contribute to heritage projects at an advanced level. There is an opportunity to undertake a placement at a leading heritage organisation or practice during the programme and students gain access to an extensive alumni network of professionals who have studied on the programme and are currently leaders in the field.<br><br>
Please see the departmental Sustainable Heritage MSc careers page for more information.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The UCL Bartlett is the UK's largest multidisciplinary Faculty of the Built Environment, bringing together scientific and professional specialisms required to research, understand, design, construct and operate the buildings and urban environments of the future.
Students on this programme benefit from: international, interdisciplinary teachers who are leading professionals in their field; real-life heritage case studies as the basis for discussing complex and demanding issues; access to public stewards and private owners of heritage - in order to learn from practice and leading heritage stakeholders; a fully funded study visit to Malta; project placement opportunities with leading international heritage organisations.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources
81% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Are you looking to develop your career as a heritage manager? Are you already working in the heritage industry and looking to further develop your knowledge, understanding and skills?
For more than 25 years, the MA in International Heritage Management has provided an advanced qualification in heritage management for the sector. Grounded in a deep understanding of the theoretical approaches to heritage and their application, this established programme equips you with the skills needed for museums work, conservation and regeneration, the management of historic buildings and landscapes, and cultural tourism. Included within the degree is a study week that directly engages you with issues in the sector through study visits to leading museums and heritage attractions, and offers an opportunity to engage directly with your fellow students and staff.
We also offer two full-time, campus-based International Heritage Management MA programmes - one at the University of Birmingham, and a UK-US programme delivered at the University of Birmingham in the autumn and at the University of Illinois in the spring. For more information, see our full range of courses.
This programme is managed by the Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage, run jointly by the University and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, and draws on the experience of one of the largest independent museums in Britain.
You will study six core modules [full descriptions available below]:
All learning is supported by extensive online resources provided through the University Library and Learning Centre, and by tutors, fellow research students and lecturers who engage with students through a flexible and reliable virtual learning environment.
Our wide network of contacts with the industry in the UK means that we can offer support for you to organise a placement during your course if you wish.
Assessment
Most modules are assessed by a 4,000-word report-style assignment or project outline. The programme is completed with a 15,000-word researched dissertation on a research topic of your choice.
Online resources
This is a web-based programme which covers all of the components of the Ironbridge Institute’s conventional MA programme. It is delivered using Canvas, a virtual learning environment which provides teaching and support materials. It is recommended that you have regular access to a computer with internet access (with at least a 56k modem, and preferably Broadband) so that you can get involved in online discussions. Contributing to discussions an½d reflecting on other students’ postings is considered a requirement of the course. For those students who can only access a computer occasionally, and who do require supporting materials on CD, it may be possible for you to only use the Canvas site for online discussions. This might require internet access for about one hour a week.
Offline resources
You will need access to a university library close to where you live. As a student registered with us, you will have access to University of Birmingham libraries, but you will probably need to obtain books and journals more locally. In certain circumstances, subject to copyright legislation, we may be able to provide some additional printed materials. Home students can usually access other Universities’ libraries through the SCONUL system once registered with the IIICH.
You are also expected to improve your learning by visiting heritage sites during two years you are on this course.
Support
Throughout the course, you will be supported by a personal tutor who will provide guidance on your assessed assignments. You will normally remain with the same tutor throughout the programme. They will be available by email and during UK office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) by phone. We aim to reply to your email or, if we cannot speak on the phone when you ring, to return your call within 48 hours. You will also meet your tutor for a personal tutorial on the introductory day of the programme and at study periods in Ironbridge or Birmingham.
Course delivery
The programme begins in late September or early October with an Induction Day in Birmingham on the first Saturday of term which allows you to meet your tutors and fellow students and to familiarise yourself with the way the programme works, particularly the online materials which are used for all the taught modules. Each module is taught online via Canvas and involves regular online tasks or discussions to facilitate your learning.
Full-time delivery
The programme follows this pattern over one year (dates are approximate):
Part-time delivery
The programme follows this pattern over the two years (dates are approximate):
First year
Second year
For more information on distance learning including answers to frequently asked questions, student experiences and funding opportunities, please see our distance learning website.
This MA covers practical and theoretical approaches to the key issues and working practices in the field of cultural heritage. Students benefit from the Institute of Archaeology's emphasis on the role of heritage in today's society, from the art and archaeology collections of UCL, and from the unrivalled resources of London's museums.
Students are introduced to theoretical issues involved in cultural heritage and develop a critical understanding of the social and political context in which the processes for managing cultural heritage operate. The flexible programme structure allows students to design a theoretically based or practically based degree depending on each individual's needs and interests.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of two core module (30 credits), optional modules (60 credits), an optional work placement and a research dissertation (90 credits).
Core modules
Students are required to take the following core modules:
Optional modules
Students then choose further options to the value of 60 credits. At least 30 credits must be taken from the list below. The remaining 30 credits may also come from this list or can be chosen from the outstanding range of Master's option choicesoffered by the UCL Institute of Archaeology.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 15,000 words (90 credits).
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical demonstrations, site visits and guest lectures, and includes a 20-day placement in a museum or other cultural heritage organisation. Assessment is through essays, projects reports, a heritage agency report following the placement, and the dissertation.
Placement
Students have the option to undertake a 20-day voluntary placement in a museum or other cultural heritage organisation. In recent years, these placements have included organisations such as English Heritage, the National Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, ICOMOS (Paris), World Monuments Fund (Paris), UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Paris) and the Museum of London. The placement is not formally assessed.
Tier 4 students are permitted to undertake a work placement during their programme however they must not exceed 20 hours per week (unless the placement is an integral and assessed part of the programme). This applies whether that work placement takes place at UCL or at an external institution. If you choose to undertake a placement at an external institution, you will be required to report to the department on a weekly basis so that you can continue to comply with your visa.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Cultural Heritage Studies MA
Recent graduates of this programme have gone on to work in policy areas and project areas for national and international organisations, such as English Heritage, the National Trust, ICOMOS and UNESCO. They have also worked in development control, consultancies (such as Atkins Global), and in museums, site interpretation and education. Many students have also gone on to further research in academic institutions around the world, such as Stanford, Athens and Leiden, or here at UCL.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
Graduates have a critical understanding of both the theoretical and operational aspects of heritage and its use of the past to enrich the present for the public. The interdisciplinary nature of cultural heritage studies leads to creativity and initiative. Graduates are highly motivated and articulate. They have an acute awareness of the moral and ethical issues that are inherent in cultural heritage which contributes to skilful negotiation of contested matters. These abilities are valued by employers and heritage agencies and contribute to innovative exhibitions, educational activities, public programming and policy and strategy development. The breadth of the degree widens the spectrum of employment opportunities.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The UCL Institute of Archaeology is the largest and most diverse department of archaeology in the UK, and provides a stimulating environment for postgraduate study.
We are international in outlook and membership, with students and staff from over 40 countries, and involvement in field research projects around the globe.
UCL is located in central London, within walking distance of the British Museum and the British Library. The institute's outstanding archaeological library is complemented by UCL's main library, University of London Senate House and other specialist libraries.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Institute of Archaeology
73% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
The heritage industry is a major and growing contributor to the global economy, employing increased numbers of skilled heritage managers. This degree offers a tailor made curriculum to develop the knowledge base and skills required from both the disciplines of Business and Archaeology to allow effective management of the world’s heritage. As a student on this programme you will be guided through modules to develop your understanding of the economic and legal principals within which heritage management operates across the globe, from Museum displays to site presentations and how heritage shapes national identities. This will be matched by education in theory and practice of assessing, preserving, presenting and mitigating the impact of development on our shared heritage. Your business skills will be developed in finance, marketing, project and risk management to provide a broad base suited to working in both the public (government) and private sectors. Graduates from this programme will be suited to work in a wide range of business and management roles in the heritage, tourism and construction sectors.
The MSc in Heritage and Business Management course allows students to develop the skillset to be responsible for some of the countries most spectacular heritage sites. From National Trust properties, to country estates of immense agricultural and historical importance, this course prepares the student to be able to manage the daily running and operating of such sites. A course that prides itself on its industry recognised standards of excellence, producing the best candidates possible to prospective employers.
The Masters in Business and Heritage Management course is designed for those who want a promising career in the heritage industry, whether it be in business management, tourism, construction or even agricultural management sectors. The heritage industry is a major and growing contributor to the global economy, employing increased numbers of skilled heritage managers. This degree offers a tailor made curriculum to develop the knowledge base and skills required from both the disciplines of Business and Archaeology to allow effective management of the world’s heritage. As a student on this programme you will be guided through modules to develop your understanding of the economic and legal principals within which heritage management operates across the globe, from Museum displays to site presentations and how heritage shapes national identities. This will be matched by education in theory and practice of assessing, preserving, presenting and mitigating the impact of development on our shared heritage. Your business skills will be developed in finance, marketing, project and risk management to provide a broad base suited to working in both the public (government) and private sectors. Graduates from this programme will be suited to manage stately homes, tourist attractions, national trust properties and museums.
View the programme specification document for this course
Graduates from this programme will be suited to work in a wide range of business and management roles in the heritage, tourism and construction sectors. These will include government positions in heritage bodies, private consultancy and non-governmental organisations. The business skills you gain on this programme will also be useful for a wide range on non-heritage business roles.
This innovative cross-disciplinary programme teaches 'hard' science subjects within a cultural heritage context. You will develop a holistic understanding of state-of-the-art science and engineering enabling you to identify, investigate and solve problems in arts, heritage and archaeology. Students gain a range of competitive skills that make them employable in industry, heritage or academia.
SEAHA students develop a unique, interdisciplinary understanding of art, heritage, and archaeological sites within their historical, artistic, and cultural contexts. You will question and reflect on research in the light of broader societal and environmental issues. You will gain the skills to engage with diverse stakeholders including researchers, heritage professionals, policymakers and the wider public.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (120 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which usually includes placement in a heritage institution. The project culminates in a dissertation of 10,000–12,000 words and an oral examination.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, problem-solving classes, tutorials, laboratory and fieldwork and independent project work. It includes a significant research component with intensively linked projects, field-based research and a dissertation. Students present their research through a poster, a scientific paper, and a fieldwork report.
The programme includes a significant element of fieldwork as part of the Field Project module, including a week-long fieldtrip and a one-day study visit. The field projects take place in a historic property, in which students work in groups, using a variety of experimental methods to explore conservation and interpretation issues.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology MRes
The MRes Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology can be taken as a standalone degree or as part of the SEAHA CDT, for which we offer 12 studentships a year.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Graduates have pursued careers in a wide variety of fields including further PhD studies and academia, museum science, galleries and museums, and preservation and conservation.
Employability
SEAHA graduates have enhanced knowledge of conservation, interpretation, research and management within cultural heritage. You will be ideally placed to take on employment in cross-disciplinary roles within industry, heritage institutions or academia. Alternatively, you may wish to follow this programme with a PhD in a diverse range of science or engineering subjects.
The programme provides students with access to interdisciplinary teachers, including world-leading heritage professionals, as well as a cutting-edge heritage science laboratory equipped with instrumentation and tools for environmental, digital and materials research. Students engage in real-life case studies enabling discussion and reflection on complex heritage issues. By working with leading, heritage stakeholders and fellow students, you will be at the forefront of scientific research in cultural heritage.
As part of the MRes, students benefit from a fully funded field laboratory experience involving the SEAHA Mobile Heritage Laboratory, enabling them to develop their research ideas in the field, and to interact with heritage owners, managers and visitors.
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