Museum and Heritage Work Placement

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: to be confirmed
• Assessment: a 5000-word essay (100%) and five-minute Powerpoint presentation (0%)

In this module we offer you the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience of working in museums, galleries, archives and heritage sites. Every year we organise a series of placements with both national and small, specialist institutions.

During your placement you will contextualise and analyse the work undertaken in relation to museum or heritage studies, government and museum policy, and professional literature as appropriate. You will apply historical and theoretical study to practical tasks, and test the limits of academic learning through practice.

A number of placements with defined tasks will be offered. Placements may vary considerably in length and format (i.e. some may be an intensive two-week block, others two or three days a week over three months). You will be required to submit a CV and a short covering letter outlining your ability to complete the tasks at hand and explaining why you want to work for that institution. Birkbeck staff will select the most appropriate candidate in collaboration with the host institution. During your placement you will be supported by a named member of staff in the institution and by your tutor at Birkbeck.

You may apply for more than one placement.

This module cannot be taken in conjunction with the Research Project or Museums in Practice modules.