This English-taught minor gives you broad insight into the history, theories, ethics and practices of conservation and restoration, including measures to counter deterioration, ways to study the making and aging of cultural heritage objects, typical conservation problems, and basic knowledge of chemistry to investigate these aspects. You will become acquainted with the 2-year Master’s specialisation in Technical Art History and all other specialisations offered in UvA’s four-year Master's and Advanced Professional Programme in Conservation and Restoration, preparing you for a career as professional conservator in one of the specialisations: Book and Paper, Contemporary Art, Glass and Ceramics, Historic Interiors, Metals, Paintings, Photography, Textiles, or Wood and Furniture.

This minor is offered by the Faculty of Humanities. The faculty’s minors consist of 30 ECTS credits and earn you a second qualification that will be listed on the transcript accompanying your degree certificate. 

Master's programme

In addition to Museum Studies, Art History and Archaeology, this minor serves particularly well as a preparation for academic Bachelor’s students who want to apply for admission to the Master's programme in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. The application closing date for this programme is earlier than for other programmes because of the selection procedure. Always check the entry requirements on the Application and Admission page of the Master’s programme you are interested in.

Who is this minor for?

This minor is intended for anyone who wants to work in whatever function in the cultural heritage sector, museums or beyond, with a background in natural sciences, humanities or social sciences. It would combine particularly well with a Bachelor's in Art History, Chemistry, and Archaeology, but also with a Bachelor’s in Cultural Studies, Media and Culture, and Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Entry requirements

This minor is open for application to students who have obtained an academic first-year diploma or a positive Binding Study Advice from an academic Bachelor's programme. 

The minor is also open for application to students from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (HBO) who have completed their propaedeutic year. If you are an HBO student and if you are looking to do a Master's programme at the UvA, please check out our pre-Master's programmes, as completing a minor is not enough to grant you access to Master’s programmes. 

Application

The registration period for a minor in the academic year 2024-2025 will start on Tuesday 14 May at 8:00 and end on Monday 17 June at 13:00.