Unique features

• The has a large and diverse collection comprising objects from all disciplines. The collections are used by students to apply their knowledge to real-life problems. 
• The immersive environment encourages joint learning and interdisciplinary practice.
• Regular visiting lecturers and part time tutors from public and private institutions.
• Field trips to conservation studios, historic sites and exhibitions.
• The programme has a low student to staff ratio.
• The 36 week programme has workshop access 8.30am – 10pm, seven days a week which is exceptional in a higher education environment.

Contextual and professional studies

Students across all pathways study together to examine the common foundations of historical, cultural and professional knowledge that are relevant to understanding contemporary conservation practice. Content is delivered through a mix of lectures, recommended reading, seminars and visits.

Themes explored in the first semester include the role of the conservator, ethics and conservation standards, the value of craft, sustainability and the significance of heritage to different cultures. The driver for this unit of study is to help students situate the specific conservation projects they are working on in their specialist pathways within a wider cultural and professional context. Seminar sessions provide an opportunity for students to share their own projects and discuss the ethical dilemmas and complexities around decision making with their peers. Exercises and assignments are designed to introduce research skills and promote critical analysis and reflection.

For the second semester the focus moves to the collection, its context and the associated complexities of decision-making. Visiting lecturers and visits will introduce students to a range of preservation strategies in different organisations. Students will consider how the decision-making for the treatment of objects they work on can be influenced by the context of the collection they are part of or the institutional policies or strategies of their custodians. Students are asked to present case studies on the challenges of collections care in different situations and exercises and assignments are designed to continue the development of research skills, critical analysis and reflection.

These units are complimented by the bi-annual cross school trip.

Teaching

On the Graduate Diploma, you typically have around 24 contact hours per week, typically consisting of:

• 6 hours of lectures or demonstrations
• 1 hour of seminars and peer to peer presentations
• 14 hours of supervised workshop practicals
• 1 hour of one-to-one meetings/tutorials

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study for approximately 13-14 hours per week. 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

Overall workload

Graduate Diploma: 60% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 720 hours
Independent learning: 480 hours

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.

Students on the Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies choose one of the following pathways to specialise in when they apply: 

• Books & Library Materials
• Ceramics
• Clocks
• Furniture
• Metalwork

If you are interested in a broader studies, please consider Graduate Diploma in Conservation Care and Management for Collections course.

Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) will be considered. In these cases, applicants would need to demonstrate their capacity for degree-level work through a portfolio of work, prior learning and an interest or experience in object conservation and cultural heritage. 

When putting together your portfolio for the Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies in any discipline, we recommend including:  

• Evidence of manual dexterity, focus and enjoyment of practical work
• Some familiarity of working with the materials in your area of interest
• Any conservation related activities
• Any visits to conservation studios and specialist craft workshops

As part of the application process, you will also be set some practical tasks.  

You are asked to complete some practical tasks in your own time, which are sent in prior to the interview and will be discussed with you at the interview. You will be asked to take some video clips recording your working through these tasks. This is so we can see that you have the right level of mental agility and manual dexterity to undertake the practical elements of the course.