Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies: Sponsored by the Saudi Museums Commission
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About
The Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies is sponsored by the Saudi Museums Commission and delivered in partnership with Saudi universities. Sponsorships covering full tuition fees and accommodation in London are available for Saudi nationals.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies is delivered and jointly awarded in partnership with Effat University in Jeddah and Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) in Dammam.
Students will attend either Effat University or IAU, followed by a one-month intensive at SOAS in London. Graduates will be awarded either the SOAS-Effat University Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies or the SOAS-IAU Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies.
Sponsorships covering full tuition fees and accommodation in London are available for Saudi nationals who will be automatically considered and notified if successful.
What you'll learn
These programmes have been created to offer theoretical and practical training in Museum Studies, including hands-on experience with objects. During the course, students will acquire in-depth knowledge of the specific requirements of various museum roles, including those of curators, educators, registrars, object handlers and designers.
Issues and themes dealt with in lectures are developed further through tutorials, review sessions, seminars, group discussion and visits to museums, galleries and other sites. The programme is convened by academic staff in the School of Arts, SOAS, and includes guest contributions from world leading scholars, curators and museum professionals In Saudi Arabia and the UK.
Learning outcomes
Programme learning outcomes include:
- developing an ability to critically evaluate how museums, galleries, exhibition spaces, public art, online platforms/digital curating, and other display contexts create and communicate meaning
- the ability to critically analyse the role of museums and galleries in the production of meaning and value to objects via practices of collecting, display, interpretation and conservation
- becoming familiar with the methods, practices and key issues surrounding the ways in which museums care for, communicate, and develop their collections
- acquiring in-depth knowledge of the specific requirements of various museum roles, including curation, interpretation, learning, exhibitions, and collection management
Following successful completion of the Diploma, students can opt to convert the Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies into a Masters degree (MA Museum Studies), by undertaking an additional dissertation module the following year.
Our partners
Key information
Fees and funding
| Location | Fee | Start date (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Effat University | £24,870 | 6 April |
| IAU University | £19,500 | 13 April |
Structure
Students enrolled on the Diploma take six modules, including an Independent Study Project module taught in term 3. The course is taught at one of our partner universities in Saudi Arabia in term 1 and at SOAS in London in term 2, with some online components.
Sponsorship
All applicants who are citizens of Saudi Arabia will automatically be considered for sponsorship, generously provided by the Saudi Museums Commission, covering full tuition fees and accommodation in London. Applicants who have been awarded funding will be notified.
Visas
This programme includes mandatory travel from Saudia Arabia to the UK. To be able to undertake the programme, Students must successfully obtain a visitor visa for the UK prior to the start of term 2.
Please ensure to check the visa requirements and your eligibility for a visa for the UK before applying to this programme. SOAS cannot accept liability for failure of a student to obtain valid UK visa for the programme
Depending on your nationality and current UK immigration status you may need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or a Standard Visitor Visa to study at SOAS in term 2.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
If you’re a national of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates you can get an ETA if you are travelling to the UK from 22 February 2024. If you are a national of Qatar you can also get an ETA. Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK.
If you are a national of another country, please see information on the Standard Visitor Visa and how to apply on the course pages.
English language requirements
All applicants must be able to show that their English is of a high enough standard to successfully engage with and complete their course. Students need a minimum of IELTS 6.5 overall and 6.0 in sub scores (or equivalent from other recognised English Language tests).
SOAS accepts the following online English tests:
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- IELTS Academic Online
- IELCA Home (Academic) online
- Password Skills Plus
- DuoLingo
How to apply
Applications are made online. To make a direct application, please visit SOAS-Effat University Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies or SOAS-IAU Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies.
Conversion to Masters
Following successful completion of the Diploma, students may opt to convert the Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies into a Masters degree (MA Museum Studies) by undertaking a Masters level dissertation module the following year. The cost of the MA conversion is £8,900 [fees updated annually].
Disclaimer
The tuition fees are for the 2024/25 academic year only and may increase by up to 5% in later years of your programme. You’ll need to budget for these increases as well as fluctuations in your own currency.
Student testimonial
Dania Mohammed J Jaber, Events and Programmes Coordinator at Art Jameel
As a highlight, I would mention the opportunity to be physically here and visit the museums, seeing behind-the-scenes and getting to talk to the curators and people who operate the museums, see the storage units, and so much more.
Also, it was so interesting to not just meet the curators but see people working on different sectors and in different settings, like people working on the archaeological side, people working on science, and more diverse fields.
Manasar Alharethi, Assistant Professor at Taibah University
It is so great to be in London and have access to all these resources. For someone like me who loves research, it’s a fantastic opportunity to be able to go to the museums and libraries and see collections.
