Masters course receives stamp of approval

A University Masters course has been recognised by a leading body of industry professionals.

The MSc in Book History and Material Culture, run by the Centre for the History of the Book, was awarded an accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

CILIP is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers in the United Kingdom.

We're delighted to have received this accreditation from CILIP, which will be a great boost to the Centre for the History of the Book and the MSc in Book History and Material Culture. It's especially gratifying to receive this recognition of the innovative ways in which our degree combines theoretical debates at the cutting edge of book history with practical training in working with collections.

Indicator of excellence

CILIP’s accreditation programme is designed to help students choose academic information courses that cover essential skills and knowledge, and have been rigorously assessed by external evaluators. 

Accredited programmes are identified as teaching students the core knowledge and skills necessary for information professions.

With our first accredited programme in this field, the University of Edinburgh is a valuable addition to a growing global network of learning providers that offer quality assurance for those pursuing a career in the wide ranging library, information and knowledge profession.

In-depth training

The MSc in Book History and Material Culture is a taught postgraduate degree, taken over one year full-time or two years part-time.

Students complete a range of courses covering debates in book history, research methods, and essential skills in library and information management.  

Work placements are available in a range of libraries and other cultural institutions around the city.

CILIP assessors praised the strength of the course’s scholarship and intellectual endeavour. The relevance to professional practice, variety of practical opportunities and the positive feedback from current students who see the course as contemporary and directly relevant to their careers, was also highlighted.

Find out more about the MSc Book History and Material Culture

Centre for the History of the Book

The Centre for the History of the Book was founded in 1995 as an international and interdisciplinary centre for advanced research into all aspects of the material culture of the text - its production, circulation, and reception from manuscript to electronic text.

One of the first research centres to be established in the field, it is now recognized internationally as a leading centre for the study of book history and related topics.

Related links

Centre for the History of the Book

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (external link)