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Key facts
Duration
2-years full time (4-years part time) - 16 credit points
Campuses
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 2 2021 have closed
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course information
The Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (Professional) allows you to specialise in the areas you want to take your career. You’ll develop the knowledge, research skills and practical experience to make a difference in the way communities engage with the past.
Do you have a passion for the past and how it impacts the present?
Cultural heritage and museum studies has been taught at Deakin for over
40-years, making it the largest and longest running program of its kind in Australia. All units are developed and taught by leading academics with industry experience.
Whether you want to create exhibitions, manage a museum or heritage site, safeguard Indigenous cultural heritage or protect and interpret significant objects, buildings, sites and landscapes, you’ll have the ability to tailor your studies to these disciplines throughout your masters degree.
During your studies, you’ll explore traditions and living examples of culture, and focus on current social, environmental and political concerns.
The core units you’ll study are built around these themes and include:
- Intangible Cultural Heritage
- World Heritage
- Digital Interpretation
- Sustainability and Human Rights in Heritage and Museums
- Museums, Heritage and Society
- Research Design
You’ll also choose up to four elective units based on your interests and use them to form a specialisation in Collections and Curatorship or Heritage Practice. A specialisation isn’t compulsory but can signal to potential employers the type of career you want and your professional interests.
Work-integrated learning is featured throughout the masters, including the Applied Heritage Project unit, which offers a week-long study intensive at sites like the World Heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania. You can also choose to complete an internship unit where you will undertake a professional work placement with a host organisation in Australia or overseas. This experience will help you develop the skills you need, whether you’re changing or progressing your career, gain industry knowledge, and extend your professional network.
Deakin additionally partners with Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) in Cottbus–Senftenberg, Germany, to deliver a world-class dual award program. This competitive entry dual award is open for selected Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (Professional) students, opening up overseas study opportunities and valuable professional experience. Dual award students graduate with BTU’s Master of World Heritage alongside Deakin masters, highlighting the global reputation of their studies to future employers.
Read MoreCourse structure
The Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (Professional) is 16 credit points.
To qualify for the award of Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (Professional) a student must successfully complete 16 credits as follows:
- Six credit points of compulsory core units
- Up to six credit points of electives
- 2 credit point of Work Integrated Learning units (WIL)
- A minimum two credit point research capstone
- Academic Integrity AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
6
Core units
10
Research/Electives
16
Total units
Core units
Course Electives
2 credit points of the electives may be selected from other Deakin postgraduate units with the approval of the course director.
Research
Research units
A minimum two credit point research capstone chosen from:
and
OR
and
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Capstones
2 credit points from:
*Trimester 3 study required
Key information
2022 course information
This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Campuses by intake
Campus availability varies per trimester. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Read more to learn where this course will be offered throughout the year.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Cloud Campus
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Cloud Campus
Additional course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Mandatory student checks
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.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Entry requirements
Entry information
Admission to study postgraduate coursework at Deakin is based on recognition of your professional experience and previous qualifications.
- Bachelor degree or other qualification at a higher AQF level in any discipline; Or
- Evidence of academic capability judged to be equivalent.
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.
Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee selection, which is based on merit, likelihood of success and availability of places in the course.
For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) Policy visit the Deakin Policy Library
Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of Prior Learning.
One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options.
FEE-HELP calculator
What is FEE-HELP?
FEE-HELP loans cover up to 100% of tuition fees for eligible students. By taking out a FEE-HELP loan, the government pays your tuition fees directly to Deakin, and the balance is repaid from your employment income - but only once you're earning over $46,620.
Please note: fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and based on 2021 rates. Actual fees may vary. We advise confirming fees with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
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- $* is the estimated full cost for a Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (Professional) (16 credit points), based on the 2021 fees.
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*Disclaimer
Deakin University (Deakin):
- gives no warranty and accepts no responsibility for the currency, accuracy or the completeness of the information provided;
- advises users that no reliance should be placed upon on the information provided, and;
- instructs users that they should confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
This tool provides indicative information about the fees that will be payable in respect of courses and subjects offered to prospective students domiciled in Australia during the periods indicated.
Please note that the fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and actual fees may vary. Users are advised to confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
The estimated course fee is based on the tuition fee costs applicable to a domestic full time student commencing the course in Trimester 1 and studying full time for the duration of the course but:
- does not include non-tuition costs that may apply, such as Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF);
- does not take into account any scholarships or bursaries awarded to the student (including the 10% Deakin alumni discount);
- assumes the maximum number of units that need to be successfully completed actual number completed may be reduced if recognition of prior learning is granted;
- assumes that no exceptional, or non-typical, circumstances apply to the proposed course of study;
- assumes that the options that the user selects are appropriate for the course of study that they intend to undertake;
- where fees are estimated for future years those fee will be subject to annual increases in accordance with increases in the cost of course delivery.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship might change your life. If you've got something special to offer Deakin – or you just need the financial help to get you here – we may have a scholarship opportunity for you.
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Apply now
How to apply
Applications can be made directly to the University through the Deakin Application Portal. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the how to apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
For more information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage. If you're still having problems, please contact us for assistance.
Research Information
Students will complete a research project in one of the two following options:
- a 2 credit point research project; or
- a 4 credit point research project.
Entry pathways
Contact information
Careers
Career outcomes
By researching the past you’ll be contributing to making it more accessible in the present, leading to stronger community engagement and a deeper understanding of how cultures have come to be. More than ever, society is seeking a better understanding of the past and to create positive change in the present – something you can be a part of with the expertise you’ll develop.
Opening a broad range of roles both locally and abroad, your future roles could include:
- heritage officer
- heritage site or museum manager/director
- interpretation officer
- registrar
- curator
- public programs officer
- exhibition officer
- researcher
- project officer.
Completion of the course can be used as a pathway to a PhD through research training.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities | 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. Assess the role of cultural heritage in the context of modern organisations and society in order to add value |
| Communication | 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. |
| Digital literacy | 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. |
| Critical thinking | 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 within organisational and societal contexts to evaluate issues and problems in professional practice and scholarship |
| Problem solving | Apply expert knowledge to critically analyse, and develop innovative and independently and collaboratively creative solutions to real-world and ill-defined problems or issues in the identification, collection, conservation, display, interpretation, management and use of cultural heritage. |
| Self-management | Apply critical reflection and use frameworks of self evaluation to develop independent judgment, adaptability and responsibility for expert professional practice and / or scholarship. |
| Teamwork | 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. |
| Global citizenship | Engage ethically and professionally when working in a variety of cultural heritage and museum studies situations through concern for legal, economic, environmental and social risks both nationally and globally |
| Approved by Faculty Board 2020 | |