“The Museum and Gallery Studies course was appealing because it not only offered theoretical teaching, but hands-on placements and projects in areas specific to my interests. This practical approach helped prepare me for tasks in the workplace. The small class sizes allow for close academic relationships to form between students and professors which I found vital, especially when writing my dissertation. The staff and facilities of the School of Art History provide a stimulating and enjoyable learning environment.”


KATE Hawick, Scottish Borders MA(Hons), MLitt Museum and Gallery Studies Assistant Keeper, Applied Art, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums


Postgraduate Degree Programmes in Museum and Gallery Studies The School of Art History offers higher degree programmes providing a combination of taught courses and research inMuseum and Gallery Studies and National Trust for Scotland Studies. St Andrews is Scotland’s leading centre for postgraduate research and training in the heritage sector and the MGS Postgraduate Diploma/MLitt provides Scotland’s only museum studies course. The one-year Postgraduate Diploma is available as stand-alone vocational training or there is an option to present a dissertation on an approved topic for an MLitt degree. These courses have attracted funding for students from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (currently 10 Quota Awards per annum) and various English and Northern Irish Local Education Authorities aswell as the Arts and Humanities Research Council.


TheMuseum and Gallery Studies Postgraduate Diploma/MLitt prepares you for employment in museums, principally as curators.We ensure that the training is broad, covering all types of museums, galleries and other heritage facilities. The main focus of the training is curatorial work, but curators also need a proper understanding of thework of all their colleagues since, especially in small museums, the‘curator’may have to tackle a very wide range of duties. Hence, the principles of conservation, museum education, exhibition planning and design, and various management topics are also included. Two taught modules on the theory and practice of museums provide knowledge of museum systems and practices and understanding of issues relevant to today’s museums. These are complemented by projectwork, including individual museum tasks and the preparation, in a team, of a public exhibition, which enables you to develop relevant practical skills. You may convert the Postgraduate Diploma into an MLitt on production of a dissertation of 15,000words or an MPhil on production of a thesis of up to 40,000 words. The MPhil usually involves one further year of study but you can enrol for it on a part-time basis. PhD supervision can also be provided.


The extensive UniversityMuseum Collections at St Andrews are particularly suitable for curatorial training and give the course a unique character. The Collections include over 100,000 museum items in a wide range of subject areas, from art to zoology, and these collections and the staff who look after them are actively involved in theMuseum and Gallery Studies teaching programme. Close to the School of Art History is theMuseum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), where most of theMuseum and Galleries Studies teaching takes place. MUSA includes four display galleries on the ground floor, and on the first floor is a‘Learning Loft’ for education and a Viewing Terrace. TheMuseum Collections Unit also manages a temporary exhibition space


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