MSc Professional Conservation
Cardiff, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,450 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas | for home: £11,700
Introduction
Taught by internationally respected researchers, this one-year programme is designed to meet the needs of conservators and science graduates wishing to expand into the exciting fields of the conservation and heritage sciences. With a focus on thought processes rather than knowledge, we aim to produce problem-solvers and critical thinkers who can design and execute robust research which advances understanding in the sector.
Over the year of study, you will be immersed in the theory and practice of conservation and heritage sciences. Modules that challenge your preconceptions of conservation and examine the literature that underpins our profession sit alongside modules centred on skills acquisition in the investigation and analysis of heritage artefacts. This culminates in independent dissertation research which evidences your understanding of scientific process and ability to produce novel datasets.
Pursuing your studies in our suite of purpose-built laboratories, you will have access to a wealth of specialist equipment. In-house resources range from scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies to electrochemistry, spectrophotometry and x-radiography. Our collaboration with the National Museum Wales allows students to access X-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence techniques. We also offer specialist visualisation technologies such as digital microscopy, GIS, digital illustration and a photography suite, plus sample preparation equipment (freeze dryers, air abrasion and microbalances). We have a dedicated climatic simulation laboratory for modelling the impact of environments on heritage and conservation materials.
Our MSc students join a vibrant and supportive research and teaching environment of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral conservators and heritage scientists.
Celebrating the centenary of Archaeology and Conservation in 2020, we’re ranked in the world's top 150 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020) while our research ranked 12th among archaeology departments in the UK (Research Excellence Framework 2014).
Why Study this Course
Teaching critical thinking and problem-solving in conservation and heritage sciences and the design, execution and delivery of rigorous scientific research.
Problem-Solving Focus
Designed for conservators and science graduates.
Research-Driven
Delivers design, execution and delivery of research in conservation science.
Flexibility to Specialise
Specialise in areas of real interest to you and your professional ambitions.
Purpose-Built Laboratories
Bespoke conservation suite, recently enhanced with a £250,000 upgrade.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
We are committed to investing up to a total of £500,000 in this high-value competitive scholarship scheme to support UK students who are planning to start an eligible Master’s programme in 2024/25.
Each Scholarship is worth £3,000 and will be awarded a tuition fee discount.
Eligibility
UK students are eligible to apply for the Scholarship. You normally need to have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in your first degree to be eligible. You need to submit an application to study at Cardiff University and be made an offer to study before your fee status can be confirmed.
Curriculum
This is a full-time programme, taught over two semesters (one year).
You study core modules totalling 80 credits and choose optional modules worth 40 credits.
Following successful completion of the taught element of the programme you progress to your dissertation (20,000 words maximum) on a laboratory-based research topic. In some instances, this research may be included in a Cardiff-based publication, with your name included on the author list.
Core Modules for Year One
- Analysis in Heritage Science
- Designing Research in Heritage Science
- MSc Conservation Dissertation
Optional Modules for Year One
- Assessment and Design for Collections Care
- Scientific Approach to Conservation Practice
- Collection Care in the Museum Environment
- Materials in the Museum Environment
- Advance Practical Projects
- Making Conservation Decisions
- Postgraduate Skills in Archaeology and Conservation
How Will I Be Assessed?
Assessment of the programme comes through a diverse range of assessment methods including essays, reports, written critique, data interpretation, oral presentation, research design and dissertation.
This range of assessment ensures that you have developed a broad range of skills, knowledge and communication methods that are of direct relevance to the design, delivery and reporting of research, while also being of relevance within many other contexts.
On successful completion of the taught elements of the programme, you progress to a dissertation of up to 20,000 words. This self-regulated year of study is ideal preparation for progression to PhD.
Program Outcome
What Skills Will I Practise and Develop?
You will develop a wide range of skills, including the ability to:
- Problem solve
- Make evidence-based decisions via reading, observation and experiment
- Design experiments to support conservation goals
- Evaluate, interpret and contextualise analytical data
- Understand the importance of sampling and sample design in conservation science
- Pragmatically integrate experimental data into conservation contexts
- Operate selected instrumental analysis techniques
- Recognise good and bad research
- Identify and define research impact within conservation
- Manage small scientific projects
- Communicate orally with specialists, non-specialists and stakeholders
- Produce writing styles to suit the needs of end-users
- Influence the viewpoint of others with evidence-based argument
- Evaluate your own decisions and accept formative critique from colleagues
- Deconstruct problems and build solutions for them
Transferable Skills
- Identify professional standards and provide work output that meets these standards
- Recognise quality
- Set standards
- Communicate effectively with fellow professionals and the public
- Time management and structure workload
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 their studies at the 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).
Program delivery
How Will I Be Taught?
We teach via lectures, seminars, group discussions, tutorials, laboratory classes, demonstrations and field trips.
Our focus is on interaction with staff and involvement in laboratory practice. This aims to develop the skills and the critical insight necessary to generate and execute evidence-based research designs.
The dissertation forms an important part of the programme, as does the instrumental analysis and data interpretation that accompanies laboratory practice.