Australia’s largest program of its kind
Course shaped by museum sector experts
Field trips and heritage site project work
Why choose Deakin
Deakin’s Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies prepares you to shape how people understand, protect and engage with the past. Study in Australia’s largest and longest-running program of its kind, with over 40 years’ experience, and build advanced knowledge across heritage, museums and contemporary issues.
Explore living cultures and traditions through themes such as intangible cultural heritage, sustainability and human rights. Tailor your degree with electives or an optional specialisation in Collections and Curatorship or Heritage Practice. Learning is shaped by leading academics and industry professionals and includes practical experiences through the Applied Heritage Project, with the option of an internship in Australia or overseas. In your second year, choose a research paper, professional experience pathway or minor thesis aligned with your career goals or PhD ambitions. Graduates may pursue roles such as curator, heritage officer and public programs officer.
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Leading heritage program
Study in Australia’s largest and longest-running program of its kind, backed by 40+ years of experience.
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Industry-shaped program
Learn from leading academics with industry experience and practising professionals who keep your studies current.
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Practical experience
Build advanced skills through the Applied Heritage Project and optional internships in Australia or overseas.
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Flexible study options
Tailor your degree with electives in collections and curatorship or heritage practice, online or at our Melbourne Burwood Campus.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Build advanced expertise for careers across museums and heritage organisations. You may care for collections, develop exhibitions, coordinate cultural projects and help communities engage with heritage.
Museum curator
Research, document and care for museum collections, support acquisitions and develop exhibitions. You may preserve cultural objects and create engaging ways for audiences to connect with heritage.
- $110k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 17.3%
Projected job growth in 5 years
Project officer
Plan and coordinate project activities, schedules, reporting and documentation. You may support museum and heritage projects, work with stakeholders and help teams deliver programs and initiatives.
- $100k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 4.2/5
Job satisfaction
Other jobs
- Heritage officer
- Heritage site or museum manager
- Interpretation officer
- Registrar
- Public programs officer
- Exhibition officer
Download a course guide
Study at Deakin and be rewarded with new skills that will give you an edge in the job market
FAQs
The cost of studying at Deakin depends on your degree, units and study load – tuition fees are listed on degree pages under the fees and scholarships tab. Beyond tuition, you will need to budget for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), accommodation, transport, groceries and textbooks. Find out more about the cost of living in Australia, use the Study Australia calculator to estimate living expenses and explore international scholarships which may help to reduce your tuition costs.
Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your postgraduate tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.
It depends on the degree and how you study. Graduate certificates typically take six months full time or one year part time. Graduate diplomas usually take one year full time and masters degrees typically take one to two years full time. Recognition of prior learning can reduce your study time. Check the degree page for full details.
Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.
We value your experience and qualifications. That is why every new degree application at Deakin is assessed for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Through RPL, Deakin can assess your previous study and life experience and may award course credit that could reduce your study duration, as well as the cost of your study. Qualifications from universities and private tertiary institutions worldwide are considered, as is informal learning related to your degree. Use the RPL calculator to see how much credit you may be eligible for.
Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.
To enrol in a postgraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores, so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.
Deakin’s postgraduate degrees are designed to advance your career, whether you want to deepen expertise in your field, move into a specialist role or shift direction entirely. All our degrees are shaped by industry partners, so what you learn reflects what employers need now and into the future. We’re proud to be the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. With flexible study options and financial support available, Deakin helps you gain the skills, recognition and confidence to reach your next professional goal.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies?
Learn the foundations, then shape your studies through electives, an optional specialisation and a pathway that builds research or professional practice.
Core foundations and direction
Develop core foundations
Study heritage, sustainability and human rights, giving you a strong base for later research, practice and professional decision-making.
Shape your focus
Use electives to explore curatorial or heritage practice directions or keep your study broad while exploring your interests.
Connect learning to current issues
Examine how heritage work responds to contemporary social, environmental and political questions across museums, places, objects and landscapes.
Pathway choice and applied learning
Choose your completion pathway
Finish with a research paper, a minor thesis for PhD preparation, or a professional experience pathway centred on internship learning.
Tailor your studies
Use remaining electives to build an optional specialisation or a combination that supports your future career goals.
Apply your skills in context
Strengthen employability through field-based and work-integrated learning, including heritage projects, study intensives and placement settings.
Course structure
To complete the Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies, you must pass 8 or 12 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous
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.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
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
Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
Plus 2 credit points of research units:
Plus 1 or 5 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the course electives
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
Plus 3 or 7 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the course electives
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^
Plus 2 or 6 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the course electives
^ The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.
What to expect while studying
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Students will complete a research pathway in 1 of the 3 following options:
- Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
- Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
- Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| 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
- Award granted
- Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- A768
- Level
- Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$40,200
for 1 yr full-time AUD
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning.
Save 10% as a Deakin alumni
We love welcoming Deakin alumni back to continue their journey with us. If you're starting a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount on your enrolment fees, applied per unit. It's our way of supporting your next step.
Scholarships
Deakin scholarships recognise your hard work and achievements. Our support can ease the financial pressure of studying in Australia so you stay focused on your success. Numbers are limited, so apply early for the best chance.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.