Master of Curatorial and Museum Studies

What you will study

Students must complete 96 units comprising:

• 60 units for all core courses.
• 36 units for electives.

Unless otherwise indicated, each course is worth six units.

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.

• A completed bachelor's (AQF level 7) or bachelor's honours (AQF level 8) degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution; OR
• A completed nested or related graduate certificate (AQF level 8) or higher or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Adelaide University is committed to recognising the contribution of students’ prior learning towards their program requirements.

Credit may be granted for formal, informal and non-formal learning, with guidance on eligibility provided to prospective students in a clear, transparent and publicly available credit framework.

Credit determinations will be:

• Evidence-based, equitable and transparent.
• Academically sound.
• Applied consistently, fairly and subject to review.

Credit will be granted for prior learning that is relevant and equivalent to the learning required for the courses for which credit is sought.

Credit will only be granted if it:

• Maintains the credibility and integrity of the program for which credit is sought.
• Does not contravene the conditions of the program’s professional accreditation.
• Does not disadvantage the student’s ability to achieve the expected course or program learning outcomes.

For more information, contact the university or visit its website.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• You’ll explore related subjects in both Arts and Humanities disciplines.
• You’ll also study specialised courses such as project management, marketing, communication and media.
• Explore contemporary museum practice and critically analyse museum theory and curatorial practice.
• Collaborate with staff and collections at the South Australian Museum to develop a key case study.
• Discover the complex histories of how objects are acquired by museums and art galleries.
• You’ll demonstrate specialist knowledge in a specific area of interest through a research thesis.
• Explore Renaissance art, art censorship, Leonardo da Vinci, genealogy or maybe even Australian Indigenous languages.

Career outcomes

You could curate world-class collections in museums or art galleries. Maybe you’ll head to the Adelaide Fringe Festival, bringing together exciting performers from around the world. Perhaps you’ll contribute to the preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage and artefacts.

Careers you may also like to consider include:

• Exhibition Designer
• Exhibition Coordinator
• Collections Manager
• Archivist
• Curator
• Arts Educator

Fees and FEE-HELP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $34,700 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Fee-paying programs require the full tuition fees for your study, which can be deferred partly or in full to a FEE-HELP loan. Where the duration of the program is less than one year, the total cost of the program is displayed.

A student’s fee may vary depending on:

• The number of courses studied per term.
• The choice of major or specialisation.
• Choice of courses.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.