Museum Studies MSc, by distance learning

Course description

This degree will provide you with the practical and theoretical experience needed to become a creative and effective museum and gallery professional or to further advance your career in the sector.

You will be taught by experts in the field, who have been involved in expanding the academic discipline of museum studies over many years. The course will equip you with a thorough knowledge and critical understanding of current principles, practice, and contemporary debates in Museum Studies.

Over the course you will explore areas such as:

• The social role of museums and art galleries
• Activist practice in museums and galleries
• Collections care and management
• Exhibitions strategies
• Museum design
• Museum ethics and interpretation

If you are taking the MA or MSc, you will also complete a research project on the topic of your choice. For many, it is the most exciting part of the course, as a self-directed opportunity to contribute new ideas, new knowledge, or critique existing scholarship or practice at an advanced academic level. You might choose to write this up as a dissertation, but you could also consider writing a paper, a professional report, or perhaps even producing a film. We look forward to working with you on the possibilities.

The course is delivered in a variety of ways, including online lectures, seminars, and tutorials, and discussion activities. The programme is designed to fit around your existing commitments, and is sympathetically structured to allow you to break up the work into manageable chunks and focus on one assignment at a time.

By taking the distance learning course, you have the flexibility to fit studying around your existing work and family commitments. The distance learning course offers the same subject coverage and leads to the same qualification as our campus-based course. Museum Studies at Leicester works with a team of highly skilled Associate Tutors, all of whom are experienced museum and heritage professionals who will support you throughout your studies.

What's the difference?

If your dissertation concerns a science collection or museum, or if the nature of your investigation is 'scientific', you can receive a Master of Science (MSc) degree instead of a Master of Arts (MA) degree.

Teaching and learning

You will be supported by a dedicated team of academic and personal tutors as well as support staff. You will be allocated a personal tutor who can advise you on a range of issues and support you. In addition, for each module you will be allocated a module tutor who is a specialist in that particular field. Your module tutor will support you with academic enquiries relating to that module as well as feeding back to you on essay plans, marking your assignments and providing you with detailed feedback.

Careers and employability

Our graduates are employed in some of the largest and most prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, in addition to some smaller specialist and local institutions. They include:

• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
• British Natural History Museum
• Chatsworth House
• Christies

Students need to have: Either a first class or second class degree, which can be in any subject area; Or be able to demonstrate equivalent skills and aptitudes through the possession of a professional or vocational qualification and/or the accrual of relevant work experiences. Relevant experience can come from a wide spectrum of work or voluntary environments but clear evidence of this experience must be provided. You should be able to demonstrate a commitment to, or strong interest in, museums, galleries, or other kinds of heritage or cultural organisation. If you do not have a degree, you will be asked complete an assessment, such as an essay, so as to demonstrate your readiness for postgraduate study. Clear guidance will be provided on assessment criteria. You may also be required to attend an interview.