Five reasons to choose the programme

You will gain a Masters qualification in historic preservation in a single year, as opposed to two years in many other countries.
Flexible hybrid teaching approach, combining the best of in-person and online learning. 
We are the longest established graduate historic preservation programme in Scotland, England, Ireland or Wales, with strong thematic emphases.  
You will have access to the extensive multi-disciplinary academic infrastructure and facilities of the University of Edinburgh. 
Our programme is closely integrated with Edinburgh’s thriving network of heritage organisations and professionals. 

Outline

With its blend of medieval, neo-classical and modern architecture, and its unique concentration of national cultural institutions, Edinburgh is the ideal city in which to develop postgraduate skills in historic preservation.  

Our Architectural Conservation - MSc programme is over forty years old, making it the longest-established programme of its kind in Scotland or its neighbouring nations.  

Students form part of the Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies (SCCS), ECA’s specialist teaching and research unit, and join a community of postgraduate students from all over the world, and from a wide range of disciplinary first-degree backgrounds, including architecture, history, planning, engineering and interior design.  

 

What you will study

Taking advantage of Edinburgh’s position as a UNESCO World Heritage city, the Architectural Conservation - MSc programme focuses on a wide range of themes including conservation theory, criticism and history; urban conservation; conservation technology; and World Heritage.  

The programme comprises six 20-credit taught courses: History and Theory of Conservation, Conservation Technology, Urban Conservation, Building Analysis, World Heritage, and Culture and Performance in the History of Construction.  It is assessed through individual papers, group projects and presentations, design exercises, and report writing. It culminates in a supervised 60-credit dissertation of around 14,000-15,000 words on an individually chosen aspect of architectural conservation, with specialist supervision.  

Subject to any remaining social distancing restrictions, field trips within Scotland and England (and hopefully overseas) will give the chance to explore conservation issues in other settings. 

 

The benefits of studying in SCCS

As members of the Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies (SCCS), students have access to our annual series of Architectural Conservation Masterclasses, which feature leading national and international figures from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Held mainly online since 2020, and regularly co-hosted with partner organisations, each Masterclass addresses a subject of major significance within architectural conservation or cultural landscape heritage.  

As well as the Masterclasses, we also often host and participate in conferences, seminars and exhibitions, including in collaboration with partner organisations. 

Find out more about the Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies and our Architectural Conservation Masterclasses.

Careers

Historic preservation presents a broad range of career possibilities. On graduation, you will have the broad knowledge base and skills to pursue whichever you choose, from heritage management to conservation-specialist architectural design.  

Crucially, your qualification will be extremely well regarded, thanks to its recognition by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, the UK’s official organisation of architectural preservation professionals.  


How to apply and entrance requirements

If you'd like to study on a postgraduate programme at Edinburgh College of Art, you must apply through EUCLID, our online application system. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh website, where you'll also be able to:

  • see detailed entrance requirements for each programme on the Degree Finder
  • get information on what to expect after you apply
  • find out about study modes, start dates and fees
  • find out where to go for further advice and guidance

Take me to the University of Edinburgh website on how to apply for postgraduate study


Alumni profiles


Staff

Prof Miles Glendinning

Personal Chair of Architectural Conservation

Director, Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies

Email: m.glendinning@ed.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)131 651 5789


Facilities and resources

Students at the University of Edinburgh have access to a range of library resources across the campus and online.

We have model workshops in both the Hunter Building and Minto House. Here you can work with machinery and hand tools for the cutting, shaping, and general fabrication of woods and metals.


Scholarships and bursaries

Andrew Grant Postgraduate Scholarships

  • Deadline: 1 March 2023
  • Value: £10,500
  • Eligibility: Scholarships available for one academic year of postgraduate Masters study at Edinburgh College of Art.


Contact

Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Admissions

Email: cahss.pgadmissions@ed.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)131 650 4086