PGCert in Cultural Heritage Research

Here at the RAU we are always looking for ways to better support our students. We recognise that a number of our students may be working or have caring responsibilities alongside studying which can sometimes make it difficult to attend every teaching session in person. As such we have the ability for you to join lectures and seminars through an alternative digital format in prior discussion with your programme leader. Please note that for international students on a student visa you are expected to attend your classes in person. Remote delivery is not an UKVI authorised mode of attendance for the taught element of your course and therefore non-attendance would affect your student visa.

All sessions are offered in a hybrid format and you can choose whether to attend any session in-person or to participate remotely, as best suits your needs. We do recommend that you attend field trips in-person to get the most from your experience. All in-class sessions are recorded live and made available to students who prefer to access the sessions asynchronously.* 

Our sessions are built around exercises to support and scaffold the learning process, and to provide valuable opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. Material is taught in workshop format combining formal elements, such as lectures, with more hands-on exploratory or consolidatory exercises, for example discussions, ‘live’ group research to explore or apply a particular concept, group-critique sessions, supported writing exercises, and problem-based learning.

*Visa students will need to attend all sessions in person due to UKVI visa requirements.

Course structure

Our PGCert is designed to be ultra-accessible. All classes are offered both in person and synchronously online, with session recordings available for students unable to attend a particular session.

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

The in-person teaching sessions are timetabled on Thursdays and Fridays, with each module being taught 10:00-12:00 and then 13:00-15:00/16:00 on the same day, each week, for the full year (both semesters). This allows you to fulfil other commitments you may have, such as work, family and interests. Full-time students study on both days, with part-time students on just one.

Modules

• 4765 Specialist Project by Practice or Research: Learn the fundamentals of research design, methodologies and project management and receive group and one-to-one support for an individual piece of research, practice or project work

Plus ONE module from the list below:

• 4729 Landscape Archaeology: Examine the historical context and chronological frameworks of a range of historic landscapes
• 4731 Excavation and Post-excavation: Understand the excavation process, from written statements of investigation, decisions on trench design and recovery methods, stratigraphic excavation methods and contexts identification, as well as management issues around health and safety, risk assessment
• 4733 Understanding Buildings and Landscapes: Understand the form and function of historic buildings and how they are impacted by local landscape and geology
• 4736 Heritage Interpretation: Evaluate the concepts of heritage and cultural heritage and the many settings and multiple ways in which they are employed
• 4737 The Past in Principles and Practice: Gain a solid grounding in how the cultural heritage sector operates covering areas from archaeology to listed buildings and museums, collections, landscapes and legal protections
• 4762 Regeneration and Placemaking in the Historical Environment: Understand the principles and practice of social, economic and environmental regeneration
• 4761 Practical Conservation, Retrofitting and Sustainability: Demonstrate a knowledge of practical building conservation methods & skills and assess their suitability for the repair and alteration of historic buildings and structures

* Optional additions to the course will incur additional charges

Disclaimer information

The University has established various rules and regulations that you must agree to and follow if you accept an offer to study with us. View our full disclaimer notice.

On completion of the course you will be able to work in local authorities, heritage organisations, museums, collections, as self-employed consultants, and in the private sector, which require specialists with an in-depth and applied understanding of cultural heritage.

It also provides an excellent grounding for further academic study, for example at PGDip or MSc level.

We welcome applications from applicants with non-standard qualifications who are able to demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills developed in the workplace or elsewhere and which are relevant to the programme of study. Applicants will need to use their personal statement to provide further details supported by a CV. All non-standard applications will be considered by the Programme Manager on a case-by-case basis and applicants can expect that an interview may be required as part of the admissions process.

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our English language requirements for the level of study. For postgraduate taught programmes this is IELTS Academic min. overall 6.5 with no element below 5.5 (or equivalent). English language tests usually have a validity of 2 years from the date the test is taken.

Offers will typically be made in line with the academic requirements set out above. Offers can be conditional or unconditional. An unconditional offer will be made to applicants who have already met the conditions and provided evidence that conditions have been met. Where academic or language requirements have not yet been fulfilled, applicants will receive a conditional offer stating the requirements that must be met. 

2024-25 Applicants (including January 2025)

For the academic year 2024-25 the tuition fees for this course are:  

2025-26 Applicants

For the academic year 2025-26 the tuition fees for this course are:  

*Please note: International students can study on a part-time basis only if they are in the UK with a different type of visa (other than Student Visa/Tier 4 General) that allows them to undertake part-time study and their visa does not expire prior to the end date of the proposed course of study. Please check your Visa eligibility before applying.

There are no additional fees for any activity conducted during the teaching days. Expenses (travel and admission) incurred during self-directed visits will however fall to the student – all activities are structured so they can be undertaken at any heritage location near to the student and either free or at minimum cost.

Please contact admissions@rau.ac.uk before you apply to confirm your eligibility.

Tuition fees may be subject to an inflationary increase each year as set out in our Access and Participation Plan 2019/20.

For full details, please visit the fees and funding webpage.