Historic Building Conservation MSc
Subject and course type
- Architecture and Interiors
- Postgraduate
Preserve the past for the future. This MSc equips you with the knowledge and skills to conserve historic structures while addressing modern sustainability challenges.
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Learn to preserve architectural heritage with practical expertise
Do you want to become a professional within the specialist field of historic building conservation?
Working with a range of professionals and specialists, you will become familiar with the interdisciplinary nature of the field.
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 headstart 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.
Accreditations
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.
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice.
Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
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
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.
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.
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.
30.00 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.
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.
Career opportunities
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.
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.
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically involves reading and analysing articles, regulations, policy documents and key texts, documenting individual projects, preparing coursework assignments and completing your PEDRs, etc.
Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the University's online virtual learning platform.
At Kingston University, we know that postgraduate students have particular needs and therefore we have a range of support available to help you during your time here.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 18% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Assessment typically comprises essays, reports, seminars, workshops, group field trip, project work, presentations, and dissertation. The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:
Type of assessment
- Coursework: 98%
- Practical: 2%
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally enrols 10–15 students and lecture sizes are normally 10–20. However this can vary by module and academic year.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £11,400 |
| Part Time | £6,270 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £17,600 |
| Part Time | £9,680 |
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £10,900 |
| Part Time | £5,995 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £16,900 |
| Part Time | £9,295 |
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Historic Building MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
This scholarship offers a 40% reduction in fees across a range of taught postgraduate courses. Learn more about eligibility criteria for Inspire the Future applicants.
If you are an international student, find out more about scholarships and bursaries.
We also offer discounts for Kingston University alumni.
There are Progression Scholarships available for certain postgraduate courses. Review our range of funding opportunities for masters-level study.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Courses involving placements or direct work with vulnerable groups may require a DBS check or other security checks.
Specific courses may require uniforms, specialty clothing, or specific equipment like lab coats and safety shoes.
If you choose to do a placement year, travel costs will vary depending on your location. These costs could be up to £2,000.
Some courses may require professional memberships.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
After you have applied
For courses that select on application alone, applicants should normally receive an initial decision or a request for more information within four to six weeks of receipt of their application. Our admissions team will notify you of the decision by email.
Learn more about the postgraduate application process in detail.
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.
