Museum Studies University of Aberdeen

Overview

At a Glance

The University of Aberdeen’s museum collections are among the oldest, largest and most significant in the country, having the status of a Recognised Collection of National Significance. In fact, Aberdeen is one of the very few UK universities to have international-quality collections relating to the natural and cultural worlds.

The Museum Studies programme of the University of Aberdeen makes significant use of these collections to enable you to study the historical and contemporary roles of museums in society and develop expertise in public engagement with research while gaining practical experience of museum work.

You will gain foundational curatorial skills and understanding of the history and philosophy of museums and the contemporary issues they face in the core courses: Researching Museum Collections, Museum Practice, The Museum Idea, and Navigating the Museum Workplace: Career Portfolio Project.

You can apply this knowledge in options like Learning and Museums, for which you will develop a public engagement event, and Museums and the Digital World, which involves designing a digital intervention for the University Museums and Special Collections.

During the summer term, you can choose Curating an Exhibition, which involves working with professional staff to create an exhibition on a topic of the class’s choice to be exhibited to the public at the Sir Duncan Rice Library Gallery or online. Students are responsible for all aspects of the exhibition, from object selection, to marketing, to design. Alternatively, you may research a topic in more depth through writing a Museum Studies dissertation. This route is recommended for those aiming to continue to the PhD in Museum Studies.

Our assessments involve skills you will utilise in a career in the heritage sector, for example, drafting mock grant applications, and putting together a career plan, as well as enhancing your skills in research and academic writing. We offer maximum flexibility with a September or a January start date.

Careers

This degree provides suitable preparation for working in museums, galleries and heritage institutions, for those who wish to conduct further research in Museum Studies, and for an academic role in a variety of associated fields. It is also a valuable degree for those who are interested in developing ways of communicating academic work to the public.

Graduates of this programme have gone on to work at institutions including the British Museum, the Royal Collection Trust, the National Trust, Juneau Douglas City Museum and the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in the following areas:

• Collections Management

• Curatorship

• Exhibition Development

• Program Management

• Museum Research

The programme is geared towards both vocational study for work in the sector, and those wishing to pursue an academic career. It offers students the opportunity to engage in a number of transferable skills, such as project management, teamwork and research which are required across a broad range of roles and sectors.