SOAS University of London

SOAS-Effat University Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies: Sponsored by the Saudi Museums Commission

Course overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies is sponsored by the Museums Commission in Saudi Arabia.

Offered by SOAS and Effat University, this unique programme provides theoretical and practical training in Museum Studies, including hands-on experience with objects.

Students will acquire in-depth knowledge of the specific requirements of various museum roles, including those of curators, educators, registrars, object handlers and designers. Issues and themes dealt with in lectures are developed further through tutorials, review sessions, seminars, group discussion and visits to museums, galleries and other sites. The programme is convened by academic staff in the School of Arts, SOAS, and includes guest contributions from world leading scholars, curators and museum professionals In Saudi Arabia and the UK.

Students will gain the ability to critically evaluate how museums, galleries, exhibition spaces, public art, online platforms/digital curating, and other display contexts create and communicate meaning.

Following successful completion of the Diploma programme, students can opt to convert the Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies into a Masters degree (MA Museum Studies) by undertaking an additional dissertation module run in 2026. The cost of the MA degree is £8,900 [2026 fee tbc]

Up to ten students will be offered full Master’s sponsorships by the Museums Commission. Students will be selected by the Museums Commission based on their academic performance in the Postgraduate Diploma and will need to achieve a minimum of a Merit to be considered.

Students converting to the Master’s degree will work on their Master’s dissertations between February and September (tbc) 2026. During this period students will participate in online workshops, group work and one-to-one meetings.