Becoming a conservator

After application and admittance to the Advanced Professional Programme, you will receive a grant. The Advanced Professional Programme offers you the chance to follow an intensive programme of supervised learning. Through participation in conservation and research projects, you build the skills and competences to undertake conservation projects independently and gain experience in dealing with more complex conservation issues. Upon completion of the Advanced Professional Programme, you will  be certified and registered as a qualified conservator.

The job market

Qualified conservators may work for a wide range of public or private institutions involved with cultural heritage care. You may choose to work in a museum, art gallery, library, or scientific laboratory, to set up as an independent practitioner, or to join an existing commercial studio.  A 2019 survey among alumni showed that 82% worked in the field of Cultural Heritage, either in permanent jobs, temporary jobs with the prospect of permanent employment or as free-lancer.

An academic career

Graduates of the programme who are passionate about research are also well-equipped to pursue a career in academia, enrolling as a PhD at the University of Amsterdam, another Dutch university or a university abroad.

Some of our alumni currently work, for example, at the Armémuseum, the Hamilton Kerr Institute, Plowden and Smith, The Rijksmuseum, Mauritshuis and Van Gogh Museum.

Your diploma is not a farewell

After graduating, you don't have to say goodbye to the University of Amsterdam! We are happy to help you develop your career. You can join the young alumni programme, which will assist you in mapping out your career. And as an alumnus, you can also still use the Student Careers Centre.