Conservation and restoration: from theory to practice

As a conservator, you will preserve and conserve cultural heritage, working closely together with scientists, (technical) art historians, archaeologists and anthropologists. The conservator represents an essential link to the object or artwork and plays a key role in multidisciplinary collaborative projects. The Master’s in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage  will introduce you to the theory and practice of conservation, spanning humanities and science topics and combining specialist knowledge and skills with the interdisciplinary approach required in the broader field of cultural heritage preservation.

In this Master’s you will learn to assess the condition of objects of cultural value and identify possible causes of decay, investigate the way in which they are manufactured, and become familiar with the most important techniques for preserving objects of cultural value for the future. Lecturers are strongly linked to practice. (Inter)national experts complement the programme.

Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at the UvA

• UvA Conservation and Restoration teaches in close collaboration with Dutch heritage institutions and museums, offering an exceptional entry into the field. You build on your network right from the beginning of your education.
• Practicals are taught in the Atelier Building (Ateliergebouw), located close to the Museumplein and home of two leading institutions of Cultural Heritage. The overall balance of theory and practice is approximately 50%.
• Within each specialisation a small group of students works intensively together under the supervision of a lecturer and specialists from the field. Real objects are involved in the training.

Specialising in conservation or technical art history

Right from the outset, you have the unique opportunity to choose one of the nine branches of specialisation offered within Conservation or the separate track of Technical Art History. Each of these areas of specialisation has its own focus and you will be trained to become an expert in your chosen field from day one. Be aware that the nine conservation specialisations and the separate technical art history track are offered in alternating years.

Becoming a conservator

The Master’s in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage is a two-year programme and marks the first step to becoming a fully qualified conservator. Following the Master’s, you can transition into a two-year Advanced Professional Programme in which you further develop practical experience, expand your scientific knowledge and complete one or more internships to achieve the international level required to work as an independent professional conservator in your field of specialisation. 

Degree certificate

Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage is an accredited Master’s degree programme. Upon successfully completing this programme, you will obtain the legally recognised Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage and the title Master of Science (MSc). With this degree in hand, technical art history students can enter the field (museums/heritage institution) as qualified technical art historians. To qualify as a conservator, in conservation you need to successfully complete the subsequent Advanced Professional Programme.