Objectives and competences

The master's degree in Cultural Heritage Management and Museology offers professional training in preparation for a variety of roles in museums, heritage institutions, public bodies and cultural enterprises, encompassing emerging professions and new profiles in the field of heritage management. It is fundamentally professional in focus, aiming to give students the theoretical and practical training through which they will acquire the competences to find employment in the heritage sector. It is also a markedly interdisciplinary programme, reflected both in its organization and in the course content itself; the teaching staff are drawn from fourteen different departments across seven faculties, and several are at the UB as part of national and international mobility programmes or as guest lecturers.

 

The 90-credit master's degree has been taught since the academic year 2006-2007 (although the course was introduced as a UB-specific degree in 1995-1996). It shares a number of subjects with the master's degree in Cultural Management.

A shift in cultural policies in recent years and the gradual renewal of social interest in heritage have had a significant impact on heritage institutions and cultural amenities, broadening the scope of existing structures and requiring the creation of new facilities to cater for growing demand. Logically, this has expanded the employment market for skilled professionals in the fields of heritage conservation, dissemination and management. 

 

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Geography and History
Branch of knowledge
  • Interdisciplinary
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits90
Number of places available35
Length of course2 academic years
Language(s) of instructionCatalan and Spanish
Approximate price per credit27.67 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2023-2024
CoordinationESTHER ALSINA GALOFRE
E-mailmuseologia@ub.edu
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesNo

Objectives and competences

Objectives

This master's degree is designed to fulfil two main objectives: providing professionals and individuals interested in cultural heritage with the conceptual knowledge and practical experience necessary to manage cultural heritage; transferring the necessary theoretical and methodological tools and a sound base of knowledge to those interested in a career in applied research or in cultural heritage and museology. The programme also offers a research specialization linked to the work of various research groups and the goals of the corresponding doctoral programme.

Competences

This master's degree trains students to be effective communicators and work in interdisciplinary international teams in the areas of museology and heritage management. The skills acquired during the course are equally suited to advanced research and professional practice. Students will examine a range of trends and approaches in museology and heritage management at the international, national and local scales, and learn to develop original museology and heritage projects in line with public needs and general viability criteria.

The course focuses on two main areas: a) the design and organization of exhibitions and the valorization of monuments and heritage sites using innovative techniques and strategies; b) the identification, analysis and appraisal of the economic, legal, political, social and cultural logics that have a bearing on heritage planning and management, and the use of this expertise to design and carry out specific interventions.

On completion of the master's degree, students will have the knowledge and skills to advise public authorities, social organizations and companies in the culture sector on the different aspects of heritage management and to assess the suitability of museology projects.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the master's degree, the suitable access profiles are broad in scope. Professional activities in the field of museology and heritage management, and the variety of heritage and types of museums (art, history, archeological, scientific and technical, architectural, heritage, etc.) mean that there are many related professions and profiles of different natures. The course is therefore addressed to:
  • Holders of a degree certificate or equivalent qualification in any area related to the various specific fields of heritage management.
  • Those with an interest or experience in the field of cultural heritage management (artistic, ethnological, historical, archaeological, industrial, natural, architectural, scientific, etc.).
  • Candidates with an interest or experience in the planning and management of museums.
  • Candidates with an interest or professional experience in the organization or design of exhibitions.

Access requirements and conditions

General requirements
In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, students wishing to be admitted to a university master's degree must hold one of the following qualifications:

  • Official Spanish university degree.

  • A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.

  • A qualification issued by an institution outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, applicants must request homologation of the degree to its equivalent official Spanish university qualification or obtain express approval from the University of Barcelona, which will conduct a study of equivalence to ensure that the degree is of a comparable level to an official Spanish university qualification and that it grants access to university master's degree study in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.

Specific requirements
Any degree or equivalent qualification, in particular the following:
  • Humanities: archaeology, history, history of art, philosophy, humanities, etc.
  • Social sciences and communication: anthropology, sociology, geography, audiovisual communication, journalism, communication and cultural industries, etc.
  • Economic sciences, business sciences and tourism.
  • Biological or environmental sciences.
  • Architecture or design, specialising in museography.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

- First period: 16 February - 16 April 2024.

- Second period: 18 April - 20 June 2024.

Notes:

  • Pre-enrolment fee: A pre-enrolment fee of 30,21 euros is charged. Students who apply to more than one master's degree must pay the fee for each pre-enrolment request. Pre-enrolment requests cannot be processed until this fee has been paid.Fees will only be refunded if the master's degree in question is suspended.
  • Reserved places: A maximum of 5% of the new places of the master's degree are reserved for students who meet the general and specific access requirements and accredit the recognition of a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%.

Required documentation

Selection criteria

  • Weighted average grade for previous studies: given a value of 1'4 and multiplied by 3. For qualifications obtained outside Spain an equivalence is established or a value given according to criteria established by the Admissions Committee.
    Maximum score: 12
  • Academic record: consideration is given to suitability of academic profile according to previous studies (master's, postgraduate studies and other courses related to cultural heritage and museology).
    Maximum score: 4
  • Professional record: consideration is given to suitability of professional experience (in the field of cultural heritage, taking into account professional and voluntary work, duration and professional category).
    Maximum score: 4
  • Letters of recommendation and statement of interest: as indicators of suitability and skills.
    Maximum score: 2
  • Online test: to be completed on a specific subject and a previously established date.
    Maximum score: 3
  • Languages spoken, according to level: a level of English equivalent to B2 is recommended.
    Maximum score: 2
  • Other merits and criteria established by the Admissions Committee.
    Maximum score: 2

Maximum score: 30

Notification

Upon conclusion of the last pre-registration period, the Admission Commission will proceed to select the candidates. Accepted students will receive a letter by email confirming their admission. Moreover, candidates who are placed on the waiting list and those who have not been accepted will also receive a written confirmation of their status. The resolution will be made public between mid-July and September. Candidates who need to apply for a grant or scholarship can ask beforehand for a pre-acceptance document.

Enrolment

As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 40
Optional 20
Compulsory placements 10
Compulsory final project 20
TOTAL 90

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Cultural Heritage Management and Museology
Analysis of Heritage Institutions Compulsory 1st semester 5
Analysis of Publics and Programming Policies Optional 1st semester 5
Applied Research Techniques Optional 2nd semester 5
Architectural Heritage: Intervention Criteria Optional 2nd semester 5
Concepts of Culture and Heritage Compulsory 1st semester 5
Conceptual and Methodological Principles of Research Optional 2nd semester 5
Conceptualization and Design of Cultural Websites Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Conservation of Heritage Compulsory 2nd semester 5
Creative Cities II Optional 1st semester 2.5
Creative Cities: Intervention Models and Entrepreneurial Dynamics Optional 1st semester 2.5
Cultural Tourism Optional 1st semester 5
Economic Framework and Structure of the Cultural Sectors Optional 1st semester 5
Exhibitions: Concept and Planning Compulsory 2nd semester 5
Final Project Compulsory 2nd semester 20
Heritage and Digital Culture Optional 2nd semester 5
Historical Reaction Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Intangible Heritage Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Interactive Elements for Museums Optional 1st semester 2.5
Legal Applications in Cultural Management Optional 2nd semester 5
Management Tools in Heritage Compulsory 2nd semester 5
Museography Compulsory 1st semester 5
Museology and Models of Heritage Intervention Compulsory 1st semester 5
Museums and Accessibility Optional 1st semester 5
Museums and Education Optional 1st semester 5
Natural Heritage Optional 1st semester 2.5
Paleontological Heritage Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Placements Compulsory 2nd semester 10
Strategic Design of Cultural and Heritage Projects Compulsory 2nd semester 5
The Principles of Heritage Teaching Optional 2nd semester 5

Previous years

Placements

Placements in a company or another type of organization are an integral part of university studies, providing first-hand experience of working methodologies in students' chosen professional fields. They offer invaluable practical experience for the transition into work after graduation.



Placements are supervised by tutors and subject to assessment. They are therefore included in the academic record.  There is also an option to complete non-curricular placements of up to 500 hours, which can be extended to 900 hours. For both curricular and non-curricular placements, an educational cooperation agreement is signed between the UB and the company, institution or other organization at which the placement will be carried out.



Institutional information


Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

The master's degree provides the skills and training to work in the management, mediation and conservation of cultural heritage:
  • Museums: conservation, management or administration of services and technical staff, etc.
  • Cultural organizations and cultural heritage: design of museum projects, management plans, exhibitions, etc.
  • Public service and heritage institutions: management and administration of services, equipment and heritage projects.
  • Curation, planning, design and organization of exhibitions.
  • Research in museology, heritage management, museology, teaching and dissemination of heritage, public studies, etc.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

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