International Heritage Management MA

How can heritage organisations balance business need with a commitment to historic truth? How do you decide which elements of the past to preserve and present to the public? Learn from our Heritage experts, who have practical experience working in this industry, and develop the skills to answer these questions and be a successful professional in this sector.  

Course structure

The course runs over 12 months full-time. 

These include UK heritage organisations such as Chatsworth House, Historic England, Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust and the National Trust. Our international partnerships include Biltmore Estate (US), Nemours Estate (US) and Indian Institute for Heritage.  Get involved with placements and internships and benefit from teaching and specialist lectures from leading industry experts to take your practice to the next level.

• Engage with current heritage professionals, who will provide practical insights to enhance your career journey.
• This programme goes beyond subject boundaries, providing you with a qualification in heritage and its management while offering you the chance to study topics from other areas - including archaeology or art history - to enhance your learning.  
• Meet people from all over the world and put your heritage knowledge into a global context.
• Take your learning from the classroom to the real world with a placement. Work with museums, archives or historic houses and gain valuable industry experience.

Prepare for your future career

Discover the key skills needed to successfully manage heritage sites, like project management, managing volunteers and an awareness of sustainability in the heritage sector. Put these skills into practice with our placement opportunities with one of our industry partners.

Our MA in International Heritage Management ensures you’ll gain real world skills and knowledge of the areas of heritage management which interest you most. What’s more, you can tailor your degree to your chosen specialism by combining the heritage modules with optional modules in history, archaeology, art history, or African studies and anthropology. Develop your theoretical knowledge whilst you learn skills like how to pull together an exhibition and how to manage a heritage site. 

• Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
• Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
• Dissertation – you'll undertake a 12,000-word dissertation in an area that interests you.

The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

2025/26 Session

The following must be taken:

Students must choose 40 credits of optional modules.

This list is indicative: not all modules will run each year due to staff availability.

You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant subject. We can also consider relevant equivalent study or professional experience.

You don't need previous experience of the subject, but we'd expect to see evidence of engagement with or enthusiasm about heritage in your personal statement.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

English Presessional Programmes

Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.

The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

Paying your tuition fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.

Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.

Postgraduate Masters Loan

To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.

Scholarships

To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.

Birmingham Masters Scholarships

We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.

Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.

We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our History and Heritage graduates enter many roles, including:

• Events and Exhibitions Assistant and Heritage Guide
• Project Development Researcher
• Collections Assistant

Employers our History and Heritage graduates have worked for include:

• English Heritage
• Historic England
• Cottonwood Mansion Museum

Careers Network

Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.

Accommodation

Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. Our student accommodation will allow you to enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.

Living in Birmingham

As one of the original pioneering cities, Birmingham has developed into a melting pot for shopping, food and drink, nightlife, sport, culture, and industry. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city.

Campus life

Our green and spacious campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn, relax and socialise. Like a town of its own, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.

Student support

Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus, so that you can get the most out of your university experience.