The Extended MA in Public History and Heritage is a flexible 2-year programme designed to offer academic training, for those interested in research careers, and the relevant employability skills needed for a range of careers in the heritage sector.
A range of stimulating modules cover topics such as museum studies, conflict heritage, Egyptology, ancient civilisations, medieval studies, and contemporary history.
Throughout your studies, you are encouraged to build your analytical and methodological awareness of key concepts, and approaches to communicating the past to different public audiences. You will also learn more about the history of heritage, and the lively role of public history and heritage within global debates.
You will draw on the expertise of internationally recognised scholars and gain practical, hands-on experience through a work placement programme. The organisations we work with include the National Trust, Cadw, the Canal and River Trust, and museums, archives, and galleries across South Wales. You could also work with charities, local heritage projects, and research institutions.
In the second part of the course, you have the choice of completing a 60-credit practice-based dissertation project or a 60-credit written dissertation project.
The programme will then complete with a semester spent studying abroad, as the Extended MA is delivered in partnership with Appalachian State University.
Why Public History and Heritage at Swansea?
Swansea University will connect you with respected external heritage organisations, allowing you to gain practical experience throughout your studies.
You will study on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula. The campus has a botanical garden and several historic buildings including Singleton Abbey, a Grade II 19th century mansion. The programme works closely with the University’s archives and collections including the world-renowned Egypt Centre, the South Wales Miners’ Library, the University art collections, and the Richard Burton Archives.
The programme is delivered within the School of Culture and Communication, home to the Graduate Centre which is designed to promote individual and collaborative research activity of an international standard, providing a supportive environment for students pursuing postgraduate research and taught master’s study.
We also offer postgraduate training to enhance academic and professional development, and facilitate seminar programmes, workshops, and international conferences through our research centres; CHART (the Centre for Heritage Research and Training), OLCAP (the Research Group for Object and Landscape Centred Approaches to the Past), and KYKNOS (the Centre for Research on the Narrative Literatures of the Ancient World).
While studying abroad, there will be opportunities for you to take both theoretical and practical options from Appalachian State University's humanities programme, and to explore the similarities and differences in local heritage.
Appalachia has distinctive mining and music traditions that draw direct comparisons with Wales, or you may prefer to explore the practice of public history in the USA, and the ways its history and heritage are represented.
You’ll be joining a leading department, with renowned research and expertise:
100% of our research impact is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
Your Public History and Heritage Experience
This programme is designed to offer flexibility for you to select modules around your interests and future goals.
A key aspect of the programme is the opportunity for you to engage with external heritage organisations and staff projects in heritage and public history.
If you have heritage and material culture interests, you can undertake modules such as ‘Understanding GLAM: Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums’ and ‘Debates and Approaches in Public History and Heritage’. If you have historical interests, you can undertake modules such as ‘Heritage and Conflict’, ‘Radical Histories’ and ‘Transformations in 20th C Wales.’ You will also be able to pursue the study of medieval manuscripts and ancient landscapes as part of the programme.
The modules offered develop skills that build towards the dissertation that you will write under the direction of a specialist supervisor.
The course structure is split across two years. In your first year, you will study three modules in each academic semester.
Your second year will include a choice of a standard written dissertation or a practice-based dissertation, then followed by your semester abroad at Appalachian State University.
Your study resources will include a main library that is particularly well stocked with heritage and public history sources, archaeological, tourism and management, sociology, politics, and relevant historical scholarship. Library collections include a wide range of general and specialist periodicals, and an increasing number of specialist digital resources. There is a postgraduate common room and an electronic resources room available in the James Callaghan Building.
You will also have access to the collections and resources in the Egypt Centre and the Richard Burton Archives on campus and benefit from our thriving Taliesin Arts Centre.
Public History and Heritage Employment Opportunities
This course will develop your employability by connecting you with external heritage organisations. You will develop an excellent understanding of different types of careers in the heritage sector and learn to present your ideas in different formats. Strong research, communication, and problem-solving skills will all boost your employment prospects.
In addition to developing practical specialised skills, the semester abroad will further broaden your skillset with international experience.
Graduates of this course have gained employment in the following areas:
Education, museums, libraries and archives, heritage management and tourism, media and marketing, research, business, charities, government, and civil service.
Modules
The extended MA covers a total of 180 credits of study. Your first year will comprise of 120 credits of modules.
The first part of the course covers 60 credits of taught study. Compulsory modules include Debates and Approaches in Heritage and Public History, and a Heritage Work Placement, spent within a heritage organisation or project. A range of optional modules cover themes including Ancient History, Medieval Studies, Welsh Identities, and Museum Practice.
You will then complete a 60-credit dissertation, either written or practice-based, depending on your preferences.
Your final 60-credits of study will take place at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, which is what sets this programme apart from the standard 1-year MA.
The typical entry requirement is 2:1 degree in History, Heritage Studies, Archaeology, Classics, Egyptology, Geography, Cultural Studies, Sociology, humanities or social science subjects, or a science-based archaeology or conservation degree. We will also consider applications from candidates with significant professional or volunteering experience in the heritage/public history sector.
For applicants whose first language is not English, we require IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English test.
We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.
Practical skills sessions, seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group work and presentations. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.
Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with lecturers and guest speakers. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments, and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in our virtual learning environment (Canvas), such as videos and podcasts enabling further flexible study.
There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study some elements of this
postgraduate course through the medium of Welsh but there is not yet enough
provision to reach 40 credits in each year. The Programme Director can outline
to you what is available in Welsh.
Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support
you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:
Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the App Store and Google Play.
An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
The option to create and submit your coursework or sit exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be assessed in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.
You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.
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 the University's scholarships and bursaries page.
Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.
If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies.
To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.
To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's
scholarships and bursaries
page.
Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.
For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.
Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.
You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):
Travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your
personal tutor, the Centre for Academic
Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas
such as:
Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).
In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability,
mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have
Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and
requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.
We care about our students and our aim is to ensure that you achieve the best degree classification. We have a personal mentoring system where you will be allocated a personal tutor. We also have an “open door” policy where our academic teachers are available to talk to you at any time about any queries or academic concerns you may have.
We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application
deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can
find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.
