Oxford Brookes University

What you'll study

This programme combines practical workshop-based training, scientific and technical study of building materials, and modules on conservation philosophy, recording and legislation. Core themes typically include traditional construction and materials, methods of repair and intervention, conservation theory and ethics, building pathology and diagnosis, and documentation and digital recording (including measured survey and photogrammetry).

Teaching usually comprises a mix of studio projects, laboratory sessions, site visits to historic buildings, seminars and lectures. You will complete a substantial independent research project or practice-led dissertation that allows you to apply acquired skills to a conservation problem or case study.

• Traditional construction and materials (stone, brick, timber, mortars)
• Conservation practice and techniques (repair methodology, structural interventions)
• Building pathology, investigation and diagnostic methods
• Recording, documentation and digital survey methods
• Conservation theory, ethics and decision-making
• Heritage management, policy and legislation
• Project and contract management for conservation works
• Research methods and a major dissertation or practice-led project

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good honours degree (typically a 2:1 or equivalent) in architecture, building conservation, heritage-related engineering, archaeology, history of art or a closely related discipline. Applicants with a lower-class degree plus relevant professional experience, or applicants with substantial practical experience in building conservation, may be considered.

For practice-based applicants a portfolio of work or documented evidence of practical experience may be requested. International applicants will need to demonstrate proficiency in English to the university's required standard, for example through an approved English language test.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to a range of roles within the built-heritage sector. Typical destinations include conservation practitioner or specialist contractor, building surveyor with a conservation focus, heritage consultant, conservation officer for local authorities, roles in museums and historic houses, and positions with national trusts or NGOs. The programme also prepares students for further research or doctoral study in conservation science, historic environment studies or related fields.

Why study at Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes offers studio-based teaching alongside practical workshop and laboratory facilities, giving a balance of hands-on skill development and academic study. The university’s location provides close access to a rich historic environment, archives and museums, supporting fieldwork and visits. Teaching staff combine academic expertise with active professional experience in conservation, and the course maintains links with local and national heritage organisations to support real-world projects and professional networking.

The programme emphasises transferable skills—diagnostic assessment, project management, specification writing and digital recording—that employers value in the heritage sector, while enabling students to develop a focused specialist portfolio through their research project.