Heritage (Full-time) (MA)
The Heritage MA is an opportunity to explore heritage studies from multiple perspectives, including archaeology and history. This course provides a critical understanding of heritage as a concept, covering both tangible and intangible heritage aspects, including landscapes, art, buildings, and cultural spaces. With a global focus, the program gives students insights into how heritage is understood today.
Heritage is explored as both a legacy and a living field shaped by present and future needs. Students study cultural heritage as it intersects with modern society’s needs, including heritage theory and practice. The course also examines heritage’s role as an economic resource and how conservation and preservationdecisions impact cultural heritage sites. This includes how political, legal, and institutional aspects in heritage shape the industry and how heritage organisations work within these structures.
By examining global heritage, students gain an understanding of heritage management and how the field provides heritage sector careers that involve public history and community heritage engagement. The program also explores the use of heritage for social, economic, and cultural purposes, helping students develop skills to work on heritage projects that preserve and promote shared memories, social practices, and unique places.
The MA invites students to view heritage as both a resource and responsibility, blending heritage theory and practice with real-world applications. Whether through heritage projects or heritage organisations, this program equips graduates to navigate the sector’s challenges and shape its future.
Course details
- Full-time
- Distance Learning
- English
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our Heritage MA programme is built on an engaging, interdisciplinary approach to learning and teaching. We combine academic exploration with hands-on experiences, giving students a foundation in theory, practical skills, and critical analysis, all essential for succeeding in today’s heritage sector.
Students gain in-depth knowledge of the heritage sector, including heritage theory, political contexts, and hands-on skills. Courses cover historical methods, museum skills, media engagement, and digital humanities, allowing students to tailor their studies with specialised modules and a dissertation to deepen their unique understanding of heritage.
Compulsory
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
Optional
(20 credits)
(30 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 credits)
Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
Ratings and Rankings
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
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or UWTSD recognised equivalent. 
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Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert). This is the first part of the full Master’s degree. 
Once you have successfully completed your PGCert studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remainder of the Master’s degree. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
These are ideal routes if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. â¶Ä¯â€¯
Admissions Advice and Support â¶Ä¯
For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
English language requirements â¶Ä¯If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses. 
Visa and funding requirements â¶Ä¯
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯â€¯
For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies. 
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed. â¶Ä¯
Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh 
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯â€¯
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The programme draws upon a wide range of assessment techniques, which aim to produce historians with a multifaceted set of skills and knowledge. Modules concentrate in particular on essay-writing, but also include the following assessments: book reviews; reflective journals; posters and source commentaries.
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Students may spend up to £300 per year on books and additional related materials.
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
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The programme provides a broad foundation for postgraduate work, by laying particular stress on the methodologies and research tools needed for independent advanced study, thus acting as training for students who intend to undertake an MPhil or PhD.