Art Gallery and Museum Studies | University of Manchester

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Course summary

Our MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies course is ideal if you are considering a career in this sector and want to gain practical experience through placements during your studies, or if you are a professional and want to further develop your practice.

The course will see you examine diverse issues related to museum theory and practice, visit numerous museums, galleries and cultural organisations, and discuss ideas and issues with professionals and academics in the field.

You will take advantage of our excellent links to cultural organisations to access a range of exciting and valuable work placements.

Past placements have been at the Manchester Museum, The Whitworth, Tate Liverpool, Manchester Art Gallery, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester International Festival, The Royal Exchange Theatre and Chorlton Arts Festival, to name a few.

You'll also have opportunities to design and participate in live projects with cultural and heritage organisations in Manchester.

In addition, we take fieldtrips to cultural organisations in Manchester, the wider north-west of England and beyond. Regular trips include Liverpool, London, Oxford and Leeds.

We also run an international trip to Amsterdam or Berlin.

The course is continually being reviewed and developed in response to new research, emerging critical approaches and shifts in museum practice.

Open days

University of Manchester - virtual open day (online only)
20 Apr 2026, 15:00
Manchester
University of Manchester - open day (in person/on campus)
27 Jun 2026, 08:15
Manchester
University of Manchester - open day (in person/on campus)
4 Jul 2026, 08:15
Manchester
University of Manchester - virtual open day (online only)
6 Jul 2026, 15:00
Manchester
University of Manchester - open day (in person/on campus)
3 Oct 2026, 08:15
Manchester
University of Manchester - open day (in person/on campus)
10 Oct 2026, 08:15
Manchester
University of Manchester - virtual open day (online only)
16 Nov 2026, 16:00
Manchester

Fees and funding

Choose a specific option to see funding information.

Course options

Sponsorship information

Each year the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures offer a number of School awards and Subject-specific bursaries (the values of which are usually set at Home/EU fees level), open to both Home/EU and international students. The deadline for these is early February each year. Details of all funding opportunities, including deadlines, eligibility and how to apply, can be found on the School's funding page where you can also find details of the Government Postgraduate Loan Scheme.

See also the University's postgraduate funding database to see if you are eligible for any other funding opportunities.

For University of Manchester graduates, the Manchester Alumni Bursary offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a 1st within the last three years and are progressing to a postgraduate taught masters course.

The Manchester Master's Bursary is a University-wide scheme that offers 100 bursaries worth £3,000 in funding for students from underrepresented groups.

Postgraduate 1+3 funding is available from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for students to pursue postgraduate study through a master's (one year) leading into a PhD (3 years). It requires a project proposal as part of the application.