Museum and Heritage Studies

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1 Course codes

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for these courses is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

3 Master's type

The masters degree in these resolutions is an advanced learning masters course, as defined by the Coursework Policy.

4 Embedded courses in this sequence

(1) The embedded courses in this sequence are:

(a) the Graduate Certificate in Museum and Heritage Studies

(b) the Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies

(c) the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies

(2) A candidate for the graduate certificate or graduate diploma may apply to progress to a longer course in this sequence, providing the candidate meets the admission requirements for that course. Only the longest award completed will be conferred.

5 Admission to candidature

(1) Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit, according to the following admissions criteria. In exceptional circumstances the Dean may admit applicants without these qualifications but whose evidence of experience and achievement is deemed by the Dean to be equivalent.

(2) Admission to candidature for the Graduate Certificate in Museum and Heritage Studies requires:

(a) a bachelor’s degree or higher award from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification; or

(b) equivalent professional experience of no less than two years full time equivalent in a relevant field, such as: collections manager, curatorial, education and programming role in museums, art gallery, archives, or cultural organisations, archives or heritage consultant, archaeology consultant, or government cultural sector role or similar.

(3) Admission to candidature for the Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies requires:

(a) a bachelors degree with a major in Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture, Art History, Biological Sciences, Cultural Geography, Languages and Cultural Studies, Digital Humanities, Education, English, Environmental Sciences, Gender Studies, History, Heritage Studies, Indigenous Studies, Natural Sciences, Science Communication, Sociology or other major with equivalent skills and knowledge base; and a minimum 60% average calculated over the whole degree, from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; or

(b) completion of the Graduate Certificate in Museum and Heritage Studies with a minimum credit (65%) average, or an equivalent qualification.

(4) Admission to candidature for the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies requires:

(a) bachelors degree with a major in one of Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture, Art History, Biological Sciences, Cultural Geography, Languages and Cultural Studies, Digital Humanities, Education, English, Environmental Sciences, Gender Studies, History, Heritage Studies, Indigenous Studies, Natural Sciences, Science Communication, Sociology or other major with equivalent skills and knowledge base; and a minimum credit (65%) average calculated over the whole degree, from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; or

(b) completion of the requirements for the embedded Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies with a minimum credit (65%) average, or an equivalent qualification.

6 Requirements for award

(1) The units of study that may be taken for these courses are set out in the Postgraduate Table of Units of Study for the Museum and Heritage Studies subject area.

(2) Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Museum and Heritage Studies are required to complete 24 credit points, including:

(a) 12 credit points of core units of study; and

(b) 12 credit points of selective units of study.

(3) Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies are required to complete 48 credit points, including:

(a) 24 credit points of core units of study; and

(b) 18 credit points of selective units of study; and

(c) 6 credit points from elective units of study.

(4) Candidates for the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies are required to complete 72 credit points including:

(a) 24 credit points of core units of study; and

(b) a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 42 credit points of selective units of study; and

(c) a maximum of 18 credit points of elective units of study.

(d) a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 18 credit points of capstone units of study.

7 Recognition of prior learning

(1) Waivers and credit may be granted or the volume of learning may be reduced in recognition of prior learning.

(2) Credit may be granted for up to 50% of course requirements for relevant incomplete postgraduate qualifications.

(3) Candidates offered direct admission to the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies may be eligible for a reduction in the volume of learning of up to 24 credit points, subject to the following:

(a) The maximum permissible reduction in the volume of learning is 24 credit points for a qualification at level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework in a relevant discipline as defined by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

(b) The maximum permissible reduction in the volume of learning is 24 credit points for relevant professional work experience deemed by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to have conferred a volume of learning equivalent to that of a Graduate Certificate in a relevant discipline.

(4) The maximum combined credit and reduction in the volume of learning for prior study granted to a candidate will not exceed 50% of the requirements of the course.

8 Course transfer

A candidate for the masters degree or graduate diploma may elect to discontinue study and graduate with a shorter award from this sequence, with the approval of the Dean, and provided the requirements of the shorter award have been met.

9 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2025.

(2) Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January 2025 will complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.