Program Overview

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Museums, Heritage and Society (PGCert, PGDip, MLitt) – online 2025 entry

Overview

Prepare for employment in museums by training in all types of museums, galleries, and other heritage facilities.

Application Deadline

Monday 1 September 2025

Programmes

• MLitt (September 2025)
• PGDip (September 2025)
• PGCert (September 2025)

Duration

• MLitt: up to three years
• PGDip: up to two years
• PGCert: up to one year

School

Graduate School

Fees

• MLitt (three years): £18,000
• PGDip (two years): £12,000
• PGCert (one year): £6,000

Why Study This Course?

The MLitt in Museums, Heritage and Society is a taught postgraduate online programme run by the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Studies, in association with the School of Art History and the Museums of the University of St Andrews. The MLitt is aimed at students wanting to start a career in museum and heritage work, or for those looking for a mid-career change.

Highlights

• Taught by experienced practising museum professionals and academics
• Flexible and fully online

Teaching

• Lectures
• Discussion boards
• Individual and group tasks

Assessment

• A range of assignments including:
  • Essays
  • Presentations
  • Object studies
  • Reviews
  • Programme brief
  • Reflective practice

Dissertation

• MLitt students complete a dissertation which can be practice-based

Modules

• All modules are 15 credits, except the capstone project taken as the final module and accounting for 60 credits
• For more details, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue
• The modules are examples from previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course

First 120 credits

• Core module: Introduction to Museums and Heritage
• People in Museums: Audiences, Leadership and Strategy
• Experiencing Museums: Exhibitions, Learning and Engagement
• Active Collections: Development, Preservation and Access
• The Museum: A Social History
• Exhibiting Antiquity: Collecting, Curating and Displaying the Past
• The Ethical Digital Museum
• Critical perspectives on World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Community Engagement and Participation

Dissertation

• Dissertation
• Practice-based dissertation

What It Will Lead To

Careers

Recent graduates of our in-person course, Museum and Heritage Studies, which includes similar modules, have gone on to work for a range of institutions, including:

• Chicago Institute of Art
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• National Trust for Scotland
• Scottish Fisheries Museum

We are committed to supporting your career aspirations, whatever stage of your career you are at. Our Careers Centre can help connect you to our extensive global alumni community for advice and mentoring, as well as offering career coaching, bespoke workshops, employer connections, experiences, and application support.

The Careers Centre also offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their networks and developing skills to create their own successful careers.

Our International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute offers peer mentoring and an extensive suite of courses to support your academic and professional skills development.

Why St Andrews?

The online MLitt in Museums, Heritage and Society is designed for professionals in the sector looking to enhance their skills and advance their careers, while also welcoming recent graduates seeking to enter the field.

This flexible programme offers advanced training that combines theory and practice which is relevant across a wide range of museums, galleries, and heritage organisations. Throughout your studies you will develop critical skills that enable you to engage meaningfully with society and drive positive change within the sector.

The Museums, Heritage and Society programme is online and self-paced, with options to study for a PGCert, PGDip, or MLitt.

Wherever you are, you can take St Andrews with you. Online Masters at the University of St Andrews combine all the benefits of studying at one of the world's oldest and best universities, with all the advantages of flexible, personalised learning.

Alumni

As a graduate of St Andrews, you become part of a prestigious and globally connected alumni community. This lifelong membership offers access to career services, networking opportunities, and exclusive resources. Engaging with the University's worldwide alumni network ensures you remain connected to St Andrews, no matter where your career takes you.

Entry Requirements

• A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree
• Museum work or voluntary experience is welcome, as are transferable skills gained in other roles
• English language proficiency

The MLitt in Museums, Heritage and Society welcomes applications from students from all disciplines relevant to museum work, such as:

• History
• Archaeology
• Anthropology
• Languages
• Media and Communications
• Physical and Natural Sciences

Application Requirements

• CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date
• Personal statement (500 words)
• Personal statement
• Sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words)
• Two references (both professional and academic references are accepted)
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates

English Language Proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.

Fees and Funding

• MLitt (three years) £18,000 (charged £6000 per year of study)
• PGDip (two years) £12,000 (charged £6000 per year of study)
• PGCert (one year) £6,000

Fees will be charged evenly across each academic year, based on the maximum length of study confirmed for your specific programme.

Scholarships and Funding

We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances. You may be eligible for scholarships, discounts or other support:

• Colbert Scholarship Programme
• Snowdon Trust Masters Scholarship
• St Leonard's funding opportunities
• Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)

Graduate School scholarships

Curriculum Development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.

Tuition Fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.