MA Conservation of Cultural Heritage
Lincoln, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* most of our postgraduate courses have no specific closing date for applications. Please allow enough time for your application to be considered prior to the start date. If you are an international student you may need to factor in time for your visa application. We would advise you to apply as soon as possible
Scholarships
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Introduction
Lincoln's MA in Conservation of Cultural Heritage enables students to gain hands-on experience while being taught by experts in the field. Students have the opportunity to develop a wide range of practical, theoretical and research skills in preparation for a career in heritage conservation.
The city of Lincoln is bursting with history and the city's rich cultural heritage makes it an ideal location in which to study conservation. Students have access to a wide variety of historic materials and can choose to focus on remedial treatment, preventive conservation, or collections management. There may also be opportunities to work with the University's commercial consultancy, Lincoln Conservation.
Students will have access to a wide variety of materials from archaeological, social history, world cultures, and decorative arts contexts. You can choose to specialise in certain modules and will learn with peers in high-specification, purpose-built laboratories in the University's Peter de Wint Building on campus.
For those already working in conservation, a blended learning option allows the submission of practical projects derived from your current place of employment.
Prioritising Face-to-Face Teaching
At the University of Lincoln, we strive to ensure our students’ experience is engaging, supportive, and academically challenging. Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, we have adapted to Government guidance to keep our students, staff, and community safe. All remaining Covid-19 legal restrictions in England were lifted in February 2022 under the Government’s Plan for Living with Covid-19, and we have embraced a safe return to in-person teaching on campus. Where appropriate, face-to-face teaching is enhanced by the use of digital tools and technology and may be complemented by online opportunities where these support learning outcomes.
We are fully prepared to adapt our plans if changes in Government guidance make this necessary, and we will endeavour to keep current and prospective students informed. For more information about how we are working to keep our community safe.
"This information was correct at the time of publishing (July 2023)"
Admissions
Curriculum
How You Study
Most Conservation tutors and technicians are qualified conservators with a wide range of professional experience in the museum and heritage industry. Blended learning opportunities combining flexibility, support, and academic rigour also exist for those already working in the sector.
The composition and delivery of the course is different for each module and may include lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, practicals, work placements, research, and one-to-one learning.
The four taught theory modules take place in four intensive non-consecutive weeks offering a flexible learning approach combining face-to-face teaching with online sessions.
The practical modules take place in the purpose-built facilities on campus. Students work with historic objects and cultural heritage materials provided from museums and private collections.
Contact and Independent Study
The composition and delivery of the course is different for each module and may include lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, practicals, work placements, research, and one-to-one learning.
Weekly contact hours on this programme may vary depending on the individual module options chosen and the stage of study.
Postgraduate level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour in class students are expected to spend two - three hours in independent study or conducting practical work in the labs.
Master's Level
- Conservation Practice (Core)
- Conservation Practice and Sharing Knowledge (Core)
- Conservation Skills in Context (Core)
- Investigative Techniques in Heritage (Core)
- Material Culture, Conservation and Significance (Core)
- Research Project (Dissertation for MA Conservation) (Core)
- Collections Management and Care (Option)†
- Digitising Cultural and Heritage Collections (Option)†
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
How You Are Assessed
Examples of assessment methods that may be used include presentations, essays, reports, practical work, journal articles, websites or blogs.
Students on the blended learning option are required to submit a monthly report to monitor their progress, and online tutorials are offered by the module tutor.
The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly usually within 15 working days of the submission date.
To obtain the MA, students must submit a 15,000-word dissertation.
Gallery
Program Outcome
How You Study
Most Conservation tutors and technicians are qualified conservators with a wide range of professional experience in the museum and heritage industry. Blended learning opportunities combining flexibility, support, and academic rigour also exist for those already working in the sector.
The composition and delivery of the course is different for each module and may include lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, practicals, work placements, research, and one-to-one learning.
The four taught theory modules take place in four intensive non-consecutive weeks offering a flexible learning approach combining face-to-face teaching with online sessions.
The practical modules take place in the purpose-built facilities on campus. Students work with historic objects and cultural heritage materials provided from museums and private collections.
Contact and Independent Study
The composition and delivery of the course is different for each module and may include lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, practicals, work placements, research, and one-to-one learning.
Weekly contact hours on this Program may vary depending on the individual module options chosen and the stage of study.
Postgraduate level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour in class students are expected to spend two - three hours in independent study or conducting practical work in the labs.
Scholarships and Funding
Program Tuition Fee
Ideal Students
MA students in this programme may have the opportunity to join undergraduate and Diploma students on an optional international study visit. In the past, these have included Berlin, Athens, Amsterdam, and Florence. Please note that students are expected to cover their travel, accommodation, and general living costs when taking part in an optional study visit.
Career Opportunities
Graduates have gained employment as conservators in museums, galleries, historic houses, and conservation agencies, nationally and internationally. Internships have included roles in natural history at the Horniman Museum, mechanical objects at Edinburgh Museum, and textile conservation for the National Trust at Blickling.
Interviews
We encourage all applicants to attend an interview. Virtual interviews on Skype or Microsoft Teams can be accommodated. Submission of a full CV and supporting electronic portfolio is required.