Central European University (CEU)
Master of Arts in Museum Studies
Vienna, Austria
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* application deadline for applicants for master’s programs who wish to be considered for CEU financial aid (where available).
** payable in one or two installments, non-refundable initial tuition fee installment (€500 EUR) is paid to confirm your acceptance of our offer of admission and is credited towards the 1st tuition fee installment in year 1
Key Summary
The two-year master’s degree in Museum Studies is a unique cooperation between Central European University and the Wien Museum, providing students with rigorous academic training in historical studies combined with practical, hands-on museum experience. It combines opportunities for experiential learning at Europe’s leading museums with both foundational coursework in the history and theory of museums, and the multidisciplinary study of the past. The program provides students with the skills, experience, and professional knowledge needed in today’s museum. This English-language program will prepare students for a wide range of careers in museums and memory institutions across the world.
Candidates from any country can apply for CEU financial aid in this MA program. The application deadline for this program including financial aid is 4 February 2025.
Learning at the Museum
All students will take courses taught by staff of the Wien Museum, with a focus on practical work in museums today. Students will learn about every aspect of museum operations, from curatorial research to creating educational programs, to marketing and fundraising. The courses are structured around hands-on projects and independent museum work, providing students with valuable skills for their future museum careers. Courses include:
- Principles of Museum Curation
- Principles of Museum Education
- Principles of Museum Communication
- Independent Museum Work
- Career Planning
Program Accreditation/Registration
- The program was approved and registered by the New York State Education Department
- Program subject to accreditation by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ-Austria)
To master’s candidates, we award financial aid based on academic merit. You can apply for financial support for master’s studies in the Funding section of the Online Application Form.
Learning at the Museum
All students will take three courses taught by the staff of the Wien Museum, with a focus on the practical and theoretical work in museums today. Students will learn about museum work, from curatorial research to creating educational programs, to marketing and fundraising. The courses are structured around hands-on projects, providing students with useable skills for their future museum careers.
Learning at the University
The program combines practical training with CEU’s signature student experience, offering research-driven and public-facing university education to a new generation of museum workers. Students pursue two years of coursework from the Department‘s interdisciplinary curriculum in historical studies, ranging from late antiquity to the present. They develop expertise in the field of their interest, working closely with faculty to apply this knowledge in the museum world and engage different audiences.
Working at the Museum
Students will hold two internships during the degree program. In the first year, students will do an internship at a Viennese museum working in various departments, offering insight into the everyday work of the museum. In the second year, students will take part in an intensive internship at a museum of their choosing where they will work on a capstone project for the degree.