MFA Heritage and Exhibition Design 24 months Postgraduate Programme By Edinburgh Napier University |TopUniversities
Programme Duration

24 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

13,495 GBPTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

30 Jun, 2026Application Deadline

Starting Month

SepStarting Month

Programme overview

Main Subject

Art History

Degree

MFA

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

The MFA Heritage and Exhibition Design will develop your understanding of core aspects of heritage, exhibition, and museum design, as well as site-specific interpretive installations in Scotland’s vibrant and extensive heritage sector.

Part of a community of practice, this course benefits from bringing together designers from a range of disciplines into core modules, as well as modules specific to your chosen pathway such as  'Interpretation & Design' and Design for Heritage & Culture'. 

All students complete the Art Direction module which is output through a collaborative public exhibition as part of the university’s annual degree show.  You will study Creative Research Portfolio Part 1  which will help you to determine and start the ground work to prepare for  your Major Project (MFA) topic. 

The MFA is recognised as an advanced masters level degree and students already holding an appropriate MA can apply to enter the course directly into the second year of study. 

The City of Edinburgh is the perfect location for the MFA Heritage and Exhibition Design. Edinburgh is a UNESCO world heritage site, and arguably one of the most picturesque cities in the UK. Its world famous medieval Old Town has hundreds of historic sites, buildings, and monuments. The Regency New Town boasts some of the most import neo-classical buildings in the world. Beyond Edinburgh, we have access to Scotland’s extensive heritage industry with thousands of historic sites and buildings. Developing exhibition, interpretative and practical production skills, you will learn how to create user/visitor experiences and installations in key historic areas. With a strong sense of integrity, you will develop an understanding of and sensitivity to the authenticity and preservation of historic sites for visitors. The two year MFA offers students the opportunity to extend project work through an in-depth, research-led creative enquiry. The first year of the course is aligned to the MA and you will undertake six modules developing subject specific-skills and knowledge, external research and entrepreneurial collaboration, and practice-based research. 

In the second year, you will extend your practice with two large modules: the self-directed Major Project with specialist supervisors, and Professional Practice with portfolio mentors. You will end the course with a highly professional portfolio that enhances industry and employment opportunities or (with an emphasis on research) offers a robust gateway into PhD-level study.

Colleagues teaching on the course are actively engaged in research, knowledge exchange and/or consultancy work.  You will study a range of topics and given the opportunity to explore and develop new skills.  Your studies will explore the latest theories and thinking around heritage and exhibition design as well as being applied in the production of real-world artefacts.  Our well-equipped workshops will allow you to manifest your most ambitious ideas.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Art History

Degree

MFA

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

The MFA Heritage and Exhibition Design will develop your understanding of core aspects of heritage, exhibition, and museum design, as well as site-specific interpretive installations in Scotland’s vibrant and extensive heritage sector.

Part of a community of practice, this course benefits from bringing together designers from a range of disciplines into core modules, as well as modules specific to your chosen pathway such as  'Interpretation & Design' and Design for Heritage & Culture'. 

All students complete the Art Direction module which is output through a collaborative public exhibition as part of the university’s annual degree show.  You will study Creative Research Portfolio Part 1  which will help you to determine and start the ground work to prepare for  your Major Project (MFA) topic. 

The MFA is recognised as an advanced masters level degree and students already holding an appropriate MA can apply to enter the course directly into the second year of study. 

The City of Edinburgh is the perfect location for the MFA Heritage and Exhibition Design. Edinburgh is a UNESCO world heritage site, and arguably one of the most picturesque cities in the UK. Its world famous medieval Old Town has hundreds of historic sites, buildings, and monuments. The Regency New Town boasts some of the most import neo-classical buildings in the world. Beyond Edinburgh, we have access to Scotland’s extensive heritage industry with thousands of historic sites and buildings. Developing exhibition, interpretative and practical production skills, you will learn how to create user/visitor experiences and installations in key historic areas. With a strong sense of integrity, you will develop an understanding of and sensitivity to the authenticity and preservation of historic sites for visitors. The two year MFA offers students the opportunity to extend project work through an in-depth, research-led creative enquiry. The first year of the course is aligned to the MA and you will undertake six modules developing subject specific-skills and knowledge, external research and entrepreneurial collaboration, and practice-based research. 

In the second year, you will extend your practice with two large modules: the self-directed Major Project with specialist supervisors, and Professional Practice with portfolio mentors. You will end the course with a highly professional portfolio that enhances industry and employment opportunities or (with an emphasis on research) offers a robust gateway into PhD-level study.

Colleagues teaching on the course are actively engaged in research, knowledge exchange and/or consultancy work.  You will study a range of topics and given the opportunity to explore and develop new skills.  Your studies will explore the latest theories and thinking around heritage and exhibition design as well as being applied in the production of real-world artefacts.  Our well-equipped workshops will allow you to manifest your most ambitious ideas.

Admission Requirements

4+
56+
6+
2.7+
169+

30 Jun 2026
2 Years
Sep

Tuition fees

Domestic
5,680 GBP
International
13,495 GBP

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