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Conservation for Archaeology and Museums MSc

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2023/24)

£14,100

£7,050

Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)

£35,000

£17,500

Duration

2 calendar years

4 calendar years

Programme starts

September 2023

Applications accepted

All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard and equivalent of the Principles of Conservation MA or significant professional conservation experience.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Students gain an in-depth understanding of, and foundation training in, the practice of conservation of heritage objects and develop critically aware approaches to diagnosis, problem solving, decision making and application of conservation treatments. They gain practical training and experience of the professional context in which conservation takes place.

Who this course is for

The programme is normally open only to those who have successfully completed the Principles of Conservation MA. If you do not have this particular degree please email Lisa Daniel for advice regarding eligiblity before you apply. Applicants also require a good knowledge of chemistry and will need to provide evidence of manual dexterity and normal colour vision. Relevant experience (e.g. in conservation, archaeology or museums) is an advantage.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The UCL Institute of Archaeology has an established and widely recognised strength in providing academic and professional training in the practice of conservation, and many of its graduates are now employed in key posts around the world.

Students benefit from the institute's lively international involvement in archaeology and heritage, from its well-equipped facilities, and access to the UCL's extensive science, art and archaeology collections.

The institute's conservation laboratories provide a modern and pleasant learning environment, while the Wolfson Archaeological Science Laboratories provide excellent facilities for the examination and analysis of a wide variety of archaeological materials.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The programme prepares students for entry into the conservation profession on graduation and ensures that graduates are able to meet the challenges of a long-term career as a practising conservator.

Employability

A very high proportion of our graduates go on to pursue careers in conservation in local and national museums, and heritage organisations (in the UK, Europe, USA and Asia). In addition graduates also progress to doctoral studies at both UCL and elsewhere.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical demonstrations, practical sessions and one-to-one tutorials.

The programme is assessed in year one through essays, projects and conservation practical work on museum-quality objects; and in year two, through practical projects, progress reports and oral presentation.

Contact hours vary by module. Please view the list of modules below and the Institute of Archaeology website for module specific information.

Modules

This programme is intended to provide you with opportunities to achieve your personal and professional objectives. It comprises three compulsory taught modules in the first year, and preparation of your dissertation. The teaching is carried out in the first two terms and practical conservation treatments are undertaken throughout the three terms.

The second year consists of a work place based internship and the completion of your dissertation.

You will undertake modules to the value of 360 credits with 120 of the credits undertaken in your first year. The first-year modules account for approximately 40% of the overall mark for the programme, the internship accounts for approximately 35% and the dissertation approximately 25%.

This degree is not normally offered on a part time basis. Please contact the degree co-ordinator Dr Dean Sully to discuss options.

Compulsory modules

Dissertation

Conservation Processes

Conservation Studies

Conservation: Materials Science

Internship

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 360 credits. Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums.

Placement

During their second year, all students undertake supervised work experience in a professional environment.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£14,100	£7,050
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£35,000	£17,500

Second-year UK and Overseas students pay 50% of the UK full-time fee for the second-year internship.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

UK students may apply to the Anna Plowden Trust.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (1yr)

Criteria Based on financial need

Eligibility: UK

Heritage and Museums Opportunity Scholarship

Deadline: 1 March 2023

Value: Full UK Home Fees (1yr)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: UK

Institute of Archaeology International Masters Student Award

Deadline: 1 March 2023

Value: Up to £26,000 (1yr)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is no application fee for this programme.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

why you want to study Conservation for Archaeology and Museums at graduate level
why you want to study Conservation for Archaeology and Museums at UCL
what particularly attracts you to this programme
how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging academic environment
where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme only requires one reference in support of your application. Your reference should be academic unless you have been out of university education for more than four years. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.