AGMS or AmHist?

I attended the Manchester University Postgrad open day yesterday which was really fantastic.
I looked round the Uni about 3 years ago when I was applying for a History BA, but it wasn't right for me at the time and I obviously chose Newcastle in the end.


Now however circumstances are different; I was aiming to move to Manchester after I've finished in Newcastle before I even considered doing an MA, because it's closer to home, it is a vibrant arts and culture city which is an environment I want to work in, and Joseph still has a year of his degree left in Manchester when I'm finished in Newcastle. So this time around, this city feels more right for me and what I want to get out of it.
The course I would apply for is the Art Gallery and Museum Studies (AGMS). The lecturers were fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable and approachable. We had a 2 hour session with them, and listened to presentations from current students on their experiences and projects undertaken which really inspired me. A nice surprise was to see a Cello teacher from Sheffield Music Academy which I used to attend. She is currently doing the Arts Management side of the course (very similar to AGMS but approached slightly differently, with exactly the same optional modules) and it was really interesting to chat to her and see what voluntary and paid opportunities she has had through studying there.


The course looks absolutely brilliant and along the lines of what I want for my own career. The modules to choose from in Semester 2 cover a vast range of things including a professional practice and events management project, digital heritage, business strategies in the Arts, museum archaeology and ethnography, and more.


I would apply either in 2016 straight after my undergraduate, or to take a year out of studying to earn money, and apply for 2017.
I am also considering doing the course part time, both to give myself longer to reflect on my time and goals in Manchester, as well as being able to work alongside studying.


I suppose the thing that needs considering here is that museum jobs do not make you rich. But I know that in a career I want something both personally and academically enriching in the arts and culture sector, that is related to History and enables me to build on skills I am acquiring now through the volunteering which I love, and for me this ticks all the boxes. Who really need to be rich anyway?

And yet, after all this and how brilliant I thought Manchester was, a part of me is still saying 'or should I do the American History MA at Sheffield?' Because American History is my passion, and the fuel that keeps me going through my undergraduate degree. I'm currently having to do things I'm not as interested in, because until next year I can't focus entirely on American History. Of course I love all History, but if I had the choice I would do all my courses on North America because it's what I'm best at - my highest marks have been in US modules - and it's what I love.

I have time to make a decision. So we shall see.