Conservation of Objects in Museums and Archaeology (BSc)

Why study this course

Our BSc Conservation of Objects in Museums and Archaeology will equip you with the skill set required to be a practising conservator. As a graduate of this programme, you will be able to develop, execute, report and record evidence based strategies and actions for preserving historic and archaeological objects.

We specialise in the conservation of historic and archaeological museum objects, using both preventive and interventive conservation procedures. All of our teaching is set against the cultural context of the objects undergoing treatment by students, which are genuine museum pieces. Working on these objects, you will consider the needs of owners, and current and future end users in designing your treatments.

Working in our laboratories from day one, you will have access to a wide range of state of the art conservation and scientific facilities.

This degree delivers a broad transferable skill set that encompasses discursive writing, imaging, practical work, communication and investigation using analytical instrumentation. Together these skills produce graduates who use evidence-based thought processes to deliver outcomes aimed at preserving our cultural heritage.

Careers and placements

Career prospects

The strong vocational nature of the programme is recognised within the conservation profession and this factor provides conservation students with good job opportunities. Some conservation graduates move into research degrees, many choosing to take MSc or higher qualifications with us. Other graduates utilise their extensive transferable skills in communication, problem solving, project management, independent thinking, and scientific theory and practice to compete very successfully in a wide range of other fields.

We believe in giving our graduates the best opportunities to find employment. We organise interactive workshops with the Careers Service to help you identify your skills and attributes and have our own, in-School Workplace Placements and employability officer.

Graduate careers

• Conservator
• Curator

Placements

The School of History, Archaeology and Religion has a dedicated Work Placements Officer who supports students with work experience opportunities both in and out of term time, while in the second year of study there is the option to take a credit-bearing module on employability which has placement opportunities.

Students on this degree will be offered support to undertake eight weeks of vacation placement in an approved conservation laboratory in the UK or abroad.