Career Development

Your future in the sector

Our teaching balances theory and practice, to ensure you have all the practical skills needed to work in the sector. This means you’ll have opportunities that include:

• handling objects, artworks and artefacts
• designing new interpretation texts and panels,
• working on ‘real-life’ issues

and so much more.

We’ll also help you navigate the sector. Our trips will take you ‘behind-the-scenes’, helping you to grow a professional network with colleagues across the world.

From major national museums to community-based initiatives in every type of role imaginable, we will help you unravel your interests and find the type of work that is right for you.

We also regularly invite our graduates back as part of our professional network, so you can learn from their experience and get to know some familiar faces in the sector. 

Sector experience

Address a range of real-world issues and develop close relationships with partner organisations. Our modules provide opportunities to bring your learning to life alongside sector professionals. Some of our projects include opportunities to:

• curate high-profile public art exhibitions
• develop new displays, films, podcasts and learning materials
• take part in vocationally-orientated consultancy work

Read more about some of our previous student projects

Global Partnerships

Enter a global network of sector professionals and partners. Through our placements and teaching sessions you can work with a range of cutting-edge organisations from around the world. Such as:

• the National Trust
• English Heritage
• UNESCO (United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation)
• ICOM (International Council of Museums)
• International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
• Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM)

Work placements

Want to make links in the sector, and gain vital work-experience? Our placement modules are a unique chance to work in a museum, gallery or heritage site, and to put your new knowledge into practice.

We offer a huge variety of placements in the UK and beyond, so you can understand first-hand how museums, art galleries and heritage sites work.

Placements take place in a supported environment and are co-ordinated by a dedicated team. You’ll have all the help you need to find the perfect placement for you.

Placement hosts in the past have included:

• BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
• Great North Museum
• The Discovery Museum
• Workplace Gallery
• Northumberland National Park
• Beamish
• The Bowes Museum
• Bristol Museums
• Royal Armouries
• The British Library
• The V&A

Professional networks

Join a vibrant community of researchers and sector professionals that’s over 30 years in the making. Our graduates now work all over the world in a huge variety of roles.

We’re very proud of our international community and regularly invite our graduates back so you can benefit from their experience and get to know some familiar faces in the sector.

Museum Galleries and Heritage Futures

We run a dedicated career support and training programme called Museum, Galleries and Heritage (MGH) Futures.

Each year, students design and lead their own activities and events, tailored to each cohort. From interview training to funded trips and panel sessions – you get to choose what interests you.

Our sessions include:

• interview training
• networking with international sector professionals
• top tips for volunteers
• funded trips to major conferences
• social events

If you're looking for work in the sector, to gain valuable skills, and network with professionals, join the MGH Futures team.

Read more about MGH Futures in our blog