Program Overview

Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture MA

Overview

The Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture MA examines how cultural institutions are changing to meet the needs of the 21st century. The MA is for you if you're pursuing a career as a museum professional, curator, or arts organiser. It will equip you with a critical understanding of the key conceptual and practical skills in curatorship, museology and museum management necessary for you to succeed in your professional life.

Course Structure

The following modules are indicative of what you'll study on this course.

• Current Issues in Museum and Galleries: 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.

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, and of associated programmes of events and activities.
• 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 and you will look at how representation produces meaning.
• Social Justice and Representational Practices in Cultural Institutions: Social justice, participation, and inclusivity are key concerns for contemporary arts organisations and museums.
• Work Placement in Cultural Institutions: In this module you can gain first-hand experience of working within a professional context.

Partnerships

Modules on this course have been designed as partnerships with The Photographers' Gallery 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.
• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in all components.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £9,700 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £19,500 (Price per academic year)
• Alumni discount: This course is eligible for an alumni discount.
• Funding: There is a range of funding available that may help you fund your studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).
• Scholarships: The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.

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.
• Assessment types include 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.