Across the world, governments, communities and cultural organisations recognise that heritage is about protecting what people value in historic places, landscapes, and community cultural practices. It is a powerful driver of placemaking, social cohesion and climate resilience.¹

From UNESCO’s global frameworks to grassroots initiatives, there is growing demand for professionals who can do more than conserve historic buildings and sites – they must also shape policy, engage communities, and help the public understand why heritage matters. The UK’s recent (2024) ratification of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, along with rising public interest in history, climate change, decolonisation, and digital innovation, is helping to shape a vibrant and evolving field of heritage practice.

Dr Catherine Roberts, Programme Director and Lecturer in Heritage Studies and Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Manchester, explores how an MA in Heritage Studies equips the next generation with the interdisciplinary skills and critical insight needed to build careers beyond academia – in management, policy, or consultancy roles across museums, heritage, and public history sectors.

Our students are helping shape the heritage of the future

For those interested in conservation, the course offers a solid grounding in ethical approaches to engaging audiences, stakeholders, and communities in caring for historic environments. Working with practitioners, students discover different models of conservation, restoration and reparation and the safeguarding and funding bodies that support this work.

This is particularly important as recent reports from Historic England² and the CHARTER Alliance³ highlight the urgent need for heritage-trained professionals with an understanding of the conservation, repair and maintenance of heritage assets.

There is also growing demand for professionals who understand climate-conscious conservation – from enhancing the ecological resilience of heritage sites to navigating environmental challenges. These themes are embedded throughout the course, with students exploring the impact of climate change on both tangible and intangible heritage. Elective options, such as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage,’ allow for deeper exploration of these issues of heritage risk and resilience.

Through practical fieldwork and partnerships with leading organisations, students will also engage directly with vulnerable heritage assets, gain insight into professional workflows and build a network in the sector.

Whether focusing on historic buildings, landscapes, or community-based projects, students graduate with the knowledge and experience to make a meaningful impact in conservation roles.

Influencing cultural heritage practice, policy and governance

For those drawn to the bigger picture – i.e., how heritage is governed, funded and protected – the course also opens up career pathways in cultural policy and advocacy.

As heritage increasingly intersects with areas like urban planning, environmental regulation and social justice, there’s growing demand for professionals who understand not only the value of cultural assets, but also how to influence the systems that support them.

The ‘Heritage Policy and Management’ unit equips students with a strong foundation in the legislation, frameworks and governance structures that underpin heritage practice at local, national and international levels. Through seminars, group site visits and individual fieldwork, students gain insight into how heritage is managed and regulated, as well as how those policies are evolving to reflect new challenges, such as climate change and community equity.

Whether aiming to work in government, the third sector or international organisations, graduates leave with the critical skills and contextual knowledge needed to inform and shape cultural policy.

Driving innovation in heritage management

The heritage sector also needs well-informed consultants who can bring insight and strategy to projects across the public, private and charitable sectors.

For students looking to step into this space with confidence, the course offers a mix of academic depth and applied learning that mirrors the real demands of consultancy work.

Through its interdisciplinary approach and practical components, students can develop the types of skills that heritage consultants rely on every day. This includes cultural analysis, stakeholder engagement, ethical decision-making and project management.

Students also learn how to assess heritage significance, evaluate development impacts, and contribute to decisions that balance preservation with innovation. Each year, Heritage Studies students at the University of Manchester gain real-world experience through placements with around 50 heritage organisations, offering insight into a wide range of roles and practices.

Recent alumni have gone on to diverse careers – from Cultural Heritage Researcher and Assistant Heritage Consultant to Geophysics Supervisor – both in the UK and internationally.

The University of Manchester’s MA Heritage Studies equips students with the knowledge and skills to position themselves as trailblazers in the sector, preparing them for careers that contribute meaningfully to heritage practice and environmental sustainability in the face of global challenges.

Find out more information about the course and how to apply here.

ENDS

1. ICCROM: Anticipating Futures for Heritage
2. Historic England: Skills Needs Analysis for the Repair, Maintenance and Retrofit of Traditional (Pre-1919) Buildings in England, 2024
3. CHARTER Alliance: Forecast to fill gaps between education and training supply and labour market needs. A preliminary analysis
4. UNESCO

Related