MSc in Historic Building Conservation
- Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
- Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 17,600 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international full-time | international part-time: 9,680 GBP/year | home full-time: 11,400 GBP/year | home part-time: 6,270 GBP/year
Key Summary
Do you want to become a professional within the specialist field of historic building conservation?
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of building conservation principles. We combine hands-on fieldwork and industry engagement to prepare you for a rewarding career in heritage conservation.
Studying in an investigative manner, you’ll analyse opportunities and legislation to protect the historic buildings that define national identities the world over. Prepare to extend your current practice and/or gain knowledge and expertise in new areas.
Why choose this course?
Kingston University’s MSc in Historic Building Conservation is accredited by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). Your MSc course is also fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). These valuable links with recognised awarding bodies give graduates a head start towards becoming a chartered professional.
Studying at our Knights Park campus places you close to some of the country’s most renowned historic buildings. On this course, you'll visit many of London's fascinating historic buildings to illustrate and inform your learning. Past and ongoing works at the Historic Royal Palaces, together with several national and local heritage organisations and practitioners, are used to support your project work.
When you’re not visiting local sites, you’ll work within our highly regarded facilities on campus. Put your knowledge into practice in our industry-standard 3D workshops. Or access historical archives within the University’s libraries, museum, and on-site galleries.
You’ll benefit from expert-led teaching, field trips to significant heritage sites and collaborations with conservation professionals. Graduates are well-prepared for roles in heritage consultancy, local government and preservation projects worldwide.
Accreditation
The course is recognised by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).
This course is fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). On successful completion, graduates who are in suitable employment may proceed to the RICS final assessment programme.
For students interested in studying Historic Building MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
- Inspire the Future Scholarship
- Postgraduate scholarships for international students
- Progression Scholarship
- Alumni Discounts for postgraduate study
Course content
The course is designed to balance strategic analysis with a good working knowledge of core techniques. You will acquire the skills and knowledge to extend your current practice and/or gain knowledge and expertise in new areas. You will work with a range of professionals and specialists to broaden your understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the field. An optional week-long field trip to a European city will provide the opportunity to further develop your technical knowledge and embed it within a practice scenario.
You'll be required to complete five modules worth 180 credits in total.
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.
Modules
You will need to study in an investigative manner. Each of the taught modules incorporates:
- an extensive lecture programme; and
- significant amounts of individual and small group work, culminating in oral and written presentations.
Seminars and tutorials support the project module. The week-long field trip is a highlight of the programme, in which you will have the opportunity to put some of your theory into practice.
Introductory lectures and seminars also support the research element of the course, introducing you to social science research methods and practice.
Core modules
- Analysis of Historic Buildings
- Defects, Pathology and Repair
- Legislation and Economics for Historic Buildings
- Regeneration and Conservation of Historic Environments
- Research Project / Dissertation
This MSc prepares you for a career as a conservation officer, heritage consultant, or roles in international heritage organisations.
The Historic Building Conservation course is interdisciplinary and international. Current and former students include:
- Archaeologists
- Architects
- Architectural technologists
- Chartered surveyors
- Craftsmen
- Engineers
- Project and construction managers.
Industry connections in Historic Building Conservation
The course team works with a variety of different organisations to gain real-world insight into the industry. We have close working relationships with Historic Royal Palaces, building preservation trusts, Historic England, specialist practitioners, craftsmen and contractors.
You might also build towards an application to the Institute of Historic Building Conservation or other professional specialist registers.