Education

The MCMS is a four-semester, research-based academic degree spread over two years. The first academic year consists of theoretical courses, seminars and project work. The second year consists mainly of the Master's thesis, i.e., individual research work in the field of conservation, supported by an ad hoc study programme. The programme is developed and continuously updated in close collaboration with international organisations, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the World Monument Fund, the Getty Conservation Institute and the University of Aachen (RWTH).

The multidisciplinary teaching staff is composed of more than thirty guest professors in addition to the staff of KU Leuven. The president of the RLICC is Prof. Minja Yang, a renowned cultural heritage management consultant. She is the former director of the UNESCO Office in New Delhi and had key responsibilities at the World Heritage Centre. The honorary president of the Centre is Prof. Andrea Bruno, a celebrated architectural conservator known for his exemplary architectural projects.

The Master of Science in Conservation of Monuments and Sites is an advanced Master's programme. You can follow this programme on a full-time or part-time basis.

Profile

Applicants should be able to demonstrate actual commitment to the conservation of cultural heritage in general. They should be willing to work in a team and to let ideas from their own backgrounds, training and cultural contexts be confronted with those of other students. Upon successfully completing the programme, you will have acquired and developed sufficient knowledge in all basic fields of conservation and restoration, as well as more specialised knowledge in those conservation and restoration subjects close to your own basic training. As such, you can advance your professional practice or start research in the heritage field.

-  Knowledge level : Master's level training in architecture, civil engineering, urban design, town and country planning, art history and archaeology, or its equivalent;
-  Show interest and, preferably, actual commitment to the cause of the conservation of cultural heritage in general;
-  Willingness to work in a team, to confront concepts/opinions/methods from one's own background and cultural context with those of other students with different background, training and cultural context;
-  Professional experience recommended;
-  International experience recommended;
-  Knowledge of languages recommended (English required).

For specific admission requirements, click on the desired programme in the 'Choose your courses of study' section.

Objectives

The programme aims at educating young professionals in the field of architectural, urban and rural heritage conservation, both in its tradition and in the new methods and specialized techniques developed.

At the end of the programme, the participants will have:
- acquired and developed sufficient knowledge in all basic fields of conservation and restoration;
- acquired and developed more specialized knowledge in those conservation and restoration subjects which are closest to the student's own so as to advance professional practice in the field or to start research in the heritage field.

After graduation

Potential areas of employment for graduates from the RLICC are numerous and widespread. Alumni are working as independent professionals in conservation and restoration of architectural heritage all over the world. They display highly appreciated professional experience in private architecture and restoration offices as well as in leadership and policy-making positions in regional, national, and international conservation institutions like UNESCO, ICOMOS, and the Council of Europe. RLICC alumni can be found at all levels of the heritage administration, be they regional, national, or international.

Spotlight

Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation

The Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation (RLICC) offers an advanced Master's programme through the Faculty of Engineering of the Catholic University of Leuven. The Centre was established by Professor Raymond Lemaire (# 1997) in 1976, on the initiative of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and within the framework of the College of Europe in Bruges.

The RLICC has more than thirty years of experience in training, research and consulting in the field of the preservation of constructed heritage. Its founder, Prof. Lemaire, was one of the authors of the Charter of Venice, which established the doctrine for the conservation of architectural and urban heritage in 1964. He was also a well-known advisor to the European Union, the Council of Europe and UNESCO. He established the centre, which took his name, to strengthen interest in the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide through interdisciplinary training and to promote further reflection on the best possible integration of heritage in today's society for tomorrow's generations. In this spirit, more than 600 students have already graduated from the RLICC. Many of them have leading positions in national or international heritage organisations, have founded their own private consultancy offices or work for public authorities in the field of conservation.

Contact

Faculty of Engineering Science
Programme director
Prof. B. Van der Wee
tel. +32 16 3 21698 or +32 16 3 21748
Administrative office
Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 bus 2200
3001 HEVERLEE
tel. + 32 16 32 13 50
fax + 32 16 32 19 82
info@eng.kuleuven.be
www.eng.kuleuven.be

General information
Study Advice Service
Naamsestraat 80 box 5415
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
To contact us please complete the contact form on our website.

Useful links

Visit this programme's website.

Download this brochure

Download this Master's brochure.

Order this Master's brochure.