Conservation Studies (Taught)

Study at a specialist college with the assurance of a university qualification. Develop your passions and reach your potential in a small, welcoming environment within a community of like-minded people.

Why choose West Dean?

An international reputation for excellence in conservation and arts education.
94% of students studying at the College* felt the programme had enhanced their skills and abilities (*2019 student survey)
A rich arts environment and a focus on craft skills with vocational application.
Be inspired by the unique historic character and beautiful South Downs setting.
Located close to Chichester and the South Coast, with easy access to London.

The Course

The one year full time course in MA Conservation Studies equips you with the high level specialist skills sought by the conservation sector. For students of English, History, Archaeology and varied Humanities disciplines Conservation offers an exciting career. The course focuses is on research through practice and students will draw on theoretical, scientific, and analytical study of artefacts and materials, and analyse the context and practice of conservation. Students deliver a major final research project.

This rigorous and highly respected programme draws on an extensive sector network, nationally and internationally, including industry bodies such as Icon. The Masters in Conservation Studies is the global industry standard for conservation, and our alumni work in many of the most prestigious museums, archives, libraries and private practices across the world.

Elements of interdisciplinary work are involved, but you will choose from one of the following specialisms:

Books and Library Materials
Ceramics and Related Materials
Furniture and Related Objects
Horology, Clocks and Related Objects
Metalwork

All disciplines are accessible from both humanities and science study backgrounds.

You can expect

To develop excellent practical skills
To develop research skills
To incorporate scientific analysis into conservation projects
To build contacts and gain transferable skills

Learning environment

High tutor: student ratio
Workshop access 8.30am-9pm, 7 days a week
An interdisciplinary environment
Visiting lecturers from public and private institutions
Six week work placement
The content of this programme has been developed in line with the Institute of Conservation's Professional Standards in Conservation and the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.

Exceptional Facilities

You will work in dedicated, well-equipped workshops and studios with access from 8.30am to 10pm, seven days a week, which is exceptional in higher education. In addition to the extensive facilities each specialist studio and workshop has, is the new Science Laboratory (opened late 2019), both the science equipment and laboratory has had a significant upgrade. The facilities have been developed to give students knowledge and a familiarity with their general application to perform analytical techniques commonly used in the heritage sector. Other shared facilities include:

Photography space
IT suite
Specialist databases
Specialist library

Teaching

On the MA Conservation Studies you will typically have around 19-20 contact hours per week.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars and workshops or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations and undertaking and writing up your final research project.

Overall workload

Total scheduled teaching and learning: 600 hours
Independent learning: 1200 hours

Semester 1 (18 weeks)
Study block 1 (12 weeks)
MA1A

Extending Practice (50 credits)

Unit MA1B

Conservation Science Analysis (10 credits)

Unit MA1C

Research studies and project design (10 credits)

Semester 2 (14 weeks)
Study block 3 (6 weeks)

MA2A

Professional Practice (35 credits)
Work placement element

Study block 4 (8 weeks)
MA2A

Professional Practice (cont.) (35 credits)

Unit MA1RP

Project Development (15 credits)

Semester 3 (14 weeks)

Study block 5
Unit MA2RP

Project Realisation (60 credits)

On the MA Conservation Studies you will typically have around 19-20 contact hours per week, typically consisting of:

5-6 hours of lectures or demonstrations
1-2 hours of seminars and peer to peer presentations
10 hours of workshop time with a supervisor
1 hour of tutorials to discuss practical projects and more formal tutorials
For semester 2, outside of the work placement, you will continue to have full workshop access and have 10 contact hours per week in the above areas.
For semester 3 you will continue to have full workshop access and have approximately 1 hour tutorial time per week.
Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars and workshops or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations and undertaking and writing up your final research project.

Overall workload

Total scheduled teaching and learning: 600 hours
Independent learning: 1200 hours

In semester 1, 41% of your time will be spent in scheduled learning activities or under supervision.
In semester 2, 25% of your time will be spent in supervised activities.
In semester 3, you will be expected to work independently with tutorial support.

International study trips

The College continues to monitor travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with regards to any international travel. At this time, all international travel which includes study trips will be subject to agreement by the College.