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Overview of the Course
MSc in Information and Library Studies
The MSc in Information and Library Studies has been established for over thirty years and has an excellent record of student success. This practice-based course replicates the workplace environment in many of the taught modules and you will develop your problem-solving, communication and research skills. Additionally, you will learn how to evaluate and practice these skills and utilise them in a professional context.
Course Content and Benefits
In the knowledge-based society of today information professionals provide a vital role across all areas of industry. This course provides you with a firm grasp of the theories and principles of management, information retrieval and information technology. Effective communication is fundamental to this and must be combined with the skills required in the management of information.
Our graduates now work in all parts of the information and library sectors, ranging from traditional librarianship to information management and research. This course gives you a professional qualification accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) in the UK. Graduates with a Masters degree have a qualification that is professionally recognised throughout the English-speaking world. You will study seven taught modules, plus a fieldwork placement and a dissertation.
A placement opportunity is also part of the course. We have strong established links with professional organisations and the Aberdeen Business School Placement Office consistently finds suitable placements (4 weeks) for our students.
A variety of options are available for distance learning students (including basing the placement on appropriate work experience or undertaking a part-time or virtual placement). The course leader will be able to provide guidance in connection with this.
The placement is undertaken after the taught modules are completed. These taught modules are:
- Information Studies
- Management Principles and Operations
- Cataloguing and Classification
- Knowledge Organisation
- Information Services
- Planning and Developing Library and Information Services
- Research methods
The MSc Information and Library Studies has the added flexibility of being taken in a range of modes. A postgraduate certificate (PgCert), diploma (PgDip) or a masters (MSc) can be taken depending on the stage taken. The course can be taken either full-time on campus, part-time or online through CampusMoodle, the university's virtual learning environment (VLE).
Professional Recognition
The Information and Library Studies Course is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). The next accreditation is due in the summer of 2010.
The Department of Information Management has a close relationship with CILIP and hosts a CILIP Student Conference each year. The department also has links with other bodies in the sector, both locally - with Grampian Information, and nationally - with the National Library of Scotland.
CILIP accreditation means that the course is recognised, around the world, by other professional bodies such as the American Library Association and the Canadian Library Association.
In practice this means that these bodies recognise CILIP as the appropriate national accreditation body for the United Kingdom and graduates from accredited programmes possess the appropriate professional degree for librarians and are considered acceptable for employment in the United States and Canada. Details can be obtained from the American Library Association (ALA).
Career Opportunities
The information industry is expanding rapidly, providing a wide range of opportunities for graduates properly equipped with a broad range of managerial, professional and technological knowledge and skills. This course provides students with a blend of these skills. Libraries and information services, found in every type of organisation in the public and private sector, continue to be major employers for our students.
The job market continues to grow, with fluctuations in the demand for librarians in public and academic libraries paralleled by a continual expansion in the number of librarians and information scientists in specialised information services in both the public and privately funded sectors. Opportunities are also arising from developments in networking and multimedia information services within commercial and educational establishments. This course prepares the student to work in or enhance their career in all aspects of the information sector.
Here is what just a handful of our recent graduates are doing now:
- Manager Information Management & Delivery, Kerr-McGee North Sea (U.K.) Limited;
- Assistant Librarian, Trinity College Library, Dublin;
- Rare Books Curator, National Library of Scotland;
- Librarian, The English College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
- Radio Media Manager, BBC Scotland;
- Serials Librarian, Courtauld Institute of Art.
Take a look at what jobs are currently available in the sector by viewing Lisjobnet.com
A Graduate Testimonial
One of our graduates, Elaine Shallcross, says:
"The course provided me with the right balance of theory and practice across core areas of librarianship. The course challenged me to think like a library manager and it also gave me the level of communication and information retrieval skills to compile a report of the highest professional standard. Overall, I found the course was both challenging and stimulating and I was not disappointed."
Admissions Criteria and Procedures
The requirement for successful admission to the course is an honours degree. In certain circumstances, students with ordinary degrees who have extensive appropriate work-experience within the sector can be admitted to a particular course. For more information on this and other criteria please refer to:
The ACLIP framework comes under Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning.
Funding and Fees
Each year a range of Scholarships and Funding are available. For 2008/2009 the university has secured funding from The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for a range of postgraduate courses, including this course. You may be eligible to apply for this funding and also be eligible for an income-assessed maintenance grant. If you have children, child care grants are also available.
For more information on eligibility you should contact the Admissions Office by email on: PostgraduateAdmissions@rgu.ac.uk
Information on funding and course fees can be found under: Tuition Fees
Some applicants for the distance learning mode of delivery may be eligible for funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council
Please note that the deadline for AHRC applications is the beginning of May each year and the Course Leader must receive applications by mid April in order to complete the School section.
Course Enquiries and Contact:
Dr Peter Reid
Course Leader
Aberdeen Business School
Management Building
The Robert Gordon University
Garthdee Road
Aberdeen AB10 7QETel: +44 (0)1224 263927
Fax: +44 (0)1224 263939
Register your Interest
The following form is for ALL Home/EU enquirers AND those International enquirers interested in NON Full Time study by distance learning:
International enquirers interested in studying Full Time (on campus) should use the International Full Time form:
Please note: These are NOT application forms. When you complete the relevant form you will be kept up-to-date with course details and documentation.
If you do want to apply please go to: Apply for a course
