Museum Studies MSc/PgDip
This Masters offers you the opportunity to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required to become a versatile museum professional. The programme draws on staff research and expertise in museums, archives, libraries, galleries and digital cultural heritage. Co-taught with cultural heritage professionals, including staff from The Hunterian Museum, Glasgow Museums, the National Library of Scotland, the programme combines interdisciplinary academic and practitioner input. Glasgow’s national, civic and university museum collections provide students with privileged access to rich and diverse resources of international standing.
- Academic contact: humanities-pg@glasgow.ac.uk
- Teaching start: September
- Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus
- MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time
- PgDip: 9 months months full-time; 18 months months part‑time
Why this programme
Museum Studies Presentation
- You will explore museums as places of knowledge, culture, learning and public engagement, while developing an understanding of how museums operate in professional practice.
- We are the only Museum Studies programme in the UK accredited by CILIP, the Library and Information Association.
- Glasgow’s civic and university collections are some of the richest and most diverse in Europe and are of international standing. The University’s own Hunterian Museum is the oldest public museum in Scotland and has extensive holdings covering fine art, geology, anatomy and the history of medicine.
- You’ll be able to choose from a range of courses involving staff from The Hunterian, Glasgow Museums and the National Library of Scotland, giving you a strong insight into professional and practical issues in the museum and cultural sector.
- Our facilities at Kelvin Hall provide opportunities for developing professional skills including collection management, object-handling, interpretation and public engagement.
- Our partnerships with local and international museums and heritage organisations, including Museums Galleries Scotland and the Smithsonian, provide great opportunities to gain practical experience, including work placements.
- Shared teaching with our sister programmes Archives, Records, & Information Management and Library & Information Studies provides students with a broad overview of the cultural heritage sector.
- The Museum Studies Teaching Team have been awarded a College Teaching Excellence Award. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, guest speakers, workshops, individual and group project work.
- A series of visits provides complementary experience of varied museum institutions and collections, while placements and group project-based learning activities offer opportunities for professional skills development.
- Meet our MuSEs: Learn how our students gain skills in exhibition tours while working alongside curators, technicians and front of house staff at the Hunterian.
- Listen to our podcast: Stories from Glasgow – Tracing Glasgow's Imperial Past with Dr Rosie Spooner.
- A recent graduate looking to develop specialist knowledge and prepare for a career in museums or cultural heritage
- Working in a museum, gallery, heritage organisation or related field and looking to extend your professional knowledge and skills
- Considering a career change and looking for an opportunity to develop new knowledge and professional experience
- Interested in collections, curating, exhibitions, learning and engagement, digital heritage or another area of museum practice
- Interested in the social, ethical and cultural questions surrounding museums and their role in society
- Considering further research or doctoral study in museum studies, heritage or a related discipline
- Museum theory and contemporary museology
- Collections management and documentation
- Object-based research and interpretation
- Exhibition development and display
- Museum learning and audience engagement
- Digital cultural heritage and digitisation
- Curating and collections
- Museums, memory and the legacies of empire
- Professional museum practice and work placements
- Research methods and independent research
- Research and analyse – investigate objects, collections, exhibitions and museum practices, evaluate evidence and develop well-supported arguments
- Communicate with different audiences – present ideas clearly and creatively through writing, presentations, interpretation, exhibitions and other forms of communication
- Work collaboratively – contribute to group projects, work with colleagues and museum professionals, share ideas and respond constructively to different perspectives
- Solve problems and make decisions – apply your knowledge to practical museum challenges, develop solutions and make informed professional judgements
- Plan and manage projects – develop ideas, organise tasks, work to deadlines and respond to the practical constraints of museum and heritage work
- Work with collections – develop practical experience of areas such as object handling, collections documentation, research, preservation, access and digitisation
- Create and interpret exhibitions – develop skills in exhibition planning, interpretation and audience engagement
- Reflect on your own development – recognise your strengths, identify areas for further development and articulate the knowledge and skills you have gained
- Apply your learning in professional contexts – connect academic ideas and specialist museum knowledge with real-world situations and professional practice
Key Facts
Who is this degree for?
The Museum Studies MSc is for anyone who wants to develop their understanding of museums and cultural heritage, and explore how their knowledge and skills could be applied in this sector and beyond.
You might be:
You do not need to have studied museum studies as an undergraduate. We welcome students from a range of academic and professional backgrounds.
You should be curious about museums and willing to engage with both academic ideas and practical questions. You will benefit from the programme if you enjoy investigating questions, working with others, communicating ideas and applying what you learn to new situations.
What will you study?
Your studies will combine museum theory, specialist knowledge and practical application. You will consider how museums have developed, the changing roles they play in society, and the ethical, social and professional issues that shape contemporary museum practice.
You will explore areas such as:
You will be encouraged to apply what you learn to practical situations and professional contexts. This might involve working with museum objects, developing an exhibition proposal, creating interpretation for a particular audience, undertaking a group project or responding to a real-world museum challenge.
You will also develop your research skills and, for the MSc, undertake an independent dissertation or applied dissertation.
Throughout the programme, you will be encouraged to make connections between what you are learning, how you are developing, and where you might use your knowledge and skills in the future.
What skills will you develop?
We will help you develop the specialist knowledge, professional skills and transferable skills you need to work effectively in museums, galleries and the wider cultural heritage sector.
You will develop your ability to:
These skills are developed through the academic and practical work you undertake throughout the programme. You will have opportunities to learn through workshops, object-based activities, museum visits, group projects, presentations and engagement with museum professionals.
Depending on your chosen courses, you may also have opportunities for professional placements and other forms of experiential learning.
Our aim is not only to help you acquire these skills, but to help you understand what you can do with your knowledge, recognise your developing strengths and confidently communicate your skills to others.
What our students say
The moment where I realised I'd made the perfect choice was 3rd or 4th week of class. We were touring Kelvin Hall, you get to see this expansive archive and this crazy collection, and how much people here care about it and care about you understanding it. We did so much in museums, and I think that's exactly what I wanted; I wanted to be in museums. It was what I really wanted to focus on for my own career goals. So, it's been fantastic. Cassandra, MSc student
The way we approached placements was like applying for a job. We looked at a list of over 30 different ones. I was at the Royal College of Physicians. I was able to more or less independently curate an exhibit for them. I'm now able to say on my CV that I've been able to curate an exhibit. I've also been doing tours at the Hunterian Museum once a week, and that's been a really great opportunity. And I volunteer with the Zoology Museum. Florence, MSc student
Panel Discussion and Q&A
Watch a recording of our recent panel discussion and Q&A with students and staff from this degree.
Programme structure
Semester 1
Core Courses
Semester 2
Core Course (MSc only)
PgDip students will take one additional optional course in place of this.
Optional Courses
You will either take one of the following 40 credit courses:
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Exhibition Development (with Placement)
This course provides valuable work experience in a museum and to gain professional insights into the process of developing an exhibition. Students will work as a group and individually in collaboration with mentors in exhibition management, curatorial, collections management, audience development and digital engagement to develop an exhibition and related activities from an initial concept brief provided by the Hunterian. Students can choose to participate in the installation of the exhibition at a Hunterian venue and the delivery of public engagement activities over the summer.
The course aims to:
- Provide high quality project-based work experience in exhibition development in a museum.
- Promote the acquisition of specialist, conceptual and transferable skills in exhibition development.
- Provide professional insight into how a UK university museum service operates and offer opportunities to gain practical experience in implementing museum policy, meeting strategic objectives and delivering services.
- Consolidate and develop students' knowledge and understanding of museum theory and practice, with a special focus on project creation, planning and delivery.
- Develop skills that may be an advantage in preparing for a wide range of employment, including time management, collaboration, independent learning, problem solving and project evaluation.
- Offer students opportunities to refine and develop their learning interests and explore potential future career paths.
By the end of this course students will be able to:
- Identify the operational processes, policies and strategies of a university museum.
- Identify the different stages of exhibition planning and the professional roles and skills involved, including exhibition management, collections care, curatorial research, audience development and digital engagement.
- Evaluate the differences in departmental priorities and propose solutions for addressing tensions within the exhibition development process.
- Collaborate with others and communicate effectively within a professional context.
- Create an exhibition proposal and related outputs that meet professional standards.
- Reflect upon and critically evaluate their learning.
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Museum Studies Work Placement
The purpose of the course is to provide valuable work experience in a museum or other related cultural institution, where you can explore a possible future career, while meeting professional practitioners and developing practical skills and experience.
This course aims to:
- Provide high quality project-based work experience within a museum-related organisation.
- Promote the acquisition of specialist, conceptual and transferable skills.
- Provide an opportunity to put into practice some of the knowledge and skills gained during the programme.
- Develop skills that may be an advantage in preparing for a wide range of employment, including time management, independent learning, problem solving and project evaluation.
By the end of this course students will be able to:
- Apply relevant knowledge to the practical aspects of the work of the placement organisation.
- Analyse their role within the placement organisation and how it relates to the wider operational context of the placement organisation.
- Evaluate the key aims, strategies and professional practices of the placement organisation in relation to wider professional practice in the museum sector, including relevant national and international policy, strategy and funding issues.
- Critically reflect on their work as an individual and as a team member, and evaluate their skills in listening and responding perceptively to others.
- Evaluate acquired knowledge and skills and their application to future employment opportunities.
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Learning and Engagement in Cultural Heritage
The course will combine a critical and theoretical study of museum learning and engagement with an examination of good practice in this area. It will also analyse museum and object-based learning in the digital and physical environment, taking into account the needs of different audience groups. Students will develop understanding and skills about the design and delivery of learning and engagement programmes and materials through a group project.
The course aims to:
- Provide an overview of museum learning and engagement theories and good practices.
- Introduce the principles of museum object-based learning and methods of engagement in the cultural heritage sector, taking into account the needs of different audience groups.
- Develop professional skills applicable to the design and delivery of learning and engagement programmes and materials in different cultural heritage contexts.
By the end of this course students will be able to:
- Critically analyse the key factors that influence the design of museum learning and engagement programmes and describe the main stages of their planning.
- Identify and apply appropriate theories to practice in museum learning and engagement.
- Identify the needs of different audience groups and the barriers to learning and engagement in cultural heritage settings.
- Identify appropriate strategies for learning from objects in physical and digital environments, and explain how these can be used to engage different audience groups.
- Work independently and as part of a team, with minimal supervision, to deadlines and budgets to design museum learning and engagement activities.
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or the following 20 credit course:
and one other optional course (two if studying for the PgDip):
- Digital Imaging
- Digital Engagement and Immersive Environments
- Document Encoding
- Law, Information Governance and Collections
- Decolonising the Heritage of Slavery and Colonialism
Other courses within the College of Arts and Humanities may also be available, subject to approval:
Note: not all courses may be available every year.
Summer
MSc students will undertake either the dissertation or the applied dissertation.
This gives you the opportunity to investigate a topic that reflects your interests and, where appropriate, develop a project connected to a museum, collection or professional context.
Your assessments are designed to help you demonstrate what you know and what you can do. As well as developing academic research and writing, you may have opportunities to produce work that reflects forms of communication and practice used beyond the university.
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. More information: Student contract.
Career prospects
The degree can support different career ambitions. You might want to work directly in museums and galleries, in collections, exhibitions, learning, engagement, digital heritage or cultural programming. You might be interested in roles across the wider cultural, heritage, education or creative sectors. Or you may want to use the research, communication, collaboration, project management and critical thinking skills you develop in a different professional context.
Whatever your starting point and career ambitions, the programme will encourage you to identify your strengths, develop new capabilities, gain experience of applying your learning, and build confidence in articulating what you can contribute as a graduate.
Career opportunities within the cultural heritage sector include museums and galleries as well as historic houses, heritage sites and consultancy. Roles include front of house, learning and engagement, digital engagement, collections management, curation, marketing and management.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2027-28
MSc
Home & RUK
- Full-time fee: £11,481
- Part-time fee: £1,276 per 20 credits
International & EU
- Full-time fee: £28,275
PgDip
Home & RUK
- Full-time fee: £7,654
- Part-time fee: £1,276 per 20 credits
International & EU
- Full-time fee: £18,850
Fee status
Deposits
All applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 to secure a place on this programme.
Deposits: terms & conditions
The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% administration fee will be deducted unless otherwise stated.
a: Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
- Where the University is unable to offer you a place on the programme as specified on the offer. A full refund will be issued in this case.
- Death of a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
- SERIOUS ill health of the applicant or a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
- Applicant does not meet conditions of offer. This may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide at least two language tests which were taken after the date the deposit was paid).
- Visa / ATAS refusal: we will only consider a refund if the visa / ATAS refusal was based on matters outside of the applicant’s control.
- If a refund request is received within 14 days of the deposit being received a full refund will be issued under the Consumer Protection Regulations.
b: Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
- An applicant decides not to attend the University for any reason not outlined above.
- Personal financial constraints / unsuccessful scholarship application.
- Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicant’s account to secure their place for the following year of entry. You may defer twice. After the second deferral standard conditions will apply.
- There is still time to meet the English language test requirement before the final upload date. Please see section a) 4.
- Visa / ATAS was applied for too late. Please see section a) 5.
- Any documents used for admission are proven to be fraudulent. We work in partnership with Qualification Check to check academic qualifications. English language qualifications are verified with the provider.
- The refund request is received more than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email.
Timeframe for requesting a refund
Refund requests must be received no later than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email. As per section b)7 above the request will be denied.
Receiving a refund
- To comply with Money Laundering Regulations, the University will pay all refunds to the original payer using the source payment details. This is known as a “return to source” payment.
- All appropriate documentation and evidence relating to the original payment must be provided, when requested.
- All payments and refunds are in GBP currency - the University is not responsible for any exchange rate fluctuations or beneficiary bank charges associated with the refund.
- Where University approved payment methods have not been used, this may cause significant delays or prevent payment altogether.
- We will aim to issue the deposit refund within 8 weeks of receipt of information per point 2 above. At peak times this may be longer.
How to request a deposit refund
Please go to our enquiry form and select 'Fees and Deposit' as the enquiry reason and then 'Can I have a deposit refund?'.
Please upload all supporting documentation to your applicant self-service portal before submitting the above request.
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
- Students undertaking an external work placement may incur travel expenses.
Funding opportunities
The scholarships shown are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in any subject.
A 2.2 Honours degree may be considered.
Substantial, directly relevant experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications. If you are applying based on relevant experience, please include a personal statement evidencing this with your application.
English language requirements
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
For applicants from non-majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
Accepted English Language Tests
We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.
IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic for UKVI/ IELTS Academic online
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- We do not accept General Training
TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)
Test taken up to 20 January 2026
- 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
Tests taken from 21 January 2026
- 92 overall with no subtest less than 4.5
PTE Academic (test centre only)
- 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
- We do not accept the online PTE Academic
Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
Oxford ELLT
- 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
LanguageCert Academic/Academic SELT/ Academic Online
- 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
Password Skills Plus
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II
- 96 overall with no subtest less than 90
Kaplan Test of English
- Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
PSI Skills for English
- B2 Pass with Merit
Duolingo English Test
- 120 overall with writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110
Oxford Test of English Advanced
- 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher
Alternatives to English Language test
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 their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.
TNE degree from UK university taught at a campus outside of the UK
- students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.
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 and remain valid for 2 years following date of successful completion.
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: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mlc/eas/pre-sessionalcourses/
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
International students
We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.
How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.
Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.
Documents
As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
- Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
- Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
- Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
- A copy of the photo page of your passport
We may also request additional documents such as a personal statement, portfolio, references or a sample of academic writing to support your application.
If we request a reference, this should typically be an academic reference. However, where this is not possible, a reference from a current employer may be accepted. If you already have a copy of your reference on letterheaded paper, you can upload this with your application. Otherwise, you may provide your referee’s name and contact details on the online application, and we will contact them directly.
You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.
For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
Guidance notes for using the online application
These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.
If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.
- Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
- Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
- Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
- Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
- English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
- Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
Application deadlines
For entry in September 2027
International & EU applicants
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International application rounds
Applications are considered on a rolling basis within each round, and the decision date shown for each round is the latest date by which you will receive an outcome on your application.
Round 1: 1 October 2026 to 5 November 2026
You will receive our decision on your application by 18 December 2026.
Round 2: 6 November 2026 to 17 December 2026
You will receive our decision on your application by 3 March 2027.
Round 3: 18 December 2026 to 4 February 2027
You will receive our decision on your application by 8 April 2027.
Round 4: 5 February 2027 to 25 March 2027
You will receive our decision on your application by 6 May 2027.
Round 5: 26 March 2027 to 13 May 2027
You will receive our decision on your application by 10 June 2027.
Round 6: 14 May 2027 to 8 July 2027
You will receive our decision on your application by 29 July 2027.
As we receive a high volume of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply to each programme once per year.
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UK applicants
- 24 August 2027
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