Objectives and competences
The master's degree in Cultural Heritage Management and Museology offers professional training in preparation for a variety of roles in museums, heritage institutions, public bodies and cultural enterprises, encompassing emerging professions and new profiles in the field of heritage management. It is fundamentally professional in focus, aiming to give students the theoretical and practical training through which they will acquire the competences to find employment in the heritage sector. It is also a markedly interdisciplinary programme, reflected both in its organization and in the course content itself; the teaching staff are drawn from fourteen different departments across seven faculties, and several are at the UB as part of national and international mobility programmes or as guest lecturers.
The 90-credit master's degree has been taught since the academic year 2006-2007 (although the course was introduced as a UB-specific degree in 1995-1996). It shares a number of subjects with the master's degree in Cultural Management.
A shift in cultural policies in recent years and the gradual renewal of social interest in heritage have had a significant impact on heritage institutions and cultural amenities, broadening the scope of existing structures and requiring the creation of new facilities to cater for growing demand. Logically, this has expanded the employment market for skilled professionals in the fields of heritage conservation, dissemination and management.
A shift in cultural policies in recent years and the gradual renewal of social interest in heritage have had a significant impact on heritage institutions and cultural amenities, broadening the scope of existing structures and requiring the creation of new facilities to cater for growing demand. Logically, this has expanded the employment market for skilled professionals in the fields of heritage conservation, dissemination and management.
Basic information
| Type | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Faculty or school | Faculty of Geography and History |
| Branch of knowledge |
|
| Mode of delivery |
|
| Credits | 90 |
| Number of places available | 35 |
| Length of course | 2 academic years |
| Language(s) of instruction | Catalan and Spanish |
| Approximate price per credit | 19.37 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2025-2026 |
| Coordination | ESTHER ALSINA GALOFRE |
| museologia@ub.edu | |
| Course details | Indicators |
| Open pre-enrolment | No |
| Open enrolment | No |
| Lead to doctoral studies | Yes |
| Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualification | No |
| Bridging courses | No |
Objectives and competences
Objectives
Competences
The course focuses on two main areas: a) the design and organization of exhibitions and the valorization of monuments and heritage sites using innovative techniques and strategies; b) the identification, analysis and appraisal of the economic, legal, political, social and cultural logics that have a bearing on heritage planning and management, and the use of this expertise to design and carry out specific interventions.
On completion of the master's degree, students will have the knowledge and skills to advise public authorities, social organizations and companies in the culture sector on the different aspects of heritage management and to assess the suitability of museology projects.
Access and admission
Applicant profile and access requirements
Recommended applicant profile
Given the interdisciplinary nature of the master's degree, the suitable access profiles are broad in scope. Professional activities in the field of museology and heritage management, and the variety of heritage and types of museums (art, history, archeological, scientific and technical, architectural, heritage, etc.) mean that there are many related professions and profiles of different natures. The course is therefore addressed to:- Holders of a degree certificate or equivalent qualification in any area related to the various specific fields of heritage management.
- Those with an interest or experience in the field of cultural heritage management (artistic, ethnological, historical, archaeological, industrial, natural, architectural, scientific, etc.).
- Candidates with an interest or experience in the planning and management of museums.
- Candidates with an interest or professional experience in the organization or design of exhibitions.
Access requirements and conditions
General requirementsStudents wishing to be admitted to a university master's degree must hold one of the following qualifications:
- Official Spanish university degree.
- A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.
- A qualification issued by an institution outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, applicants must request homologation of the degree to its equivalent official Spanish university qualification or obtain express approval from the University of Barcelona, which will conduct a study of equivalence to ensure that the degree is of a comparable level to an official Spanish university qualification and that it grants access to university master's degree study in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.
Specific requirements
Any degree or equivalent qualification, in particular the following:
- Humanities: archaeology, history, history of art, philosophy, humanities, etc.
- Social sciences and communication: anthropology, sociology, geography, audiovisual communication, journalism, communication and cultural industries, etc.
- Economic sciences, business sciences and tourism.
- Biological or environmental sciences.
- Architecture or design, specialising in museography.
Pre-enrolment
Enrolment
As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned
- Documents required for enrolment
- Procedure to formalize enrolment
- Grants and financial aid (in Catalan)
- Economic information (in Catalan)
Course curriculum
Subjects and course plans
Distribution of credits
| Type | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Compulsory | 40 |
| Optional | 20 |
| Compulsory placements | 10 |
| Compulsory final project | 20 |
| TOTAL | 90 |
List of subjects
Previous years
Placements
Placements in a company or another type of organization are an integral part of university studies, providing first-hand experience of working methodologies in students' chosen professional fields. They offer invaluable practical experience for the transition into work after graduation.
Placements are supervised by tutors and subject to assessment. They are therefore included in the academic record. There is also an option to complete non-curricular placements of up to 500 hours, which can be extended to 900 hours. For both curricular and non-curricular placements, an educational cooperation agreement is signed between the UB and the company, institution or other organization at which the placement will be carried out.
Institutional information
Career opportunities
What can you work on ?
The master's degree provides the skills and training to work in the management, mediation and conservation of cultural heritage:- Museums: conservation, management or administration of services and technical staff, etc.
- Cultural organizations and cultural heritage: design of museum projects, management plans, exhibitions, etc.
- Public service and heritage institutions: management and administration of services, equipment and heritage projects.
- Curation, planning, design and organization of exhibitions.
- Research in museology, heritage management, museology, teaching and dissemination of heritage, public studies, etc.