Specialist Heritage Science, Heritage Management and Data Science Master’s routes launched at UCL

After nearly 20 years of teaching Sustainable Heritage, we’re pleased to announce three newly developed specialist routes for our Built Environment: Sustainable Heritage MSc in Heritage Science, Heritage Management, and Data Science. Each route will train future heritage leaders in core heritage principles and values, whilst developing their specialist expertise in their chosen route. We have worked with leaders across the heritage sector, policy and industry to ensure the new routes fulfil the skills expertise needed across the heritage sector and beyond.

Across all three routes students will take shared modules to develop a core foundation of heritage knowledge and give them experience in working in cross-disciplinary teams taking on sustainable heritage challenges. As part of one of the shared modules students on all routes will undertake field work at a heritage site to collaboratively work on a live heritage project. Student will have a choice of undertaking this field work in either Malta, continuing our ongoing partnership with Heritage Malta, London or a location elsewhere in the UK.

Through a series of core and optional modules taught by our leading experts at the UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage and heritage sector and industry practitioners, students will then develop specialist expertise in their chosen route of either Heritage Science, Heritage Management or Data Science. This will culminate in them producing their own original research project based on their interests, their career plans and applying their route’s expertise.

Graduates will join our global network alumni now working in heritage and other organisations around the world including: The National Trust, Historic England, English Heritage, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Natwest Group and KPMG. 

We’re delighted to also announce ongoing support from Ecclesiastical Insurance and Lamport Hall Preservation Trust, with each organisation offering either a Scholarship or Bursary for UK offer holders for any of the Built Environment: Sustainable Heritage MSc routes to apply for. Find out more about these scholarships, scholarship opportunities available to students, and register your interest in the financial support section below.

Professor May Cassar, Director of UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage said:

“Building on the acknowledged success of our sustainable heritage branded programmes, we offer you three newly developed routes to our Sustainable Heritage programme that are timely and meet the needs of industry, policy and practice. Our students will benefit from highly prized cross-disciplinary engagement and from unique opportunities to delve into their areas of individual interest.”

Dr Josep Grau Bove, Programme Lead for the Built Environment: Sustainable Heritage MSc said:

We are looking forward to welcoming a new generation of heritage leaders into our community of graduates, transforming heritage policy and practice around the world.“

Will you be a heritage scientist, heritage manager or data scientist? 

Discover below what each route has to offer, and which could be the right one for your ambitions.

Heritage Science

To advance heritage management, conservation, and engagement there is a need for highly trained practitioners with the ability to apply rigorous scientific and technical knowledge to solve cultural heritage challenges. The Heritage Science route of the Sustainable Heritage MSc will introduce you to a unique assembly of scientific disciplines, drawing from physical sciences, engineering, imaging, computing, and social sciences to address cultural heritage research questions. With access to world-leading laboratories, you will learn a range of analytical techniques and scientific methods and apply them to real-world heritage challenges. 

Who is this route for?

Students from all backgrounds are welcome to apply. The Heritage Science route is open to applicants with a physical sciences background such as physics or chemistry, as well as applicants from other disciplines (e.g. conservation, curation, history) that want to develop heritage science skills. 

Heritage Management

Designed for a new generation of heritage leaders, the Heritage Management route of the Sustainable Heritage MSc provides the interdisciplinary skills needed to deliver the heritage programmes and projects of the future. You will learn the latest in heritage management policies, projects, methodologies and practices in the context of historic buildings, sites, landscapes, museums and collections. 

Who is this route for?

Students from all backgrounds are welcome to apply. The Heritage Science route is open to applicants with a physical sciences background such as physics or chemistry, as well as applicants from other disciplines (e.g. conservation, curation, history) that want to develop heritage science skills. 

Data Science

Digital technologies and data have a fundamental role in contemporary society, and cultural heritage is no exception. From historic buildings, sites, landscapes, museums and collections, the world of heritage provides an exciting setting to learn and apply data science skills. This Master’s degree route will create expert data scientists taught through the exciting multidisciplinary lens of cultural heritage. 

Who is this route for?

Students from all academic and professional backgrounds are welcome to apply. The Data Science route is open to applicants with a technical background such as statistics or data science, as well as applicants from other disciplines (e.g., conservation, curation, history) that want to develop data science skills. This degree route is suited both to recent graduates and early or mid-career professionals looking to retrain or upskill. 

Unsure?

If you are unsure which route would suit you can contact the Programme Lead Josep Grau Bove to discuss your interests and find the route that is the best fit for your ambitions. Send an email to bseer-studentqueries@ucl.ac.uk to start the conversation. 

Throughout the next academic year, we will also be hosting in-person and virtual open days where you will be able to meet the Faculty and find out more about each route. To receive email invitations to these events please register your interest in studying Sustainable Heritage with us at postgraduate (taught) level.

Financial Support

We are grateful to our partners Ecclesiastical Insurance and Lamport Hall Preservation Trust for their ongoing support of postgraduate students at UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage. Ecclesiastical Insurance have funded one Bursary and the Lamport Hall Preservation Trust have funded one Scholarship each available for UK students to apply for. 

In addition, we are part of The Bartlett Promise Scholarship scheme, organised by our Faculty to support UK students from under-represented backgrounds and students from sub-Saharan Africa. These scholarships have been created to financially support Master’s students when studying with us, and also to offer support with their academic and career development.

To receive email notification of when applications open for the Lamport Hall Trust Preservation Scholarship, the Ecclesiastical Insurance Bursary, and The Bartlett Promise Scholarship please register your interest in studying Sustainable Heritage with us at postgraduate (taught) level. 

Several other scholarships are available from UCL and other external organisations dependent on your personal circumstances. Find more details and use the Scholarship Finder tool on our Master’s Scholarships page.