About the British Museum

Becoming a curator

Katie Eagleton, curator in the Department of Coins and Medals, British Museum

Katie Eagleton, curator in the Department of Coins and Medals, British Museum

I didn't grow up thinking that I would be a museum curator – in fact, it didn't really occur to me that it was a possible career until I was part-way through my degree course. I'd enjoyed visiting museums, but my favourite subject at school was maths, and I was all set for a career in information technology.

Inspiration

I started working towards a maths degree at Cambridge University, and then at the end of my second year, I switched to studying history and philosophy of science for my final year. It was a big change from maths – I had to remember how to write essays as well as get to know a brand new subject area in just a year!

As part of my degree, I wrote a dissertation on a sundial in one of the collections of the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, which is part of Cambridge's Department of History and Philosophy of Science. The director of that museum, Dr Liba Taub, was (and still is) a real inspiration to me and played a large part in convincing me that museums were good places to work as well as to visit.

Pulling out of a gig

After completing my bachelor's degree (and a master's), I applied for the training scheme run by the Science Museum. The second interview was scheduled for the day after one of the bands I played in at the time had a gig. I was so determined to get the job that I pulled out of the gig to get a good night's sleep. It turned out to be worth it, because I was one of only four people who were offered a two-year traineeship.

From the Science Museum, I went back to university to study for a PhD and, three years and 100,000 words of PhD thesis later, I was once again back on the job market. Often, the obvious step for people to take after getting a PhD is to apply for a research or lecturing post, but I was absolutely certain that I wanted to work in a museum.

The right choice

I came across a job looking after the educational and exhibitions programme of the Money Gallery at the British Museum. I really wanted it, but was so convinced that I wouldn't get it that I threw the completed application form in the bin – then rescued it and posted it. Now, two years on, my job within the British Museum has changed: I look after the collection of modern money – more than 100,000 coins, banknotes, credit cards and other kinds of money from the last 300 years.

I'm sure that I made the right choice when I switched from maths and a potentially lucrative career in IT to history and a career in museums.

Top tips on becoming a curator

Visiting museums and getting work experience are crucial, as is determination and perseverance with the job application process. Lots of people recommend getting an MA in museum studies, but there are other, more practical/vocational routes in as well, which are worth exploring.

For more information on how to go about getting work at a museum, see Find out more.

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