Material Science courses

About Graduate Certificate In Heritage Materials Conservation in University of Canberra

Conserve cultural heritage with this hands-on degree

Whether your professional background is in science, environmental management, architecture, engineering, building and construction, or the humanities, this course will give you the skills in understanding, conserving, reconstructing and restoring heritage materials.

In this course you will explore how these materials are made, how they respond to their changing environments, how people value them, and how conservation professionals ensure they survive into the future.

Through practical field-based workshops and behind-the-scenes tours of heritage sites and collections, you will learn to investigate the condition and significance of heritage items, develop conservation and management plans for them, and carry out laboratory and on-site treatment techniques to preserve and restore them.

All units contain Indigenous cultural content as a key underpinning to theory, practice, history and contemporary social, economic and cultural issues in the cultural heritage sector.

The flexibility to develop your personal vision, interests and focus as a professional is intrinsic to the course, and progression to the Graduate Diploma in Creative and Cultural Futures and Master of Arts in Creative and Cultural Futures is available by enrolling in additional units.

Study a Graduate Certificate in Heritage Materials Conservation at UC and you will:

• apply values-based methodologies to identify the stakeholders and values that must be taken into account in conservation planning
• use observation and analysis to accurately identify heritage materials, their condition, and their responses to environmental conditions
• integrate physical data and cultural understandings to develop sustainable conservation treatment and management plans for heritage
• determine and apply appropriate preservation, conservation and restoration techniques to conserve and enhance heritage materials.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

WIL is a significant focus of the course, with all units centered on the development of key methods, techniques and skills required for work in the field of cultural heritage.

As part of your studies you will gain extensive practical experience working in real-life industry scenarios, participate in site-based tutorials, explore numerous local and international case studies, while also contributing to group projects and research work.

You will also have the opportunity to gain access to mentors from within the industry, deliver presentations to culture and heritage practitioners, and be challenged working with simulations of real-world industry design briefs.

If you are already employed in the sector, you will also be encouraged to use your past experiences to reflect on current industry practice, problems and issues.

Career opportunities

• conservator
• head of heritage
• heritage consultant
• curator
• gallery manager
• indigenous heritage officer
• collections manager
• heritage manager
• engineering heritage consultant
• historic buildings conservation officer
• culture and heritage officer
• heritage site manager
• heritage and cultural policy adviser

Course-specific information

A clear pathway of study exists between this course, the undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (Culture and Heritage), the postgraduate Graduate Diploma in Creative and Cultural Futures, and the Master of Arts in Creative and Cultural Futures.

Students who have completed this course may apply and receive credit for units within the Graduate Diploma in Creative and Cultural Futures.

Academic qualification equivalents

• Bachelor's degree from a university or technical college with a minimum of 180 ECTS points

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS   :     6.5 overall (min. 6.0 in each subtest)
• TOEFL :     79 overall (min. 16 in listening, 18 in speaking, 16 in reading, 22 in writing)
• PTE      :    58 overall (min. 50 in listening, speaking, reading and writing)

University of Canberra Highlights

University of Canberra Average Tuition Fees And Other Expenses

The University of Canberra's tuition fees vary depending on the level of study and the program you choose. Here is an approximate breakdown of the average tuition fees for 2022:

Undergraduate Programs:

• Domestic students: AUD 11,000 - AUD 29,000 per year
• International students: AUD 28,000 - AUD 34,000 per year

Postgraduate Programs:

• Domestic students: AUD 15,000 - AUD 32,000 per year
• International students: AUD 29,000 - AUD 39,000 per year

Note that tuition fees may vary depending on the program and the specific requirements of the course.

In addition to tuition fees, there are other expenses that students may need to consider when studying at the University of Canberra. These include:

1. Accommodation: The cost of living on campus at the University of Canberra ranges from AUD 240 - AUD 500 per week, depending on the type of accommodation.

2. Books and supplies: Students may need to purchase textbooks and other supplies, which can cost around AUD 1,000 per year.

3. Food and transportation: Students may need to budget for food and transportation expenses, which can vary depending on personal preferences and needs.

4. Health insurance: International students are required to have health insurance, which can cost around AUD 600 per year.

5. Personal expenses: This includes expenses such as clothing, entertainment, and other personal items.

Overall, students can expect to pay an average of AUD 20,000 - AUD 30,000 per year for tuition fees and other expenses when studying at the University of Canberra.

Tuition Fee for some graduate courses:

University of Canberra English Proficiency Test Score for International Students

For admissions at University of Canberra international applicants are required to submit proof of English language proficiency. The minimum ELP test score requirements are mentioned below:

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