MA Museum Studies

at University College Cork

A 90-credit programme made up of taught modules (25 credits), two work placements (20 credits), museum exhibition (10 credits) and a research dissertation (35 credits)
 

PART A
 

Five taught modules ( 5 credits each and Musuem Placement 1 (10 Credits):
 

Semester I

• AR6022 The Museum in the 21st century (5 Credits)
• AR6028 Museum Curation (5 Credits)
• AR6025 Museums and the Public (5 Credits)
   

Semester II

• AR6023 The Museum Environment (5 Credits)
• AR6032 Museum Administration (5 Credits)
• AR6026 Work Placement 1 (10 credits)
   

PART B
 

• AR6029 Work Placement 2 (10 credits)
   

Students will undertake two museum placements (10 credits each) of four weeks duration each, where they will learn aspects of museum management, planning, design and practice, as well as the opportunity to work on a particular project such as an exhibition. Work placements commence towards the end of Semester II (March) and continue until June. The Department of Archaeology will arrange all placements for the students.
 

• AR6030 The Exhibition Experience (10 credits)

Students will prepare a temporary museum exhibition on an agreed theme for a public audience. This includes the necessary background research and cataloguing of primary materials, the design and mounting of the displays, the preparation of an exhibition catalogue and a public launch and visitor survey. The work for this exhibition and its public launch is done in early summer.
 

• AR6027 Dissertation (35 credits)

Students will write a 20,000-word research dissertation on an approved topic of their choice relevant to the museum sector. These can be standard studies based on primary source research or may be practice-based, involving, for example, an exhibition, policy development, visitor experience study, digital media application etc, or may combine both approaches. The main period for dissertation work is July–September. Students who are currently working in museums or who have recent museum experience are eligible to apply for an exemption from one of the work placement modules.

 

Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) from a recognized third-level institution, in one of the following disciplines: Archaeology, Anthropology, Folklore, History, Heritage Studies or Local Studies.  Applications will also be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) from graduates in other disciplines who have a demonstrable interest and/or experience in museum work. All applicants will be interviewed.
 

Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & Examinations The minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.IELTS*  
 

• 6.5 Overall
• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
   

TOEFL iBT  

• 90 Overall
• Listening 20
• Reading 19
• Speaking 21
• Writing 20

The EU fee for this course is €6,430.
 

The Non-EU fee for this course is €16,400.
 

Deposits

If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second semester fee payment in January.
 

EU student fee payment

Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment at registration in August and the second in January.
 

International student fee payment

International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

This programme supports a recognised profession internationally, one that has a strategic role in state policy on cultural heritage and tourism. Graduates will acquire a systematic and critical understanding of museum practice and theory. They will have acquired direct experience of practices, procedures and policies in the contemporary museum, and apply a critical awareness of current issues in the field (including professional ethics) to best professional practice. At an applied level the student will acquire an awareness of all that is involved in the design and management of modern museums.
 

Graduates from this programme work in the museum and heritage sector in Ireland, Britain, Europe, Canada, US and the Middle East.  They are employed in Museum Management, Education, Curation and Administration.