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History at UEA
Find out more about studying History at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMA Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Start Dates
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UEA is ranked 3rd overall for research quality in History
Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisCourse Overview
Why Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at UEA?
Museums and heritage organisations shape how we understand history and culture. This dynamic MA places you at the centre of that world.
Why choose UEA
- Expert tuition: Learn from dedicated professionals in a world-class museum environment
- Real-world experience: Combine theory and practice through hands-on learning and placements
- Iconic setting: Study and work in the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, designed by Norman Foster
What is Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies?
You’ll study in the UK’s only Art History department located within an international art museum. Explore key topics like decolonisation, identity, and inclusion by working with the Sainsbury Centre’s unique collection of world art.
You’ll learn from leading experts and explore global and local perspectives on art, culture, and communication. A key part of the course is short-term work placements.(opens in a new window) Over 15 days, you’ll gain first-hand experience of museum practice and visitor engagement.
You’ll study in a supportive and creative environment that values collaboration, inclusion, and your individual ideas. This is your chance to build real-world skills, grow in confidence, and explore exciting future career paths.
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Careers
Career Pathways
With MA Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies, you could develop a career as a:
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Curator: Manage collections, develop exhibitions, and interpret objects for museums and galleries
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Heritage Officer: Support preservation, storytelling, and public engagement within heritage organisations
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Museum Registrar: Oversee collections management, loans, and museum administration
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Exhibition Designer: Create engaging displays and visitor experiences for museums and cultural spaces
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Public Historian: Share historical knowledge through education, outreach, and community projects
Career Support
UEA’s Career Central(opens in a new window) will support you throughout your work placement and career planning. You’ll gain valuable professional experience while developing skills highly valued across the cultural and heritage sector. Our dedicated careers support will help you build confidence, expand your network, and prepare for opportunities up to three years after graduation.
After the Course
You'll benefit from UEA's formal partnerships with respected organisations such as the Sainsbury Centre(opens in a new window), Norfolk Museums(opens in a new window), and Ipswich Museum(opens in a new window). We also have active associations with National Trust(opens in a new window), Norfolk Archaeology Trust(opens in a new window), South Asia Collection, Britten Pears Arts(opens in a new window) and the Norwich Historic Churches Trust(opens in a new window). Many of our alumni(opens in a new window) now work with these partners.
Study and Modules
Structure
Your studies will incorporate the two key aspects of the degree: cultural heritage and museum studies. The course includes several compulsory taught modules and concludes with an optional module at the end of the year.
Your first modules will develop your understanding of broad issues, their histories, development, and impact. You’ll study them through interactive seminars and a combination of group work and independent work. These modules will help you to think in ways that reflect current interests and priorities within the museum sector. You’ll develop excellent organisational and communication skills that you can apply later in the course and in your career. You’ll become familiar with the complex issues that affect cultural interpretation and representation. You’ll also learn about the evolving relationship between marginalised and majoritarian forms of culture, as well as controversial and timely subjects such as repatriation.
You’ll have the opportunity to study topics such as world heritage and contemporary curating. These learning experiences will prepare you for your dissertation, should you choose this as your end-of-year option. Alongside your core modules, you’ll participate in a series of training sessions in preparation for your placement.
Overall, you should expect to dedicate the equivalent of approximately four working days per week to the programme. This commitment allows you to integrate your intellectual interests with practical work, developing expertise across both heritage and museum studies.
As you progress, you’ll begin your end-of-year module, which leads either to the dissertation route or the Critical Practice pathway. The optional Critical Practice path offers a valuable opportunity to develop practical skills such as podcasting, exhibition design, translation, or social enterprise. Like the dissertation, your work in Critical Practice will be supported by a diverse team of academics.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Throughout your degree, you’ll profit from high calibre teaching and an inspiring and supportive community of learners. Our teaching staff has direct experience of curating exhibitions and developing purposeful connections with a host of relevant heritage organisations. You’ll benefit from our knowledge and insights, and our desire for you to reach your potential as an advanced learner.
Many of our modules are team taught, and some involve external speakers. You’ll enjoy complementary and diverse perspectives and experiences, which will enable you to gain a broad and holistic understanding of these sectors. As we're part of the Sainsbury Centre, we have unrivalled access to a wide variety of artistic cultures. With our students, we actively generate experiential attitudes to interpretation.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed exclusively on coursework. Formative work is used to help prepare you for the submission of summative coursework. Most of your coursework will be essay-based, requiring fully referenced academic prose. For some assessments you might need to deliver an in-class presentation, a project, or a piece of reflective writing.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. This course's annual intake is in September of each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Humanities or Social Sciences
If you do not meet the course's academic entry requirements, please note that you should include in your personal statement details about any relevant professional skill-sets and/or workplace experiences. This could be considered in support of your application.
Professional skill sets and experiences may include teamwork and voluntary work pertaining to museums or heritage organisations; development of educational or cultural programmes within museums or heritage organisations; participation within formal or community-based research or training activities connected to museum or heritage topics.
- Interviews
Selected applicants will be invited to attend an online (Teams) or in person interview.
These are scheduled across the academic year. Typically, applicants will be interviewed by the Course Director. The interviews usually run for about thirty minutes. Applicants should be prepared to discuss the merits of their application and their suitability for the course.
Following the interview, applicants will receive a decision on their application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. This course's annual intake is in September of each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Humanities or Social Sciences
If you do not meet the course's academic entry requirements, please note that you should include in your personal statement details about any relevant professional skill-sets and/or workplace experiences. This could be considered in support of your application.
Professional skill sets and experiences may include teamwork and voluntary work pertaining to museums or heritage organisations; development of educational or cultural programmes within museums or heritage organisations; participation within formal or community-based research or training activities connected to museum or heritage topics.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Interviews
Selected applicants will be invited to attend an online (Teams) or in person interview.
These are scheduled across the academic year. Typically, applicants will be interviewed by the Course Director. The interviews usually run for about thirty minutes. Applicants should be prepared to discuss the merits of their application and their suitability for the course.
Following the interview, applicants will receive a decision on their application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £11,200
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International Students: £23,580
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You may need to pay some additional costs for optional field trips, which are subsidised by the department.
Please see additional course fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.