Master of Science in Conservation
Summary
The Master’s Programme in Conservation sharpens your ability to identify and process complex issues in the heritage conservation and management field and offers many options for specialisation. The program is based on the field of integrated conservation of built environments, which is cross-disciplinary by nature and represents possible in-depth directions towards buildings, built environments, urban landscapes, and cultural landscapes.
About
The programme is based on the field of integrated conservation of built environments, which is cross-disciplinary by nature and represents possible in-depth directions towards buildings, built environments, urban landscapes, and cultural landscapes, and how these can be described, cared for, analysed and developed through concrete conservation practices and strategic planning processes.
During the programme, you will address the complexity of the development of integrated conservation of built environments, where the interests of groups and individuals must be handled in relation to the challenges society is facing today. You will learn how to understand the preconditions for changes, how different stakeholders may influence a process and how conflicts of objectives between different directives and guidelines at national and international levels can arise. You will also examine how problems, opportunities and other consequences can be formulated, and what supporting data and information need to be described, analysed and handled in an operational context.
A firm grounding in research and collaboration
The past four decades of experiences and connections have provided the Department of Conservation with an important history and position in Sweden. Participating in our master’s programme helps you find new connections, inspiration, and internships. The courses are taught by lecturers and guest scholars with national and international experience.
The Department of Conservation collaborates closely with private heritage conservation actors and public agencies, including the Swedish National Heritage Board and a range of museums. We also enjoy an array of international connections, especially through the Centre for Critical Heritage Studies, as well as the different Erasmus agreements that network with us throughout and beyond Europe.
Many options for specialisation
In addition to the mandatory courses of the programme, you will have ample opportunity to create your academic profile during the second year. You choose between elective courses, designing individual courses, studying at other universities, applying for exchange programmes or doing an internship. Together with the programme coordinator, you will develop a course structure that works with your choice of specialisation.
If you are a conservator looking to specialise we recommend you apply to the Master’s Programme in Conservation of Cultural Heritage Objects.
Programme structure and content
Courses within the programme include lectures, seminars, workshops, study visits, and site-specific investigations.
The first year offers an in-depth study of the field of conservation focusing on the theoretical starting points, the historical conditions, and the role of conservation in society as well as on the research methods within the field. During the second year, you will focus on a specific area of interest. You can combine elective and optional courses for individual specialisation with writing a master’s thesis (30 credits), or choose to write a master’s thesis (60 credits) during the second year.
Who should apply?
Apply to the Master’s Programme in Conservation if you want to work in the heritage conservation and management field and if you are interested in how cultural heritage conservation relates to contemporary, societal challenges. The programme sharpens your critical thinking and offers new theoretical insights and cutting edge methodologies.
Prerequisites and selection
Entry requirements
Bachelor?s degree comprising at least 180 higher education credits (hec), or equivalent foreign degree, and with at least 90 hec in the conservation subject area.
For international applicants, proficiency in English is required through internationally recognized testing, e.g. TOEFL or IELTS, with results corresponding to English 6 / English Course B from the Swedish upper secondary school.
In addition to studies at the Department of Conservation, the conservation subject area may include bordering subjects such as architecture, history of built environments, ethnology and art history, cultural geography, economic history, urban and land-use planning.
For students with such back ground an individual assessment of the applicant?s qualifications will be made.
Selection
Selection is based upon the number of credits in Conservation.
After graduation
Graduates receive the degree Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Conservation and studies at the programme make you eligible for future academic studies.
As a heritage professional, you usually work as a conservator-restorer with a focus on the built environment and cultural landscapes. The work involves conveying the cultural-historical content in urban and land-use planning and decision-making, as well as managerial procedures including decision-making on how different stakeholder interests should be balanced in matters of preservation versus exploitation. You can also work with leading project plans and coordinating measures that affect the cultural environment. Our former students work in public agencies at municipalities, museums, and county boards, or in the private sector at architectural and consulting companies. Several of our former students are self-employed.
Facilities
Our teaching is mainly held in the building Natrium in the centre of Gothenburg.
More information about facilities
Exchange opportunities
It is possible to apply for exchange studies at one of our partner universities during the third semester of the programme. When studying at a partner university that the University of Gothenburg has an agreement with, you do not pay any tuition fees and have the opportunity to apply for scholarships for the exchange period.
