Interpretation: Management and Practice MSc

What is special about this course?

If you are enthusiastic about creating unforgettable visitor experiences that help people engage with heritage and learn in creative ways, then this innovative postgraduate course is for you.

Interpretation encompasses a variety of activities, from guided walks to multi-million-pound exhibitions, which help to explain the significance of places and resources in a meaningful way. It provides value to communities and organisations through the creation of successful visitor experiences that encourage appreciation of the resource and economic benefit.

A team of highly experienced tourism and heritage professionals and academics deliver this online Masters course, supported by experts engaged in exciting heritage and environmental projects around the world. Through a number of employer-informed modules and engagement with real-life projects, you will gain the knowledge and skills required to become an inspiring and effective interpretation professional.

Special features

• A unique industry-informed masters course in interpretation, heritage and tourism
• Taught by highly experienced professionals and academics
• You will learn how to plan, manage and deliver interpretation and communication projects and apply your newly acquired skills to your areas of expertise and interest
• The course is delivered online through the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), so you can study wherever you are in the world
• You can study full-time or part-time enabling you to fit your studies around your personal and professional commitments 
• You can work towards the PgCert, PgDip or full masters degree, or study individual modules for continuing professional development (CPD)

Entry requirements

• An honours degree or above, a postgraduate diploma or a professional qualification 
• Applicants who have an ordinary undergraduate degree, relevant work experience and/or vocational qualifications may also apply

*Funding support notice*

Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scottish domiciled and EU students)

Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland domiciled and EU students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.

Access routes

Entry from the university's undergraduate programmes is possible.

PgCert

Core modules are:

• Interpretation: purpose and planning (S2)
• Project design and implementation (S2)
• Communication strategies and theories (S1)

PgDip

Option modules, of which you must choose three, may include:

• Interpretive methods, media and design (S1)
• Engaging with heritage (S1)
• Visitor studies (S2)
• Sustainable tourism (S2)
• Research methods and techniques (core for progression to the MSc) (S1)

MSc

To achieve the award of MSc Interpretation: Management and Practice you must complete a Research Dissertation (S1 and S2).

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status, the following fees apply:

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. For 2022-23, students will get an automatic fee scholarship.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying online from their home country, or assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This course is not available to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying full-time can access loans up to £10,000 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). This comprises a tuition fee loan up to £5,500 and a non-income assessed living cost loan of £4,500. 

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS. You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £5,500, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study. 

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.