Additional Information

Additional Information about the MA/PGDip in Library and Information Studies

The Masters/ PG Diploma in LIS is designed for people who want to work in a wide range of professional library and information roles, both in the UK and beyond. It is ideal for people who are exploring their professional goals after completing a graduate traineeship as well as those who are looking to consolidate their professional experience and transition to a qualified librarian or information professional role. It will also enable you to build the professional networks that will support you throughout your career, both with your peers and with UCL alumni in the London area and beyond. We offer an extensive selection of tracks for students interested in specific careers. 

“I don’t think it would be a stretch to say I LOVED the course! Each module was fascinating, and I think the work really prepared for my career in libraries” 

Amelia Haire, MA Library and Information Studies

We further actively seek to develop graduate careers by nominating our students for awards and bursaries, with recent graduates being awarded Sherif and BIALL prizes as well as bursaries to IAML, LILAC, and CILIP conferences, among others. Our students were awarded the CILIP Student of the Year award for three years in a row, and six of our alumni were recognised as future leaders of the profession in the CILIP125 list. 

The LIS programme consistently maintains a 100% employment rate six months after graduation. New graduates work in a wide range of settings, including academic libraries, businesses, charities, the public sector, schools and a wide range of special collections residing in unique institutions. Job roles and opportunities include subject liaison librarian, cataloguer, information manager, information governance officer, taxonomist or research data manager. 

Our qualifications are additionally recognised by the American Library Association (ALA), The Library Association of Ireland (LAI), and The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). This means that graduates from our programme are qualified to apply for posts requiring professional level qualifications in the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, amongst other countries. 

The MA and PG Dip in LIS prepare you to make an immediate contribution to the workplace as well as to professional groups and networks. Through the course, we support the development of the key practices that are necessary in any professional role, including providing intellectual, physical and digital access to collections, the management of libraries and information centres, and working with a wide range of diverse patrons and users. We are also committed to supporting your engagement with core values and understandings of library and information science, including questions related to ethics, privacy and access to information. Both the MA and PG Dip in LIS are broad-based programmes, which means that they apply to a wide range of jobs within the field of library and information studies, including in academic, public, law, health, corporate, school or charity sectors. 

Optional modules allow you to follow your own particular subject interests; we also offer an extensive selection of tracks for students interested in specific careers. The range of modules on offer allows you to develop the specialised knowledge and skills that will make you stand out in the job market, as well as to follow your own passions and interests. The unique structure of our department means that you may take optional modules from the other programmes in our department, which include Archives and Records Management, Publishing, Digital Humanities and Information Science. 

The programme is delivered through lectures from academic staff and professional practitioners, seminars, computer laboratory and classroom practicals and workshops. There is a strong emphasis on active learning, including small group discussions and hands-on exercises, as well as the development of practical skills. Classroom teaching is supplemented by visits from experienced professionals and employers as well as behind-the scenes trips to well-known collections. The Department regularly arranges evening events that are open to all. Students also benefit from carrying out a work placement at some of the nation’s most famous libraries, which provides useful practical experience and networking opportunities in a range of sectors. 

Assessments vary according to each module but include essays, reports, reflective writing and practical assignments such as digital library design and the creation of indexing tools. The dissertation (12-15,000 words) provides a unique opportunity to carry out extended research on a topic of your choice, under one-to-one supervision with academic staff. 

Recent dissertations have focused on:

  • Book bans in school libraries
  • Accessibility for visually impaired students in academic libraries
  • Open access publishing at teaching-led universities
  • Decolonising practitioner law libraries
  • Facilitating legal research in English prisons
  • Public library provision for diaspora groups 

We also support students in publishing their dissertations, including:

  • Ahern, M. (2023). Managing Works of Art in Non-Art Research Libraries in the United Kingdom. Collection Management, 48(3), 234-256.
  • Barr, H. M. (2025). Looking for help: Examining the information behaviour of survivors of sexual assault. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 09610006251357010.
  • Brookins, A. (2025). Suited and Sorted: Classification and Cataloging in Costume House Collections. Dress, 1-19.
  • Haire, A. (2025). What Does It Mean to Be Information Literate for an Autistic Librarian in the Academic Library Workplace? Journal of Information Literacy, 19(1), 27-47.
  • Pipkin, S. (2024). Encouraging People Through the Doors: Surveying Public Perceptions of Special Collections Libraries. Journal of Library Administration, 64(3), 275-297.

You will learn from internationally renowned, research-active faculty who are energetically shaping their fields. Uniquely, all our teaching staff also draw upon years of professional library experience in their teaching, including in academic, art, community, corporate, health, public, special collections and school libraries. 

A variety of other teaching staff from UCL:DIS and across the profession will also teach on the programme, depending on modules chosen, and the proposed dissertation topic.

Term starts with Induction Week (usually late September) which at UCL:DIS means a few days dedicated to helping students settle into UCL. Teaching starts the following week (late September/early October).

  • Classes at UCL:DIS are scheduled for Terms 1 and 2 only (term 1: October to December; term 2: January to March).
  • Modules are taught in 2 or 3-hour morning or afternoon slots (usually 11.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.00), once a week for the duration of a term.
  • There is no formal teaching attached to the core module, The Library & Information Professional.
  • All full-time MA LIS and PG Dip LIS students are encouraged do a 2-week full-time work placement in mid-April as part of the core module, The Library & Information Professional. Part-time and modular students may choose whether to do the work placement. Placements typically take place in the first two weeks of Term 3 (April/May) and we will work with you to arrange this!
  • Students studying part-time over 2 years attend on Tuesdays in Terms 1 & 2 in the first year of study, and on Monday in Terms 1 & 2 in the second year of study.
  • Modular students' (3-5 years) attendance will depend on which modules are selected per year/term.

Each student is allocated a personal tutor from the LIS core teaching team. The role of your personal tutor is to help you to get the most out of your studies and provide support and encouragement during your time with us.  This could include anything from helping you to settle into postgrad life to planning your career after graduation! We also have strong relationships with Student Support and Wellbeing and the Disability and Neurodiversity team. We pride ourselves on providing safe and inclusive education for students who are disabled or have a long-term health condition, including mental health and other neurodivergent conditions.

The LIS programme enjoys a close relationship with UCL Careers service and events are organised throughout the year. These events are designed to help you build your networks with employers and professional practitioners as well as providing practical support for CV writing, interviewing and job searching. Events are also organised in conjunction with recruitment consultants. Career services are available after graduation. 

UCL Library services play a vital role in your education. The library offers access to a wide range of materials, including journals and databases as well as key texts. The Library and Archives collection is located opposite the department in the Science Library, while the Main Library and the IoE library are a short walk away. Individual and group study space is available in the Student Centre.

We consistently maintain a 100% employment rate six months after graduation with six of our alumni being recognised as future leaders in our field in the CILIP125 list.

Places of employment of recent graduates include…

Ark Burlington Danes Academy, Bacon’s College, Baker Tilly, British Library, BSix, Caple Manor College, Central Bedfordshire Council, CRU Group, Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls, Eton College, European Parliament, Foyle Special Collections Library, Greenwich School of Management & Business, Halcyon London International School, Holland Park School, House of Commons, House of Lords, Inner Temple, Lincolns Inn, King’s College London, Mercer University, National Library of Singapore, North Bristol NHS Trust, Norton Rose Fulbright, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Ravensbourne College, Royal College of Surgeons, RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons), Royal Institute of British Architects, St James Senior Girls’ School, The Dragon School, Third Life International, Trowers and Hamlins, University College London, University of Oxford, University of Reading, University of the Arts London, Wallace Collection.

General Scholarships

 

Art Librarianship (UK)

 

Law Librarianship

 

Chemistry Librarianship (US)

 

Medical Librarianship (US)

 

Music Librarianship (US)

 

REFORMA: Working with Spanish-speaking patrons (US)

 

Theatre and Performing Arts Librarianship (US)

  • Retention rate 98% – How many people leave before they complete their studies: 2019 – 1; 2020 - 1
  • Average time to degree completion: 2019: average 18 months; 2020: average 16 months.  (Full time: 1 year, Part time: 2 years, Modular: 2 years – 5 yrs)
  • Percentage of graduates holding positions relevant to the degree within 12 months of degree completion. 100%