Programme summary for MA, Postgraduate Certificate [PGCert]; Postgraduate Diploma [PGDip] Heritage Studies

Programme summary for MA Heritage Studies

About the programme

Heritage Studies at the University of East London offers a flexible programme for students interested in engaging with advanced study at different points in their academic or professional careers, at a modern London university which is an internationally recognised centre of research excellence. The programme focuses on heritage in London and the interpretation of urban place. It provides students with an indepth theoretical and practical understanding of oral history and memory. It includes numerous opportunities to develop skills in digital media production, and the opportunity to explore heritage issues in East London - one of the most diverse communities in the world, in a city with outstanding museum collections and heritage sites.

The MA is conducted within the vibrant research culture of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). The School is internationally renowned and was awarded a ‘5’ rating in both the 1996 and 2001 HEFCE Research Assessment Exercises and an ‘excellent’ in its last Teaching Quality Audit. In RAE 2008 the School of Humanities and Social Sciences confirmed its status as one of the UK's leading university departments for research in Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, with 20% of research in this area judged to be 'world-leading' and a further 60% internationally excellent, and a position of 7th from 47 in the national rankings. Outputs in historical studies were also ranked as world-leading. This is an exceptional profile in the modern university sector. Staff research is characterised by a commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry and draws on insights from across the arts, humanities, computing and social sciences. The School is home to a number of research centres, including the Raphael Samuel History Centre (www.raphael-samuel.org.uk), and organises regular public seminars, lectures and international workshops and conferences at which postgraduate students are welcome.

UEL has one of the most diverse student bodies in the country. We strongly believe in an equality and diversity policy which states: “Within a spirit of respecting difference, our equality and diversity policies promise equal treatment and opportunity for all regardless of gender, sexuality, race, colour, disability, religion, age, and ethnic or national origin. We call on all members of our community to make a personal commitment to these aims."

Programme structure

The programme consists of two core modules taught at UEL (Memory, Heritage and the Politics of the Past and Place, Oral History and Digital Heritage) which set out the key aspects of the theoretical field of study and develop key skills and research methods. Alongside the core modules students can choose two options (one in each semester) and Masters level students will have the option to experience a work placement at a museum or heritage site. All Masters students undertake a project/dissertation module over the summer which is submitted at the end of September. An MA in Heritage Studies will, typically, last one year for a full time student and two years for part-timers. It is possible to take fewer modules and gain postgraduate diploma or certificate. All heritage studies students will take the core modules. Students may choose optional modules from the following (please note that each semester a different selection of options will be on offer, depending on student demand and the availability of staff)

Career opportunities

The MA in Heritage Studies offers potential career opportunities in museum and heritage, tourism, academic research, journalism, libraries and archives, education, broadcasting and new media. It can also offer those already working in the museum, archive, heritage or tourism sector an opportunity to gain a postgraduate qualification and to develop their knowledge and skills in areas of their choice. The academic rigour of an MA with a research dissertation allows students to acquire a professional profile in their chosen area that could lead either to PhD study and an academic career or a position of greater responsibility within an organisation. The opportunity to gain work experience and conduct a practice-based project could also help improve your employment prospects.

Support

The school organises research skills workshops in both semesters which are open to all postgraduate students, both at MA and PhD level. Each Heritage Studies MA student works under the supervision of a member of staff who provides tuition and advice on research and the choice of optional modules, and if needed referral to other colleagues. A great range of student services made available by UEL. The Library at the Docklands Campus is open 24 hours a day and features state-of-the-art information retrieval and management, from books and journals to databases and extensive on-line resources, and offers an inter-library loan service. It provides a wealth of research-related information, training and support, including research and educational software. Postgraduate students at HSS have access to a special postgraduate study room with computer terminals and locked storage space. The School is home to a number of research centres and organises regular public seminars, lectures and international workshops and conferences at which postgraduate students are welcome. This contributes to the development of a lively scholarly postgraduate culture at UEL.

Admission

Applicants are typically required to have at least a 2.2 degree in a cognate area of study. Mature applicants with a degree or with substantial professional experience may be considered for admission, on the basis of an interview and written test and/or portfolio of work. If English is not your first language we require that you demonstrate your English language skills by achieving an overall IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent. Applicants may be required to attend an interview.

The University of East London applies the principle of equality of opportunity to its admission process and will encourage the recruitment of local, national and international students and those with special needs. Students are recruited from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and increasingly come from all over the world.

International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes and international students may be required to undertake a telephone interview if they are not resident in the UK at the time of application.

About the programme

Heritage Studies at the University of East London offers a flexible programme for students interested in engaging with advanced study at different points in their professional careers, at a modern London university which is an internationally recognised centre of research excellence. The programme is particularly focused on heritage in London and the interpretation of places which includes a deep theoretical and practical understanding of oral history and memory; it includes numerous opportunities to develop skills in digital media production; and a chance to explore heritage issues East London - one of the most diverse communities in the world from a multi-cultural perspective in a city with world class museum collections and heritage sites.

The MA is conducted within the vibrant research culture of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). The School is internationally renowned and was awarded a ‘5’ rating in both the 1996 and 2001 HEFCE Research Assessment Exercises and an ‘excellent’ in its last Teaching Quality Audit. In RAE 2008 the School of Humanities and Social Sciences confirmed its status as one of the UK's leading university departments for research in Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, with 20% of research in this area judged to be 'world-leading' and a further 60% internationally excellent, and a position of 7th from 47 in the national rankings. Outputs in historical studies were also ranked as world-leading. This is an exceptional profile in the modern university sector. Staff research is characterised by a commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry and draws on insights from across the arts, humanities, computing and social sciences. The School is home to a number of research centres and organises regular public seminars, lectures and international workshops and conferences at which postgraduate students are welcome.

UEL has one of the most diverse student bodies in the country. We strongly believe in an equality and diversity policy which states: “Within a spirit of respecting difference, our equality and diversity policies promise equal treatment and opportunity for all regardless of gender, sexuality, race, colour, disability, religion, age, and ethnic or national origin. We call on all members of our community to make a personal commitment to these aims."

Programme structure

The programme consists of two core modules taught at UEL (Memory, Heritage and the Politics of the Past and Place, Oral History and Digital Heritage) which set out the key aspects of the theoretical field of study and develop key skills and research methods. Alongside the core modules students can choose two options (one in each semester) and Masters level students will have the option to experience a work placement at a museum or heritage site. All Masters students take a project/dissertation module over the summer which is submitted at the end of September. An MA in Heritage Studies will, typically, last one year for a full time student and two years for part-timers. It is possible to take fewer modules and gain postgraduate diploma or certificate. All heritage studies students will take the core modules. Students may choose optional modules from the following (please note that each semester a different selection of options will be on offer, depending on student demand and the availability of staff)

UEL options:

Education in Museums
Heritage and Visual Cultures
Family History and Digital Heritage [not offered 2011]
Migration and Heritage

Birkbeck options:

Exhibiting the Pain of Others: Museums, Violence and Memory
Romantic Objects [not offered 2011]
Medicine and Visual Culture
Exhibiting Cultures

London Metropolitan Archives option:

Archives: contemporary policy and practice

Career opportunities

The MA in Heritage Studies offers potential career opportunities in museum and heritage, tourism, academic research, journalism, libraries and archives, education, broadcasting and new media. It can also offer those already working in the museum, archive, heritage or tourism sector to gain a postgraduate qualification and develop their knowledge and skills in areas of their choice. The academic rigour of an MA with a research dissertation allows students to develop a professional profile in their chosen area that could lead either to PhD study and an academic career or a position of greater responsibility within an organisation. The opportunity to gain work experience and conduct a practice-based project could also help improve your employment prospects.

Support

The school organises research skills workshops in both semesters which are open to all postgraduate students, both at MA and PhD level. Each Heritage Studies MA student works under the supervision of a member of staff who provides tuition and advice on research and the choice of optional modules, and if needed referral to other colleagues. A great range of student services made available by UEL. The Library at the Docklands Campus is open 24 hours a day and features state-of-the-art information retrieval and management, from books and journals to databases and extensive on-line resources, and offers an inter-library loan service. It provides a wealth of research-related information, training and support, including research and educational software. Postgraduate students at HSS have access to a special postgraduate study room with computer terminals and locked storage space. The School is home to a number of research centres and organises regular public seminars, lectures and international workshops and conferences at which postgraduate students are welcome. This contributes to the development of a lively scholarly postgraduate culture at UEL.

Admission

Applicants are typically required to have at least a 2.2 degree in a cognate area of study, for example history, geography, history of art or museum studies. Mature applicants with a degree or with substantial professional experience may be considered for admission, on the basis of an interview and written test and/or portfolio of work. If English is not your first language we require that you demonstrate your English language skills by achieving an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent. Applicants not holding the traditional required qualifications may be required to attend an interview

The University of East London applies the principle of equality of opportunity to its admission process and will encourage the recruitment of local, national and international students and those with special needs. Students are recruited from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and increasingly come from all over the world.

International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes and international students may be required to undertake a telephone interview if they are not resident in the UK at the time of application.