MSc Conservation Practice
Cardiff, United Kingdom
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 11,700 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* fees for home status: year one & two | fees for overseas status: year one & two: £26,700
Introduction
Would you mind studying this course?
This hands-on conversion programme is dedicated to teaching the next generation of conservators through problem-based learning on real heritage objects.
- Conversion programme: Designed for graduates regardless of background who want a career in the discipline.
- Hands-on, laboratory-based: Hone practical techniques, working on wide-ranging artefacts and taught by international experts.
- Theory and problem-solving focus: Develop a sophisticated understanding of principles plus practical application.
- Purpose-built laboratories: Bespoke conservation suite, recently enhanced with a £250,000 upgrade.
Our MSc Conservation Practice programme takes a theory-into-practice approach to bench conservation, led by accredited conservators and taught through lectures, seminars and laboratory practice.
Designed as a conversion programme for humanities and science graduates seeking a career in conservation, this two-year programme offers significant experience working on archaeological and historical objects in the lab, plus real-world conservation placements.
Gaining a sophisticated understanding of theoretical principles and practical applications under expert tuition, you will become adept in the care and protection of cultural heritage artefacts through laboratory experience. Developing your skills in the practice of both new and traditional conservation techniques, you will amass considerable experience working on cultural heritage objects from the UK and across the globe. More than this, you will demonstrate valuable transferable skills in project and resource management, problem solving and communication.
Taught by leading practitioners respected worldwide, our programme combines the knowledge and expertise to operate at professional conservation levels in the heritage sector, with a solid platform for pursuing future research.
This degree has been established as a conversion course making it ideal for those from humanities and science backgrounds. We value your strong interest in the subject, without the expectation of prerequisite volunteer or intern hours, specific degrees or science qualifications. However, an interest in science would be beneficial. Please share details of your interest in the sector and level of scientific understanding in your application.
Celebrating the centenary of archaeology and conservation in 2020, our research placed 9th among archaeology departments in the UK, as well as 5th for impact and 6th for research outputs in the latest UK assessment (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
We're committed to delivering programmes that are innovative and relevant, providing the best learning outcomes and career prospects for our students. In light of this, we're currently reviewing some elements of this programme. As such, the details shown are subject to change and indicative only. You can still apply now. We'll update this page and contact all offer holders when the review is complete to confirm any changes.
Admissions
Curriculum
You study modules with a total of 300 credits over two years, combining core modules in Conservation training (120 credits), postgraduate core skills (80 credits), optional modules (40 credits) and, upon successful completion of the taught stage of the programme, a dissertation (60 credits).
Year one
In your first year you will gain the underpinning skills, knowledge and theory required to study and deliver conservation practice.
In the summer you engage in an eight-week placement working in conservation.
- Practical Projects 2
- Essentials of Conservation
- Evidence Based Preservation of Organics
- Managing Metallic and Inorganic Cultural Heritage
- Museums' Collections Management
Year two
Year two incorporates a taught element which lasts for the first two semesters of study and is assessed at the end of this period.
- MSc Conservation Dissertation
- Advance Practical Projects
- Designing Research in Heritage Science
- Making Conservation Decisions
Program Outcome
What skills will I practise and develop?
You will acquire a broad range of skills including the ability to:
- evaluate the condition of archaeological and historical objects and formulate evidence-based procedures to preserve them
- execute a wide range of practical processes required to apply conservation treatments
- operate a range of instrumental and investigative analysis tools and interpret the data they produce
- liaise with stakeholders
- offer rationalised solutions to problems
- carry out independent research on specialist subjects
- exercise initiative and personal responsibility, decision-making in complex situations and offer pragmatic evidence-based solutions
- present information in appropriate formats within professional contexts
- acquire the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development.
Additionally, you will develop communication, time management, decision-making, presentation and good record-keeping skills.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Many graduates of this programme have embarked on careers in conservation within the heritage sector, while others choose to continue studies at PhD level.
Recent graduate destinations include UK organisations such as The National Trust, The National Archives, Imperial War Museum, Bath Record Office, MSDS Marine and international destinations including Yale Peabody Museum, Penn Museum, St Mary’s City Maryland, UCLA Library, Colonial Williamsburg and the Library of Congress.
91% of postgraduates from the School of History, Archaeology and Religion were in employment or further study within six months of graduation (DLHE 2016/17).