MSc Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies
Glasgow , United Kingdom
Tuition Fee
Start Date
Medium of studying
Duration
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
Masters
Major
History | Archival Sciences
Area of study
Humanities
Course Language
English
Intakes
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-10-01 | - |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
| 2025-01-01 | - |
| 2025-03-01 | - |
| 2025-04-01 | - |
About Program
Program Overview
This online Master's program in Genealogy offers a comprehensive study of genealogical research, records, archives, and heraldry. Through a blended learning approach, students develop expertise in finding, interpreting, and using sources to understand family history and the past. The program prepares graduates for careers in archives, museums, and other fields where genealogical knowledge is essential.
Program Outline
Outline:
Postgraduate Certificate/Part-time MSc Year 1
- Worth 60 credits
- Two options:
- Part-time MSc Year 1: Runs from October to June with assessments throughout the course.
- Two-year (modular option): Study six classes individually over two years.
- Topics:
- Genealogical professional practice
- Search strategies and using repositories
- Social history, demography, and geographic sources
- Church and civil records (England/Wales and Scotland)
- Census records and their substitutes (England/Wales and Scotland)
- Genetic genealogy
- Migration and records
- Irish records
- Military and occupational records (England/Wales and Scotland)
- Land and inheritance records (England/Wales and Scotland)
- Palaeography
- Latin for genealogists
- Heraldry
Postgraduate Diploma/Part-time MSc Year 2
- Requires completion of Postgraduate Certificate/Part-time MSc Year 1
- Worth 60 credits
- Two options:
- Part-time MSc Year 2: Runs from October to mid-July with assessments throughout the course.
- Two-year (modular option): Study three classes individually over two years.
- Topics:
- Social and historical contexts
- Professional and academic aspects of genealogical work
- Family history studies
- Overseas records
- Property, law, and inheritance
- Heraldry and Latin
Part-time MSc Year 3
- Requires completion of Postgraduate Certificate/Part-time MSc Year 1 and Postgraduate Diploma/Part-time MSc Year 2
- Worth 60 credits
- Dissertation: Research project of genealogical relevance, assessed on a report of 12,000 to 16,000 words.
- Runs from October to June.
Full-time MSc option
- Requires an undergraduate degree and experience in genealogical research.
- Runs over 18 months.
- Content:
- Postgraduate Certificate/Part-time MSc Year 1 and Postgraduate Diploma/Part-time MSc Year 2 content
- Dissertation: Research project of genealogical relevance, assessed on a report of 12,000 to 16,000 words.
Assessment:
- No formal exams
- Continuous assessment with tutor support and feedback
- Individual results based on:
- Assignments
- Summative assessments
- Learning log (PgCert/Part-time MSc Year 1)
- Short written pieces (PgDip/Part-time MSc Year 2)
- Project (PgDip/Part-time MSc Year 2)
- Dissertation (Part-time MSc Year 3 and Full-time MSc)
Teaching:
- Taught entirely online using Myplace, the University's Virtual Learning Environment
- Methods:
- Online discussion forums
- Written and audio lectures
- Multimedia presentations
- Real-time audio chat sessions
- Time commitment:
- Reading
- Participation in online discussion forums
- Research
- Completion of coursework
Careers:
- Archivists
- Lawyers and paralegals
- Geographers
- Land agents
- Heritage sector staff
- Historians
- Librarians
- Museum staff
- Records agents
- Developing, evaluating, or refreshing expertise in genealogy, records, archives, documents, palaeography, and heraldry
- Advancing academic and professional achievement in these subjects
- Providing more expert knowledge and advisory capacity to employers and members of the public, such as in Family History Centres
Other:
- Developed by academics and genealogy professionals
- Provides a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of genealogical research, family history, records, archives, and heraldry
- Students gain the knowledge, skills, and techniques to operate as a professional genealogist in a variety of settings
- Professional recognition:
- ASGRA (Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives)
- AGRA (Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives in England and Wales)
- Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG)
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About University
Overview:
- Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
- Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
- Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
- Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
- Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)
Student Life:
- Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
- 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
- Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
- Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union
Academics:
- Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
- Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
- Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
- Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
- Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world
Top Reasons to Study Here:
- Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
- Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
- Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
- Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
- Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city
Services:
- Counseling and mental health support
- Health center with a range of medical services
- Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
- Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
- Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
- Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation
Total programs
511
Average ranking globally
#276
Average ranking in the country
#6
Admission Requirements
Entry Requirements:
- PgCert/Part-time MSc Year 1:
- Normally, a degree or similar evidence of study skills is required, however non-standard educational or professional qualifications will also be considered.
- Some experience in genealogical (or other relevant) research is also required.
- PgDip/Part-time MSc Year 2:
- Entry will normally follow successful completion of the PgCert/Part-time MSc Year 1.
- Students who've gained equivalent academic qualifications at PgCert level may be accepted directly onto the PgDip/Part-time MSc Year 2.
- Those seeking admission with advanced standing may include prior learning in recognised courses and/or genealogical-based experience as entry criteria.
- MSc:
- You require to complete the PgDip/Part-time MSc Year 2 at an appropriate level before being allowed to continue on to the third year of the part-time MSc. First degrees may also be augmented by previous postgraduate qualifications, such as an MSc.
- Some experience in genealogical (or other relevant) research is required and we may ask to see examples of reports and/or charts you have created.
- Students who already hold the PgCert or PgDip in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from Strathclyde, or certain other relevant qualifications from specified institutions, will be able to transfer credits, up to a defined limit. However, no fee discounts will be available.
Location
Gallery
