Conservation and Restauration (MA)

Profile

Deepening of a specialisation

Eine Person setzt Mosaiksteine in einer Werkstatt der Konservierung und Restaurierung

The master's programme in Conservation and Restauration builds on the practically and theoretically oriented bachelor's programme of the same name. The predominantly application-oriented study programme serves to deepen and upgrade qualifications for an independent and competent performance of all tasks in the profession. During your studies, you will have the opportunity to deepen your skills and competences in order to specialise in one or more of the "classical" subject areas or to develop new fields of activity. In this way, you will be qualified for managerial positions.

Right from the start, you decide on one of the three specialisations offered: wood, stone or mural painting. The training is interdisciplinary. In addition to a master's seminar, this becomes clear in the broad range of elective subjects on building conservation and building analysis. The master's degree in Conservation and Restauration enables you to further deepen your knowledge in a specialisation area as well as to expand your education across materials.

In the master's programme you will learn and acquire the following competences:

Drawing up complex conservation and restauration concepts using scientific methods
Planning, management and organisation of conservation and restauration facilities and projects
Independent scientific work in art technology, conservation and restauration research
Consultancy, assessment and public relations work in the field of conservation, restauration and prevention
Interdisciplinary and international cooperation skills
Profiling in one or more special fields or interdisciplinary areas

Fields of study

Wood

In the field of study "Wood", small objects, furniture and other pieces of equipment made of wood, whose surfaces can be refined with marquetry, stains, coatings and decorative paintings, are generally examined and processed. The master's programme focuses on building-related room elements, such as wood panelling on walls and ceilings, wooden floors, windows, doors, stairs, chairs and wooden constructions on historical buildings.

Field of study Wood

Stone

The focus of the "Stone" field of study is the classical field of natural stone in the sense of sculpture and building. Other focal points are the regionally significant materials brick and terracotta, but also "artificial stone" such as reinforced concrete sculptures as well as the coloured setting on all these materials.

Field of study Stone

Source: SCHNICKSCHNACK! PRODUCTIONS

Wall painting

In addition to the defined areas of wall and ceiling painting on inorganic substrates, the "Mural Painting" field of study includes the identification of historical architectural colour schemes in interior and exterior areas. The subjects of mosaics and stucco complement the subject matter.

Field of study Mural Painting

Is this degree programme right for me?

If you have a theoretical and practical command of the basics of conservation and restauration of objects in a specialised field, the degree programme is the ideal way to deepen your knowledge.

You bring these qualities with you

Creativity in the search for solutions to complex problems in conservation and restauration
Interest in historical and modern techniques
interest in topics related to the preservation of historical monuments and in interdisciplinary cooperation
A strong interest in the professional preservation and maintenance of our cultural heritage advanced knowledge of foreign languages

Podcast of the Campus Specialists

As campus specialists, Anne and Silja share insider knowledge about the degree programme Conservation and Restauration. In addition to tips and information about the degree programme, they provide insights into student life at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

To the podcast

Social media

Unsure? On the social media channels of the degree programme Conservation and Restauration you can get further insights into the degree programme.

Facebook

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Contact

The colleagues at the student counselling service provide information to prospective students, first-year students, parents, teachers and students on all general questions about studying. Do you have questions about the wood, stone and mural painting courses of the master's degree programme Conservation and Restauration? Take advantage of the counselling appointments of our subject counsellors:

Registration for a general counselling appointment for the degree programme: restaurierung@fh-potsdam.de or +49 331 580-4202
Please be sure to include your own telephone number so that you can be notified in the event of a rescheduled appointment.

Student Counselling Service

zsb@fh-potsdam.de

+49 331 580-2070

+49 331 580-2071

House D

Room 102

Book an appointment online

Subject Counselling Service Wood

Prof. Dr. Angelika Rauch

Professor for Conservation and Restoration – Wood

angelika.rauch@fh-potsdam.de

+49 331 580-4223

House A

Room 307

Subject Counselling Service Stone

Prof. Dr. Jeannine Meinhardt

Professor for Conservation and Restoration – Stone

jeannine.meinhardt@fh-potsdam.de

+49 331 580-4218

House A

Room 306

Subject Counselling Service Mural Painting

Dipl.-Rest. Tjalda Eschebach

Workshop Manager Conservation and Restoration – Mural Painting

tjalda.eschebach@fh-potsdam.de

+49 331 580-4231

Laboratory and Workshop Building (LW)

Room 249

Career Prospects

Possible areas of application

Institutions such as museums, heritage offices, universities
Restauration companies
Freelance work, collaboration in conservator associations
Self-employment: founding a workshop

Scientific career

The master of arts degree entitles the holder to take up doctoral studies.

Insights into the world of work

What comes after graduation? Graduates from the degree programme Conservation and Restauration give insights into their working world.

© Lis Mette Eggers

Before I start restoring an object, I read up on it carefully and find out: How was it made? What is special about the era it comes from? Are there any high-quality historical photographs? [...] The job is a bit like detective work. It never gets boring, because every new object raises a new question.

Lis Mette Eggers

Student

Study Content

Course of studies

The standard period of study for the full-time programme Conservation and Restauration (MA) is three semesters and concludes with a master of arts degree. You will find a detailed overview in the study plan.

Semester 1 – 2	Compulsory subjects, elective subjects, flex module
Semester 3	Master's colloquium, Master's thesis

The programme consists of subjects in conservation and restauration sciences, the humanities and natural sciences, as well as a wide range of special topics. The compulsory and elective modules are completed in the first two semesters of study, followed by the master's thesis and defence in the third semester.

Study content

The high weighting of the theoretical study content is counterbalanced by a correspondingly large proportion of restauration practice. Beyond the basics, the aim here is to give students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills in a practice-oriented or research-oriented manner.

In the currently valid module handbooks, study and examination regulations and statutes of the degree programme, you will find the module overview, a detailed description of the modules and study contents, the study schedule as well as the statutes for the implementation of the selection procedure for the degree programme Conservation and Restauration.

Teaching formats

Lectures
Seminars
Exercises
Project work
Excursions

Compulsory subjects

Practical course in natural sciences
Special topics in art history
Master projects in conservation and research
Master's seminar
Historical source writings
Excursion
Monument management

Elective subjects

Building history of the 20th century
Management competence
Foreign language
Fire protection in existing buildings
Development of building construction
Clay in historical buildings
Durability of building materials
Influence of building physics on construction
Special scientific analysis
Special topics in art history
Building diagnostics
Wood biology and integrated wood preservation
Assessment and repair of brickwork
Introduction to archival science
Cultural-historical evaluation of architectural monuments

Natural Sciences & Design

In study

On the pages of the CITY | BUILDING | CULTURE department you will find further useful information and documents on the degree programme, for example on the organisation of studies, the course catalogue and examination matters. In addition, current projects from the fields of study are presented there.

Further information on the degree programme

Projects

More projects

Interdisciplinary at the Monument

Transfer, innovative methods and research-based learning in practical projects for the preservation of the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan

RWTec-DeTox: Development of a Modular Plant Concept for the Decontamination of Art and Cultural Assets

Keyvisual des Forschungsprojekts "Umweltbedingte Degradation"

Natural Sciences | Environmental Degradation of Synthetic Conservation and Restoration Materials

Acquisition – model conservation and restoration on selected examples – digital knowledge transfer

Natural Sciences | Thermal Analysis of Historical and Modern Building Materials

Modern thermoanalytical methods are used to analyse and research both historical and modern building materials, plastics and building material recycling. In addition, the measuring system is suitable for the targeted development of new modern materials.

© Andrea Vollmer

During our studies, we learn how to act as ‘doctors of cultural heritage’ by carefully analysing the historical substance, recording its condition and developing targeted restoration measures. With expertise in materials technology and an analytical eye, we preserve cultural artefacts for future generations. We see ourselves as ‘advocates of cultural heritage’ and are committed to its preservation.

Toni Lorenz

4. semester MA, Conservation and Restauration

Application & Contact

Dates & requirements for your application

The most important deadlines, dates and admission requirements for the master's programme in Conservation and Restauration are compiled here. You can find out which steps you need to take for a successful application in the next section.

Dates

by 10 March: submit enrolment application

Access requirements

First professional university degree (210 ECTS credits, at least 180 ECTS credits) in Conservation and Restauration or university degree that prepares you in a comparable way for the master's programme.

This is how you apply!

Do you meet the admission requirements? Then you have the opportunity to submit an enrolment application for the summer semester from the 15^th of January to the 10^th of March on the MyCampus university portal of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

Once you have submitted your online application for enrolment, submit the completed application, printed and signed, together with all required documents in paper form. The date of receipt at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam is decisive.

Documents to be submitted

University degree certificate(s) or current transcript of records with the ECTS credit points earned to date and the grade earned to date, if the degree programme has not yet been completed.
Proof of health insurance from the statutory health insurance for students or proof of exemption from the statutory insurance obligation via the electronic student registration procedure
Payment slip/confirmation of payment of the semester contribution and, if applicable, other fees
Certificate of exmatriculation from the last university attended, if applicable
Photo for the issue of the Campus.Card

Please refer to the enrolment application form to find out whether you need to submit any additional documents.

Additional coursework and examinations to be taken

After enrolment, the examination board of the Conservation and Restauration programme decides on the type and scope of additional coursework and examinations to be taken for a degree with less than 210 ECTS credits.

Do you have questions about the enrolment procedure at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam? We have compiled frequently asked questions and answers about enrolment and admission.

Further information

The following links provide you, and especially international applicants, with further information on the topics of application and enrolment at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

International applicants

You would like to apply for studies from the first or a higher semester and have acquired your school-leaving qualification and/or university degree abroad? Then you can have degrees and achievements acquired abroad recognised and study with us.

Application information for internationals

Drei Studierende schauen sich Infomaterialien der FH Potsdam an

Application and enrolment procedure

The application and study service provides information and advice on general questions regarding the application process, admission and enrolment at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, application for a higher semester, but also on topics such as compensation for disadvantages, part-time studies, waiting semesters and hardship applications.

Application & Enrolment University of Applied Sciences Potsdam

Contact & Services

The student counselling service provides information and advice on general questions about studying as well as on topics such as choosing a degree programme, application, enrolment and study organisation.

For subject-specific questions on module content, credit transfer, examinations or study focus in the Master's programme in Conservation and Restauration, the subject counselling service is the right place to go.