Master of Arts
MA Global Heritage Management
MA Global Heritage Management master's course is aimed at graduates and professionals who wish to pursue heritage sector careers.
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Overview
Course overview
Learn to manage the heritage needs and interests of global communities, places and cultures.
- Prepare for careers in heritage management, cultural policy, tourism, consultancy, education and community-led initiatives through practical and professional learning opportunities.
- Master the key theories and practices of heritage management, then specialise in an area of interest through optional course units covering topics including heritage tourism, digital heritage and museums and conflict.
- Benefit from more than 50 active partnerships with museums, galleries and cultural organisations, with opportunities for placements, projects and practice-based research.
- Join a University ranked in the top 50 globally for Arts and Humanities by Times Higher Education 2026.
Our students. Real experiences. Visit the page to hear from our students as they share what it’s really like to study here.
Open days
The University holds regular events throughout the year, including webinars and the annual on-campus Master's Expo, all of which offer the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses from our academic and admissions staff.
We also attend a number of education fairs both in the UK and overseas throughout the year.
For more details on how you can meet us, visit out events page .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Contact name
- PG Taught Admissions
- Telephone
- +44 161 275 7866
- MASALC@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- School/Faculty overview
-
See:
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We normally expect students to have a First or Upper Second class honours degree or its overseas equivalent in ahumanities-based subject area. Professional experience in a relevant sector to the degree is also taken into consideration.
Relevant work experience
In the personal statementsection of the application form, youcan outlineany work experience (including voluntary work) you have in a museum, gallery, or other related institution.
Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:
-
MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £14,700
International, including EU, students (per annum): £29,900 -
MA (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £7,350
International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,950
The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.
Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .
Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
International student CAS deposit
Self-funded international applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2500 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. Some applicants will be required to pay a higher deposit. More information on tuition fee deposits .
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.
- Learn more about - student finance options for UK students.
- Learn more about - fees and finance for international students .
- Graduates of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and Manchester Metropolitan University can receive a 10% discount on their master's degree tuition fees as part of our Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount scheme.
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
You shouldinclude a personal statement (no more than 500 words) that demonstrates your understanding of the subject andyour motivation for wanting tostudy the programme.
If your academic background is not directly related to the programme, you should supply an academic-standard writing sample ona subjectrelated tothe programme.
If English is not your native language, then you should providean academic-standard writing sample in English directly related to the subject.
For moreadvice on the application process, please visit our page.
How your application is considered
Applications are mainlyconsidered on the basis of an assessment of past and predicted academic achievements, the academic reference(s) and any other supplementary evidence that supports the application. Once we have an application that is ready for a decision, the admissions tutor (often the Programme Director) will relay the decision to the admissions team, who will send you this decision.
Please note that your application is usually received by the School 24 to 48 hours after the time you submit it. Ifyou have not provideddocumentation thatallows the admissions tutorto makea decision, we will contact you.
Skills, knowledge, abilities, interests
Applicants will be considered on the basis of demonstrable experience and understanding of work in a heritage setting, organisation or other relevant context, presented through personal statement, CVor in interview.
Deferrals
Applicants may defer entry for 12 months provided they contact MASALC@manchester.ac.uk before 1 September. Pleasenote thatapplicants are subject to the fees for the entryyear they willstart the course.
Course details
Course description
Within the scope of my modules, I was free to study whatever I was interested in. The teaching gave an academic grounding that I was able to apply to my own areas of interest.
I was able to set my own essay titles and conduct research to answer my own questions rather than questions that had been set for me.
Mike Wynne / MA Heritage Studies Graduate
MA Global Heritage Management is a dynamic, interdisciplinary programme designed for those passionate about shaping the future of heritage practice and theory.
Rooted in critical heritage studies, it explores how heritage is created, contested, and mobilised around the world today. Studying on the course, you’ll engage with key contemporary issues in the sector, such as sustainability and decolonisation.
Our teaching staff in the Institute for Cultural Practices are academic experts with hands-on experience in the sector, meaning they’re perfectly placed to guide you through both the theoretical and practical elements of the subject. You’ll engage with key themes such as value and significance, memory, identity, and conservation, while developing skills in place-based policy, management, and community engagement.
You’ll be able to collaborate with heritage organisations both locally and globally. You can apply for a 20-day work placement with a relevant cultural organisation as part of your elective course options. Placement opportunities have included organisations such as: Manchester Museum; the John Rylands Library; the Working Class Movement Library; the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre; Chetham’s Library; Victoria Baths; Manchester City of Literature Festival; Manchester Histories Festival; Quarry Bank and the Co-op Heritage Trust.
Our graduates go on to careers in global heritage management, cultural policy, heritage consultancy, producing, education, and community-led initiatives, or pursue further research.
Whether you're aiming to enter the heritage sector or deepen your expertise, this course equips you with the analytical tools and professional experience to make a meaningful impact. A supportive academic environment makes it ideal for both recent graduates and working professionals.
Special features
I chose the MA program to gain a deeper understanding of heritage and to take advantage of the placement opportunity.
I did my placement with the International Council of Museums as a conference assistant for the annual conference. This experience helped me apply my academic knowledge in practice and begin building important connections in the heritage sector.
Rebecca Jackson / MA Heritage Studies Graduate
Work Placement
While undertaking the MA in Global Heritage Management, you can apply for a 20-day work placement on a project or programme within a relevant cultural organisation and work with heritage professionals. The Institute for Cultural Practices has many partners offering placements, such as the Manchester Museum, the John Rylands Library, the Working Class Movement Library and the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre.
Placements are completed between November and May and are supported by academic mentoring, supervision, and placement mentors. They form part of the elective course options and are assessed in semester 2 via placement reports.
On placement, you’ll benefit from a hands-on opportunity to apply and develop their theoretical knowledge and practical skill set through immersion in real-life scenarios and situations, from fundraising to audience development.
Please note that the number of placements on offer varies yearly. Students can also organise their own placements, subject to the approval of the course unit convenor.
Project Experience
During the MA, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in heritage projects in partnership with Heidelberg University.
Those projects may include a researching developing exhibitions, coordinating heritage events, and working on community engagement. Discover our that they have created whilst studying with the Institute for Cultural Practices.
Teaching and learning
Teaching and learning on this course goes beyond the classroom. You will learn through fieldwork trips, site visits, masterclasses and workshops, with networking and specialist training provided through our engagement with visitor speakers, including professionals and academics in the field.
Most teaching takes place in small interactive seminar groups, involving, as appropriate, directed-reading, fieldwork in museums and heritage sites and contexts, staff and student presentations, discussion, debate, problem-solving and group work.
Most units run for a day or week over 12 weeks, and there are variations in the number of class hours per teaching day depending on the course/week (ie 2-5 hours).
As a general rule, a 30-credit unit includes 300 learning hours, which can be roughly divided as follows:
- a third in classes or class-related work;
- a third in independent study;
- a third in preparation of assignments.
You can also undertake an exhibition group project (as part of the Professional Practice Project unit) in collaboration with a museum, heritage or related cultural organisation in Manchester or the north-west of England.
Supervision for dissertation research is supported by with a wide range of interests, and by research skills training.
Coursework and assessment
Introduction to Critical Heritage Studies (Semester 1 core unit, 30 credits)
This unit is assessed by:
- an extended essay (100% of the overall course mark).
Heritage Policy and Management (Semester 1 core unit, 30 credits)
- This unit is assessed by:
an individual Fieldwork Portfolio of site-specific analysis (100% of the overall course mark)
Option units (Semester 2)
Option units are assessed by a combination of essays and project portfolios. For details, please see the individual unit page.
Dissertation (Semester 2 and Summer)
This can be either a 12,000 word standard dissertation or a practice-based dissertation (8,000-10,000 words and appropriate evidence/outputs of the practice).
Course unit details
A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.
120 of these credits are made up by a mix of mandatory and optional course units, with 60 credits taken in each semester.
Currently, Global Heritage Management students take two compulsory course units: ‘Introduction to Critical Heritage Studies’ and ‘Heritage Policy and Management’ in semester one. In Semester two, they specialise by selecting optional course units. These include ‘Heritage Tourism’, ‘Heritage, Museums and Conflict’ and ‘Creative Producing and Managing Projects’
The availability of individual course units may be subject to change. Information that is sent to you in August about registration onto the course will clearly state the course units that are available in the academic year ahead.
The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a dissertation. Your dissertation must be within the area of one of the course units you have chosen and you will be assigned an academic dissertation-advisor who is experienced in your chosen field.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALC60090 | 60 | Mandatory | |
| SALC60281 | 30 | Mandatory | |
| SALC60291 | 30 | Mandatory | |
| CAHE60562 | 30 | Optional | |
| HART61642 | 30 | Optional | |
| SALC60332 | 30 | Optional | |
| SALC60382 | 30 | Optional | |
| SALC60992 | 30 | Optional | |
| SALC61032 | 30 | Optional | |
| SALC61812 | 30 | Optional | |
| Displaying 10 of 11 course units | |||
| Display all course units | |||
Course collaborators
This course has been designed in close consultation with heritage professionals and external partners working in the field of heritage management and policy.
Facilities
You will have access to the Graduate School at the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, as well as to library resources and training facilities across the University.
You will also be able to access the Institute for Cultural Practices' resources room and study suite.
Visit the page for more information.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
I really enjoyed the way this course introduces you to the most interesting discourse, concepts and priorities within the cultural heritage sector right now.
I also valued the range of backgrounds within the teaching staff which enabled me to pick a dissertation topic I was interested in and related to the career path I hoped to pursue.
Chloe Hesford / MA Heritage Studies Graduate
The practical skills you’ll develop on this course prepare you for a range of rewarding careers, within and beyond the heritage sector.
Graduates have found employment in a number of interesting areas, including:
- Department for Culture, Media and Sport
- British Council
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Cultural Heritage Research
- Heritage Consultancy
Find out more on the Institute for Cultural Practices page and the experience of our MA Heritage Studies .
Careers Support
Global Heritage Management students benefit from opportunities to develop professional networks, sector knowledge and transferable skills alongside their academic studies. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability, such as careers fairs, employer presentations, and workshops through the University’s dedicated Careers Service. As a student at Manchester, you would have full access to this service during your studies and for two years after you graduate
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