10Feb
PostgraduateCourse summary
The MA in International Cultural Heritage Management explores the key issues of cultural heritage management around the world and its influence on a grand scale on society and on people’s lives. You will come to understand how cultural heritage management offers a sense of identity, maintains social diversity and cohesion, and enables dialogue between cultures. You will learn how successful heritage management plays a vital role in education, cultural protection, conflict migration and sustainable development and the way cultural heritage is an essential tool in helping to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, heritage management is not without its challenges and this course will also introduce you to the issues it faces across the world from the increasingly faster pace of global change and development, the growing demand for larger infrastructure, mass tourism, encroachment, neglect, climate change, natural disasters and targeted destruction, for example in wars and conflicts. The course benefits from the university’s location within a UNESCO World Heritage Site and examines cultural heritage management from a local, national and international perspective. It will provide the foundations for both academic and professional career choices, in either cultural heritage research or the professional practice route. We believe cultural heritage forms part of our basic right to participate in cultural life and we aim to create the next generation of leaders in the field, equipping you with the skills to address its many and complex challenges as well as contributing to the successes of developing cultural heritage in an increasingly globalised and changeable world. There are two routes through the MA: the Cultural Heritage Research route which concludes with a dissertation, and the Professional Practice Route which concludes with an analytical case study report. Course Structure Core modules Debating Heritage and Museums enables you to identify and discuss the similarities and differences between heritage studies and museum studies and to develop your understanding of their key concepts, principles, theories and debates using case-studies from around the world. The module also delivers the necessary skills in research and analysis that you can take into your subsequent academic or professional working life. Managing Cultural Heritage in Context is designed to develop your knowledge of cultural heritage sites and organisations using local, national and international case studies and provide you with an understanding and analysis of issues relating to their management, development and operations. The module also develops your understanding of how sites and organisations serve their audiences, taking into account the political, economic and social cultural factors. In addition, you will learn about the relationship between cultural heritage theory and practice and identify the conditions that bring about development, change and conflict in the cultural heritage context. You will also complete either a Professional Practice Project or a Dissertation depending on your route through the course. If you want to work in the profession, you may choose to prepare a detailed analytical case study report on a country or site of your choice. If you prefer to explore theoretical issues or plan to pursue a career in other contexts, including taking a higher-level degree, will find the Dissertation module more suitable.
Modules
A final module is chosen from options which have previously included: Protecting World Heritage; Communicating Cultural Heritage; Heritage Landscapes of East Asia: Contemporary Practices and Challenges; Module offered by the Department of Archaeology OR in relevant departments as approved by the Programme Director; A credit-bearing language module.
Assessment method
The course is delivered through a mixture of lectures, seminars, webinars, tutorials and workshops. You will also be able to take part in visits and field trips, including Durham’s own World Heritage Site, and be offered professional placements when you can apply the skills and knowledge acquired in the taught environment. Lectures provide the core skills and knowledge by introducing you to key concepts, methodologies and analytical approaches, delivered in a mix of traditional podium-based events and a more interactive seminar-style discussion. We use webinars to introduce you to specific heritage sites and issues around the world, including real-time debates with international professionals by video link followed by seminar discussions. Tutorials provide a forum for discussion either on a one-to-one basis or in small groups that support the work taking place in lectures and workshops. While the majority of the course is assessed by essays, a number of modules include assessment by critical reflection, a poster debate, portfolio work and practice logs. If you choose the Communicating Cultural Heritage option module you will plan content for a 5-page website, a blog and presentation. One-third of your final mark is gained through completion of either a 10,000-word professional practice project or dissertation depending on the route you choose through the course. We will consider how you have applied learning and developed your skills and knowledge in working effectively with theoretical models, literature and data. Modules include a combination of formative assessment conducted during the learning process, as well as the final summative assessment.
How to apply
International applicants
If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
Entry requirements
We normally require an Honours Degree, usually at the 2:1 level or higher or an international equivalent, such as a GPA of 3.3 or above. The course is taught assuming no prior knowledge, but an ability to demonstrate previous interest or experience of cultural heritage would be an advantage. Students should be willing to prepare a cultural heritage case study to bring with them. Reference Requirements One satisfactory reference is required.
English language requirements
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses. It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course. Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
English language requirements
https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £11900 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £11900 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £11900 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £11900 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £11900 | Year 1 |
| EU | £25500 | Year 1 |
| International | £25500 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Sponsorship information
For further information see the course listing.
Provider information
Durham University
The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE