Historic Building Conservation MSc
Why choose this course?
Do you want to become a professional within the specialist field of historic building conservation? 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.
The course is interdisciplinary and international. Current and former students include archaeologists, architects, architectural technologists, chartered surveyors, craftsmen, engineers, and project and construction managers.
This course offers training and professional development in line with established national and international standards.
Through working with a range of professionals and specialists, you will become familiar with the interdisciplinary nature of the field, ready to extend your current practice and/or gain knowledge and expertise in new areas.
Once you have graduated, and are in suitable employment, you may proceed to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors final assessment programme and/or build towards an application to the Institute of Historic Building Conservation or other professional specialist registers.
Please follow our Architecture & Landscape Instagram to see some of the great work we are doing and visit our research group site Register where we seek to interpret, understand and augment our built landscapes.
| Mode | Duration | Attendance | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 1 year | At least two full days per week for contact teaching | September 2025 |
| Part time | 2 years | One day per week | September 2025 |
| Main Location | Kingston School of Art, Knights Park |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- London's historic buildings are used to illustrate and inform elements of the course with local site visits being a key element (additional costs, such as travel may apply).
- This course enables you to become a professional within the specialist field of historic building conservation.
- The course uses our highly regarded facilities, including our 3D workshops, where you will have the chance to put your knowledge into practice.
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where collaborative working and critical practice are encouraged.
Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Accreditation
Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC)
The course is recognised by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
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.
What you will study
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
30 credits
The module will provide students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to undertake the analysis of a historic building and its setting. Students will be able to assess and determine the significance of a heritage asset and how this can be understood, communicated, recorded and maintained. The range of techniques available to research and record a building will be covered, including different types and uses of surveying equipment and how their outputs are captured and evidenced using a variety of hand and digital graphic and photographic techniques.
The module offers an opportunity to consider the historic environment in a wider context and illustrates the range of approaches to building conservation undertaken today.
Defects, Pathology and Repair
30 credits
The module aims to enable students to develop a working knowledge of building defects and pathology and to develop their ability to recognise the causes of decay in historic buildings. Students will consider the different types of deterioration which affect building fabric and look at approaches to building management and options for effective repair. The module provides a review of current methods of investigation and testing and of determining options for repair.
Legislation and Economics for Historic Buildings
30 credits
The module aims to provide students with a deep and critical knowledge of the law, policy and regulation frameworks that apply to listed and heritage buildings, both within the UK and in a European context. In particular the module covers law relating to the protection and alteration of buildings, including the design of contiguous new builds and to conservation and heritage areas. The module also introduces students to economic principles insofar as they apply to the historic environment and considers the case for protection and conservation and the economic instruments used in the private and public sector to make decisions relating to conservation of the built environment. Assessment is through coursework.
Regeneration and Conservation of Historic Environments
30 credits
This module introduces students to the ways in which historic building design relates to the historic environment within which it is set, and how these environments have evolved over time and continue evolving to this day. In addition to examining the architectural context, the module will also examine the social, economic and environmental issues which have resulted in today's urban, suburban and rural landscapes, and how government policy can effect change to these landscapes for urban and economic renewal.
The module is taught by a series of lectures, seminars and tutorials and students will be expected to take an active part in class and site activities, applying their knowledge to worked examples within the tutorial format. Assessment will comprise two individual and one group courseworks.
Research Project / Dissertation
60 credits
This final module provides you with the opportunity to design and execute an original research project related to your specific interests within the field of historic building conservation. You will develop a theoretically informed body of work that integrates both theory and practice. It may take the form of a dissertation, practice project, or experiment-based project. Within the module you will develop a sound grounding in research principles and methodologies. Through a series of lectures and seminars, supported by tutorials, you will be encouraged and enabled to develop your critical reasoning powers in the design of relevant research strategies.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
The course employs a range of approaches to teaching and learning, including lectures, seminars, group critiques, individual tutorials, optional study visits, presentations and workshops.
Who teaches this course?
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge is closely matched to the course content. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. The following group of staff members are currently involved in delivering the course. Please note: this may be subject to change within the academic year.
Fees for this course
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
Facilities
Knights Park campus is situated on the Hogsmill River, with a restaurant and bar opening on to the waterside. The relatively small campus has a friendly, creative feel and includes a reception area with a gallery, art shop and the light and airy open-plan library.
After you graduate
Students come from a wide range of professions and disciplines. Advice is offered throughout, to encourage you to develop your career and build on your existing knowledge and skills.
The Historic Building Conservation MSc helps prepare you for roles such as:
- working in advisory or regulatory bodies, supporting the wider remit of historic building conservation
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- national and regional charitable trusts
- positions within private and voluntary organisations working on historic fabric
- specialist roles within your current profession, supporting your application to specialist registers
- independent consultancy
- community support and liaison for local heritage projects
- academic research
Links with business and industry
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
