Museum Studies, MLitt

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 makes significant use of these collections to enable you to study the historical and contemporary roles of museums in society and develop skills in public engagement with research while gaining practical experience of museum work. You will gain foundational curatorial skills and an appreciation of contemporary issues museums face in the core courses: Researching Museum Collections, Museum Professional Practice, The Museum Idea, and Navigating the Museum Workplace. You can apply this knowledge in options like Museums and the Digital World, which involves designing a digital intervention for the University Museums and Special Collections, and Decolonising Museums, which tackles one of the most pressing issues facing the sector today. During the summer you can choose Curating an Exhibition, which involves working with museum staff to design an online exhibition using the University collections, normally with linked display cases throughout campus and associated public outreach. You may prefer to research a topic in depth through writing a Museum Studies dissertation, a route recommended for those aiming to continue to the PhD in Museum Studies. There are many opportunities to work directly with the collections if this route appeals. Finally, the Museum Studies Placement allows students put their skills into practice by carrying out a project in a partner museum. More details: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/199/museum-studies/