Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 22,800 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* there is no application deadline for postgraduate courses
** for international full-time | international part-time: 12,540 GBP/year | home full-time: 13,500 GBP/year | home part-time: 7,425 GBP/year
Key Summary
Introduction
Reimagine links between academia and the professional world and explore what that means for museum studies and practice.
Recent graduates have gone on to work in galleries and museums in the UK and across the world, with others progressing to PhD studies at a range of high-profile institutions.
During the course, you’ll participate in new exhibitions, cultural programming and community development. You’ll access our annual awards in Community Engagement and Outstanding Creative Practice, and feel empowered to pursue your own individual interests at the cutting-edge of creative practice.
Through a blend of practical and theoretical learning, you’ll experience collections, institutions, exhibitions and audiences. You’ll bring your knowledge together with a bespoke research project on your chosen topic.
Why choose this course?
While you study, you’ll benefit from top-quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, but our work has also contributed to a nomination for the Art Fund's Museum of the Year award – the biggest prize in the UK museum world.
Our Museum and Gallery Studies MA has an interdisciplinary approach. This means you'll be able to engage across artistic, urban planning, architectural and design practices. We aim to promote a sustainable, place-based perspective to understand the future of museums and galleries.
You’ll also study in Kingston upon Thames – just a 30-minute train journey from central London’s world-famous museums and galleries. We’ve partnered with sector-leading institutions such as the Museum of London, National Maritime Museum, the V&A, the Estorick Collection, and the Freud Museum, London, to create a range of live projects for this course.
Plus, Kingston University has two on-site galleries, which offer exciting opportunities for career progression. Grade II-listed Dorich House is the former home of the sculptor Dora Gordine, while the Stanley Picker Gallery is one of the UK’s leading university galleries. Our Knights Park campus also has a bookable project space for large-scale exhibitions.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Interested in studying Museum and Gallery Studies MA at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
- Inspire the Future Scholarship
- International scholarships
- Progression Scholarship
- Discounts for Kingston University alumni
Curriculum
Course content
The course examines contemporary issues and practices, including those relating to collections management, interpretation, audiences and exhibition. You will study taught modules covering critical analysis and creative practice, and conduct research around the broad themes and subjects addressed by each module. As well as working with our own in-house museums, Stanley Picker Gallery and Dorich House Museum, we work with four external institutions each year to develop real-world museum projects.
You'll take five core modules, working on live projects with our partners. Four of the modules are worth 30 academic credits each and the major project is worth 60. The course totals 180 credits.
Students can choose to complete a professional placement by opting to study for an additional year. This is not a compulsory part of the course which can be completed either with the placement year or as a single year.
Year 1
You will study a series of taught modules that are concerned with issues of critical theory and analysis, research methodologies and creative practice. You will be expected to conduct research around the broad themes and subjects addressed by each module. This research will allow you to tailor your own path of study according to your particular interests and future aspirations.
Core modules
- Ideas and Institutions
- Learning and Experience
- Exhibition and Encounter
- The Challenge of Change
- Major Project
Optional placement year
Many postgraduate courses at Kingston University allow students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; we cannot guarantee the work placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's Student Route visa.
Core modules
- Professional Placement
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
After you graduate
You’ll complete this course fully equipped to work in museums and galleries across the world. Possible institutions include the Tate Gallery, British Museum, National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Saudi Art Council and National Folk Museum of Korea. Previous graduates have also progressed onto PhD studies at University College London, Sheffield Hallam University and Royal Holloway, University of London.
Links with business and industry
We work in partnership with museums, galleries and other practitioners to develop and assess several modules on this course. We also regularly welcome visiting lecturers who are leading practitioners in their field.