Course Overview

About This Course

The Master of Cultural Materials Conservation is a laboratory-based, inter-disciplinary program giving students the opportunity to work with senior heritage professionals and conservators to preserve art and objects for future generations, including projects with Indigenous communities such as the Association of Northern Kimberley Arnhem Aboriginal Artists and the Warmun Art Centre, and global institutions such as the National Museum of the Philippines, Museums Victoria and CSIRO. Students can specialise in areas such as conservation treatment and new media pathways, undertake field-based subjects in the East Kimberley, the Philippines or Indonesia, and gain professional experience through a national or international internship, drawing on the University's Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

234 St. Kilda Road, Southbank, VIC 3006

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available

Duration

2 years full time / 4 years part time (150-point and 100-point accelerated entry points available)

Intakes

February

Entry Requirements

Undergraduate study in any discipline for 200-point entry; advanced entry to 150- or 100-point program based on relevant prior study/experience. Access Melbourne and Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM) entry schemes available.

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic: admission criteria assessed via the University's standard graduate coursework entry pathway for the 200-point program (completed undergraduate study in any discipline), with advanced entry to the 150-point program for a relevant discipline or 100-point program for honours graduates or those with at least two years' relevant professional experience
International: an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, including 50 credit points at second year level or higher in subjects requiring written and analytical assessment, with a WAM of at least 70% (or equivalent); part-time study not available
Completion of 25 credit points (or equivalent) of university-level chemistry study is considered an advantage; a Chemistry Bridging Course is offered for those without a chemistry background
Selection may require a statement of interest/knowledge/experience in conservation, a CV, and a statement on colour vision and manual dexterity (not required for selection, used for advising purposes)
English requirement: IELTS 6.5 (writing 6.0, speaking 6.0, reading 6.0, listening 6.0), TOEFL 81, PTE 64, Cambridge 169, LanguageCert Academic 67, Michigan English Test 58

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Attribution and technical studies
Material, treatment and scientific studies of collections
Documentation cultures to conserve new media and digital content
The cultural record and managing change in the Asia Pacific region
Distributed indigenous, regional and community collections
Graduates employed at organisations including Artlab Australia, Museums and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, State Library of Victoria, and the Bali Office for Cultural Heritage Conservation, Indonesia

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units11 units

CUMC90040

Conservation in Theory and Practice

Compulsory subject.

CUMC90033

Cultural Materials Conservation Science

Compulsory subject.

CUMC90032

Technical Examination and Documentation

Compulsory subject.

CUMC90030

Conservation Practice

Compulsory subject.

CUMC90029

Sustainable Collections

Compulsory subject.

CUMC90027

RESPECT

Compulsory subject.

CUMC90006

Conservation Industry Internship

Compulsory/elective subject depending on entry point.

Capstone option 1: Minor Thesis

Conservation Thesis Part 1 (CUMC90035), Conservation Thesis Part 2 (CUMC90036), Research Methods (CUMC90041).

CUMC90005

Advanced Conservation Practice

Capstone option 2: Treatment Research.

CUMC90037

Conservation Industry Project

Capstone option 3: Industry Research.

Elective subjects

e.g. Architectural Conservation in Asia (ABPL90146), Issues and Techniques in Global Heritage (ABPL90355), Issues in Art Conservation (ACUR90001), Collection Management (ACUR90007), Conservation Intensive (CUMC90003), Digital Protocols (CUMC90022), Analytical Science in Conservation (CUMC90031), Ngarranggarni: Gija Art and Country (CUMC90034), Introduction to Archaeological Science (ERTH90062).

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Master of Cultural Materials Conservation take to complete?

The Master of Cultural Materials Conservation takes 2 years to complete on a full-time basis, or 4 years if studied part-time.

When can I start the Master of Cultural Materials Conservation?

The course has intake dates in February and March each year.

Where is the Master of Cultural Materials Conservation taught?

The course is delivered on campus at the University of Melbourne's Parkville campus.

Can I study the Master of Cultural Materials Conservation part-time?

Yes, the course is available on a part-time basis, which takes 4 years to complete, in addition to the standard 2-year full-time option.

What career outcomes can I expect from this course?

The Master of Cultural Materials Conservation is designed to enable graduates to launch their career in the cultural materials field.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $55,000 to $68,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $68,000 to $85,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $85,000 to $105,000 per year

Career Paths

Conservator (Paintings)Conservator (Works on Paper and Photographs)Conservator (Objects and Artefacts)Conservator (Textiles)Conservator (New Media and Digital Materials)

Key Skills

Conservation examination and technical documentation of cultural objectsScientific analysis of materials including pigments, fibres, and binding mediaPreventive conservation and environmental management of collection storageHands-on conservation treatment of paintings, works on paper, photographs, and objectsUse of advanced imaging technologies including X-radiography, infrared reflectography, and UV fluorescence

Full Course Overview

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Master of Cultural Material Conservation

About This Course

Available Locations

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Entry Requirements

Where this takes you

Accreditation & Migration

Units of Competency

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Apply

Hear From the Students