BA (Hons) Cultural Heritage: Libraries, Archives and Museums Bachelor's degree at Aberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Cultural Heritage: Libraries, Archives and Museums at Aberystwyth University suits those drawn to library, archive or museum work, whether that interest lies in information organisation, helping people navigate collections, or understanding how institutions steward cultural memory.
About this course
If you are interested in any aspects of library, archive or museum work, including looking for information, helping others in information seeking, and how our heritage and knowledge is stored, shared and preserved - then this degree at Aberystwyth University is for you. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Cultural Heritage: Libraries, Archives and Museums is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Aberystwyth University, based in Aberystwyth. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For History and archaeology graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 40% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for History, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 100% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 8 modules
- Effective CommunicationCore20 credits
- Foundations of Information StudiesCore20 credits
- The Archival InheritanceCore20 credits
- The Cultural Heritage LandscapeCore20 credits
- Introduction to HistoryCore20 credits
- 'Hands on' History: Sources and their HistoriansOptional20 credits
- Europe and the World, 1000-2000Optional20 credits
- People, Power and Identity: Wales 1200-1999Optional20 credits
Year 2 21 modules
- Making HistoryCore20 credits
- Information in a Changing WorldCore20 credits
- Museums in the 21st CenturyCore20 credits
- Research MethodologyCore20 credits
- Resource Discovery and Digital Information ManagementCore20 credits
- Between Revolution and Reform: China since 1800Optional20 credits
- Chivalry and courtliness: Elite culture in high medieval England, 1066-1300Optional20 credits
- Crime, Riot and Morality in Wales 1750-1850Optional20 credits
- European Society and the Medieval Mind 1200-1500Optional20 credits
- Famine in Medieval EnglandOptional20 credits
- From the Second Empire to the Third Reich: Weimar Germany 1914-1933Optional20 credits
- Interdisciplinary and decolonial historyOptional20 credits
- Recounting Racism: Oral History and Modern American Race RelationsOptional20 credits
- Reforging the Union: The Reconstruction Era in US History, 1863-1896Optional20 credits
- Science, Religion and MagicOptional20 credits
- The Atlantic World, 1492-1825Optional20 credits
- The European ReformationOptional20 credits
- The Nazi Dictatorship: Regime and Society in Germany 1933-1945Optional20 credits
- The Tudors: A European Dynasty?Optional20 credits
- Victorian Visions: Exploring Nineteenth-Century ExhibitionsOptional20 credits
- Wales and the Kings of Britain: Conflict, Power and Identities in the British Isles 1039-1417Optional20 credits
Year 3 4 modules
- Collection Management and Development in Heritage OrganisationsCore20 credits
- DissertationCore40 credits
- Local Studies and Community HeritageCore20 credits
- Culture, Society and the VictoriansOptional20 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This degree centres on the discovery, preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage through libraries, archives and museums. You'll begin with foundational study of how historians use sources, archives and primary evidence to build arguments, alongside broad surveys of medieval, early modern and modern world history. In Year 2, you'll move into focused specialist subjects studied through original documents, examine how historical interpretations develop, and explore how heritage and history engage public audiences outside the university. Year 3 allows deeper document-led investigation and specialist options in areas such as modern history, medieval studies, global and imperial history, social and cultural history, public history and heritage, and archival research. You'll complete your degree with an original dissertation based on primary research of your own choosing.
Who it's for
You're suited to this degree if you care about preserving and sharing knowledge, enjoy detailed work with collections, and want to help others access information and cultural material. You'll appreciate both the scholarly side, understanding how heritage is contextualised and interpreted, and the hands-on side, from cataloguing to user engagement. If you're curious about how libraries, archives and museums operate, and you're drawn to combining research rigour with public-facing work, this course offers the intellectual and practical grounding you'll need. You should be comfortable with independent study and collaborative projects.
Careers & job market
Across History courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Among those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or are undertaking further study. National earnings data for History graduates show starting salaries typically ranging from £23,500 to £31,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £25,500–£36,000 after five years. The cultural heritage sector includes roles in museums, libraries, archives and heritage organisations, though your specific earnings and progression will depend on sector, location and individual circumstances.
University & format
This 3-year full-time degree is awarded by Aberystwyth University, a public university founded in 1872 and located in Aberystwyth. Instruction is in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; your BA (Hons) qualification will be nationally recognised. Most accepted students arrived with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, with a typical UCAS tariff between 96–111 points.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 87%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 95% |
| an Access course | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Set under Wales's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at Aberystwyth University →If you normally live in Wales
2026/27 total maintenance support from Student Finance Wales. How much of it is grant and how much is loan depends on household income; the total does not. If you normally live elsewhere, use your home funding body.
Check your entitlement with Student Finance Wales →Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: paid directly to the university by Student Finance Wales.
- Maintenance support: a mix of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales, weighted to household income.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Wales runs its own system through Student Finance Wales; check studentfinancewales.co.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What History graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £22,000 – £28,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £19,500 | £16,000 – £24,000 | 145 |
| 5 years after | £26,000 | £21,000 – £30,500 | 165 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in history · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs History nationally
National figures for History graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with History courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,423 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 55; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How History graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where History graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Museums & archives
- Heritage bodies
- Schools
- Civil service & media
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit History graduates.
History & Humanities Lead, Flexible, Impactful TeachingChartereastdulwichHistory & Humanities Lead, Flexible, Impactful TeachingThe Charter Schools Educational TrustHistory Teachers in Kirklees and HalifaxCV-LibraryHistory TeachersSABIS NETWORK SCHOOLSIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Wales's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. If you normally live in Wales, Student Finance Wales can pay an eligible Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university, and maintenance support is a mix of grant and loan weighted to household income. You repay only above the income threshold.
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.4 out of 10: NSS 87% · in work or study 95% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Aberystwyth University
Historical, philosophical and religious studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Aberystwyth
384 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is History right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Aberystwyth University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Aberystwyth University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Aberystwyth University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Aberystwyth University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Aberystwyth University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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