Museum Studies MSc/PgDip/PgCert
![Photo of Kelvin Hall exterior](/media/Media_644115_smxx.jpg)
This Masters offers you the opportunity to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required to become a versatile museum professional. The programme draws on staff research and expertise in museums, archives, libraries, galleries and digital cultural heritage. Co-taught with cultural heritage professionals, including staff from The Hunterian Museum, Glasgow Museums, the National Library of Scotland, the programme combines interdisciplinary academic and practitioner input. Glasgow’s national, civic and university museum collections provide students with privileged access to rich and diverse resources of international standing.
- Academic contact: humanities-pg@glasgow.ac.uk
- Teaching start: September
- Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus
- MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time
- PgDip: 9 months months full-time; 18 months months part‑time
- PgCert: 9 months months full-time; 18 months months part‑time
Why this programme
- We are the only Museum Studies programme in the UK accredited by CILIP, the Library and Information Association.
- Opportunities for shorter postgraduate programmes focusing on key professional skills through PGDip and PGCert
- Glasgow’s civic and university collections are some of the richest and most diverse in Europe and are of international standing. The University’s own Hunterian Museum is the oldest public museum in Scotland and has extensive holdings covering fine art, geology, anatomy and the history of medicine.
- You’ll be able to choose from a range of courses involving staff from The Hunterian, Glasgow Museums and the National Library of Scotland, giving you a strong insight into professional and practical issues in the museum and cultural sector.
- Our facilities at Kelvin Hall provide opportunities for developing professional skills including collection management, object-handling, interpretation and public engagement.
- Our partnerships with local and international museums and heritage organisations, including Museums Galleries Scotland and the Smithsonian, provide great opportunities to gain practical experience, including work placements.
- Shared teaching with our sister programme MSc Information Management and Preservation provides students with a broad overview of the cultural heritage sector.
- The Museum Studies Teaching Team have been awarded a College Teaching Excellence Award.
- Meet our MuSEs: Learn how our students gain skills in exhibition tours while working alongside curators, technicians and front of house staff at the Hunterian.
- Listen to our podcast: Stories from Glasgow – Tracing Glasgow's Imperial Past with Dr Rosie Spooner.
Programme structure
Students enrolled on the MSc will take:
- Three core courses
- Three optional courses
Students enrolled on the MSc are also required to undertake an independent research project:
- Dissertation or applied dissertation in collaboration with a cultural heritage partner
Students enrolled on the PGCert will take:
- Museum Skills and Professional Practice
- Managing and Using Collections
- Either Exhibition Development, Work Placement or Learning and Engagement in Cultural Heritage
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, guest speakers, workshops, individual and group project work. A series of visits provides complementary experience of varied museum institutions and collections, while placements and group project-based learning activities offer opportunities for professional skills development.
Students enrolled on the MSc will take:
- INTRODUCTION TO MUSEOLOGY
- MUSEUM SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
- MANAGING AND USING COLLECTIONS
- MUSEUM STUDIES DISSERTATION or MUSEUM STUDIES APPLIED DISSERTATION
Full time students can choose three optional courses in the second semester. Part time students can choose three courses in either semester, to be discussed with the Programme Convenor. It is recommended that all students choose one of the following courses:
- EXHIBITION DEVELOPMENT (THE HUNTERIAN)
- MUSEUM STUDIES WORK PLACEMENT
- LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
Additional optional courses (not all courses run every year):
- 2D DIGITISATION: THEORY & PRACTICE (PGT)
- POWER AND POLITICS IN THE POST/COLONIAL MUSEUM
- CURATING THE SCIENCES
- DIGITAL CULTURAL HERITAGE
- Other level 5 course from those available within the College of Arts & Humanities
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
Career opportunities exist in a variety of roles within the cultural heritage sector; these include museums and galleries as well as historic houses, heritage sites and consultancy.
Roles include front of house, learning and engagement, digital engagement, to collections management, curation, marketing and management.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2024-25
MSc
UK
- Full-time fee: £10650
- Part-time fee: £1184 per 20 credits
International & EU
- Full-time fee: £25290
PgDip
UK
- Full-time fee: £7100
- Part-time fee: £1184 per 20 credits
International & EU
- Full-time fee: £16860
PgCert
UK
- Full-time fee: £3550
- Part-time fee: £1184 per 20 credits
International & EU
- Full-time fee: £8430
Deposits
All applicants are required to pay a deposit within four weeks of an offer being made. For International and EU students, the MSc deposit is £2000, PgDip deposit £1400 and PgCert deposit £700. Home applicants are required to pay a deposit of £500.
Deposits: terms & conditions
This programme requires some students to pay a deposit to secure their place.
If you are an international student, we will only issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) once the deposit has been paid.
Your offer letter will state:
- how to pay the deposit payment
- the deadline for paying the deposit
The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% handling fee will be deducted.
Deposits will be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
- Where the University is unable to offer you a place.
- Where the applicant has personal circumstances such as illness, bereavement or other family situations that has prevented them coming to the UK. Medical or other proof may be requested.
- Applicant can prove that they have applied for a visa to attend the University of Glasgow, but the VISA has been refused. The applicant must have shown 'real intent' to study at the University of Glasgow but has been unable to obtain their visa.
- Applicant does not meet his / her conditions of offer: this may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide a language test which was taken after the date that the deposit was paid).
Deposits will not be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
- Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and credit it against the applicant’s account for securing their place for the following year of entry.
Refund requests must be made within 30 days of the programme start date stated on your offer letter.
Requests made after this date will be subject to discretion.
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
University of Glasgow College of Arts and Humanities South Asia Award
The College of Arts and Humanties warmly welcomes applications from highly qualified applicants to our masters programmes. We are offering 4 scholarships for postgraduate taught programmes for Academic Session 2024-25.
College of Arts and Humanities Widening Participation Postgraduate Taught Schol
The College of Arts and Humanities is pleased to be offering Widening Participation Postgraduate Taught scholarships to support with studying a one-year postgraduate taught programme (either full-time across one year, or part-time across two years) in the College. The scholarships include a full fee waiver at the 'Home' tuition fee rate and a stipend (the stipend rate for 2024/25 is £17,039) and are available to candidates who meet the University's Widening Participation criteria.
Beatrix Whistler and James McNeill Whistler Scholarship
The Beatrix Whistler and James McNeill Whistler Scholarships originate with an important collection of works by Whistler gifted by Miss Rosalind Birnie Philip to the University in 1935. Since then, and thanks to further gifts and acquisitions, the Hunterian has come to hold one of the two leading collections of Whistler’s work in the world and History of Art (SCCA) has become an international centre of expertise for the study of Whistler and his 19th century world.
At her death in 1958, Miss Birnie Philip, Whistler’s heir and executrix, bequeathed the remainder of her art collection to the University, together with part of her residual estate for the purpose of establishing a scholarship scheme for students engaged in any branch of learning within the College of Arts & Humanities. In 2019, the Whistler scholarships scheme was revised in acknowledgement of the continuing links between Miss Birnie Philip’s 1958 bequest of artworks and her wish to support student learning at the University.
The Whistler Scholarships are open to students in all disciplines of the College of Arts & Humanities. The award committee is willing to consider both individual applications AND joint applications (from up to THREE students). Innovative interdisciplinary work is particularly encouraged. However, students may only involve themselves in the submission of ONE application (individual OR joint).
The Whistler Scholarships cover travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses ONLY.
Southeast Asia Distinction Award
The University of Glasgow is excited to announce the new Southeast Asia Distinction Award for highly qualified students from this region. This scholarship is available to students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme on any eligible degree programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.
GREAT Scholarships 2024- Greece, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey
In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, University of Glasgow is offering 4 scholarships to students in Greece, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey applying for postgraduate courses in any subject (excluding MBA and MSc by Research courses). All eligible courses can be viewed under the 'eligible programmes' tab on this webpage.
The scholarship offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.
The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship
The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship is accelerating exceptional Disabled Students through masters’ programmes into leadership positions to create change.
Do you have ambitions to change the world? Are you pioneering in your field? Are you creating change for Disabled People? Let us open some doors.
We are searching for individuals who choose to use their lived experience of disabling barriers to make a difference. To create change.
Applications open 2pm 15 January 2024.
Please see Snowdon Trust, Investing in Disabled Students website for more details.
Banco de Mexico
The Mexican National Bank (Banco de Mexico) provides special loans for students who wish to undertake a programme of postgraduate study. The University of Glasgow in partnership with Bank of Mexico FIDERH is offering a fee discount to holders of a Bank of Mexico FIDERH loan. See the FIDERH website for further information.
Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans
Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms. They’re designed to help prospective students finance their Master’s courses in an Erasmus+ Programme country while leaving as little of a lasting economic footprint as possible.
The scheme is designed to provide postgraduate students with the means to pay their tuition and living expenses – thereby allowing individuals to focus on their degree instead of managing their bank balance. The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible, working under the following guidelines:
- No need for collateral from students or parents - ensuring equality of access
- Favourable, better-than-market interest rates
- Pay-back terms that allow graduates up to two years to find work before beginning repayment.
Please visit the Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans website for more information.
Climate Leadership Scholarships
Cop26 was held in Glasgow from 31st October – 12th November 2021 and the University of Glasgow recognises the importance of universities in tackling the climate emergency. Glasgow is part of the newly formed Cop26 Universities Network, a growing group of over 80 universities working together to promote a zero-carbon future. Alongside vital research being carried out by our academics, Glasgow recognises that urgent action is needed on our campuses, and we aim to be carbon neutral by 2030. We believe that the climate emergency can only be addressed by implementing long-term sustainability policies and our Green Glasgow strategy details our action plan for the next decade.
In recognition of the vital need for action to combat the climate emergency the University of Glasgow is excited to launch our Climate Leadership Scholarships. We have 20 scholarships available to UK students entering any of our Colleges on a PGT programme which engages with the climate emergency.
As a world-changing research-led University we are committed to supporting the next generation of researchers working across disciplines to address the climate emergency.
PGT Excellence Scholarship
The University of Glasgow has a total of 20 PGT Excellence Scholarships available to UK students entering any of the University’s Colleges.
DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant
The University of Glasgow will offer a full tuition waiver to those students that successfully apply and are nominated by DAAD to the University. DAAD offers a monthly stipend of EUR 1,100 (for the academic year 2024/2025) and travel bursary of EUR 250.00 as well as health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage in addition to the full tuition fee waiver from the University of Glasgow.
Wichtige Hinweise zu DAAD-Stipendien - DAAD (general info on DAAD tuition fee reimbursement)
Current list of tuition reduction / waiving offers (not including U Glasgow yet) : Stipendien für ein Masterstudium im Ausland - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Chevening Scholarship
Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scholarships are awarded to outstanding scholars with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one year Master’s degree at universities across the UK. There are over 50,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who together comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.
For further information, please refer to the Chevening website.
Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia
The University of Glasgow offer discounts to all successful Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia (Colfuturo) scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Schemes
Commonwealth Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are offered to citizens from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The majority of Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.
Vice Chancellor EU Award
The University of Glasgow continues to be committed to ensuring a strong relationship with our existing and future EU students, and supporting EU talent to make their home at the University of Glasgow.
We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the Vice Chancellor EU Award to highly qualified new incoming EU students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.
Applicants that graduated from the University of Glasgow or completed a Study Abroad year, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow, are eligible for the Alumni discount and this can be combined with the Vice Chancellor EU Award.
EU Welcome Award
The University of Glasgow continues to be committed to ensuring a strong relationship with our existing and future EU students, and supporting EU talent to make their home at the University of Glasgow.
We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the EU Welcome Award to new incoming EU students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 tuition fee discount. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.
Applicants that graduated from the University of Glasgow or completed a Study Abroad year, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow, are eligible for the Alumni discount and this can be combined with the EU Welcome Award.
University of Glasgow African Excellence Award
The University of Glasgow African Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.
The University is offering up to 15 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.
Emerging Asia Award
The University of Glasgow is proud to introduce an exciting new award designed to support students from a selection of underrepresented 'frontier and developing' Asian countries .
The University of Glasgow is offering 8 scholarships for highly qualified international students from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Students must be starting a one-year postgraduate taught masters programme, in any discipline, for the academic session 2024/25. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver with stipend for one year that can not be combined with any other scholarships.
University of Glasgow African Partners Award
The University of Glasgow African Partners Awards aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future. The scholarship is exclusively for students, alumni and staff of the University partners across Africa: African Partners List 2024.
The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2023/24. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.
Applicants much hold an offer of a place for a postgraduate taught one year Masters programme for September 2024 intake (offer is not needed to apply but applicants will require an offer to be considered for interview, and should take programme application timelines into consideration as detailed on programme webpages)
University of Glasgow International Leadership Scholarship
The University of Glasgow has several International Leadership Scholarships available to International students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fees discount.
University of Glasgow Caribbean Partners Award
The University of Glasgow Caribbean Partners Awards aims to support high achieving students from our partner The University of the West Indies in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future. The scholarship is exclusively for students, alumni and staff of The University of the West Indies.
The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for students, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.
Those who apply must hold an offer of a place for a postgraduate taught one year Masters programme for September 2024 intake (offer is not needed to apply but applicants will require an offer to be considered for interview, and should take programme application timelines into consideration as detailed on programme webpages);
CONICyT (La Comsion Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica de Chile)
The University of Glasgow offers a 25% discount to all successful CONICyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.
University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award
The University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across the Caribbean in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.
The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for International students from the Caribbean, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.
India Merit Award
The University of Glasgow is proud to announce a new India Merit award for 2024 entry to acknowledge highly qualified Indian postgraduate taught offer holders. The scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 tuition fee discount. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.
University of Glasgow Chancellor's Award
The University of Glasgow has 40 Chancellors Award Scholarships available to students from low and middle income countries, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline, in academic session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.
CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement
CONACYT offers a non-refundable scholarship, a monthly stipend and medical insurance of an approximate total of $20,000 USD (in the case of the UK, no medical insurance grant is given since students are already covered by the National Health System) The University of Glasgow offer a 30% discount to all successful CONACyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.
University of Glasgow Chancellor's Award (Nigeria)
The University of Glasgow has 10 Chancellors Award Scholarships available to Nigerian students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline in academic session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.
Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)
Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.
This support extends to online Masters or Postgraduate Diplomas, and not to the online Postgraduate Certificate courses.
For more information visit the SAAS website.
Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)
If you’re an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan. Students from England are able to apply for a non-means tested Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £11,570 to help with course fees and living costs. You have to repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.
If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.
Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students
If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.
* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes
Postgraduate Master's Finance
If you’re starting a full-time or part-time Postgraduate Master’s course (taught or research based) from 1 August 2019, you can apply for Postgraduate Master's Finance and receive up to £17,000 as a combination of grant and loan:
- a maximum grant of £6,885 and loan of £10,115 if your household income is £18,370 and below
- a grant of £1,000 and loan of £16,000 if your household income is not taken into account or is above £59,200.
For more information visit Student Finance Wales
Postgraduate Doctoral Loan
If you’re starting a full-time or part-time postgraduate Doctoral course (such as a PhD) from 1 August 2019 you can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £25,700.
For more information visit Student Finance Wales
Alumni Discount
In response to the current unprecedented economic climate, the University is offering a 20% discount on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni, commencing study in Academic session 2024/25. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, International Summer School programme or the Erasmus Programme at the University of Glasgow. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships.
Postgraduate Access Scholarship
The University of Glasgow is pleased to be offering Postgraduate Access Scholarships to support Home students who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University. Applications are particularly welcomed from applicants who met any of our widening participation criteria, or equivalent, at undergraduate level. The value of each scholarship is £4,000 and they are for students undertaking a one or two year Taught Masters programme. For two year Taught Masters programmes, the scholarship is available in year one only.
Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)
If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.
Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding.
For more information visit www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate .
* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes
Sanctuary Scholarships
The University of Glasgow is offering up to 20 Sanctuary Scholarships for applicants to the University, who have been forced to travel to the UK for humanitarian reasons and are facing challenges in progressing onto Higher Education. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2024/25. Please note that you must have applied to the University before submitting an application for this scholarship.
The scholarship will meet the cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme, for applicants who are unable to access mainstream funding through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance. The Sanctuary Scholarship also provides a £5,000 per year stipend, to assist with study costs. In addition, if the eligibility criteria for university accommodation is met, this will also be provided for the duration of your degree, if required. For more information on the accommodation criteria, please see the Accommodation Services section on the website.
Undergraduate students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs only, if successful.
Postgraduate Taught Masters students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs and a partial tuition fee waiver, to cover any shortfall not met by your Postgraduate Masters tuition fee loan.
The Dima Alhaj Scholarship
The Dima Alhaj Scholarship was set up in 2024 in memory of a University of Glasgow alumna. After graduating, Dima worked in Gaza with the World Health Organization as a patient administrator at the limb reconstruction centre, as part of the trauma and emergency team and was tragically killed in Gaza in November 2023. The Scholarship is open to a Palestinian National who is living in or has been forced to leave the State of Palestine due to humanitarian reasons. The chosen applicant may be domiciled in any country but must be a Palestinian National. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught applicants to the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2024/25.
The Clan Gregor Society Prize
The Clan Gregor Society is offering an award to new entrants to the University of Glasgow who descend from Clan Gregor. Prospective students will be asked to submit an application highlighting areas of consideration such as academic excellence and financial need. The award is open to both Undergraduate and Postgraduate applicants for 2024 entry.
The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for postgraduate taught programmes are a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (for example, GPA 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject unless otherwise specified.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
- 7.0 with no subtests under 6.5
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test
- IELTS One Skill Retake accepted.
Common equivalent English language qualifications
TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)
- 94; with Reading 19; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 24
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.
Pearsons PTE Academic
- 66 with no subtest less than: Listening 59;Reading 60; Speaking 59; Writing 74
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 185 overall, no subtest less than 176
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Oxford English Test
- Oxford ELLT 8
- R&L: OIDI level no less than 7 with Reading: 25-26 and Listening: 18-19
- W&S: OIDI level no less than 8.
Trinity College Tests
Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests.
University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Alternatives to English Language qualification
- Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
- Undergraduate 2+2 degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
International students
We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.
How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.
Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.
Documents
As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
- Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
- One reference letter on headed paper
- Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
- Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
- A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)
You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.
For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
Guidance notes for using the online application
These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.
If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.
- Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
- Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
- Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
- Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
- English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
- Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.
Application deadlines
September 2024
All applicants
As there is extremely high demand for places on this degree programme, the University has established an application process with application rounds which recognises that different geographical areas complete and submit their applications at different times of the year. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants from all geographic regions.
Round 1 application dates
1 October to 26 November 2023. All international applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 21 January 2024. Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 18 December 2023.
Round 2 application dates
27 November 2023 to 28 January 2024. All international applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 18 March 2024. Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 28 February 2024.
Round 3 application dates
29 January to 15 March 2024. Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 6 May 2024. Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 12 April 2024.
Round 4 application dates
16 March to 1 May 2024. Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 14 June 2024. Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 29 May 2024.
Round 5 application dates
2 May to 21 June 2024. Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 29 July 2024. Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 10 July 2024.
All international applications submitted by 28 January 2024 (application rounds 1 and 2) will be reviewed and processed normally with no priority given to any geographic region. From 29 January 2024, priority will be given to applications from geographic areas which have been unable to submit applications before that point.
As we receive a great number of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply once per year.
Applications for September 2024 entry are now closed. Applications for September 2025 entry will open in October 2024.