Planning and Competencies

Curriculum and Credit Distribution

The Master’s program consists of 60 ECTS credits: 15 ECTS of compulsory subjects, 15 ECTS of elective courses, 15 ECTS of external internships (with an emphasis on placements in Europe), and 15 ECTS for the Master’s Thesis (TFM). Each ECTS credit corresponds to 25 hours of student work.

Among the 30 ECTS to be completed in the first semester, the 15 ECTS of compulsory subjects are distributed according to the current edition’s offer as follows:

• Between 5 and 7.5 ECTS from the subject area Cultural Heritage in Europe

• Between 5 and 17.5 ECTS from the subject area Projects and Professional Organization in Europe

• Between 5 and 7.5 ECTS from the subject area Documentation and Research of Cultural Heritage in Europe

• Between 0 and 15 ECTS from elective courses in the module Advanced Applications in Restoration

Within each of the three compulsory subject areas, there may be both core (compulsory) and elective courses. Depending on the chosen course configuration*, students may follow a specialization track, although it is also possible to customize the curriculum without choosing a specific specialization.

The remaining 30 ECTS credits, completed during the second semester, correspond to the External Internships (minimum 15 ECTS) and the Master’s Thesis (15 ECTS). Internships may begin as early as the first semester.

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Specializations Offered – 8th Edition (2024–25)

• Projects and Professional Organization

• Conservation and Restoration of Pictorial Works

• No Specialization
  *More information on the specialization options offered this academic year

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Master’s Calendar – 8th Edition (2024–25)

The 60 ECTS of the Master’s program are distributed over two academic periods, from January 2024 to January 2025:

• On-site classes: First semester, from January 11 to June 14, 2024 (30 ECTS)
  Extraordinary exams: September 9 to 13, 2024

• Second semester: From September 9, 2024 to January 2025, students complete the External Internships and Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS). However, internships may begin during the first semester.

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General Course Planning

The subject areas within the curriculum, outlined in the corresponding table, are grouped into five modules based on a structure of compulsory and elective courses, which may vary depending on the edition of the Master’s.

The core subjects are grouped into three content blocks considered essential for further specialization and advancement in conservation-restoration, both in a European professional context and with a focus on research:

• Projects and Professional Organization in Europe

• Cultural Heritage in Europe

• Documentation and Research of Cultural Heritage in Europe

Each core subject includes one or more courses, which may be compulsory or elective when needed to ensure the acquisition of the corresponding competencies.

The elective module—Advanced Applications in Restoration—along with other offered electives, provides the flexibility needed for students to adapt the program content to their interests. With the guidance of an academic tutor, students can deepen their knowledge in specific areas they consider relevant, thus actively participating in the design of their own education.

Depending on the edition, electives may include:

• Seminars

• Practical courses in conservation-restoration

• Courses from a different specialization

• Applied language training

• Optional external internships

• Other courses offered by ESCRBC or institutions within the European Higher Education Area

Given the Master’s dual orientation—toward both research and professional practice—it is essential to include a wide range of electives to ensure ongoing adaptation to labor market demands and the evolving needs of graduates.

Elective courses—whether grouped into modules or subject areas—also enable students to define a specialization track, intensify certain areas of study, or pursue curricular diversification, based on professional opportunities and personal interests.

The External Internships support the practical development of acquired competencies in a specialized European professional setting, and are enhanced by opportunities for international mobility.

The Master’s Thesis enables students to deepen their knowledge independently, linking applied research with academic training. It allows students to apply and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values they have acquired, and to show mastery of the competencies required by the program.

 

Module	Subject & Description: Minimum Learning Contents	Competencies	ECTS	Type
Historical-Critical Resources necessary for the contextual analysis (social, historical, anthropological, artistic…) of cultural heritage in the European context, for its understanding as part of humanity’s heritage.	Cultural Heritage in Europe: Study of European cultural heritage with a focus on artistic and cultural repertoires, their function and meaning, with special emphasis on knowledge applied to conservation.	CG: 1,2,3,6,7 CE: 1,2,4,5,8,9,10	5–20	FB
Professional Management Knowledge related to professional organization, legislation and management of conservation-restoration work, with special reference to the European context.	Projects and Professional Organization in Europe: Advanced tools for project planning and management in conservation-restoration. Comparative analysis of the professional organization of the sector in Europe.	CG: 1,2,3,6,7 CE: 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,12	5–20	FB
Research Methodology Research techniques and documentation methods applied to the study of cultural heritage. Scientific, technological and methodological procedures in conservation-restoration.	Documentation and Research of Cultural Heritage in Europe: Documentation techniques and research resources applied to conservation and restoration.	CG: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 CE: 1,4,5,6,7,10	5–20	FB
Advanced Applications in Restoration Further training in tools, procedures and competencies in Conservation and Restoration at an advanced level.	Electives Elective restoration practice subjects	According to subject	0–15	OP
Integration Synthesis of all aspects of the Master’s training, through practical or research-based execution.	External Internships: Practical application of the Master’s knowledge in a professional European conservation-restoration context. Master’s Thesis: Supervised research or applied project in the field of conservation-restoration.	Internships CG: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 CE: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12TFM CG: 1,3,4,5,6,7 CE: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12	Internships: 15–30 TFM: 15	Internships: PE TFM: TFM

Competencies

The primary objective of the Master’s Degree in Artistic Education in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in Europe is to provide students with advanced, specialized, and multidisciplinary training oriented toward professional specialization, while promoting the initiation of research activities in the field of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. To achieve this goal, the following general and specific competencies are developed:
1. General Competencies of the Master’s Degree
Upon completion of the Master’s program, students must:

CG1) Have acquired advanced knowledge and demonstrated in-depth and well-founded understanding of theoretical and practical aspects, as well as working methodologies, within a highly specialized professional and research-oriented context in conservation-restoration.

CG2) Be able to apply and integrate their knowledge, scientific understanding, and problem-solving abilities in new and loosely defined environments, including multidisciplinary settings, both research-based and highly specialized professional contexts in conservation and restoration.

CG3) Be capable of evaluating and selecting appropriate theories and methodologies in the field of conservation-restoration to make judgments based on incomplete or limited information, including, when appropriate, a reflection on the social or ethical responsibilities associated with proposed solutions.

CG4) Be able to predict and control the development of complex situations by designing new and innovative work methodologies tailored to specific professional, technological, or scientific/research environments, generally multidisciplinary, related to conservation-restoration.

CG5) Be capable of clearly and accurately communicating results from scientific or technological research or cutting-edge innovations in the field of conservation-restoration to both specialized and non-specialized audiences, along with the relevant foundations supporting such results.

CG6) Have developed sufficient autonomy to participate in research projects and scientific-technological collaborations in the field of conservation-restoration, within interdisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a high level of knowledge transfer.

CG7) Be able to take responsibility for their own professional development and specialization in the field of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage.

2. Specific Competencies of the Master’s Degree
The specific competencies of the Master’s program build upon those acquired in the Higher Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (Bachelor’s level or EQF Level 6), through deepening, critical analysis, and interdisciplinary integration of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values. They also aim to initiate students into applied research in the field of conservation-restoration.

Cognitive Domain (thinking processes)
CE1) Integrate and apply knowledge to define the documentary and social value of cultural heritage assets as part of cultural heritage.

CE2) Understand various European heritage preservation institutions and organizations, as well as the professional and labor environment in Europe.

CE3) Design and write conservation-restoration intervention projects independently and with a high degree of specialization.

CE4) Provide specialized technical advice on issues related to conservation-restoration of cultural heritage, communicating conclusions effectively to both expert and non-expert audiences.

CE5) Integrate knowledge from different disciplines to assess the conservation status of heritage assets in new or complex environments, and determine appropriate treatments with social responsibility, in professional or research contexts.

CE6) Draft reports, publications, and communications in accordance with scientific conventions and standards.

CE7) Develop learning skills and resources for documentation and research, enabling autonomous study.

Subjective Domain (attitudes, values, and ethics)
CE8) Critically analyze, explain, and justify ethical criteria in conservation-restoration in order to make informed value judgments in specific situations.

CE9) Apply professional ethics in conservation-restoration according to the characteristics and context of each cultural asset, integrating knowledge and ethical judgment to act with social and professional responsibility.

CE10) Appreciate the need for research and continuous interdisciplinary learning in the field of conservation-restoration, through constant self-improvement and self-motivation.

Psychomotor Domain (technical skills and procedures)
CE11) Demonstrate technical skill and autonomy in executing complex conservation-restoration treatments.

CE12) Carry out complex conservation-restoration interventions autonomously and with specialization, collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.