Art Gallery and Museum Studies MA

Course overview

Studying the Art Gallery and Museum Studies MA you’ll develop your understanding of key ideas and issues in curatorship, museology and museum management. You'll apply the knowledge you gain to developing innovative approaches to curation, interpretation and engaging audiences, and build the knowledge and skills for a successful career in the museum and art gallery sector.

In this Masters course you’ll have the chance to explore and challenge key ideas that have shaped museum practice. You'll consider the ways in which material culture has been represented and interpreted by historians and cultural theorists, the methodologies behind museum practice and methods of display and interpretation, and put theory and practice into dialogue.

If you’re considering a career in this sector, or if you are currently working as a professional, this Masters course will develop your knowledge, understanding and practical experience, to prepare for your next step.

With access to a wide range of modules allowing you to explore theoretical approaches and their practical applications, you’ll have the opportunity to shape your learning path in the direction you choose.

A cultural hub

You'll study in the heart of a cultural hub for this diverse and vibrant region. Leeds is home to a wide variety of world-leading and innovative arts and heritage organisations, from the Royal Armouries, Opera North, Leeds Playhouse and Northern Ballet, to museums, galleries and heritage sites and many contemporary art spaces.

We are also close to everything the rest of Yorkshire has to offer, from The Hepworth Wakefield to the National Science and Media Museum, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Brontë Parsonage Museum. We have close links with many of these cultural institutions to support your practical learning.

You'll become a member of the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage and enjoy opportunities from networking events and links to alumni to conferences, seminars and reading groups.

Course tutors include researchers with a background in collections, curatorial, education and engagement work:

• Dr Robert Knifton (Programme Director)

• Dr Helen Graham

• Dr Nick Cass

• Professor Abigail Harrison Moore

• Dr Mark Westgarth

• Dr Kerry Bristol

• Dr Claudia Sternberg

• Dr Gill Park

• Dr Liz Stainforth

• Dr Jade French

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in subjects such as (but not limited to) Art History, Fine Art, Cultural Studies, Cultural Policy, History, Geography and English. Other subjects will be considered where an application demonstrates sufficient sector experience / knowledge. Professional experience will also be considered.

Experience of volunteering or working in a relevant field, such as museums, galleries, auction houses and/or heritage organisations, is required. We do not require a specific length of time to have been spent in work experience, though you must be able to critically reflect on your experience in your personal statement.

International

Our admissions team are experienced in considering a wide range of international qualifications. If you wish to discuss whether your qualifications will meet the necessary entry criteria, contact the School’s admissions team.

You can also check the accepted qualifications for your country or region.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

Career opportunities

The course will equip you with a good understanding of the issues and approaches to art gallery and museum studies, as well as practical work experience – a combination which is very valuable to employers. You will also develop advanced skills in communication, research and analysis as well as cultural awareness.

Our graduates work as heads of collection, curators and education staff in local authority museums, for national heritage organisations like the National Trust, charitable trusts and in arts marketing and public relations.

A significant number choose to return to the School to complete a research degree and have secured scholarships to pursue their research topics, including Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) scholarships. Former research students are now forging academic careers in the UK, Canada and the USA.

Through a combination of theory and practice, this Masters course produces graduates who are able to develop professional careers in the museums and heritage sector whilst retaining a critical and reflexive eye on their own practice and that of the institutions in which they work.

My course has equipped me with practical skills through the projects and placements, but also emotional skills through the group work, interactions and networking that make a huge part of the course.