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Dive deep in to the world of museums and their role in society.
Year of entry: 2024 (September)
1 year full-time,
2 years part-time,
3 years part-time
September 2024 (semester dates)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
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QS World Rankings by subject 2022
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Engage with a wide range of issues and develop a unique mix of practice-based and theoretical learning for your professional work or further research in the museum sector.
Our Museum Studies (MA) course gives you the opportunity to focus on museums, education and interpretation, and digital heritage. You'll also study contemporary issues of inclusion, wellbeing, public benefit and decolonising collections. The course combines critical academic study in museology with practical applications, and a curated museum placement in a local museum.
The programme is enhanced by collaboration with our heritage partners, including York Museums Trust, York Archaeological Trust, Leeds Museums and Galleries, local authorities, heritage bodies, third sector and commercial organisations.
You will study 180 credits over the duration of your course:
You'll also study three option modules. Examples may include:
You'll also have the opportunity to choose options from our full module catalogue. Examples may include:
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
You'll complete an 8,000-word dissertation on your research.
You will receive support, advice and guidance from your dissertation supervisor throughout your project. The range of expertise of our staff means we can provide you with guidance on a wide range of topics. You will have one-to-one meetings with supervisors across the Summer Semester.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
York boasts historic buildings and significant remains from the Roman, Viking and Medieval periods. You'll study in King's Manor, a beautiful Medieval building in the centre of the historic city.
Informality is one of our distinctive qualities - the atmosphere in our department is friendly, supportive and enthusiastic. We want you to develop your potential and thrive at York.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £10,590 | £23,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) | £5,295 | £11,950 |
| Part-time (3 years) | £3,530 | £7,967 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
We don't anticipate there being any additional fees associated with this course. All books and resources you need will be available in the library or online and it isn't mandatory that you buy your own copies. You may wish to set aside a small budget for photocopying, depending on how you like to work.
Many of the modules have field trips associated with them. These are paid for by the department.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We have a variety of funding options available within the department.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
One year in the Department of Archaeology was enough to gain a variety of useful skills that I will carry with me, miles away from York. MA in Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings) was as important for me to develop critical thinking, as to get a complete picture in the subject of conservation and manage to apply all that knowledge in the Mediterranean culture back home.Anna, MA Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings)
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and site visits. There is plenty of one-on-one guidance with staff and leading external experts in the conservation and heritage sector.
The Department of Archaeology is based in King's Manor, in York city centre. Your teaching will take place across King's Manor and Campus West, depending on your chosen option modules.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will be assessed by a variety of methods. Depending on which modules you opt to take, these could include:
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You will engage with practical applications of museum practices through module assessment and a curated museum placement. You'll develop a wide range of employability skills by giving presentations, by writing management, exhibition or media plans, and working directly with local museums. Graduates have gone on to careers in archaeology and heritage-related organisations across the UK and abroad. You'll also develop transferable skills that are applicable to a multitude of careers beyond archaeology and heritage.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:1 or equivalent in a Archaeology or a related subject such as History, History of Art, English, Geography, Anthropology, Politics or any related field. |
| Other qualifications and experience | Mature students or those with less conventional qualifications but with relevant professional experience and enthusiasm for this field will be considered. To find out if your professional experience or qualifications are appropriate, please contact the Course Director. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in all other components |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with a minimum of 176 in Writing and no less than 169 in all other components |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 7 in writing and no less than 6 in all other components |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 120 in production and 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 70 in Writing and no less than 65 in all other components |
| KITE | 459-494, with 459-494 in writing and 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Merit in writing and Pass with Merit in all other components |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 61 in Writing and 55 in all other components |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum 23 in Writing and 21 in all other components |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.
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