Program Overview

Introduction to the Library and Information Studies MA

The Library and Information Studies MA is a postgraduate degree that blends traditional principles with innovative approaches, preparing students for professional practice in the field of library and information studies. This programme is accredited by both the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, with the status of Initial accreditation. The next comprehensive review visit is scheduled for Spring 2031.

Programme Overview

Taught at University College London (UCL), a home of professional library training and education for more than 100 years, this is an outstanding learning opportunity. The programme strengthens traditional principles with cutting-edge approaches and helps students understand how information is produced, disseminated, controlled, and recorded. It provides students with the practical skills required to identify, locate, manage, and organise information.

Who This Course is For

The MA is a broad-based course, and the skills that graduates learn are intended to apply to a wide range of jobs within the field of library and information studies. The general framework of the course allows plenty of scope for students to follow their particular subject interests.

What This Course Will Give You

UCL has been the home of professional library training and education since 1919. This course continues to attract an outstanding team of researchers, teachers, students, practitioners, and information industry leaders. It combines an appreciation of the traditional library with the latest developments in internet and digital technologies to develop an understanding of the ever-evolving information environment. Students benefit from this environment and expertise, as well as UCL's proximity to major libraries and repositories, including the British Library, UCL Special Collections, and the Senate House Library of the University of London (UoL).

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
• Paid or voluntary experience in a library or information service, or with information work.
• English language requirements: The English language level for this course is Level 2. UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are available for international students aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL.

Course Structure

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, computer laboratory and classroom practicals, with a strong emphasis on active learning and the acquisition of practical skills. Assessment is through a mixture of essays, reports, and practical assignments, such as digital library design and the creation of indexing tools.

Full-Time Structure

• Terms 1 and 2: Students take six compulsory modules and two optional modules.
• Term 3: The dissertation research and writing commence, continuing over the summer, although some initial planning takes place at the end of Term 1 and during Term 2. A two-week work placement may also be undertaken.

Part-Time Structure

• Year 1: Students take four modules in Terms 1 and 2, which are a mix of compulsory and optional modules. In Term 3, students concentrate on self-directed study, with the option of a two-week work placement.
• Year 2: Students take four modules in Terms 1 and 2, which are a mix of compulsory and optional modules, depending on the previous year's choices. In Term 3, students commence dissertation research and writing, continuing over the summer.

Flexible Structure

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising eight taught modules and the research dissertation, with a maximum of five years to complete the course. Modules are timetabled to run on Mondays and Tuesdays, and students choose how many and which modules to take in any given year.

Modules

Compulsory Modules

• Cataloguing and Classification
• Managing Collections
• Supporting Information Users
• Managing Information Organisations
• Using Technology in Information Organisations
• The Library and Information Professional
• Dissertation

Optional Modules

• Historical Bibliography
• Manuscript Studies
• Information Literacy
• Knowledge Organisation
• Information Governance
• Other options may include Graph Databases and Semantic Technologies, Digital Curation, Social Media, Platforms and Power, and Trauma-Informed Approaches to Managing Archives, Records, and Cultural Heritage.

Placement

The work placement is highly recommended for full-time students and optional for part-time students, forming part of the Library and Information Professional module. Placements last for two weeks and are undertaken at the beginning of Term 3, providing students with the experience of applying learned techniques in practice.

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK students: ｣14,200 (full-time), ｣7,100 (part-time) for the 2026/27 academic year.
• International students: ｣35,400 (full-time), ｣17,700 (part-time) for the 2026/27 academic year.
• The programme is also available on a modular (flexible) basis, with fees charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee.

Additional Costs

• A fee deposit is charged for full-time and part-time offer holders.
• The Department strives to keep additional costs low, with books and journal articles usually available via the UCL library.
• Students may incur additional travel costs for off-site visits within the Central London Area.

Funding Your Studies

• The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers offers a tuition fees scholarship annually for a full-time or part-time Library and Information Studies MA student.
• Scottish applicants may be eligible for an award from the Student Awards Agency Scotland.
• For a comprehensive list of funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please refer to the Scholarships and Funding website.

Next Steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding, particularly overseas applicants, should take note of application deadlines. An application processing fee applies for this course. When assessing applications, the admissions team would like to learn about the applicant's motivation for studying Library and Information Studies at graduate level, their reasons for choosing UCL, and how their academic and professional background meets the demands of the programme.