Cultural Heritage Studies MA

Students are introduced to theoretical issues involved in cultural heritage and develop a critical understanding of the social and political context in which the processes for managing cultural heritage operate. The flexible programme structure allows students to design a theoretically based or practically based degree depending on each individual's needs and interests.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of two core module (30 credits), optional modules (60 credits), an optional work placement and a research dissertation (90 credits).

Students are required to take the following core modules:

• Critical Perspectives on Cultural Heritage
• Cultural Heritage, Globalisation and Development

Students then choose further options to the value of 60 credits. At least 30 credits must be taken from the list below.

• Antiquities and the Law
• Archaeology and Education
• Archaeologies of Modern Conflict
• Archaeologies of the Modern World
• Comparative Archaeologies of the Americas I: First Peoples to Emerging Complexity
• Cultural Memory
• Funerary Archaeology
• Heritage Ethics & Archaeological Practice in the Middle East and Mediterranean
• Intangible Dimensions of Museum Objects from Egypt
• Managing Archaeological Sites
• Managing Museums
• Museum and Site Interpretation
• Nature, culture and the languages of art: theories and methodologies of art interpretation
• Social and material contexts of art: comparative approaches to art explanation
• Themes and Debates in Islamic Archaeology and Heritage

Please note not all modules are available every year.

All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 15,000 words (90 credits).

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical demonstrations, site visits and guest lectures, and includes a 20-day placement in a museum or other cultural heritage organisation. Assessment is through essays, projects reports, a heritage agency report following the placement, and the dissertation.

Students have the option to undertake a 20-day voluntary placement in a museum or other cultural heritage organisation. In recent years, these placements have included organisations such as English Heritage, the National Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, ICOMOS (Paris), World Monuments Fund (Paris), UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Paris) and the Museum of London. The placement is not formally assessed.

Tier 4 students are permitted to undertake a work placement during their programme however they must not exceed 20 hours per week (unless the placement is an integral and assessed part of the programme). This applies whether that work placement takes place at UCL or at an external institution. If you choose to undertake a placement at an external institution, you will be required to report to the department on a weekly basis so that you can continue to comply with your visa.