Program Overview

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Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture with Professional Experience MA

Overview

The Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture with Professional Experience MA is a unique course that offers you the opportunity to undertake an extended work placement and gain professional work experience. It is partnered with the one-year course, Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture MA. On the two-year course, you'll do the same taught modules as on the one-year course, but you'll have the added opportunity of doing a placement lasting from three to six months in your second year.

Course Structure

In addition to taking four core modules, you'll choose four modules from the list of option modules below.

Core Modules

Current Issues in Museum and Gallery Studies

This module focuses on key topics that are fundamental to the discipline of museum and gallery studies. It engages with current debates being addressed by professionals in the sector and with the pressing issues that are facing arts and cultural institutions.

MA Dissertation or MA Project

You'll take either the MA Dissertation or the MA Project:

MA Dissertation

Development, execution, and writing-up of an independent research project on a topic chosen by you. You'll attend regular research seminars. Individual supervision will provide topic-specific guidance.

MA Project

Development, execution, and writing-up of a practice-based research project on a topic chosen by you involving practical work in a creative or professional capacity. You'll attend regular research seminars. Individual supervision will provide topic-specific guidance.

Work Experience Preparation

This module consists of the interview to prepare you for the Extended Work Experience module.

Extended Work Experience

You'll undertake an integrated placement in a professional work environment and may link the placement with the research undertaken for your MA Project or MA Dissertation. The module is designed to enable you to undertake a substantial piece of research or reflective practice with a cultural or heritage sector partner.

Option Modules

Art Institutions and Contemporary Culture

This module examines how art institutions define their roles and priorities within the contemporary art world.

Collecting Today: Curating, Presenting and Managing Collections

Collections lie at the heart of a museum, often shaping its historical development, and its evolution as a modern institution.

Engaging the Archive

This module introduces you to the practical and theoretical issues of using archives for the purposes of research or exhibition.

Exhibiting Photography

This module looks in detail at the practical and conceptual steps involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of contemporary photographic exhibitions.

Heritage in Action

This module focuses on issues of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the UK and globally, expanding knowledge beyond museums and galleries.

Management in Cultural and Heritage Institutions

This module is a critical exploration of the structure of the culture and heritage sector, the different kinds of institutions represented within it, and their relationships with political bodies, funders, and the leisure and tourism industry.

Museum Narratives, Audiences and Programming

This module looks in detail at the way that museums develop content for the public.

Representing World Cultures

This module examines the issues and practices involved in presenting non-western cultures to a diverse audience through visual practices.

Social Justice and Representational Practices in Cultural Institutions

Social justice, participation, and inclusivity are key concerns for contemporary arts organisations and museums.

Partnerships

Modules on this course have been designed as partnerships with Tate and the Museum of London.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in a relevant discipline, including culture and heritage studies, visual arts and media, languages and literature, and history.
• All applications from any prospective student without a degree in a relevant area or without higher education qualifications, including from candidates with demonstrable relevant work experience and relevant professional qualifications, will be carefully considered.
• Applicants may be asked to supply a written response to a set text to demonstrate suitability for the course.
• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in all components.
• Applicants are required to submit one academic or professional reference.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £9,700 (Prices listed for the first year only. Fees for the second year are charged at 50% of the first year.)
• International tuition fee: £19,500 (Prices listed for the first year only. Fees for the second year are charged at 50% of the first year.)

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods across all our postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Learning typically falls into two broad categories: Scheduled hours and Independent study.
• Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories: Practical and Coursework.

Research Groups

• Our research achieves real-world impact and we are proud to claim a rich and diverse profile of high-quality research and knowledge exchange in a wide range of disciplines.
• Find out more about our research groups related to this course: Institute for Modern and Contemporary Culture.

Supporting You

• Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
• Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills.
• Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential.
• Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas.
• Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more.

Course Location

• Our Regent Campus is composed of three sites, situated on and around Regent Street – one of the most famous and vibrant streets in London.
• Our Humanities subjects are based at 309 Regent Street, which includes recently refurbished social spaces, gym facilities and our Regent Street Cinema.