Immerse yourself in a world of culture. Curate your future career.
Museums are necessary to sustain cultural and educational work that societies respect. Craft the journey between artefacts and audiences. Preserve the past while mastering the future. Reflect the way society sees itself through landmark cultural institutions.
Discover the vital role that curators play in celebrating our cultural heritage on a global scale. Shape the present into dynamic galleries of wonder and insight. Transform society and take your art history knowledge to the world.
Museums are dynamic and ever-changing cultural institutions. Our cutting-edge program challenges existing museum theory and practice.
Our degree is delivered in partnership with key cultural institutions like the South Australian Museum and the History Trust of South Australia. These institutions can serve as truth-telling for First Nations people. You’ll be at the forefront of enriching international cultural diplomacy opportunities.
Contribute to the human-to-human cultural exchange we need in an increasingly shifting world. Adelaide University’s Master of Curatorial and Museum Studies explores issues of cultural ownership and conservation. You’ll learn how to respectfully discover social heritage and build skills in ethical collection and exhibition development.
Learn through regular site visits to Adelaide’s world-class cultural institutions, guest lectures and internships. Graduate career ready in this specialist field. You’ll be locally and globally connected with strong links to industry experts. Become part of a network of museum and heritage professionals, ready to revolutionise the industry.
Delivered in partnership with key cultural institutions in South Australia.Build skills in collection and exhibition development, and museum and gallery management.Discover emerging technologies to develop next-generation skills.Explore cross-disciplinary courses in both Arts and Humanities.Examine the complexities of cultural ownership and conservation.Join a network of museum and heritage professionals.The Master of Curatorial and Museum Studies utilises emerging technologies to ensure you develop next-generation skills. Be equipped in the fields of digital literacy and creative innovation. Throughout your two-year degree, you’ll explore related subjects in both Arts and Humanities disciplines. You’ll also study specialised courses such as project management, marketing, communication, media and communication.
To successfully complete this degree, you will be required to complete core and research courses, as well as a research dissertation. Choose from a range of elective courses throughout your studies, tailored to your interests and aligned with your career goals.
First year
Start your studies by answering big questions like, what is a museum? Explore contemporary museum practice and critically analyse museum theory and curatorial practice. Collaborate with staff and collections at the South Australian Museum to develop a key case study. You’ll also focus on the life of objects as they move into, through, and sometimes, out of cultural institutions.
Discover the complex histories of how objects are acquired by museums and art galleries. You’ll be provided unprecedented access to local museums and professionals.
Second year
In your second year, you’ll demonstrate specialist knowledge in a specific area of interest through a research thesis.
You’ll couple this learning with research training courses. These will strengthen your skills in quantitative and qualitative methods and approaches.
Throughout your degree, you’ll complete a range of electives from areas including art history, history and media. Explore renaissance art, art censorship, Leonardo da Vinci, genealogy, or maybe even Australian Indigenous languages. Perhaps you will undertake a museum internship.
This degree is part of a stackable set of qualifications, meaning your study choices are flexible. If your goals shift, you can exit after six months of study with a standalone Graduate Certificate or after one year with a Graduate Diploma qualification.
You can also begin your studies with a shorter qualification like the six-month Graduate Certificate and continue on to complete the Graduate Diploma (one year) or full master’s degree.
Complete 96 units comprising:
Complete 60 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Making a museum
|
Course code
LIBR5003
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
The Secret Life of Objects: Museums in Practice
|
Course code
LIBR5005
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Curatorial and Museum Studies Research Thesis
|
Course code
LIBR6004
|
Units
24
|
|
|
Course name
Museum Studies Minor Research Project
|
Course code
LIBR6005
|
Units
12
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Making a museum
|
Course code
LIBR5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The Secret Life of Objects: Museums in Practice
|
Course code
LIBR5005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Museum Studies Minor Research Project
|
Course code
LIBR6005
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Curatorial and Museum Studies Research Thesis
|
Course code
LIBR6004
|
Units
24
|
Complete 36 units comprising:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
People and Environment in the Asia-Pacific Region
|
Course code
ENVI5003
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Digital Exhibition Project: Art History (PG)
|
Course code
HIST5001
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Rococo to Romanticism: Eighteenth-Century Art (PG)
|
Course code
HIST5002
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Renaissance Art in Northern Europe (PG)
|
Course code
HIST5004
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Social Media Management
|
Course code
MDIA5002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Media Relations (UoA) (PG)
|
Course code
MDIA5009
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
The Exhibition: Concept, Design and Delivery
|
Course code
LIBR5002
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Museum collections management
|
Course code
LIBR5008
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Museum Internship
|
Course code
LIBR5901
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Critical Historical Practices (M)
|
Course code
ARCH5901
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
OL Renaissance Art in Northern Europe (PG)
|
Course code
HIST5010
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Marketing
|
Course code
MARK5000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Customer Experience in Services
|
Course code
MARK5025
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Digital Media and marketing Communications
|
Course code
MARK5030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Strategic Brand Management (M)
|
Course code
MARK6011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Immersive Media Design
|
Course code
MDIA5011
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Communicating with Impact
|
Course code
MDIA5017
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Virtual Reality Design and Development (PG)
|
Course code
MDIA6006
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Project Leadership and Communication
|
Course code
PROJ5008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Project Governance and Contracts
|
Course code
PROJ6013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Project Management Fundamentals
|
Course code
PROJX500
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Making a museum
|
Course code
LIBR5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The Secret Life of Objects: Museums in Practice
|
Course code
LIBR5005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Museum Studies Minor Research Project
|
Course code
LIBR6005
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Curatorial and Museum Studies Research Thesis
|
Course code
LIBR6004
|
Units
24
|
Graduate from Adelaide University with strong links to industry experts. You’ll play a crucial role in cultural enrichment and heritage preservation.
You could curate world-class collections in museums or art galleries. Maybe you’ll head the Adelaide Fringe Festival, bringing together exciting performers from around the world. Perhaps you’ll contribute to the preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage and artefacts.
Careers you may also like to consider include:
Industry trends
Revive is a five-year plan that aims to renew and revive Australia’s arts, entertainment and cultural sector. The Australian Government has pledged $199 million in funding over 4 years from 2023–24 (Australian Government, 2023). This new cultural policy will amplify the significance of cultural infrastructure and strengthen career prospects in these sectors. With an Adelaide University degree, you’ll be a voice for museums, advocating their role as key centres of innovation and importance.
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
