Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

The MA Archives and Records Management class comprises an international cohort of students with a variety of academic backgrounds and life experiences.  The programme is ideal for both recent graduates and those seeking a career change. It is also ideal for individuals with advanced academic degrees seeking a professional qualification.

The MA Archives and Records Management programme is aimed at graduates who wish to acquire the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to enable them to ethically manage records and archives in all formats, and to select, curate and ensure access to the historic and future memory they contain.

The programme is based on the conception of the record-keeper as a reflective professional, who is informed in terms of adherence to international best practice, creative in the delivery of services, sensitive to cultural difference, and dynamic in relation to technological change.

The programme’s learning environment comprises lectures, seminars, field trips, practitioner visits and work placements. Onsite facilities allow students to gain practical experience of archival preservation, processing and digitization, often working in collaboration with external archival repositories.

Teaching, learning and assessment is based on enabling students to complete assignments, both individually and in groups, which practically simulate the work of the professional record-keeper.  An engagement with the theory behind contemporary practice is encouraged through presentations, essays and a minor research dissertation.

• Students should be able to demonstrate a thorough grounding in and knowledge of the principles underlying the theory and practice of the care and management of archives and records in all formats.
• Actively embrace the ethical and cultural responsibilities of the professional record keeper.
• Apply the skills of the archivist and records manager in a variety of working environments.
• Engage critically with current research trends and methodologies in archives and records management and appreciate their relevance to the workplace.
• Identify with the national and international community of archivists and records managers.

View All Modules Here

The MA consists of a number of taught modules, each of which is worth 5 or 10 credits, and a dissertation worth 30 credits. Core modules provide students with the fundamental knowledge, competencies and skills relevant to a career in archives and records management. Optional modules afford students the opportunity to specialise in areas such as digital curation and palaeography.

MA Archives & Records Management (Z020) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 11500
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MA Archives & Records Management (Z100) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5750
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

• Accredited by the Archives and Records Association (UK and Ireland) and currently the only fully accredited course of its kind in Ireland

Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications:

Ireland and the UK: 2nd class honours, grade I in the primary degree. In exceptional circumstances candidates with a high 2nd class honours, grade II degree will be considered.

Canada and the USA: a primary degree with a grade point average of 3.5

Other: an internationally recognised equivalent of the above

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element) or equivalent. Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information: https://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/int%20pmp/

In applying for this course applicants will have a distinct advantage if they have a good academic record, relevant pre-course experience, good interpersonal skills, acceptable IT skills, evident commitment to work as an archivist or records manager. Pre-course experience does not have to be extensive but should allow applicants to have a good understanding of the work of a professional record keeper.

As the number of places on the course is limited, the allocation of places is on a competitive basis.

James Flood
MA 2017

The MA in Archives & Records management offers a wide range of modules, from archival theory to records management. The course leaves graduates with a wide range of career choices upon completion of the MA. The course work for the MA is extremely hands on and practical and this allows students to go into the workplace with the most up to date skills, an aspect which is appealing to employers. The staff in the department are experts in their respective areas and this is an important aspect in passing on the most up to date and relevant knowledge to students. Upon completion of the MA I began work straight away as an archivist and the broad range of skills which I acquired during my time on the course have allowed me to work across a wide range of industry’s from construction, to law, to IT and data protection.

• MLIS FT
• Grad Dip Library & Information Studies FT

The programme’s learning environment comprises lectures, seminars, field trips, practitioner visits and work placements. Onsite facilities allow students to gain practical experience of archival preservation, processing and digitization, often working in collaboration with internal or external archival repositories. UCD is also very conveniently located for the use of Dublin city centre research and cultural institutions, including the National Library of Ireland and the National Archives where an extensive range of Irish manuscripts and Irish state papers are housed.

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

• Apply early to avoid disappointment.
• This course is currently the only fully accredited course by Archives and Record Association (UK and Ireland) in Ireland.
• Places are limited.
• A waiting list will be created, if a place become available. 
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.