Masters in Urban & Building Conservation

Program Overview

The UCD Masters in Urban & Building Conservation program, established in 1986, provides professionals with the knowledge and skills to conserve and manage culturally significant buildings and urban areas. The four-semester program includes core modules in conservation history, theory, and materials technology, culminating in a research thesis. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration prepares graduates for leadership roles in preserving Ireland's and international built heritage.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Masters in Urban & Building Conservation (MUBC) program at UCD School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy was established in 1986 to address the growing need for expertise in architectural conservation. It is a full-time, four-semester program designed to provide a high-quality learning environment and an academic structure for research and development of ideas. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain and manage the wide range of buildings that form the material culture of society, meeting the highest international standards. It attracts professionals from both private and public offices, including architects, urban and regional planners, engineers, archaeologists, surveyors, historians, and other associated disciplines.

Outline:

The MUBC program is structured as follows:

• Core & Elective Modules:
• Semester 1:
• ARCT 40300 Research Methods for the Designed Environment (5 ECTS)
• ARCT 40170 Conservation History, Theory and Policy (5 ECTS)
• ARCT no.
TBC Postgraduate Architecture Studio (15 ECTS)
• Semester 2:
• ARCT 40290 Case Studies and Reflective Practice (5 ECTS)
• ARCT 40310 Materials, Technology and the Environment I (5 ECTS)
• ARCT no.
TBC Materials, Technology and the Environment II (5 ECTS)
• ARCT no.
TBC Building Study Studio (15 ECTS)
• One Elective module (5 ECTS)
• Semesters 2, 3 & 4:
• Thesis Module (60 ECTS)
• Candidates must obtain permission from the Faculty before entering the program.
• Eligibility: Holders of a Bachelor of Architecture degree or an equivalent qualification in Architecture or a related discipline.
• Mode of Study: Full-time, four semesters.
• Mode of Assessment: Thesis (Mode I) - Candidates must carry out a research project under the direction of a supervisor appointed by the Head of the School.
The thesis presented by the candidate must embody the result of this research project. An oral examination on the subject matter of the thesis may be required.

Assessment:

• The primary assessment method is a thesis (Mode I) that requires candidates to conduct a research project under the supervision of a faculty member.
• The program aims to provide a high-quality learning environment and an academic structure for research and development of ideas.

Careers:

• Past graduates have gone on to become international or national experts in their selected fields.
• Many graduates have changed the way that Ireland's designed environment is perceived, planned, protected, and developed.
• Many graduates have also made similar contributions in international contexts.

Other:

• The MUBC program is part of a broader program in UCD Architecture that seeks to prepare students and the profession for changing roles in architecture, particularly in the rehabilitation and restoration of buildings and towns.
• UCD Architecture has taken on the responsibility of creating a center of expertise for the study of conservation in Ireland.
• The program emphasizes the importance of collaboration between various disciplines, including architecture, urban planning, engineering, archaeology, surveying, and history.
• The program highlights the growing awareness of the cultural, social, and economic importance of conserving the built heritage of buildings and urban areas.
• The program acknowledges the development of the legislative environment in Ireland, giving effect to the country's ratification of the Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage Europe.
• The program emphasizes the need for specialist knowledge and skills in both building conservation and urban conservation.