MSc Conservation and Management of Historic Buildings

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. 

Here at the RAU we are always looking for ways to better support our students. We recognise that a number of our students may be working or have caring responsibilities alongside studying which can sometimes make it difficult to attend every teaching session in person. As such we have the ability for you to join lectures and seminars through an alternative digital format in prior discussion with your programme leader. Please note that for international students on a student visa you are expected to attend your classes in person. Remote delivery is not an UKVI authorised mode of attendance for the taught element of your course and therefore non-attendance would affect your student visa.

All sessions are offered in a hybrid format and you can choose whether to attend any session in-person or to participate remotely, as best suits your needs. We do recommend that you attend field trips in-person to get the most from your experience. All in-class sessions are recorded live and made available to students who prefer to access the sessions asynchronously.* The teaching sessions are timetabled on Thursdays and Fridays, with each module being taught 10:00-12:00 and then 13:00-15:00/16:00 on the same day, each week, for the full year (both semesters). This allows you to fulfil other commitments you may have, such as work, family and interests. Full-time students study on both days, with part-time students on just one.

The course has two main strands: The first focuses on the investigation and understanding of historic buildings: How they relate to the wider environment and historical context, understanding their structure, construction & history and how they might be recorded. There is a focus on understanding the value and significance of historic assets. The second looks at the conservation of buildings: The ethical issues surrounding building conservation, practical methods of building conservation and restoration, and how the built heritage can contribute to regeneration and the enhancement of public value.

You will complete four 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.

If you are interested in studying this subject but cannot commit to the full MSc programme it is also possible to study for a Certificate or Diploma in the subject.

*Visa students will need to attend all sessions in person due to UKVI visa requirements.

Postgraduate Certificate

The PgCert - or Postgraduate Certificate - is the shortest of our Masters level offerings. It allows students to study a specific area of cultural heritage in depth but takes less time to complete than the MSc or PgDip. All students will take the core Understanding Buildings and Landscapes module and can then choose to specialise in either Conservation Planning, Practical Conservation, Regeneration and Place-Shaping or Managing and Sustaining the Historic Environment.

Our PgCert is designed to be ultra-accessible. All classes are offered both in person and synchronously online, with session recordings available for students unable to attend a particular session. The PgCert is a great way of fitting postgraduate study around a busy life. Full-time students can complete the course in as little as one semester (depending on choice of optional module). Part-time students can choose to spread the course over up to two years, giving you lots of time for thinking and writing between modules. It is ideal for students who wants to enter the Historic Buildings sector but would rather not commit to a full MSc with its attendant time and financial costs.

The PgCert can be a great way into a career in this exciting industry but should students desire to continue their studies, PgCert credits can be used to contribute towards a PgDip or even an MSc qualification later down the line.

Please note that overseas applicants who require a student visa cannot be considered for this course as the weekly contact hours do not meet the UKVI threshold for a full-time Student visa.

Postgraduate Diploma

The PgDip - or Postgraduate Diploma – is a level 7 course that sits between the PgCert and the full MSc. It allows students to study The Conservation and Management of Historic Buildings in depth but without undertaking the Dissertation element. Consequently, it takes substantially less time to complete than the MSc, while still covering the same taught elements. All students will take four MSc core modules; Understanding Historic Buildings and Landscapes, Conservation Planning, Practical Conservation, Regeneration and Place-Shaping and Managing and Sustaining the Historic Environment.

Our PgDip is designed to be ultra-accessible. All classes are offered both in person and synchronously online, with session recordings available for students unable to attend a particular session. The PgDip is a great way of fitting postgraduate study around a busy life. Full-time students can complete the course in two semesters. Part-time students can choose to spread the course over up to six years, giving you lots of time for thinking and writing between modules. It is ideal for students who wants to enter the Historic Building sector but would rather not commit to a full MSc with its attendant time and financial costs.

The PgDip can be a great way to boost your Historic Buildings career, or indeed to enter this exciting industry. We recognise that life can be unpredictable so the PgDip is built to be as flexible as possible. Should students desire to continue their studies, PgDip credits can be used to contribute towards an MSc qualification later down the line. Conversely, if you need to cut your studies short for any reason, it is also possible to convert the PgDip to a PgCert after the completion of two modules.

Please note, Visa students must be full-time (a min of 15 hours per week) and will need to attend all sessions in person due to UKVI visa requirements.

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.

The modules available for this course are shown below. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Modules

• 4733 Understanding Buildings and Landscape: Understand the form and function of historic buildings and how they are impacted by local landscape and geology
• 4737 The Past in Principles and Practice: Gain a solid grounding in how the cultural heritage sector operates covering areas from archaeology to listed buildings and museums, collections, landscapes and legal protections
• 4761 Practical Conservation, Retrofitting and Sustainability: Demonstrate a knowledge of practical building conservation methods & skills and assess their suitability for the repair and alteration of historic buildings and structures
• 4762 Regeneration & Placemaking in the Historical Environment: Understand the principles and practice of social, economic and environmental regeneration
• 4700 Dissertation: Undertake an independent research project with guidance from a supervisor

* Optional additions to the course will incur additional charges

Disclaimer information

The University has established various rules and regulations that you must agree to and follow if you accept an offer to study with us. View our full disclaimer notice.

• Historic building surveyor (investigation, recording and analysis)
• Local authority / heritage agency conservation officer
• Historic building manager
• Advisor on the interpretation and display of historic buildings
• Project manager for the development, adaptive reuse and regeneration of historic buildings

"This is a fabulous course and exceeds my expectations! It’s well designed to blend academic study with practical experience and a focus on preparing students
for professional life beyond, whether they come from within the heritage sector or are making a career change. What are you waiting for…!"

Emily Way, Student

We welcome applications from applicants with non-standard qualifications who are able to demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills developed in the workplace or elsewhere and which are relevant to the programme of study. Applicants will need to use their personal statement to provide further details supported by a CV. All non-standard applications will be considered by the Programme Manager on a case-by-case basis and applicants can expect that an interview may be required as part of the admissions process.

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our English language requirements for the level of study. For postgraduate taught programmes this is IELTS Academic min. overall 6.5 with no element below 5.5 (or equivalent). English language tests usually have a validity of two years from the date the test is taken.

Offers will typically be made in line with the academic requirements set out above. Offers can be conditional or unconditional. An unconditional offer will be made to applicants who have already met the conditions and provided evidence that conditions have been met. Where academic or language requirements have not yet been fulfilled, applicants will receive a conditional offer stating the requirements that must be met. 

2025-26 Applicants

For the academic year 2025-26 the tuition fees for the MSc are:  

For the academic year 2025-26 the tuition fees for the PgDip are:  

For the academic year 2025-26 the tuition fees for the PgCert 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 Student Visa/Tier 4 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.

There are no additional fees for any activity conducted during the teaching days. Expenses (travel and admission) incurred during self-directed visits will however fall to the student – all activities are structured so they can be undertaken at any heritage location near to the student and either free or at minimum cost.

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

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

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