Culture and Heritage

Culture and heritage is a field that examines how societies remember, preserve and make sense of their past, and how that past shapes identity, place and community in the present. It draws on history, anthropology, museum studies, cultural theory and the arts to explore questions about what we choose to value, who decides what gets preserved, and how heritage is experienced by different communities. These are not merely academic questions; they have practical consequences for how museums are run, how historic sites are managed and how communities relate to their own histories.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands, this four-year full-time programme situates these questions within a region with a particularly distinctive cultural and historical identity. You will explore the theory and practice of heritage work, engaging with topics such as material culture, oral history, landscape, memory and the politics of heritage representation. The programme draws on the rich and complex cultural landscape of the Highlands and Islands, which offers an exceptional context for studying how heritage is constructed, contested and communicated.

The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.

Graduates from culture and heritage programmes are well placed for careers in museums, galleries, historic environment organisations, local authorities, national parks, archives and cultural tourism. Roles in curatorial work, heritage interpretation, community engagement, conservation and cultural project management are common destinations. The analytical skills the programme develops, including the ability to research, interpret and communicate about culture and place, are also valued in the wider education, media and public sector.

Postgraduate study in museum studies, heritage management, history or cultural studies is a natural next step for those who want to specialise or move into more senior heritage and curatorial roles.