Culture and Heritage

Culture and heritage studies examines how human societies create, preserve, interpret and make use of their cultural traditions, material heritage, landscapes and intangible practices. It is an interdisciplinary field that brings together history, anthropology, geography, arts and social science to understand what heritage is, who decides what counts as heritage, how it is managed and contested, and what role it plays in shaping identity, community and tourism. In a world where cultural heritage is both a vital resource and a site of significant conflict, the skills of heritage professionals are increasingly in demand.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands this part-time programme allows you to study culture and heritage alongside other commitments, following a flexible study mode that lets you take a reduced load of units or modules each week. The Highlands and Islands region is one of the richest in Scotland for cultural and natural heritage, from Neolithic monuments and medieval castles to Gaelic language traditions, Highland land history and the cultural legacy of clearance and emigration, making it an especially resonant context in which to study these questions. You will develop skills in heritage interpretation, cultural analysis, archival research and the professional management of cultural resources.

Graduates of culture and heritage programmes work in museums, galleries, archives, national parks and landscapes, heritage tourism, local authority heritage and arts services, community archaeology and history projects, cultural broadcasting and education. The analytical and communication skills the degree develops are valued across many roles in the cultural sector and beyond, including in local government, the voluntary sector and community development. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in heritage management, museum studies, cultural studies or related fields.