Work placement

All students on our campus-based masters programmes in Museum Studies and Art Museum and Gallery Studies undertake an 8 week, full-time, work placement between July and September. This placement forms their final module and is known as 'Practice'.

Practice is a highlight of the year for our students. The module provides valuable sector experience and network building opportunities. It also enables students to apply the skills and knowledge that have been developed in the previous nine months during the taught part of the course and the dissertation period. Taking place at the very end of the programme, the placement facilitates a smooth transition from postgraduate student life into work in the cultural sector.

Integral and critical to the Masters curriculum, our placement is made possible through the extensive network of museums and galleries developed in more than 50 years of partnership with the museum sector. This network consists of over 200 museums and galleries across the UK and beyond who offer our Masters students bespoke placements. Each year students are able to select their placements from an expansive list of museums, galleries, heritage sites and other cultural and heritage organisations. Projects are offered across all areas of sectoral work.  Staff at the School support students to put together a professional application, offering networking opportunities with a selection of placement hosts. Many hosts are also our alumni and all are committed to supporting the next generation of museum and gallery practitioners.