The programme will provide you with a critical grounding in public history and heritage perspectives; provide you with some of the key skills necessary to research, write and interpret history, and communicate it in a variety of media; and give you the opportunity to research a topic of your choice in great depth. This programme is unique in terms of offering a particular focus on the heritage and the interpretation of places which includes a deep theoretical and practical understanding of oral history and memory; the opportunity to develop the practical and theoretical tools necessary to produce digital media; and a chance to explore heritage issues in one of the most diverse communities in the world from a multi-cultural perspective.

The programme has the following key characteristics:

• a wider and inclusive approach to heritage, that embraces the street and the internet as much as the museum or exhibition gallery
• a strong focus on memory and oral history, an area in which UEL has a particular expertise. This is also a rapidly expanding area of heritage practice
• a rigorous analytical grounding in heritage theory, that covers the full range of critical perspectives on heritage and the uses of the past in the present
• a focus on the cultural contexts of heritage- making and the ways in which memorials, exhibitions and historically themed experiences are shaped by these contexts
• an active, practice-focused approach
• a commitment to give you opportunities to gain digital media skills and work experience in the museum and heritage field, should you need it
• the opportunity to gain digital media skills and use the impressive facilities and equipment at our high-tech campus and UEL’s Media Production Centre
• the chance to gain work experience on a placement in the museum and heritage field (please note placements are not compulsory and are subject to availability)
• a wide variety of modules, with options available at Birkbeck College and the London Metropolitan Archives
• an extremely flexible programme – part time or full time study, and most classes in the evening

On the one hand, you will be able to study modules that address and range of key issues in heritage studies such as the politics of heritage, issues surrounding representation and cultural difference, how we remember the past both personally and collectively and how alternative interpretations of history have been - and might be - created. On the other hand there will also be modules that give you a very hands-on opportunity to consider, question and directly engage with heritage in museums, archives and outside in the streets.

Overall, the Programme is designed to:

• Familiarise you with central themes in heritage studies. Insights will be drawn from history, memory studies, museology, cultural geography and refugee studies;
• critically examine the central theoretical perspectives of heritage, public history and place-based learning;
• analyse how heritage is made and consumed by experiencing and looking at a wide variety of case studies and examples;
• promote understanding of a wide variety of heritage approaches;
• develop and support your ability to design and implement a research project or create your own experimental work in the field of heritage.

The programme develops general conceptual and critical abilities, and enhanced study and research skills. It also develops practical skills in such things as oral history and multimedia production which are increasingly required to interpret history in the digital age.

Our partnerships

In addition, we have developed a close relationship with Birkbeck, University of London and the programme offers additional options from the Birkbeck Museum Cultures MA programme. This includes a module based at the London Metropolitan Archives, where students can benefit from the experience of professional archivists at the largest local authority archive in the UK. This module is exclusively available to UEL Heritage Studies and Birkbeck Museum Studies students.

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 Arts and Digital Industries. This is a new School, set up in 2011. Most UEL staff on this programme come from the old School of Humanities and Social Science, which 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 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.

The School is home to a number of research centres, including the Raphael Samuel History Centre which has created this innovative programme. The research centres organise 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." 

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.

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:

• Heritage and Visual Cultures
• Migration and Heritage

Birkbeck options:

• Exhibiting the Body
• Ethnographic Museums
• Museums, Visitors, Learning

London Metropolitan Archives option:

• Archives: contemporary policy and practice

UEL modules are taught in 12 two or three hour sessions consisting of lectures, seminars, workshops, and screenings. Students will have access to detailed information about each session on a dedicated website. The programme will adopt a diverse range of teaching and learning strategies (presentations, discussions, screenings and essays) in order to appeal to a range of learning styles. The programme will include immersive learning experiences at museums and archives in London , taking advantage of UEL's location and the partnerships we have forged with heritage providers. For example, one optional module will be entirely delivered at the London Metropolitan Archives to take advantage of the professional expertise and collections there. As the history and heritage of place is one of the key concerns of the programme, students will also experience guided walking trails and location-based exercises and experiences. Students will also receive individual supervision to help with the preparation for their coursework.

On the taught modules, students are assessed on a combination of individual essays, group projects and assignments. The dissertation/project is marked by the student’s supervisor and one additional academic staff member. All assessed coursework is taken into account along with the dissertation/project mark in the overall grade. There are no examinations on this postgraduate programme.

The programme includes advanced research methods and skills that will have direct professional relevance. In addition, MA students will have the opportunity to gain work experience at a museum, archive, heritage or related organisation. If they wish students may incorporate this experience/activity into their final project/dissertation. Please note that while we will help you secure a placement, work experience cannot be guaranteed as it depends on availability which is beyond our control. Last year we had some very successful placements with organisations including local museums, English Heritage, the National Trust and London Metropolitan Archives. We also have students who already work in the sector, and take the MA courses as part of their continuing professional development. Recently we have had students who are staff working at organisations such as the Museum of London, the London Metropolitan Archives and the Wellcome Library.

Each student submits either a practical project or a written thesis. The Practical Project should be of an appropriate type (exhibition, website, multimedia, memoryscape) and suitably complex to be appropriate for a postgraduate degree. It should include a reflective and analytical account of practice. The written thesis will be of about 14,000 words. The work will be handed in by the end of September. In the case of wishing to present a written thesis, prior agreement must be sought by the student from Programme Team by the end of May in the year of study, and the topic agreed to by the Programme Leader. Digital work can be hosted by the University website or the Raphael Samuel History Centre and can therefore reach a public audience. The research methods module offers an introduction to a variety of research approaches, techniques and tools including software packages, and is supplemented by additional workshops and training in research and digital media related skills. Students will be given a supervisor to provide advice and guidance for their dissertation/project work.

Heritage studies students are encouraged to join activities organised by the Raphael Samuel History Centre http://www.raphael-samuel.org.uk/ which has an impressive programme of lectures and workshops. Our partnership with the Birkbeck Museum Cultures programme means we can offer a very broad range of options, allowing students to tailor their studies to their personal needs.

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.

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 ADI have access to a special postgraduate study room with computer terminals and locked storage space. This contributes to the development of a lively scholarly postgraduate culture at UEL. When working at home students will also have access to online library services which give access to a vast array of journals and reference works and UEL PLUS, an online system for access to course materials and resources.

• Wide array of exciting module options
• Develop skills in oral history and digital media
• Flexible, part-time or full time study: study while you work
• Work placement opportunitie