Overview
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely.
This course will be available for students to study remotely during 2022 if they are unable to undertake face-to-face study. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely. For the latest updates on course availability, visit the COVID-19 information page.
About this course
The Master of Heritage Conservation allows you to develop specific skills in assessment, interpretation, management, formulation of policy, and documentation of culturally significant places "including buildings, sites and cultural landscapes. You will be introduced to methods and practices of conservation, designing and building new buildings in old settings, and the history, theory, law and policy of this unique area.
This exciting field of study is much more than just the simple preservation of existing buildings. Instead, by engaging with history, your role is to provide value to building owners, visitors and cultural bodies, all of which have a shared interest in understanding, adapting and preserving our heritage.
Heritage Conservation teaches you the techniques, approaches and methodologies required to work as a heritage consultant in policy development, regulation enforcement or as a cultural historian and commentator. Through this program you will understand the social value and embedded capital of significant sites and determine what should be preserved for future generations. Your degree in Heritage Conservation allows you to draw on our School’s extensive history in this profession, being the first university in the Asia-Pacific region to offer a program in Heritage Conservation.
This program combines the technical and aesthetic principles of architecture and architectural history with the social value of our past. You will be educated in the use of new and old material, alteration design, additions and modifications to existing buildings, and the sustainable, ethical and equitable development of sites in light of its past uses. Your core program emphasises the skills required for work with valuable heritage sites. These skills include the assessment, interpretation, management, documentation and formation of policy for culturally significant places, including buildings, sites and cultural landscapes. These core skills are taught by focusing on the duality of historic buildings their construction (in terms of design and materials) and significance (culturally, historically, economically and socially). From this dual understanding, you will be trained to develop policy that reflects the importance of all aspects of a significant building.
Students enrolled in this course may be eligible for membership of the Environment Institute of Australian and New Zealand (EIANZ).
Commonwealth Supported Places
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available for postgraduate study for eligible domestic students. This means that your course fees are subsidised by the Australian Government and you pay a student contribution amount (SCA). CSPs are limited in number and are allocated based on academic merit.
Subject areas
Shared pool
Your entry requirements
English language proficiency
Find out if you need to prove English language proficiency (depends on your country of origin and educational background).
For academic requirements check the ‘Admission requirements’ section on this page.
Your fee
How to apply
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Applying for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
There is no separate application required to apply for a CSP. Once you apply for admission, if you are successful in securing a CSP, you will receive notification via an offer of admission.
A Commonwealth supported place (CSP) is not guaranteed as there are a limited number of CSPs available for postgraduate courses. The number of available CSPs for a course can change each semester/year. CSPs are also not automatically awarded for course transfers and upgrades.
CSPs are awarded for the duration of a course based on academic merit determined by the University and eligibility criteria specified by the Australian Government. Learn more about CSPs. If you do not qualify for a CSP you may be offered a domestic fee-paying place.
Standard closing dates:
Semester 1 - 31 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 15 July of the commencing year
We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, offers are made on a rolling basis and places are limited. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Starting date
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Standard closing dates:
Semester 1 - 15 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 25 June of the commencing year
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines may apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Starting date
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
What you'll study
| Unit Code | Unit of Study | Sem | CP |
| ARCH9074 | Principles of Heritage Conservation | 1 | 6 |
| ARCH9075 |
New Design in Old Settings | 1 | 6 |
| ARCH9113 | Advanced Topics in Australian Architecture (elective) | 1 | 6 |
| Elective | 1 | 6 | |
| ARCH9028 | Conservation Methods and Practices | 2 | 12 |
| ARCH9081 |
Heritage Law and Policy |
2 | 6 |
| ARCH9082 | Conservation of Traditional Buildings | Nov. Int. | 6 |
| Unit Code | Unit of Study | Sem | CP |
| ARCH9083 | Conversation of Modern Buildings (elective) | March. Int. | 6 |
| ARCH9031 | Research Report | 1 | 12 |
| Elective | 1 | 6 |
Candidates for the Master of Heritage Conservation complete 72 credit points (cp) made up of at least five core units of study (42cp), three optional units from the list offered by the course (18cp), and two elective units (12cp) from those available within the faculty, subject to meeting prior learning requirements and timetabling. Areas of study include history and theory of conservation, conservation methods and practices and new design in old settings.
Admission requirement
A successful applicant for admission to the Master of Heritage Conservation will have completed a bachelor's degree with a credit average, or have completed the requirements of the Graduate Diploma in Heritage Conservation.
Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Heritage Conservation with a WAM of 70 or higher can apply to continue into the Master of Heritage Conservation.
Masters and Diploma students may also opt to graduate with a lower level of certification once the required units are complete.
Please note that students may commence studies in Semester 2, however some courses are only available in part-time capacity due to the units on offer.
Credit for previous study
For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.
Career Pathways
Heritage consultants skills are in demand by government and cultural agencies, development firms, historical societies and architectural and urban planning firms. Graduates may also be employed as social commentators, historians or cultural observers. The dual focus of this program building design and policy formation equips you to enter either area, and there are an increasing number of opportunities with government and councils to work on conservation projects within their electorates.
The approaches taught in this program are recognised internationally, and our internationally-focused approach to conservation education makes your skills readily transferrable to other countries.
There is increasing demand for specialist skills in this area. Many graduates develop a niche specialisation (in a particular era or style of architecture, or in geographic contexts) in their professional practice.
The increasing complexity of government regulations `red tape’ - for new project developments presents an opportunity for skilled heritage consultants to work alongside regulators and design teams to help navigate the complexities of significant sites.
The world is changing, and university education needs to change too
Domestic students
International students
