Conservation of Historic Buildings (Taught)

Study the theory and practice of preserving historic architecture and cultural heritage sites in one of the world's most culturally significant cities.

We offer you the unique opportunity to learn how to design and manage conservation projects while studying in a UNESCO World Heritage site. Taught by experts in the field, our course focuses on preserving historic buildings and cultural heritage worldwide. You’ll learn philosophical approaches to conserving the built environment and its significance within the context of international standards and charters, and English legislation frameworks. You’ll also explore materials, techniques, traditional constructional principles and structural behaviour.

To learn about conservation in practice, you’ll visit and work on case studies at historic buildings sites in and around Bath. These help you understand how our built heritage is repaired and re-used, and develop your technical and communication skills. You’ll finish your master’s degree with a large research project in an area of conservation that excites you.

Learn from experts in the field
Our course draws on the research knowledge in our Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering and expertise in the industry. Our academics’ international collaborations and research feed into our teaching and contribute to your learning experience.

Use specialist facilities
We have a range of facilities to support your studies. Our library gives you access to online historical literature, maps and audio visual services, as well as professional databases such as Construction Information Services.

From course to career
We work with industrial partners to make sure you have the technical, communication and design skills that employers value. You’ll work on group projects with students on other construction-related MSc courses, preparing you for a range of professional positions. You’ll graduate with the ability to make a real contribution to the preservation of our architectural landscape. Our graduates have gone on to work in roles such as:

• Inspectors and managers at Historic England and English Heritage

• Senior National Trust managers and national amenity society inspectors

• Local authority conservation officers

• Conservation architects, engineers and surveyors in specialist practices

Year 1
Semester 1
Compulsory units

• Cultures and frameworks for conservation

• Materials, construction and skills

• Principles of construction project management

• Professional and research skills for the construction industry

• Structural conservation

Semester 2
Compulsory units

• Cultures and frameworks for conservation

• Materials, construction and skills

-Multidisciplinary project

• Principles of construction project management

• Professional and research skills for the construction industry

• Structural conservation

Summer
Compulsory units

• Dissertation

Learning

• Design projects
• Lectures
• Online resources
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops
• Real-life case studies

Assessment

• Coursework
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Presentations

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Historic Building Conservation, Institute for