Careers Support

There are four main types of museum, according to how they are owned, managed and funded:

• National
• Regional/local
• University
• Independent

The Museums Association provides a nationally approved code of ethics for museums, and most work to an Arts Council accreditation scheme.

Careers

• There are around 1,800 museums in the UK
• Competition for jobs is fierce
• Heritage sector jobs are generally fairly low paid (£18,000-£25,000)
• Degree level and post-graaduate qualifications are expected for many roles (but not all)
• Work experience and volunteering will increase the possibility for a position

Interest in Museums

Passion and enthusiasm for museums and galleries, and how they can make a difference to people's lives. Demonstrated by reading, watching documentaries, following blogs, visiting museums and being able to talk about the sector in an informed way.

Evidence having done some wider research specific for the role

Knowledge of key issues for the cultural sector and the specific organisation. Look at recent press coverage and social media.

Previous Experience

Evidence of some experience in museums or a related sector, e.g arts, culture, libraries, tourism, through student placement or volunteering.

Qualifications

Varies according to post - all roles require a good level of numeracy and literacy, but when applying for professional roles it is usually expected to demonstrate at least degree level or equivalent. Many applicants for entry level roles have postgraduate qualifications. Heritage has always been a competitive sector.

Transferable workplace skills

E.g. Communication, team working, project management, flexibility. Applicants must be able to give detailed examples of times when these skills have been demonstrated.

The museum sector is working hard to make museum jobs more accessible. There are a growing number of museum apprenticeships available, but traditional qualifications like university degrees are currently still important.

GCSEs

A good pass in GCSE English and Maths is essential, alongside a range of other subjects such as art, design, humanities and modern language.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships in museums are becoming more common. For example, you may find courses on Content Creation and Technical work. Search the Gov.uk website to find out more.

A-Levels

There are no specific A-Levels for museum work, but subjects such as History, Art, Geology, Geography, English or Archaeology.

Post-Graduate

There are lots of opinions for post-graduate courses. Search university websites for Masters in Museum Studies.