Public History and Heritage, MA (Extended)

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Key Course Details

Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer (view equivalents): 2.1
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2026	£ 6,400

MA (Extended) 2 Year Full Time

Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer: 2.1 - More Information
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2026	£ 13,500

Use the Past, to Inform your Future

Course Overview

The MA in Public History and Heritage is a flexible master’s programme designed to offer academic training for those interested in research careers, and the relevant skills needed to enter roles in the heritage or related sectors. It is also well suited to those looking to proceed to doctoral level study before entering the sector in a higher-level curatorial role.

A range of stimulating modules include themes covering the understanding of galleries, libraries, archives and museums, conflict heritage, medieval manuscripts, and contemporary history. The flexible nature means the programme can be tailor-made to suit your individual interests (for example, a focus on Ancient Greece and Rome, or a focus on contemporary local history).

Throughout your studies, you will be 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.

A key aspect is the opportunity for you to engage both with external heritage organisations, and with staff projects in heritage and public history, enabling you to gain practical, hands-on experience in relevant settings.

The programme proceeds in a logical fashion, progressing from theoretical classroom-based discussion of heritage and public history through to the practical application of this knowledge in the workplace environment.

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?

You will study on our stunning Singleton Park Campus, 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.

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).

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)

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.

Your Public History and Heritage Experience

This course is split across two years. In your first year, you will begin by studying three 20-credit modules (two compulsory, one optional), designed to develop your understanding of heritage and public history. You will then study a further three 20-credit modules (two compulsory, one optional).

In your second year, you will undertake a 60-credit dissertation project, followed by your semester abroad at Appalachian State University. Your dissertation allows you to conduct in-depth research, while guided by expert faculty, enabling you to build advanced research skills. You will have the option of completing either a written dissertation (appropriate for doctoral preparation), or a practice-based option aimed primarily at those looking to proceed straight into employment.

You will benefit from having access to expert-led teaching; learning from leading scholars who are known for their research into heritage and public history. Your studies will be flexible, enabling you to build skills and knowledge across a range of themes and subjects, with the ability to select modules from our other specialist MAs, allowing you to shape your own learning around your interests and ambitions. You will also have the opportunity to undertake a History and Heritage study trip, experiencing the past in its place, adding valuable contextual experience to your studies, with possible destinations including Greece, Italy or Poland.

You can build valuable workplace experience throughout the programme, readying you for your future career, with a variety of workplace opportunities available. These include taking a designated module that guarantees you a work placement, either internally or with an external provider. This option enables you to gain 100 hours of practical experience working with a heritage organisation or project in a graduate-level role.

Placements may involve the acquisition of skills in museum work, community projects, heritage interpretation or policy. Your learning from this work will be contextualised with two hour-long group seminars, and up to two hours of individual tutorials, resulting in you preparing an extended essay reflecting on your experience in the context of literature on heritage and public history.

There is also an option to take a one-year MA without a semester spent studying abroad.

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 strengthen your skillset and CV with international experience.

This degree will equip graduates to move into a range of graduate-level roles, including:

The heritage industry including museums, libraries and archives, doctoral training for curatorial roles in the heritage industry, independent heritage practice (e.g. as a freelance historical interpreter), policy roles in the broad area of culture and leisure, and a wide variety of roles drawing on advanced critical thinking skills plus practical workplace experience (e.g. in events management)

Modules

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Year 1 (Level 7T)

FHEQ 7 Taught Masters / PGDip / PGCert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Heritage in Conflict	September-January (TB1)	20	CL-M103
Approaches and Debates in Heritage and Public History	September-January (TB1)	20	HIHM01
Heritage Work Placement	January-June (TB2)	20	HIHM04
Understanding GLAM: Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums	January-June (TB2)	20	HIHM10

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select one module

Optional Module - semester 1
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Historical Methods and Approaches	September-January (TB1)	20	HI-M01
Conversations with the Past	September-January (TB1)	20	HI-M96
Transformations in Twentieth-Century Wales	September-January (TB1)	20	HI-M97
Reading Medieval Manuscripts	September-January (TB1)	20	HIMM00

AND

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select one module

Optional modules - semester 2
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Ancient Landscapes	January-June (TB2)	20	CL-M110
History and Heritage Postgraduate Study Trip	January-June (TB2)	20	HI-M2001
Radical Histories	January-June (TB2)	20	HI-M95

Year 2 (Level 7D)

FHEQ 7 Taught Masters Dissertation

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

None found.

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select 1 of the following

Dissertation Module
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Heritage Dissertation (Practice-Based)	June-September (TB3)	60	HIHD00
Heritage Dissertation (Written)	June-September (TB3)	60	HIHD01

AND

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:


Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Appalachian State University (Semester of Study Abroad)	September-January (TB1)	60	HIHM06

Entry Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications.

Typical Offer

2.1

How You're Taught

At Swansea, you will benefit from a high-quality, research-informed education that combines a range of effective and inclusive teaching methods, carefully tailored to suit the needs of your course. This course is taught in person, on campus, giving you the opportunity to actively engage with other students, academic staff, and the wider university community.

The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars, and workshops, providing a balanced approach to learning. This variety ensures that you can engage with the material in different ways, enhancing your understanding and retention of knowledge. The interactive nature of seminars and workshops encourages active participation and critical discussion, which are essential for developing analytical skills.

Assessments are designed to evaluate both theoretical understanding and practical application. They include essays, presentations, and the dissertation project. This diverse range of assessment methods ensures that you are able to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in various formats, preparing you for different professional contexts.

Digital learning tools are also used to enhance your learning experience. These may include:

Recorded lectures to support flexible study and revision.
Online resources on the university’s virtual learning environment (Canvas), including videos, reading materials, quizzes, and discussion forums.

This approach enables you to engage with and review content at your own pace while benefiting from the structure and support of in-person teaching.

N.B If you are an international student studying with a Student Route Visa, please note that your timetabled activity, along with any additional supervisory activity (with Swansea University staff present) will take place on campus. In line with UKVI protocol, these sessions will be monitored and data made available on request.

Welsh Provision

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
The opportunity to create and submit your coursework or sit your 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.
The opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
Membership of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Visit the Welsh Language Rights webpage for further information about Students' Welsh Language Rights.

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts, who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to you.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Start Date	UK	International
September 2025	£ 6,100	£ 12,850
September 2026	£ 6,400	£ 13,500

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.

Funding and Scholarships

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.

Additional Costs

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)
Purchase of books or texts
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

The Careers and Employability Team will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

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.

How to Apply

Please apply through the University’s Application system.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply for postgraduate study pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Application Deadlines

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.

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