Library & Information Studies

About

Our programme offers students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required to become versatile and progressive library and information professionals. The programme is based in the College of Arts & Humanities and is led by academic staff in the Information Studies subject area. Teaching staff hold diverse teaching, research and sector expertise across Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM), and Records and Information Management. Students also benefit from studying alongside postgraduates in Museum Studies and Archives, Records, & Information Management

This brand-new programme for 2025 is being presented for accreditation by CILIP: The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. This will offer graduates the benefit of reciprocal accreditation for recognition in countries like the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Australia.

The programme includes contributions from sector professionals with varied local, national and international experience, and formal partnerships with leading professional organisations, such as Glasgow Life and National Library of Scotland.

Gain experience working with collections of international significance and standing, including Glasgow’s civic, university and national collections. Access specialised study facilities at Kelvin Hall and the University’s Archives and Special Collections.

Learn about the role of the libraries and information studies within the wider cultural heritage sector, particularly Galleries, Archives and Museums.

Apply a theoretical framework for critically understanding the role of libraries and information studies in society, such as supporting important human rights such as access to information, preservation of the cultural record, and intellectual freedom.

Develop a critical awareness of the role that international, national, and local contexts play in shaping policy and practice related to information behaviours, information literacies and information ethics and law.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for postgraduate taught programmes are a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (for example, GPA 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject.

You should have a minimum of two weeks' experience in a related field
Your application should also include a short statement (500 words) outlining your interest in the programme.

English Program Requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme

TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)

93 overall with Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

59 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 59; Speaking 59; Writing 74
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

176 overall, no subtest less than 169
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Oxford English Test

7 overall with no subtest less than 7
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

70 overall with no subtest less than 70
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Password Skills Plus

6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

Pre-sessional courses

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

Heriot Watt
Kingston Upon Thames
Middlesex University
Manchester University
Reading University
Edinburgh University
ST Andrews University
UCL
Durham

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

Career

As a CILIP-accredited qualification (application pending) the Masters will offer reciprocal accreditation in countries including the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Australia. The programme offers a foundation for work in a diverse range of library and information sectors, including working with rare books and special collections, providing services in public and school libraries, academic libraries, health libraries, and corporate library environments. Other potential career roles include work in the areas of information governance.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

37,425 / year