MA Public History and Heritage
Manchester, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 20,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full time: 20,000 GBP per year| part time: 3,334 GBP per 30 credits
Introduction
Our specialised MA in Public History and Heritage draws on the research expertise of the Manchester Centre for Public Histories and Heritage, providing students with access to archives, historians and networks far beyond just those in the University. The course trains students in the specifics of public history and heritage and is suitable for those considering a career in heritage management or associated fields, such as libraries and archives, tourism or local government, or wishing to progress onto higher research programmes.
The course offers a range of core and optional modules that draw on the strengths of our research-active staff. The skills gained are also transferable to a range of careers – students develop key skills including: working with evidence, writing heritage reports, developing analysis, presenting research, and hands-on experience (through placement) of the heritage, archive and museums sector.
Alongside your studies, you will undertake a placement related to your research interests, organised in collaboration with staff members, and drawn from our extensive network of regional contacts. Previous placements have included National Trust properties, the People's History Museum, and the National Football Museum (Manchester).
Features and Benefits
- Professional skills - develop skills specific to the heritage industry, such as field-recording of heritage assets, the production of industry-standard reports, and the integration of heritage decision-making into various areas of public administration.
- Exciting placements - work placements will introduce you to the real working environment and enable you to establish valuable contacts within the industry. Previous placements have included Manchester Histories, Sound Archives Unlocked, the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre, People’s History Museum, and a number of National Trust properties.
- Industry connections - strong links with regional and national historians and archives.
- Academic expertise - work alongside leading researchers whose published work covers a wide range of geographical and chronological areas including: women and slavery in America, medieval crusades, the history of the country-house, early modern politics and culture, crime and the Victorian city, terrorism and political violence, museums and public policy.
- Manchester Centre for Public Histories and Heritage - draw on the expertise of the Manchester Centre for Public Histories and Heritage based in our department, where many of our academics are active researchers.
- Research-informed teaching - 83% of our research is rated internationally excellent. (REF 2021).
- Hone your research skills - pursue your own original historical project that allows you to develop your research skills, with the aid of expert supervision.
Admissions
Curriculum
Course Information
Studying history helps us to understand the reasons behind how we live our lives today and how we can use this to impact those around us. There has been a renewed interest in history, with historians uncovering untold stories locally, nationally and globally to bring communities together.
Through your modules you'll concentrate on developing employability skills and industry-specific training. You'll also develop skills needed for advanced historical research, proposal writing and archival research, as well as skills specific to your own research interests. Option modules allow you to explore the areas of public history and heritage that interest you the most.
You will learn in lectures and seminars with varied coursework for each module. You will complete an independent project (dissertation or an alternative project based on a placement). This is an opportunity to work closely with an academic supervisor or local organisation in the field you wish to pursue. There’s also the opportunity to attend departmental seminars hosted by our academics and visiting historians.
Year 1
Over the course of the programme, you’ll take a number of core units that will develop research skills to enable you to develop your independent project, and skills specific to the fields of public history and heritage. These include a module that focuses on the methods used to record heritage and the historic environment; and another that explores the value of the public past in the 21st century through the study of public controversies.
The two research methods units develop skills that professional historians use such as finding and making use of materials in archives, gathering oral histories, and placing research findings within a local and global context. Optional units then allow you to broaden your horizons in different historical time periods and geographical settings, or to focus more specifically on themes and topics of your particular interest.
Part-time students will undertake the degree over two years. In year 1 you will take four core units (Research Methods I and II, Professional Heritage and Practice, Case Studies in Controversy) in year 2 you’ll take four options and the Independent Project.
Core modules
- Case Studies in Controversy: History and Memory in Public
- Independent Project
- Professional Heritage and Practice
- Research Methods I & Research Methods II
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Career prospects
The course aims to equip you with the skills to progress to higher research programmes or for a career in heritage management or associated fields, such as libraries and archives, tourism or local government. With the analytical and self-expression skills gained on the course, many have gone on to pursue careers and further study in business where these skills are desired.
You will also develop skills as an independent researcher and have the option to experience specific, practical training for careers related to the heritage sector.
We’ll help you to establish connections with internationally excellent researchers covering social, cultural, political, military, and public history from the Medieval to Modern eras. Manchester Metropolitan has dedicated teams to support and grow your academic CV or to help develop a PhD proposal.
Program delivery
Study
- Full-time 25% lectures, seminars or similar; 10% placement; 65% independent study
- Part-time 25% lectures, seminars or similar; 10% placement; 65% independent study
Assessment
- Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
- Part-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination