Cardiff School of History, Archaeology and Religion

Conservation of Objects in Museums and Archaeology (BSc)

What is involved in the BSc Conservation of Objects in Museums and Archaeology?

The BSc conservation course provides a professional training in conservation practice. Conservation involves the investigation, care and preservation of cultural and heritage material. If you like the freedom and challenge of developing your own ideas and approaches within a broad framework of science, culture, art and practice - the BSc Conservation of Objects in Museums and Archaeology may well be the degree subject for you. Rarely does a university degree contain such a wide range of subject areas. At Cardiff, we focus on teaching a strong academic base, which is transferred into practice via practical work on cultural objects. Study and work take place in purpose-designed conservation laboratories. Work in class and lab links theory and practice and produces conservation graduates with a wide range of educational and life skills - more so than many more traditional degree schemes. The BSc Conservation of Objects in Museums and Archaeology is particularly strong in providing students with transferable skills in communication, problem solving, and planning.

How is the BSc Conservation Degree Structured?

The conservation degree is taught as an investigative science. During the first year of the degree scheme, underpinning conservation skills are taught and a short introduction to archaeology is provided. Years two and three are based on laboratory work supported by a wide range of theory modules covering technology of objects, analytical techniques, materials science and conservation methods. Emphasis is on educational goals, transferable skills, professional conduct and linkage between theory and practice. This combination ensures that Cardiff graduates are well equipped to investigate, record and care for a wide range of material from museums, historic houses, excavations and other historic collections.

What will I Conserve?

During their degree course, students conserve a wide-range of artefacts, for example:

• A 2600 year old polychrome Egyptian sarcophagus of a priest;
• Viking metal and bone objects from the Shetland Islands;
• a 17th century gilded Buddha from Japan;
• museum objects such as a manual vacuum cleaner or a button sample book;
• Neolithic ceramics from Durrington walls;
• Victorian butcher shop tiles from the Welsh valleys.

Students gain extra conservation work experience during summer vacation placements either in museums, historic houses or on excavations. Placements provide a direct link with the reality of the conservation workplace and allow students to develop their professional networks which may help with their careers. Recent placements have taken place at The Museum of London, The National Museums of Wales, Scotland and Ireland, English Heritage, and other museums and excavations in the UK and abroad.

What are the Employment Opportunities?

Within a year of graduating, about 70% of all Cardiff Conservation graduates are employed or undertaking further study and research in conservation. The remainder have used the skills from their degree to move into careers in non-conservation fields such as environmental health, banking and the armed forces. While the focus of conservation at Cardiff is vocational, the degree fulfills all of the educational goals and academic standards required of a university degree.

Can I study Conservation at Post Graduate Level?

Opportunities are available for students who gain good degree grades and wish to continue their studies at Masters level. Cardiff University offers three conservation based Masters schemes. The MSc Care of Collections develops student ability in the preventive care and management of collections, whilst the MSc Professional Conservation allows for further development of academic, analytical and work related skills. Both these courses are one year in duration. The MSc Conservation Practice is not suitable for graduates from the BSc but some of the modules from this course will be available to students on the other conservation masters programmes.

What is the Degree Structure?

Undergraduate degrees at Cardiff University are modular and are split into two parts. During Part One of the degree scheme (i.e., first year of study), students acquire foundation conservation skills and an understanding of archaeology. Part One comprises 120 credits with a single module carrying a credit rating of 10. Students must pass Part One in order to progress to Part Two (i.e., years two and three of the degree scheme). Marks awarded in Part One do not influence the final grade of the degree, which is calculated from student performance on the 240 credits that comprise Part Two. A very diverse range of assessment is used within the conservation degree scheme including essay and report writing, seminar presentations, project book creation, written examinations and, importantly, practical work on objects.

In the first year, students will study foundation skills in conservation practice, basic conservation theory, the materials science of polymers and archaeology. From the beginning, students will experience a system of learning in which laboratory work on cultural objects forms the focus of study.

In the second and third year, the largest module (40 credits) is Practical Projects where students will conserve items such as ceramics, archaeological small finds, coins and waterlogged wood pegs. During class, the staff meet students on a one-to-one basis and discuss conservation options for objects that are in the students' care, and then advise students on the execution of these options. Great emphasis is placed on student ability to develop independent thought, planning, decision making and action. Theory modules, built around the laboratory classes, provide clear overviews of the structure, decay and conservation of materials (e.g., metals, inorganics and organics), as well as of analysis techniques and technology. Work is intensive and each week is fully occupied with lectures, seminars, demonstrations and practical work.

Cardiff conservation places great emphasis on the practice of independent research via the Independent Study and Dissertation. In these modules, students are given the opportunity research an area of their choosing. Past dissertations have covered areas such as the decay of buried glass, the involvement of stakeholders in decisions, the environmental control of museum spaces, the analysis of ancient textiles, sustainability in conservation practice and the impact of application methods for protective coatings on metals. Students can also pick an object as the focus of their independent study and dissertation and recent projects include the reshaping of a badly damaged sarcophagus and the ethical treatment of a skeleton previously stuck to a display board.

Module Selection Year 1

Conservation students take 120 credits and study the following modules:

The remaining 40 credits in the first year are obtained by studying a choice of the following archaeology modules.

Years 2 & 3

Conservation students take 240 credits and study all of the following modules plus one archaeology module. For a full list of modules please visit Archaeology undergraduate modules.

Vacation work

During the three years of the degree scheme, students are required to complete eight weeks during their vacation periods. This is normally in a museum laboratory but can also be on excavation. Some students have worked abroad. Students are given support to agree a vacation placement host and are offered a small bursary towards some of their expenses.

What are the Entry Requirements?

Our standard A-level offer for the BSc Conservation: BBC (280-320) points according to subject profile) Chemistry or another science at A level is preferred. General Studies is excluded. Two AS levels may be considered in lieu of a third A- Level

Students for who English is not their first language must also achieve the University’s English language requirements.

For more information contact:

Admissions Tutor for Conservation

Ms Jane Henderson

Position:Senior Lecturer (organiser)

Email: hendersonlj@cardiff.ac.ukTelephone: +44 (0)29 208 75629Extension: 75629

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