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Conservation and Restoration

Basic information
Institution
University of Applied Arts Vienna
Name of programme (original language)
Konservierung und Restaurierung
Web link to the E&T programme
https://www.dieangewandte.at/en/ikr_kons-rest
Cultural Heritage Area
Safeguarding and preservation
Knowledge
Crafts and traditional knowledge
Programme description

The diploma degree programme of Conservation prepares students for an academic conservator’s continually changing and expanding field of activity.
The four specialist areas of the study programme cover the conservation and restoration of paintings, objects, textile, and stone. Additionally, there is the option to specialise in the conservation of archaeological finds or contemporary art.

The study programme objective is to enable students to develop long-term and sustainable conservation strategies for individual objects, ensembles and collections, as well as to enable them to independently carry out measures for examining, conserving and restoring art and cultural goods in line with the appropriate standards of professional ethics. All this is based on the conservation sciences, natural sciences, humanities, plus the interdisciplinary cooperation with other specialist fields. Prerequisites are the knowledge of current work methods and internationally accepted quality criteria, as well as a reflected handling of conservation materials.

In addition to continuous training in conservation-restoration practices, current treatment methods are addressed and taught. At the same time, students are guided to conduct conservation science research.
International cooperation and work projects also serve to expand professional competences.
During the diploma degree programme, theoretical and practical contents are treated as being of equal value and are coordinated with each other. This balance between theory and practice, plus the work with and on originals, are important aspects of the study programme and distinguish the training as a conservator-restorer at the Angewandte in an international comparison.

Programme graduates are characterized by their responsible handling of art and cultural goods and a methodically structured approach in their work. They are able to argue the strategies they have developed, react flexibly to the highly diverse requirements of their field of activity and approach future challenges for their profession with sound concepts.

Is the programme a joint degree programme?
No
Double degree
No
Joint delivery
No
Qualification provider
University of Applied Arts Vienna
Does the E&T programme lead to a formal qualification?
Yes
Name of the qualification (English)
Magister artium (Mag.art.)
Name of the qualification (Original language)
Magister artium (Mag.art.)
Education category (HE/VET/HE-VET)
Higher Education (HE)
Education format
Formal
Programme Type
Initial E&T
Academic degree
Other
Other degree type

Magister artium (Mag.art.)

One time event or regular basis
Programme takes place on a regular basis
Frequency
annually
Last time it the programme took place (start date)
Number of annual graduates of the programme
10
Statistics / Formal status
Core function
Preservation and Safeguarding
Supplementary functions
R&D and Education
Recognition
ESCO - Occupation
2621.3 - conservator
2651.2 - art restorer
National Occupational Classification (NOC) in original language
2651 RestoratorIn und KonservatorIn
NOC Link
https://bis.ams.or.at/bis/beruf/704-RestauratorIn%20und%20KonservatorIn?query=2…
Does the programme lead to a regulated profession?
No
EQF
7
NQF
7
ISCED level of programme
746 Long first masters degree
ISCED field
0288 Inter-disciplinary programmes and qualifications involving arts and humanities
Characterization of the E&T programme
Credit system
ECTS
ECTS credits
300.00
Student work load (hours)
7500h
Contact hours
3038
Duration
10.00
Semesters
Semesters
Study format
Full-time
Are there access requirements?
Yes
Access requirements Description

Applicants whose portfolio was assessed positively will be admitted to the entrance exam. The exam will take 2 – 3 days and consists of written, oral, and practical sections.

Within the framework of this exam, applicants‘ artistic-creative and manual skills (e.g. drawing and colour mixing), observation, basic knowledge in chemistry (at secondary school level) and art history (antiquity to modernity) as well as written skills (art-historical description and motivation letter) are tested. A personal interview will take place to address the applicant‘s motivation for studying, plus their previous experience in the area of conservation-restoration, if any.

Teaching language
German
Programme learning outcomes

The diploma degree programme of Conservation prepares students for an academic conservator’s continually changing and expanding field of activity.
The four specialist areas of the study programme cover the conservation and restoration of paintings, objects, textile, and stone. Additionally, there is the option to specialise in the conservation of archaeological finds or contemporary art.

The study programme objective is to enable students to develop long-term and sustainable conservation strategies for individual objects, ensembles and collections, as well as to enable them to independently carry out measures for examining, conserving and restoring art and cultural goods in line with the appropriate standards of professional ethics. All this is based on the conservation sciences, natural sciences, humanities, plus the interdisciplinary cooperation with other specialist fields. Prerequisites are the knowledge of current work methods and internationally accepted quality criteria, as well as a reflected handling of conservation materials.

In addition to continuous training in conservation-restoration practices, current treatment methods are addressed and taught. At the same time, students are guided to conduct conservation science research.
International cooperation and work projects also serve to expand professional competences.
During the diploma degree programme, theoretical and practical contents are treated as being of equal value and are coordinated with each other. This balance between theory and practice, plus the work with and on originals, are important aspects of the study programme and distinguish the training as a conservator-restorer at the Angewandte in an international comparison.

Programme graduates are characterized by their responsible handling of art and cultural goods and a methodically structured approach in their work. They are able to argue the strategies they have developed, react flexibly to the highly diverse requirements of their field of activity and approach future challenges for their profession with sound concepts.

Proportion of VET (practice) element (in % of workload)
65 % estimated
Is there a mandatory (external) practical training?
No
Mode of delivery of education / training
Presence
Required qualification of teachers/trainers in the core subjects

Teachers in the core subjects have to be university professors according to § 97 of the University Act of 2002.

Quality assurance obligations of the programme/institution
Yes
Description of quality assurance obligations of the programme / institution

Pursuant to § 14 of the Universities Act, each university is obliged to secure its quality and performance by setting up its own quality management system to cover the tasks and the whole performance spectrum of the university. Pursuant to § 22 HS-QSG, this system is to be audited every seven years in order to attain an external certification. In this context, HS-QSG cites a number of assessment areas for which the university should have quality management procedures.  The audit is to be contracted to a recognized quality assurance agency, which in turn will appoint a group of five international reviewers who will – based on a written self-evaluation of the Angewandte and a subsequent on-site visit of 2-3 days – engage with the quality management system and consequently hand in an assessment. They may approve the quality management system straight away, or they may draw up recommendations or requirements. Based on these, the agency will make a decision on the certification.
The audit of the quality management system, as set out for Austrian universities, is embedded in a pan-European context. It looks at the correlation between the university’s strategy and its structures and instruments that are applied to reflect on and further develop quality.
In the run-up to the last audit, the Angewandte decided to develop a very specific approach to best support the university in achieving its objectives. The Angewandte sees itself as a dynamic and change-oriented organization that heavily banks on the participation and self-reliance of its staff members and students. Communication, participative processes and need-based offers of support are therefore given high priority in the implementation of its approach to quality enhancement. 
 In 2015, the Angewandte was one of the first universities of art to undergo an audit of its quality management system and successfully obtained its certification. In the approach to the renewal in 2023, the Angewandte has strived for utilising the process for self-reflection and further development as far as possible, hereby also determining reasonable adjustments and commencing their introduction.
On the basis of the positive assessment, the accreditation commission of the commissioned quality assurance agency evalag has resolved the certification of the quality management system on 29 September 2023. The certification is valid until 28 September 2030

All courses of the study programme are regularly evaluated by the students.

 

 

Tuition cost

The tuition fee charges are determined depending on the type of study programme and the citizenship of the student.

Students with an EU/EEA or Swiss citizenship

  • pay currently EUR 22,70 Students' Union fee each semester given the duration of studies has not exceeded the study time according to the curriculum* plus two additional semesters of tolerance.

  • pay currently EUR 386,06 (EUR 363,36 tuition fee + EUR 22,70 Students' Union fee) each semester given the duration of studies has exceeded the study time according to the curriculum* plus two additional semesters of tolerance.

Students with citizenship outside of the EU/EEA

  • pay currenlty EUR 749,42 each semester

Are grants available?
Yes
Description of available grants

Scholarships and grants are listed here: https://www.dieangewandte.at/financial_issues