Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies |
| Deakin course code | A768 |
| Course credit points | 12 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2024 to 2026 |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Final intake | Offered to continuing students only. The final intake to this course was in Trimester 2, 2026. Students should contact Student Central for course, course map and enrolment information. Further course structure information can be found in the handbook archive. |
| Duration | The time and cost could be reduced based on your previous qualifications and professional experience. This means you can fast track the masters degree from 1.5 years down to 1 year duration. See entry requirements below for more information. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Specialisations
- Course structure
- Details of specialisations
- Fees and charges
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (A568) | |
| Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies (A668) |
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Research and critically reflect on the diverse tangible and intangible manifestations of social memory as expressed in places and sites, objects, traditional practices and beliefs on a personal and collective level and evaluate different conceptual and practical approaches to its identification, collection, conservation, interpretation, display, management and use. |
| Effectively communicate the findings and analysis of cultural heritage and museum studies concepts, theories and applied knowledge, in written, digital and oral formats to specialist and non-specialist audiences. |
| Use a range of generic and specialist cultural heritage and museum studies digital technologies and information sources to research, select, analyse, employ, evaluate, and disseminate technical and non-technical information and research outcomes. |
| Critically reflect on, research, analyse, evaluate and synthesise key concepts in the identification, collection, conservation, display, interpretation, management, and use of cultural heritage. Apply expert knowledge of, and, technical and creative skills in cultural heritage to evaluate issues and problems in professional practice and scholarship. |
| Apply expert knowledge to critically analyse, and develop innovative and creative solutions to real-world and ill-defined problems or issues in the identification, collection, conservation, display, interpretation, management and use of cultural heritage. |
| Apply knowledge and skills in creative ways to new situations in professional practice and/or further learning in the field of cultural heritage and museum studies with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility and personal accountability for actions as a critically self-reflexive practitioner and learner. |
| Apply the principles of effective team work as a reflective team member and/or leader of diverse cultural heritage and museum teams in order to support the team in achieving designated goals. |
| Analyse and address cultural heritage issues in the domestic, regional and global context as a critically reflexive scholar and practitioner, taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and the application of the highest ethical standards. |
Approved at Faculty Board 2020
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies you must pass 8 or 12 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL):
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 2 credit points of core units
- 6 or 10 credit points of study (depending upon entry point), from the following:
- one pathway option
- Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
- Research Paper - non-PhD Pathway
- Professional Experience - non-PhD Pathway
- one pathway option
- any remaining credit points can be chosen from the course electives list (course electives may be used to form a specialisation).
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Specialisations
Students who complete a specialisation will have the specialisation indicated on their academic transcript
Specialisations are available in the following areas:
Course structure
Core units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Units
| AIM709 | Intangible Cultural Heritage |
| AIM720 | Sustainability and Human Rights in Heritage and Museums |
Pathways
Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
| AIX706 | Research Design |
Plus 2 credit points of research units:
| AIX704 | Minor Thesis A |
| AIX705 | Minor Thesis B |
Plus 3 or 7 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
Plus 5 or 9 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^
| APE701 | Internship Capstone (2 credit points) |
Plus 4 or 8 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
^ The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.
Electives
| AIX706 | Research Design |
| AIM703 | Heritage Practice: Conservation and Managing Change |
| AIM705 | Heritage Practice: Fundamentals |
| AIM708 | World Heritage |
| AIM715 | Digital Interpretation |
| AIM719 | Cultural Heritage and Museum Practice |
| AIM722 | Managing Collections |
| AIM727 | Developing Exhibitions |
| AIM733 | Applied Heritage Project |
| AIM736 | Museums, Heritage and Society |
| APE700 | Internship A |
2 credit points of the electives may be selected from other Deakin postgraduate units with the approval of the course director.
*students who have previously completed any of these units within the Graduate Certificate of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies are required to substitute with an alternate unit from the course elective list
Details of specialisations
Collections and Curatorship
Overview
Those who would like to work with objects and collections, create ground-breaking exhibitions, or manage museums and galleries can choose the Collections and Curatorship specialisation.
Career outcomes
Graduates can be found working as a curator, museum or gallery manager, collections manager, exhibition officer, interpretation officer, registrar, public programs officer, researcher.
Unit set code
SP-A78601
Units
| AIM715 | Digital Interpretation |
| AIM722 | Managing Collections |
| AIM727 | Developing Exhibitions |
Plus your chosen pathway option
Heritage Practice
Overview
For those whose primary interest lies in looking after significant places such as heritage sites, historic buildings or landscapes, and want to develop practical skills such as heritage assessment/designation, management planning, community engagement or impact assessment can choose the Heritage Practice specialisation.
Career outcomes
Graduates can be found working as a cultural heritage adviser, heritage consultant, heritage officer, heritage planner, heritage policy officer, heritage site manager, heritage project manager, researcher.
Unit set code
SP-A78602
Units
| AIM703 | Heritage Practice: Conservation and Managing Change |
| AIM705 | Heritage Practice: Fundamentals |
| AIM708 | World Heritage |
Plus your chosen pathway option
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.