Archivists

Latest News

Applications for the 2013-14 Graduate Archive Trainee Programme are no longer being accepted. Closing date was Wednesday 5th June 2013.  

Graduate Archive Trainee Programme

One option for starting out is to apply for a Graduate Traineeship.  Competition for the posts can be fierce and it is rare for someone with no previous archive work experience to be appointed.

Our 12-month programme starts in August and gives a wide variety of experience to those intending to apply for one of the university courses in Archives and Records Management on offer in the UK and Ireland.

Many other organisations provide voluntary and paid experience. The Archives & Records Association maintains a list of them.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

In collaboration with the Humanities Advanced Technology Information Institute, our staff teach a postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Information Management & Preservation that is approved by the Society of Archivists and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).  The modules on this course can also be taken by qualified professionals for CPD purposes.

For further details see the course prospectus.

Scottish Archivists Discussion List

A discussion list for Scottish Archivists was set up in April 2000, hosted by the University of Glasgow. The archive of the discussion list is available for searching.

To subscribe to the list an email message should be sent to majordomo@gla.ac.uk, with ‘subject’ blank and the command subscribe scotarch in the body of the message.

Getting started

Most archivists have a degree before deciding to train as an archivist.  While they are studying many volunteer in a local archive.  Some, but not all, future archivists then find a year of paid work before starting a formal professional qualification.  The type of experience and the understanding gained from that experience, whether voluntary or paid, are the most important factors in gaining entry to the profession.

The Archives & Records Association (the principal professional body for archivists, archive conservators and records managers in the UK and Ireland) has a Careers section on its website. This includes information about careers in each of the three professions, summarising the skills required and the career path.  There is also useful information on the Archives & Records Association's Careers Network site; for current posts go to its new incarnation, the Para-professionals and Trainees Group.

Qualifications

In collaboration with the Humanities Advanced Technology Information Institute, our staff teach a postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Information Management & Preservation that is approved by the Archives & Records Association and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).  It is a one year full time course.  Part-time study options are also available.

For further details see the course prospectus.