Programme Director

University of Leicester; Leicester; Remote; GBP 10,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned educational institution in Leicester offers a postgraduate course focusing on socially engaged practice in museums. This program emphasizes inclusivity and community impact, providing students with the flexibility to study while managing other commitments. The course includes innovative teaching methods and prepares graduates for diverse careers in the cultural sector.

Qualifications

• Strong interest in museums, galleries, or cultural organisations.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice principles.
• Must possess or demonstrate equivalent skills through prior experience.

Responsibilities

• Engage critically and creatively with social issues in museums.
• Develop and advocate for socially engaged practice.
• Explore the impact of museums on community well-being.

Skills

Partnership working

Participatory practices

Anti-racism and anti-oppression work

Ethical frameworks for practice

Visitor studies

Education

First class or second class degree

Job description

Course Overview

This course will examine the role of museums and practitioners in shaping society's understandings of contemporary issues, upholding antiracist and anti‑oppression values of inclusivity and accessibility, and ensuring that museums benefit their communities. Choosing to study Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries will give you access to leading research and practice on the impact that museums and galleries can have on advocating for social justice and human rights, and how they might better explore and address the contemporary issues that face our societies. This course brings together cutting‑edge examples of socially driven professional practice in dialogue with research undertaken by academics within the School of Museum Studies. It draws on broader global shifts in practice and will challenge you to think deeply about the role of culture in society and the characteristics of socially purposeful museums and galleries. Over the course, you will engage critically and creatively with areas such as:

• partnership working
• participatory practices
• anti‑racism and anti‑oppression work
• ethical frameworks for practice
• accessibility and audience‑centred practices
• visitor studies and audience research
• leadership at all levels of an organisation
• how socially engaged practice can be embedded into the work of museums and galleries

You will gain a deeper understanding of the historical, current and emerging debates, theories, issues, techniques and practice in order to effectively develop and advocate for socially engaged practice in museums, galleries, and similar organisations. The course offers a platform to explore and experiment with ways of maximising the impact that museums and galleries can have on the wellbeing of communities, on civil debates around controversial topics, and on the building of fairer and more equal societies. The course is delivered in a variety of ways, including recorded online lectures, seminars, tutorials, discussion activities, and self‑led activities. The programme is designed to fit around your existing commitments and is sympathetically structured to allow you to break up the work into manageable chunks and focus on one assignment at a time. You will receive high‑quality support from your module tutors and a personal tutor throughout your studies.

Our Museum Studies graduates have been employed in some of the largest and most prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, in addition to some smaller specialist and local institutions. They include:

• National Museums Liverpool
• The British Museum
• The Smithsonian Institution
• Tropenmuseum, Netherlands
• International Council of Museums
• Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
• Greek Ministry of Culture
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• Imperial War Museum
• Guggenheim Museum

Our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you – by email, phone or Skype – with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience and more. From registration to graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.

Program Details

A Master of Science (MSc) can be awarded in preference to a Master of Arts (MA) where the dissertation concerns a science collection or museum, or where the nature of the investigation can be termed ‘scientific’. The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research‑inspired education and preparing you for your future.

This course offers carefully designed teaching material and reading which offer flexibility and allow you to fit your study around other commitments. These materials are delivered through online resources in the University’s virtual learning environment, Blackboard. This includes recorded lectures, international case studies of museum practice, guided readings, group discussions, and self‑led activities to support your learning.

How long is each module? The modules run consecutively, over 8 weeks, with 6 weeks of taught materials and 2 weeks to prepare and submit your assignment. There is a short break between modules. For further information about modules choices, see the course structure section above.

Will I need to attend regular, live online sessions? No. The course is designed to be flexible, so you can choose when to study. There is one live seminar in each of the core modules, and these are recorded if you can’t attend.

How many hours will I study each week? For each week of study, there is 8 hours of taught materials. Additionally, you are expected to undertake up to 10 hours of independent study per week. This is equivalent to a part‑time course.

Are there any study visits? Throughout your course you will be encouraged to undertake guided study visits in your own local area. There are also virtual study visits within the teaching material. During the summer, you are also invited to our exciting, optional, non‑assessed Summer School week, offering face‑to‑face teaching, discussions, group activities and study visits.

How do assessments work? You will have one assignment per module (2,500‑word essay or equivalent). We aim for a range of assignment types, including essays, project work, reports, exhibition proposals and consultancy briefs, to ensure you get a range of skills required for museum careers.

What’s the difference between an MA and MSc? If your dissertation concerns a science collection or museum, or if the nature of your investigation is ‘scientific’, you can receive a Master of Science (MSc) degree instead of a Master of Arts (MA) degree.

Teaching and learning. You will be supported by a dedicated team of academics, tutors and support staff. You will be allocated a personal tutor who can advise you on a range of issues and support you. In addition, for each module you will be allocated a module tutor who is a specialist in that particular field. Your module tutor will support you with academic enquiries as well as your essay plans, marking your assignments and providing you with detailed feedback.

Our flexible learning course has been designed with different learning preferences and access requirements in mind. The flexibility in both progressing through the course, and in accessing the material through different formats anticipates a diverse student body and offers choice in how you are taught and assessed.

All distance learning students are invited to attend our in‑person June Summer School week, which is an opportunity to meet fellow distance learners and School of Museum Studies academics in person.

If you are taking the MA or MSc, you will take four core modules, followed by four option modules, as well as completing a research project (or dissertation) on the topic of your choice. For many, the project is the most exciting part of the course, as a self‑directed opportunity to contribute new ideas, new knowledge, or critique existing scholarship or practice at an advanced academic level. You might choose to write this up as a dissertation, but you could also consider writing a paper, a professional report, or even producing a film.

In recognition of the diverse employment needs of the culture sector, we recognise and credit a range of prior qualifications and experiences:

• Either a first class or second class degree, which can be in any subject area.
• Or be able to demonstrate equivalent skills and aptitudes through the possession of a professional or vocational qualification and/or the accrual of relevant work experiences. Relevant experience can come from a wide spectrum of work or voluntary environments but clear evidence of this experience must be provided.

You should be able to demonstrate a commitment to, or strong interest in, museums, galleries, or other kinds of heritage or cultural organisation. If you do not have a degree, you will be asked to complete an assessment, such as an essay, so as to demonstrate your readiness for postgraduate study. Clear guidance will be provided on assessment criteria. You may also be required to attend an interview.

English Language Requirements: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.

Course Cost

• MA/MSc: £10,950
• PGDip: £9,855
• PGCert: £5,475
• Short course (one module): £1,370, Starting in April 2026
• MA/MSc: £18,950
• PGDip: £17,055
• PGCert: £9,475
• Short course (one module): £2,370