Master of Museum and Heritage Studies (Advanced)

at Australian National University

Program Structure

The Master of Museum and Heritage Studies (Advanced) requires completion of 96 units, of which a minimum of 48 units must come from completion of 8000-level courses.

The 96 units must consist of:

6 units from completion of

• HUMN8027 - Critical Issues in Heritage and Museum Studies

24 units from completion of one of the following specialisations:

• Cultural Heritage Management

• Intangible Cultural Heritage

• Museums and Collections

A minimum of 12 units from completion of research courses from the following list:

• HUMN6051 Introduction to Cultural Heritage Management

• HUMN8007 Cultural and Environmental Heritage Research Project

• HUMN8018 Cultural and Environmental Heritage: Extended Research Project

• HUMN8027 Critical issues in Heritage and Museum Studies

• HUMN8034 Collaborative Curating and Storytelling

• HUMN8035 Critical Issues in Intangible Heritage

• HUMN8036 Who Do We Think We Are? Using Archives and Special Collections

• HUMN8038 Oral History and Heritage: Practice and Theory

• MUSC8004 Internship 1

• MUSC8005 Internship 2

• MUSC8009 Museums and Heritage Research Project

• MUSC8011 Museums and Heritage Extended Research Project

A minimum of 6 units from completion of courses on the following list:

• ARTH8020 Arguing Objects

• HIST8030 Decolonising history? Indigenous perspectives, deep history, and postcolonial challenges

• HUMN6001 Introduction to Digital Humanities and Public Culture - Tools, Theories and Methods

• HUMN8039 Indigenous Heritage Management and Debates in Digital Heritage

• HUMN8006 Best Practice in Managing Heritage Places

• HUMN8019 UNESCO and World Heritage: Conserving Heritage Values

• HUMN8033 Tourism, Heritage and Globalization

• HUMN8039 Indigenous Heritage Management and Debates in Digital Heritage

• MUSC8006 Indigenous Collections and Exhibitions

• MUSC8012 Understanding Learning in Museums and Heritage

• MUSC8017 Museums and Collections: Key Concepts and Practices

• MUSC8018 Exhibition Design and Delivery

• MUSC8019 Repatriation: Principles, Policy, Practice

• MUSC8021 Collections Management Workshop

• MUSC8022 When Justice Goes to the Museum

• MUSI6008 Sound Archiving

24 units from completion of THES8103 Thesis

Students must have the written agreement of an identified supervisor in order to enrol in THES8103 Thesis in a specified semester one calendar year in advance of the start date of that semester. Students who do not have the written agreement of an identified supervisor one calendar year in advance, or whose agreed supervisor either subsequently leaves the university or is on leave from the university, will be transferred to the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies.

Unless otherwise stated, a course used to satisfy the requirements of one list may not be double counted towards satisfying the requirements of another list.

Master Research

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

Master Research Training

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry. 

Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 6.0/7.0, and the approval of an identified supervisor for the research project/thesis.

Students must have the written agreement of an identified supervisor in order to enrol in THES8103 Thesis in a specified semester one calendar year in advance of the start date of that semester. Students who do not have the written agreement of an identified supervisor one calendar year in advance, or whose agreed supervisor either subsequently leaves the university or is on leave from the university, will be transferred to the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors. 

Academic achievement & English language proficiency

The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 6.0/7.0. 

However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes. 

If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of: 

• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or

• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency. 

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Annual indicative fee for international students

$46,176