Librarianship MA
Information School,
Faculty of Social Sciences
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Start date
September 2025 -
Duration
1 year 2 years 3 years -
Attendance
Full-time Part-time
Explore this course:
Apply now for 2025 entry or register your interest to hear about postgraduate study and events at the University of Sheffield.

Course description
This course is aimed at graduates from any discipline who are curious about libraries and information, and desire a professionally oriented course that builds practical knowledge and skills to work in academic, public, school, health, prison, and workplace libraries.
You will develop the core competencies of librarianship defined in the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Professional Knowledge and Skills Base, including leadership, management and strategic service design.
You will learn how information is managed, organised, governed and made available to users, how to be a reflective practitioner and the ethical principles and values that underpin the library and information profession.
Research-active academic staff will involve you in conversations about cutting-edge developments in library research, including scholarly communication, information behaviour, the role of artificial intelligence in library services, archival practices and the provision of library services to diverse communities. You will learn how to apply current practices in librarianship, for example how to apply the principles of cataloguing, classification, metadata and controlled vocabularies, how to teach information literacy and how to design library spaces.
Our modules are developed in partnership with professionals from all library sectors, and most feature opportunities to hear from and interact with library experts. A core aspect of the programme is the opportunity to visit library and information services, meet with practitioners, and learn about the very latest practice - often from our alumni.
We work with organisations such as Sheffield Central Library, Sheffield Hallam University, National Fairground Archives, Weston Park Museum, York University, Nottingham Libraries, Tapton School, and CILIP Prison Libraries Group to provide in-person and virtual experiences. There is a strong emphasis on building the skills that employers tell us they want from graduates, such as independent inquiry, problem-solving and working collaboratively.
When you graduate you will be digitally literate, imaginative and a critical thinker - ready to advance in the library and information profession.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) which is recognised by professional associations in the USA, Canada, Ireland and Australia.
Modules
You’ll need 180 credits to get a masters degree, with 75 credits from core modules, 45 credits from optional modules and a dissertation (including dissertation preparation) worth 60 credits.
Core modules:
- Information Organisation
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This core module explores the organisational principles to facilitate the effective storage, search and retrieval of information and knowledge to meet users needs and domain requirements. Beginning with the challenges faced by those tasked with organising, the module considers the fundamental concepts, processes and issues that relate to the identification, organisation, maintenance and disposal of information and knowledge within various domains including galleries, libraries, archives, museums, businesses and online. A critical, evaluative and theoretical approach is adopted to ensure the module's learning outcomes transfer to students' future studies and careers.
15 credits - Libraries, Information and Society
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This module provides an overview of the role of library and information services (LIS) in contemporary society and introduces students to public policy issues and their implications for the provision of LIS. You will be introduced to current practices and contemporary concerns in academic, national, public, prison, and special/workplace libraries and encouraged to develop an awareness of the social, economic, political and cultural environment in which LIS operate. It examines the importance of users in the design and management of LIS, explores ethical issues and aims to develop a critical awareness of the role of LIS in contemporary society.
15 credits - Information Literacy
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The module aims to enable students to understand the concepts of information literacy and information behaviour from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Students will develop their own information literacy and understanding of its application to their future lives. They will learn through lectures, practical exercises and activities carried out for the assessed coursework and in formative exercises which are an integral part of the class.
15 credits - Management for Library and Information Services
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The module aims to prepare students to manage people and resources effectively in their future place of work , and how to work effectively in a variety of different types of organisations and sectors. Students will develop their management knowledge and skills, working towards a goal of becoming confident and reflective practitioners. They will be introduced to key management issues and theories in the context of library and information services (LIS). Topics include: management and leadership, strategic planning, team working, marketing of library and information services, staff recruitment and appraisal, financial management, management of information systems and technology in LIS, management of library buildings and spaces, business process management, relationship management and service evaluation. In addition the module includes a professional development and employability strand, in which students focus on key employability themes such as developing and showcasing skills, CV building, professional issues and LIS sector awareness. This element also includes recruitment and selection skills development in order to help students prepare for entering the world of employment.
30 credits - Research Methods and Dissertation Preparation
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This module assists students in the identification of, and preparation of a dissertation proposal. Students will: familiarise themselves with on-going research in the School; identify and prepare a dissertation proposal; carry out a preliminary literature search in the area of the dissertation research topic; and be introduced to the use of social research methods and statistics for information management.
15 credits - Dissertation
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This module enables students to carry out an extended piece of work on an Information School approved topic, so that they can explore an area of specialist interest to them in greater depth. Students will be supported through tutorials with a project supervisor, will apply research methods appropriate to their topic, and implement their work-plan to produce an individual project report. Students will already have identified a suitable topic and designed a project plan in the pre-requisite unit Research Methods and Dissertation Preparation.
45 credits
Optional modules - one or two from:
- Public, School, and Prison Library Services
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This module will enable students to understand and critically evaluate key elements of the principles, functions, practice, value and impact of school, public, and prison library services. The course will present the roles of these services, and the extent to which they support the educational, recreational, information and social needs of all members of society. There will be an exploration of key issues affecting school, public and prison library services today, and the extent to which they work independently and together to support the educational, recreational and social needs of the users. Students will be introduced to key professional skills required to work in these sectors, including reader development, design library spaces and advocating for library services. Recent and ongoing research will underpin the entire unit.
15 credits - Academic and Workplace Library, Information and Knowledge Services
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This module introduces students to the purposes, functions and practices of a range of academic research and other specialist library, information and knowledge services in educational, public, charitable, and private sectors. It considers the challenges of delivering and developing services in a demanding, fast-moving and complex environment. Lectures are combined with sector-based case studies presented by visiting speakers drawn from various backgrounds, giving extensive opportunities for interaction with specialist practitioners.
15 credits
Optional modules - one or two from:
- Researching Social Media
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The module will examine the key theoretical frameworks and methods used in social media studies. Students will explore the following questions: 1) What can be learnt about society by studying social media? 2) How should researchers construct ethical stances for researching sites such as Facebook and Twitter? 3) What are the traditional and digital research methods and tools that can be applied to conduct research on social media? 4) What are the strengths and weaknesses of these methods?
15 credits
The primary focus of the module is on designing social media research projects rather than conducting them. Nevertheless, there will be opportunities to learn and practice relevant analysis skills. It is not a programming module but some of the topics involve the use of software and there will be the chance to write small programs for related tasks. - Information Governance and Ethics
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This module explores a) the emergence of information and data as an economic resource; b) the governance challenges and ethical issues arising from organisations' systematic capture, processing, and use of information and data for organisational goals, e.g. value, risk, accountability, ownership, privacy etc; c) governance, ethical, legal and other frameworks relevant to the capture, processing and use of information and data within organisational and networked contexts; and d) technologies and techniques used in the governing and governance of information and data. Case examples from a number of domains, e.g. business, government, health, law, and social media illustrate the topics investigated.
15 credits - Business Intelligence
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We will cover the principles and practices of gathering and synthesising business intelligence from the external environment, including organisations' competitive intelligence operations, environmental scanning activities, market intelligence, and strategic intelligence using open-source information. A secondary focus for the module is the role of BI software in organisations to collect and analyse internal information. This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the ways in which business people use information and of how information is used to support strategic decision-making. You will learn how to carry out effective searches using both free and fee-based business information resources such as the Mintel market research database, Nexis news database and FAME financial analysis database, and will study key issues concerning the value, cost and availability of information. You will learn how to apply standard analysis frameworks commonly used in organisational business intelligence. The module will concentrate primarily on external information resources but also covers the ways in which information internal to an organisation can be used strategically to enhance competitive advantage. We take a flipped approach on this module: lectures are provided in video format on Blackboard, and you will be expected to watch these and engage with any preparation activities before the timetabled sessions. Timetabled sessions focus on practical exercises where students will have opportunities to develop expertise in using business-focused electronic information services, and will develop skills in analysing and presenting information effectively.
15 credits - Database Design
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Effective data management is key to any organisation, particularly with the increasing availability of large and heterogeneous datasets (e.g. transactional, multimedia and geo-spatial data). A database is an organised collection of data, typically describing the activities of one or more organisations and a core component of modern information systems. A Database Management System (DBMS) is software designed to assist in maintaining and utilising large collections of data and becoming a necessity for all organisations. This module provides an introduction to the area of databases and database management, relational database design and a flavour of some advanced topics in current database research that deal with different kinds of data often found within an organisational context. Lectures are structured into three main areas: An introduction to databases, The process of designing relational databases, Advanced topics (e.g. data warehouses and non-relational databases) The course includes a series of online tasks with supporting 'drop in' laboratories aimed at providing you with the skills required to implement a database in Oracle and extract information using the Structured Query Language (SQL).
15 credits - User-Centred Design and Human-Computer Interaction
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Interface design and usability are central to the experience of interacting with computers. The module introduces usability principles and the design process for interactive systems exploring four major themes. Firstly, user psychology and cognitive principles underlying interface design. Secondly, user interface architectures, modes of interaction, metaphors, navigational structures. Thirdly, the user interface design process including task analysis, modelling constructs and prototyping techniques. Fourthly, the evaluation of user interfaces covering concepts of usability, goals and types of evaluation. The module focus is on the underlying principles of HCI and user-centred design approach with practical sessions to demonstrate these principles.
15 credits - Archives and Records Management
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This module prepares you for roles with practitioners in archives and records management. You will develop knowledge and awareness of key theories and practices in archives and records management in both paper-based and digital media.
15 credits
The module is divided into three parts. The first part introduces students to some of the principal issues surrounding the provision of archives and records management services and the challenges of meeting user needs within an organisational context. The second part of the module focuses on practice and skills that implement fundamental recordkeeping principles. The third part of the module focuses on specific topics of interest, such as: community archiving, digital preservation, web archiving and oral history collecting.
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Open days
An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.
Duration
- 1 year full-time
- 2 years part-time
- 3 years part-time
Teaching
Teaching consists of two 15-week taught semesters followed by a research-oriented dissertation. Our teaching is practitioner-informed, research-led and student-focused, and prepares you for management-level roles in library and information contexts.
Our teaching is varied and stimulating. You will be taught by world-leading academic staff and a network of expert professional practitioners from health, academic, corporate, public, prison and school libraries. The teaching sessions feature a mixture of activities, from traditional lecture-style teaching, to opportunities to engage in peer discussions, thought-provoking reflective exercises and engagement with digital tools and interactive platforms.
While the dissertation is an opportunity to pursue a research topic of your own interest, we also offer students the opportunity to conduct their dissertation research with a professional partner, for example the NHS Library and Knowledge Services, Society of College University and National Libraries (SCONUL), Libraries Connected and the University of Sheffield.
Students have previously written dissertations focused on:
Assessment
Assessments vary depending on the modules you choose, but the majority are coursework only.
While you will do traditional assessments such as essays, many assessments are oriented towards developing your experience of formats and skills that mirror real-world tasks required by librarians and information professionals. For example, creating information literacy teaching, developing an e-portfolio, reflective writing, writing project initiation documents, business cases and briefing papers for senior management, and planning a library space.
Assessments build valuable digital skills, and support students in developing as reflective practitioners.
We recognise that some of our students may have been away from academic study for some time, and we provide a lot of support for the development of key academic skills, such as literature searching and critical thinking.
Your career
Our Librarianship MA programme has been designed for people who want to enter the profession or who are preparing to take the next step up in their careers. A postgraduate qualification in library and information management is essential for many roles, particularly management roles, in the library and information profession.
This programme will enable you to develop the skills and competencies desired by employers, those defined by CILIP’s Professional Knowledge and Skills Base and the Sheffield Graduate Attributes.
There is a core employability and professional development strand woven throughout the course, aligned with current job role descriptions in the sector and feedback from our professional networks. For example, students have taken part in employability exercises with applications and mock interviews, and have been supported with developing professional networks,through attending conferences and professional events to develop awareness of the scholarly communication landscape.
Our graduates are highly successful in gaining professional posts in a range of sectors, and six of our alumni were recognised as future leaders of the profession in the 2024 CILIP125 list.
Our graduates have gone on to secure roles such as:
- business researcher: corporate
- content and discovery manager: university
- academic and research services team leader: university
- evidence support librarian: university
- information governance officer: university
- libraries technology manager
- school librarian
School
Information School
The University of Sheffield Information School is ranked number one in the world for library and information management in the QS World University Rankings by subject 2025. These rankings are based upon academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact.
The school has been at the forefront of developments in the information field for more than fifty years. The subject is characterised by its distinctive, interdisciplinary focus on the interactions between people, information and digital technologies. It has the ultimate goal of enhancing information access, and the management, sharing and use of information, to benefit society.
When you come to study with us you'll be an integral part of our research culture. The school is your home and we pride ourselves on the friendliness and helpfulness of our staff.
We offer an outstanding academic education through a wide range of taught postgraduate degrees which embed the principles of research-led teaching.
When you join any of our degree programmes you'll develop a critical understanding of current issues in library and information management. You'll benefit from being taught by staff who are undertaking leading-edge research and who have many links with industry.
As part of our mission to provide world-quality university education in information, we aim to inspire and help you pursue your highest ambitions for your academic and professional careers.
Student profiles
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in any subject.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.
Fees and funding
Alumni discount
Save up to £2,500 on your course fees
Are you a Sheffield graduate? You could save up to £2,500 on your postgraduate taught course fees, subject to eligibility.
Apply
You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
The school running this course will change its name before September 2025. On the online application form, please select Faculty of Social Sciences and School of Information, Journalism and Communication when applying for this course.
Contact
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.