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Cultural Heritage Studies MA

London, Bloomsbury

If you’re interested in shaping policy or practice in the heritage sector, or undertaking further academic studies in the area, this Master’s is ideal. Studying at UCL’s Institute of Archaeology, one of the UK’s most diverse archaeology departments – you’ll get a deep insight into the role of heritage in today's global context, be immersed in UCL’s art and archaeology collections, and benefit from the unrivalled resources of London's museums.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This programme will introduce you to key theoretical approaches and practical issues relevant to the cultural heritage sector today. You will be taught by experts in heritage, museum, archives and collections.

The flexible structure allows students to choose a more theoretical or a more practical degree. You can also make it multi-disciplinary by taking modules from other departments such as Anthropology, History of Art or History.

Who this course is for

The programme is aimed both at those who wish to study cultural heritage as an academic subject, and those who wish to obtain employment within this broad sector. The degree caters for students from a wide range of academic disciplines and diverse backgrounds who wish to study this rapidly growing interdisciplinary field.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL Institute of Archaeology is one of the largest centres for archaeology and heritage in Britain and ranked 3rd in the QS World Rankings by Subject 2024. It brings archaeology, cultural heritage, and museum studies together under one roof, making it a special and exciting place to study. 

This programme offers you many benefits and opportunities:

  • Learn from leading experts in their fields. 
  • Use of the Institute’s exceptional laboratories, equipment, archives, and teaching collections.
  • Proximity to British Museum and British Library, as well as UCL’s Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Upon completing this degree, you will have skills well suited for jobs in sectors such as: 

  • Heritage within museums, heritage sector and heritage consultancies. 
  • Environmental sustainability and cultural sector
  • Journalism and media platforms
  • Civil Service, governmental and non - governmental organisations 
  • Tourism and heritage management

“My time at the Institute of Archaeology was invaluable. Being global in focus and nature truly refined my thinking and prepared me well to overcome the challenges that I encountered as part of my professional career”.

Laurence Maidment-Blundell (PhD Student)

Employability

The programme is designed to enhance career prospects by giving students transferable skills attractive to employers in a wide range of businesses and sectors, such as:

  • Theoretical and critical analysis.
  • Ability to design and carry out original research.
  • Practical heritage skills.
  • Creativity and highly articulate.
  • Understanding of ethical issues.

You will also learn to solve problems and issues and to build positive working relationships. 

Networking

The institute organises an annual "Careers in Ruins" event. Here students can get career advice from professionals in the Heritage and Archaeology sectors. They can also network with professionals from other sectors such as Business, Law and the Civil Service. Many of our alumni also return as guest lecturers on core modules and seminars.

Teaching and learning

The programme encourages diverse teaching and learning methods/strategies such as:

- student debate and discussion in seminar groups.

- student presentations given to their peer group in a friendly and respectful and creative atmosphere.

- visits offer a unique opportunity to ground lecture topics in practical public settings in order to stimulate student reflection and response.

- as the degree progresses students complement their conceptual knowledge with research methods.

- these core skills culminate in and underpin the final dissertation.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical demonstrations, site visits and guest lectures. Assessment is through essays, projects reports, and a research based dissertation.

Contact time takes various forms:

  • Lectures.
  • Seminars.
  • Dissertation supervision.
  • Fieldtrips.
  • Assessment feedback sessions.

The credit value of the module indicates the total learning hours you will spend to achieve its learning outcomes. One credit is often equated to 10 hours of notional learning, which includes all contact time, self-directed study, and assessment.

The contact hours per module are normally around 2-3 hours a week with additional self-directed study time. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Your dissertation module is 90 credits. The learning hours will mainly be spent researching and writing your final dissertation. You will also have regular contact with your supervisor(s). They will guide and support you throughout your work.

Modules

Teaching is carried out in the first two terms, with each term consisting of one compulsory core module and additional optional modules. You will identify a dissertation topic and supervisor in the second term. In the third term, you will begin work on your dissertation, which continues over the summer and can be supplemented by research skill sessions organised at the Institute of Archaeology.    

The degree programme structure sees students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

Students are required to take the following two compulsory core modules: 

  • Critical Perspectives on Cultural Heritage (30 credits)
  • Critical Heritage Research Skills  (30 credits)

Students are required to select option modules to the value of 60 credits. All students complete a research dissertation (90 credits).

Those who undertake part-time study will discuss with the degree co-ordinator their pathway through the degree. Typically students will take both core degree modules in the first year and select their optional modules in order to spread these out to year two. The dissertation is discussed in year 1 and completed at the end of year two. We endeavour to be flexible to the needs of part-time students in designing their pathway through the degree over two years.

The degree programme structure sees students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

Students are required to take the following two compulsory core modules: 

  • Critical Perspectives on Cultural Heritage (30 credits)
  • Critical Heritage Research Skills  (30 credits)

Students are required to select option modules to the value of 60 credits. All students complete a research dissertation (90 credits).

Compulsory modules





Optional modules





















Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Cultural Heritage Studies.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Institute of Archaeology (morning)

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The UCL Institute of Archaeology is one of the largest centres for archaeology, cultural heritage and museum studies in Britain. Join us for a Virtual Graduate Open Event to find out more about our wide range of Master’s programmes, how our programmes are taught, what it’s like to study at the Institute of Archaeology and have the opportunity to speak to a relevant degree co-ordinator. Please contact Lisa Daniel, Graduate Admissions Administrator (l.daniel@ucl.ac.uk) if you have any questions.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Institute of Archaeology (afternoon)

—

The UCL Institute of Archaeology is one of the largest centres for archaeology, cultural heritage and museum studies in Britain. Join us for a Virtual Graduate Open Event to find out more about our wide range of Master’s programmes, how our programmes are taught, what it’s like to study at the Institute of Archaeology and have the opportunity to speak to a relevant degree co-ordinator. Please contact Lisa Daniel, Graduate Admissions Administrator (l.daniel@ucl.ac.uk) if you have any questions.

Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Social and Historical Sciences

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Join us at our Bloomsbury campus to discover where a postgraduate degree with UCL Social & Historical Sciences will take you. At this in-person event, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about our departments and our wide breadth of degree programmes. You'll have the chance to hear from academic staff and current students, and ask any questions you might have about the department, your chosen course and studying at a world-leading university.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Transport to any fieldtrips outside of London will be arranged by the department. Students will need to make their own way to fieldtrips within London. A Day off-peak travelcard for zones 1-9 costs around £17.00, but most visits will be within zones 1-3. Any additional costs related to fieldtrips will also be covered by the Department.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

Heritage and Museums Diversity Scholarship: The UCL Institute of Archaeology is funding a scholarship for a candidate from Black British, British Pakistani or British Bangladeshi backgrounds as these groups are currently under-represented within the heritage sector. The scholarship covers course fees only for a Home student.

For further details and an application form please see here.

Institute of Archaeology Master's Awards: The UCL Institute of Archaeology has one studentship of £10,000 available to support a graduate student who is an ordinarily resident in the UK or Ireland and eligible to pay home fee rate. The deadline for applications is 1st March 2025. For further information and to download an application see here.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (equivalent to 1yr full-time) (1yr)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Institute of Archaeology International Masters Student Award

Deadline: 21 March 2025
Value: Up to £26,000 (1yr)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Institute of Archaeology Masters Award

Deadline: 21 March 2025
Value: £10,000 (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Cultural Heritage Studies at graduate level
  • why you want to study Cultural Heritage Studies at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging academic environment
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree
  • what attracts you to this programme - which plays an emphasis on critical, theoretical perspectives on cultural heritage - at the intellectual, theoretical level.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Institute of Archaeology
Institute of Archaeology

l.daniel@ucl.ac.uk

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