Museum Studies (Taught)

The one-year Museum Studies master's programme draws on the University’s extensive museum collections to enable you to explore critical approaches to museum theory while also studying the application of museum practice and research at first hand. 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. Aberdeen is one of the very few UK universities to have international-quality collections relating to the natural and cultural worlds.

Did you know? Aberdeen is ranked 1st in Scotland for Overall Satisfaction in Anthropology (NSS 2024) and ranked 3rd in the UK for Anthropology and Archaeology (Guardian University Guide 2025)

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. With a range of optional courses available to supplement our core courses, you can customise your degree to specific areas of interest via our options in education, digital skills, and understanding decolonisation in the context of the museum sector. Optional programmes include Museums and the Digital World, which involves designing a digital intervention for the University Collections, and Decolonising Museums, which tackles one of the most pressing issues facing the sector today.

Alongside developing an understanding of museum theory, you will hone the practical skills utilised in the heritage sector including curation practice, grant application writing, and interpreting academic and specialist knowledge for the wider public.

During the summer you can choose to take ‘Curating an Exhibition’ where you will work with museum staff to design an online exhibition using the University’s collections. 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 to put their skills into practice by carrying out a project with a partner museum.