Curriculum and Credit Distribution

The Master’s program comprises 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 Final Project (TFM). Each ECTS corresponds to 25 hours of student work.

Among the 30 ECTS of the first semester, the 15 mandatory ECTS are distributed as follows:

• 5 to 20 ECTS from courses in Cultural Heritage in Europe.

• 5 to 20 ECTS from courses in Projects and Professional Organization in Europe.

• 5 to 20 ECTS from courses in Documentation and Research of Cultural Heritage in Europe.

• 0 to 15 ECTS from elective courses in the module Specialization in Restoration Applications.

Within each of the three compulsory subject areas, there may be basic (mandatory) and elective courses. Depending on the combination of selected courses, students may follow a specialization track, although it is also possible to choose a custom path without following a specific specialization.

The remaining 30 ECTS in the second semester correspond to external internships (minimum 15 ECTS) and the Master’s Final Project (15 ECTS). Internships may begin during the first semester.

Specializations offered in the 2017 Edition:

• Conservation and Restoration of Tapestries and Knotted Carpets*

• Conservation and Restoration of Processional Sculptures and Religious Statues

• Conservation and Restoration of Pictorial Works

• Conservation and Restoration of Graphic Art

• Projects and Professional Organization

• Technology and Research in Cultural Heritage

• Historical Studies
  *In collaboration with the Royal Tapestry Factory (Real Fábrica de Tapices)

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General Structure of the Curriculum

The subjects are organized into five modules, following a structure of compulsory and elective courses, which may vary depending on the edition of the Master’s program.

The compulsory (basic training) subjects cover three main content blocks, considered essential for further specialization and improvement beyond the undergraduate training in conservation and restoration, both in a European professional context and in research orientation:

• Projects and Professional Organization in Europe

• Cultural Heritage in Europe

• Documentation and Research of Cultural Heritage in Europe

Each compulsory subject includes one or more courses, either mandatory or elective, deemed necessary to ensure acquisition of relevant competencies.

The elective module – Specialization in Restoration Applications – along with other elective courses offered, provides the necessary flexibility for each student to tailor the Master’s content to their interests. With the support of a tutor, students can delve deeper into areas of interest, becoming active participants in their own training. Depending on the edition, electives may include:

• Seminars

• Courses focused on practical conservation–restoration skills

• Courses from a different specialization than the student’s undergraduate background

• Applied language training

• Optional internships

• Courses offered by ESCRBC or another institution within the European Higher Education Area

Given the Master’s strong professional focus, in addition to its research orientation, having a core of elective courses is essential to keep the curriculum up-to-date and adaptable to market demands and graduates’ needs.

Electives, as a whole or within each subject area, can also be used to pursue specializations, intensifications, or curricular diversification, based on professional trends and student preferences.

The external internships are designed to develop the practical application of acquired competencies in a professional European context for conservation–restoration, with a focus on Erasmus+ mobility opportunities.

The Master’s Final Project allows for independent, in-depth study, connecting applied research and training. It enables the student to apply and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values acquired, proving their mastery of the Master’s program competencies.

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Official Postgraduate Degree

E.S.C.R.B.C. MASTER IN ARTISTIC EDUCATION IN CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN EUROPE

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Competencies

The main goal of the Master’s in Artistic Education in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in Europe is to provide students with advanced, multidisciplinary training aimed at professional specialization while promoting initial research experience in the conservation–restoration field. The program develops the following general and specific competencies:

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1. General Competencies

By the end of the program, students should be able to:

CG1) Acquire advanced knowledge and demonstrate a detailed and well-founded understanding of theoretical and practical aspects and work methodologies in a highly specialized professional and scientific-technological research context in conservation–restoration.
CG2) Apply and integrate their knowledge, understanding, scientific foundation, and problem-solving skills in new and ambiguous settings, including multidisciplinary research and professional environments in conservation–restoration.
CG3) Evaluate and select appropriate theory and methodology to form judgments based on incomplete or limited information, reflecting on social or ethical responsibilities when necessary.
CG4) Predict and manage complex situations by developing new and innovative work methods adapted to specific professional, technological, or scientific/research fields, generally multidisciplinary.
CG5) Clearly and precisely communicate research or cutting-edge innovation results to specialized and general audiences, including key theoretical underpinnings.
CG6) Demonstrate sufficient autonomy to participate in research projects and scientific-technological collaborations in conservation–restoration, within interdisciplinary contexts and possibly involving knowledge transfer.
CG7) Take responsibility for their own professional development and specialization in conservation–restoration of cultural heritage.

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2. Specific Competencies

These build upon the competencies acquired in the Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (EQF Level 6), emphasizing deeper knowledge, critical analysis, interdisciplinary connections, and applied research. By the end of the program, students should be able to:

Cognitive domain (thinking processes):
CE1) Integrate and apply knowledge to identify the documentary and social values of cultural heritage.
CE2) Understand various European heritage preservation institutions and the European professional landscape.
CE3) Independently design and write conservation–restoration intervention projects.
CE4) Provide specialized technical advice on conservation–restoration topics, communicating effectively with both experts and the general public.
CE5) Combine knowledge from various disciplines to evaluate the conservation status of heritage in new or complex environments, proposing appropriate treatments responsibly.
CE6) Write reports, publications, and communications following scientific standards.
CE7) Develop learning strategies and resources for documentation and research, enabling independent study.

Subjective domain (attitudes, values, and ethics):
CE8) Critically analyze, explain, and justify ethical criteria in conservation–restoration to form well-founded value judgments.
CE9) Apply professional ethics to the specific characteristics and context of cultural heritage, integrating knowledge and judgment to act with social and ethical responsibility.
CE10) Appreciate the need for research and continuous interdisciplinary learning in conservation–restoration, promoting self-improvement and motivation.

Psychomotor domain (practical and procedural skills):
CE11) Demonstrate technical skill in executing complex conservation–restoration treatments independently.
CE12) Execute complex conservation–restoration interventions independently and in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.