Heritage Studies MA/PG Dip
Year of entry: 2025
MA: 12 Months Full-Time | 24 Months Part-Time
PG Dip: 9 Months Full-Time | 18 Months Part-Time
About the course
Our MA Heritage Studies master’s course is ideal if you want to develop your knowledge and practical skills to pursue or develop a career in heritage policy, management, conservation, learning, engagement and enterprise.
Heritage Studies examines the theory and practice of heritage making, management and use in local, national and international contexts. It includes both the practical aspects of conservation and management and a study of social, political and economic dynamics in cultural, archaeological, built and natural heritage.
You’ll be able to gain intensive work experience and take critical reflective practice within a range of heritage organisations across the region and further afield through our long-standing placement scheme.
Benefit from the expertise of the Institute for Cultural Practices and other specialists in archaeology, art history and history, and access the University’s cultural heritage assets, such as Manchester Museum, the John Rylands Library and Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.
This MA consists of taught units and a dissertation, with options for a work placement and professional practice project. Taught units cover topics including:
- Digital heritage
- Curating and engagement
- Decolonising museums and heritage
- Heritage and sustainable development
- Intangible cultural heritage and natural heritage
- Creative learning
- Heritage and learning
- Strategic planning and management of heritage projects and enterprises
These are example course units based on 2024/25 options and are subject to change each year.
Where will your degree take you?
Progression opportunities include work in heritage policy and management roles for national and international organisations, such as the Heritage Lottery, Historic England, the National Trust, and UNESCO.
Other roles within museums and heritage organisations include fundraising and development, research and consultancy, visitor service management, community learning and engagement, collections management and site management.
Dr Jenna Ashton
Lecturer in Heritage Studies
Dr Jenna Ashton is an experienced curator and producer, working in the areas of heritage, arts, participation, public space, ecologies and story-telling.
She is passionate about embedding inclusive practices and co-production methods in the arts and heritage sectors. Jenna is also the Founder and Creative Director of Digital Women's Archive North – a Manchester-based feminist arts and heritage organisation addressing social inequalities through creative archiving and documentation.
Sophie Small
Museum Assistant at Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Heritage studies MA
‘’The support from academic staff has been amazing. The programme’s very open to your personalisation and staff have been keen to help me write about the case studies that are close to me. I’ve had some incredible opportunities this year. This course has been a fantastic chance to develop my academic and professional skills at the same time, making use of the ways in which the two intertwine.’’
Similar courses:
School of Arts, Languages and Culture
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester