MSc Econ Archive Administration

Introduction

The University of Wales at Aberystwyth (UWA) is home to one of the small number of training centres for archive administration and records management in the UK. It is based in the Department of Information Studies, but also supported by the Department of History and Welsh History. The range of expertise available provides natural strength both for taught courses of professional training and for higher degrees by research. Further strength arises from close links with professional colleagues at the National Library of Wales (NLW) and the Ceredigion Record Office, who contribute to the taught courses, support the practical work of the students and assist with research projects.

Professional training in archive administration has been provided here since 1956, first as a Diploma course and since 1995 as a modular Master's course. The Diploma/MSc Econ in Archive Administration has evolved steadily to include new disciplines and subject areas according to professional needs, such as records management, specific applications of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and, most recently, issues associated with the change from paper-based to electronic communication and record-keeping, and the legislative requirements of Freedom of Information and Data Protection.

At the same time, the necessary techniques and standards (both UK and international) relating to the more 'traditional' areas of archive administration retain their central importance; these range from cataloguing methods, preservation management, and service-delivery to skill in reading and interpreting manuscript material. Students are thus provided with broad-based training which will permit entry into either general or more specialised professional posts as archivists and/or records managers. The course combines high academic standards with a scientific approach to the management of archives and records, with emphasis on putting theory into practice.

Why study Archive Administration?

By studying archive administration at postgraduate level, you will learn professional principles and techniques and acquire the core skills which will enable you to play a part in the preservation, management and exploitation of an invaluable informational and historical resource.

This course is designed to prepare students for work in any archive or records management environment. It provides the professional training which is required for entry into these professional areas. The employment success of former students is almost 100% within the archives/records management profession.

Course structure and delivery mode

The Diploma/MSc Econ in Archive Administration is divided into two parts: Part I (120 credits) is the taught course, successful completion of which reaches Diploma-level. Part II (60 credits) involves writing a dissertation, to be submitted for the Master’s-level qualification.

The course is available full-time or part-time (part-timers must be generally able to attend classes for half of each week in term time, over two years). Exit points exist at Diploma (9 months) and Master's level (12 months).

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Lectures and seminars are intended to provide a clear framework for further reading, questioning and thought. They do not form the minimum requirements of factual knowledge for examination answers or assignments! We aim to provide a supportive learning environment: help and guidance are always available, but individual effort is essential.

A significant proportion of your learning takes place in study visits and fieldwork, where you will need to observe and relate what you have learnt to the practice in a number of record keeping environments. Practical experience gained before embarking on the course provides a very important foundation for the training experience of the course itself.

Assessment and examinations

Assessment takes various forms, including course work and examinations, according to the form of assessment, which is most appropriate for the various subject areas. Each module has its own specific form of assessment, full details of which will be given to you at the beginning of the relevant semester.

Visits and fieldwork

As part of a professional training course such as ours, it is vital that you have the chance to relate the learning experience at University to the world of work and to discuss current issues with practising members of the profession. The course at UWA is particularly strong in these respects. Students undertake a study tour to London and several other study visits in order to observe a wide variety of archives and records management operations in both public and private sectors. Attendance is compulsory.

Students should budget carefully to ensure that they have sufficient funds to cover these extra expenses, which may include accommodation as well as travel. The University regrets that it is unable to offer assistance to cover these costs.

Course accreditation

The course has full accreditation from the Society of Archivists, the relevant professional body.

Am I eligible?

To be considered for the course you should have, or expect to obtain, a good honours degree, which can be in any subject.

It is also essential that you obtain at least six weeks pre-course practical work experience (paid or voluntary) in a record repository under the supervision of a professional archivist or records manager, prior to taking up a place on the course. In fact, most applicants offer much longer periods of work experience, a significant number having completed a period in employment as an ‘archive trainee’ in a record office. Appropriate pre-course experience is essential in order to enable you to gain full benefit from the course and be well placed to move into subsequent professional employment. A substantial period of work experience will increase your chances of getting a place on the course but each application is considered on its individual merits.

Although no formal Latin qualification is required, a working knowledge of Latin must be established before starting the course. You may do this by acquiring a copy of Eileen Gooder’s Latin for Local History, 1979, or Denis Stuart’s Latin for Local and Family Historians, 1995 and working through the contents. Obtaining tuition, or attending an evening class or short course is recommended wherever possible. The support tuition in Latin, which is part of the Archive Administration course, is designed to assist established learners.

As for personal qualities, you should enjoy dealing with people at all levels, since the work invariably involves much personal contact with employers, owners and users of records. Attention to detail and analytical skills are required for all sorting and listing work, whilst a willingness to undertake hard physical work is also necessary in many situations. Historical documents are often dirty and may need rescuing from unpleasant surroundings. If you have a genuine interest in the past and a concern for the future, combined with a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment, archives and records management can offer a varied and rewarding career – which is never boring!

Funding

For the Diploma/MScEcon funding for students resident in England and Wales is available in the form of a bursary from the Professional Preparation Master’s Scheme administered by the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB). The awards cover fees and a flat-rate maintenance element. These awards are however extremely limited in number and are allocated, on a competitive basis, to students whose applications to the AHRB are supported by the University. Students should therefore carefully consider alternative sources of funding.