Our Heritage Studies courses will give you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skill in heritage management, heritage education and interpretation. Coupled with a work placement within a relevant heritage organisation, this course will prepare you for, or progress, a successful career in the heritage sector.
The course covers key aspects of heritage tourism and visitor engagement, drawing on experiences from expert staff and visiting speakers and visits to local heritage sites. It encourages a hands-on approach and involves major input by heritage professionals from the region and beyond. Alongside freelance heritage consultants, these professionals work in organisations including:
- Historic England
- the National Trust
- the National Park Authority
When you graduate from this course you will be equipped to pursue a career in the heritage sector or conduct further research.
Staff
You will have input from professional and academic experts with substantial experience of working in the heritage and tourism sectors in various countries. Some of our academic staff include:
Professor Peter Stone, OBE, UNESCO Chair in Cultural Property Protection and Peace
Peter teaches and researches in heritage management, interpretation and education. He also holds a number of senior positions, including:
- Secretary General of the Association of National Committees of the Blue Shield
- Chairman of the UK National Committee of the Blue Shield
- Member of the UK National Commission for UNESCO's Expert Network
- UNESCO Chair in Cultural Property Protection and Peace
Dr Aron Mazel, Reader in Heritage Studies
Aron has a wide range of research interests, including:
- the management and interpretation of tangible and intangible heritage
- museum history
- the construction of the hunter-gatherer past
- dating of rock art
- Northumberland rock art
View all our staff profiles.
Our courses are based in Media, Culture, Heritage. They are also affiliated with the International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies (ICCHS), a leading academic centre for research and teaching in museum, gallery, and heritage studies.
ICCHS has a thriving, high-profile interdisciplinary research community made up of postgraduate research students and experienced academic researchers who are key figures in their fields.
Delivery
The course covers all aspects of heritage work and we use a variety of teaching and learning strategies to help you achieve your learning objectives. This includes a large proportion of guided independent study. Scheduled contact time is at our Newcastle city centre campus and includes:
- lectures
- seminars and practical sessions
- workshops
The academic year usually starts in late September with Welcome Week. We provide a unique blend of theoretical knowledge, understanding and practical experience. This means you will have a mixture of taught modules and work-based placements.
You will take five compulsory modules, with a further choice of two possible pathways.
Part time study consists of the same modules and options as the full time course, but spread over a longer period.
Placements
Work placements or work related-projects are usually off campus. You will have the opportunity to complete a placement in a suitable gallery, museum, or heritage site. This could be either 12 days long or 6 weeks long, depending on which pathway you apply for.
Facilities
You will have access to our top quality facilities within Media, Culture, Heritage and across the University:
- our libraries and eResources
- the Great North Museum: Hancock, located on campus, houses the collections that previously made up the Hancock Museum, the Shefton Museum of Greek Art and Archaeology (an internationally-renowned collection of over 1,000 Greek and Etruscan artefacts), and the Museum of Antiquities
- the Hatton Gallery, located on campus, has been at the heart of cultural life in the North East since the early 20th century
- the Language Resource Centre is a specialist language facility providing free access to self-study materials in 50 languages
- computing facilities with access to relevant databases and over 1,400 fully networked PCs
- the Gertrude Bell Archive
- non-campus facilities that are often used for student projects include Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums and the Victoria Tunnel
In addition to our expertise in heritage studies, the city of Newcastle and the wider region offers a wonderful resource with two World Heritage Sites, many heritage sites and over 80 regional museums and galleries. Much of the region's countryside is designated as National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
