MSc Conservation and Management of Historic Buildings

Applicants should usually possess a degree in a relevant subject area at 2:2 level or higher. If you have no formal qualifications it may also be possible to join the programme based on extensive relevant work experience corresponding in level to a relevant undergraduate honours degree. In all cases entry is subject to an interview either in person or via Skype/Zoom or similar platforms.

The course has three main strands: the first focuses on the investigation and understanding of historic buildings, the second looks at the conservation and preservation of buildings, and the third strand focuses on how historic buildings are managed.

The programme is delivered in Swindon where you will have access to the Historic England Archive and Library, the National Collections Centre and the Swindon Museums. Teaching is based around intensive day-long blocks supported by distance and self-directed learning; you can take the course full-time over one-year or part-time over two to six years, giving you flexibility around your working life.

You will complete eight taught modules with varied assessments which take a pragmatic approach to building conservation and are designed with employment in mind. You will also produce either a dissertation focusing on a particular topic of interest to you or a professional product of comparable standard such as a detailed building study or building conservation management plan. For those in employment the professional product can be built around a negotiated work output.

Industry experience

This programme is designed to provide a broad based introduction to the rapidly changing discipline of historic building conservation. You will benefit from opportunities to work with heritage organisations and projects and also gain practical conservation skills through optional short courses with our practical training associates.

Indicative modules

• Buildings in the Landscape
• The Challenge of Change: Context, Significance, Planning Policy and Law
• Cultural Heritage Research: Design, Methodology and Management
• Survey, Recording and Analysis of Historic Buildings
• Historic Building Conservation in Practice
• Conservation of Historic Building Interiors: Fixtures, Fittings, Collections
• Management of Historic Buildings and Heritage Sites
• Heritage, Regeneration & Place Shaping

* Optional additions to the course will incur additional charges

Tuition fees cover the cost of a student’s academic studies. This usually includes teaching costs, registration and examination fees (not repeat or trailing module fees, re-sit fees or dissertation extensions).

2020/21 Applicants

For the academic year 2020/21 the tuition fees for this course are:  

**Please note: International students can study on a part-time basis only if they are in the UK with a different type of visa (other than Tier 4 Child/General) that allows them to undertake part-time study and their visa does not expire prior to the end date of the proposed course of study.

Please contact admissions@rau.ac.uk before you apply to confirm your egibility.

Tuition fees may be subject to an inflationary increase each year as set out in our Access and Participation Plan 2019/20.

For full details, please visit the fees and funding webpage.