1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Bern Academy of the Arts
  3. Studies
  4. Master's degree programmes
  5. Conservation-Restoration
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Conservation-Restoration

Your mission: Saving art and cultural artefacts for present and future generations? The Master of Arts in Conservation-Restoration prepares you for this.

In the Master's degree programme, you specialise in Architecture and Furnishings; Paintings and Sculptures; Graphics, Written Material and Photography; Contemporary Art and Media. This qualifies you to work and research independently as a conservator/restorer.

Students talk about studying conservation and restoration in Bern.

Start your studies in spring 2026 or in autumn 2026.

Factsheet

  • Title/Degree Master Conservation-Restoration
  • Specialisations Architecture and Furnishings
    Paintings and Sculptures
    Graphics, Wirtten Mateiral and Photography
    Contemporary Art and Media
    Textiles (Abegg-Stiftung)
  • Mode of study Full-time (6 semesters), part-time possible
  • Start date Autumn semester 2025: 15. September 2025
    Spring semester 2026: 16 February 2026
  • Application deadline Spring semester 2026: 1 October 2025
    Autumn semester 2026: 16 March 2026
  • ECTS credits 120 ECTS
  • Teaching language German
  • Location Bern, Riggisberg (Textiles, Abegg-Stiftung)
  • School Bern Academy of the Arts
  • Next info event 26 November 2025

Contact

Projects + Social Media

Abegg-Stiftung

Focus areas

This practice-oriented Master's programme builds on the Bachelor's degree in Conservation. It allows you to expand your conservation and restoration skills in the specialisations: Architecture, Furnishings and Furniture; Paintings and Sculptures; Books, Graphic and Photographic Objects; Contemporary Art and Media..

What you will gain with your degree

The Master of Arts in Conservation-Restoration allows you to expand and deepen your specialist knowledge and practical skills in your area of specialisation.

The Master's degree certifies you as a fully qualified professional in conservation-restoration according to the standards of the E.C.C.O. (European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers' Organisations). It prepares you to take on responsibility for conservation projects involving art and cultural artefacts.

Specialisations

The specialisation you choose in your Bachelor's degree programme stays the same throughout your Master's degree programme.

This specialisation is all about buildings, monuments, wooden furnishings and artworks in public spaces.

This specialisation focuses on paintings and sculptures, from Ancient Egypt to contemporary art.

In this specialisation you deal with techniques of photography, drawing, printing and bookbinding and look at works made of paper, leather, parchment, papyrus and wax.

This specialisation focuses on a variety of artistic practices, materials and technologies in contemporary art.

Network und Exchanges

HKB maintains close ties to a number of partner universities, both in Switzerland and abroad, and collaborates with international partners on numerous projects. HKB is also a member of several international networks.

The degree programme is part of the Swiss Conservation Restoration Campus. The division of Conservation and Restoration is involved in numerous national and international co-operations and partnerships.

Our Partners (selection)

HKB students have the opportunity to complete part of their studies or work experience abroad. In turn, interested persons from abroad can apply to study at HKB or spend part of their studies here.

Combining Theory and Practice in Research Projects

Teaching, practice and research are closely linked at our institution. The practical research conducted at the HKB explores important cultural, technological and social issues. Research takes place in four institutes:

Career Prospects

As a conservator, you act as a backstage protagonist in the art world as well as in public. You document, supervise, advise and restore both in collections and exhibitions. Your mission? To preserve precious artefacts and convey their significance to present and future generations.

As a graduate of the Master of Arts in Conservation-Restoration you are qualified to work for government, church, municipal or private institutions or for private individuals. Courses provided by the Swiss Conservation-Restoration Campus offer you in-depth insights into the restoration of textile, ethnographic and technical cultural artefacts among others.

A Doctorate – Your Career in Teaching and Research

The Master of Arts in Conservation-Restoration gives you the option of doing a doctorate. The interdisciplinary artistic/design/scientific doctoral programme SINTA is a unique collaboration in Switzerland. Your professional and research experience and the corresponding methodological and didactic skills qualify you to start teaching at a university or comparable institution.

Take a look at the doctoral programme Studies in the Arts, SINTA

Duration + Content

The full-time Master’s of Arts programme (MA) runs for two years and is divided in four semesters. After consultation with the head of the specialisation, you have the option of studying part-time.

Full-time or Part-time?

Full-time Studies

The degree programme consists of 120 ECTS credits. You study full-time and graduate after four semesters with your Master’s thesis.

Part-time Studies

In justified exceptional cases, you have the option of studying part-time. This means that you complete your studies after approximately eight semesters. If you have any further questions, please contact the head of the specialisation.

Programme Schedule

The Master’s degree programme involves extended practical periods in workshops as well as thematic weeks in which you concentrate on your chosen specialisation. You complete your studies with the Master’s thesis.

Programme Modules

You mainly do modules in your specialisation and also have the opportunity to attend modules in other specialisations. You can moreover complete modules offered by the Swiss Conservation-Restoration Campus.

You can find an overview of all study modules in the following BA and MA module plan:

Module plan | Conservation and Restoration Bachelor and Master (in german) (PDF, 237 KB)

These modules comprise lectures, workshops and practical session in your chosen specialisation:

  • Architecture and Furnishings
  • Paintings and Sculptures
  • Graphics, Written Material and Photography
  • Contemporary Art and Media

You graduate with a decidedly innovative Master's thesis that you present publicly.  We publish the posters of all the theses as a brochure every year.

Admission Requirements

There are limited study places which are allocated on the basis of an assessment.

Your Academic Requirements

You are admitted

  • with a Bachelor’s degree, a diploma from a university of applied sciences or an equivalent academic degree in conservation and 
  • the professional qualification for the chosen specialisation.

The Master’s programme builds on the Bachelor in Conservation and ideally on the specialisation studied there.

Supplementary Information on Admission

Find out which languages and prior knowledge are required before starting your studies, what the admission requirements are for international applicants, and how students are selected.

We teach and work in German (at least B2). Written assignments can be written in French, English and, possibly, Italian if agreed with the module coordinators.

Certain modules in the Swiss CRC are offered in English and require sufficient knowledge of that language.

International applicants will require authentic and valid identification recognized by Switzerland; a visa may often be required. Successful international applicants must apply for a residence permit, and submit proof of sufficient funds. Prior to starting their studies, they will be required to obtain health insurance cover. Applicants should make sure they are fully informed about and compliant with their specific entry requirements for Switzerland.

When you apply, please provide evidence of your professional qualifications by presenting a detailed list of the courses you have completed and the Transcript of Records (ToR). Also submit a documentation of the conservation work you have done to date. We individually check to what extent your previous academic achievements correspond to the content requirements of the study programmes in your desired specialisation. If necessary, you may be required to complete additional coursework equivalent to up to 60 ECTS credits in the Master's programme. However, it is also possible that we recognise coursework worth up to 60 ECTS credits towards your Master's degree programme – coursework that you have already completed as part of another curriculum and that exceeded 120 ECTS credits.

A two-part entry assessment serves to additionally clarify the professional qualifications for the desired specialisation:

  1. By submitting a short documentary produced ‘in confrontation with an art object’, you demonstrate your comprehensive understanding of objects in the specialisation of your choice.
  2. We also assess a final interview in which we discuss your academic career to date, the submitted documentation and what you expect from the programme.

Application

So, you have decided to study at the Bern University of the Arts?
Then do not hesitate and apply right now!

Application Deadlines

Spring semester 2026

Application deadline: 1 October 2025
Start date: 16 February 2026

Autumn semester 2026

Application deadline: 16 March 2026

You can only register for your studies online.

Application Documents

Please submit the following documents in electronic format (passport photo: JPG, other documents: PDF).

  • ID or passport
  • Passport photo according to international passport requirements (JPG)
  • Bachelor’s degree certificate or equivalent qualification 
  • Transcript of Records (ToR)
  • Diplomas and university entrance certificates (e.g. vocational baccalaureate/specialised baccalaureate with grades, baccalaureate, Abitur or equivalent)
  • CV in tabular form
  • Copies of the required certificates and confirmations
  • Employer references (internship certificates)
  • Language certificates (if available)

For International Students, in Addition

  • Residence permit (if available)

If You Were Already Matriculated at Another University

  • Confirmation of your exmatriculation

  • Transcript of records of current and/or terminated studies

If you do not yet have one or more of the required documents, please state why in the Comments section.

Transgender identities

Would you prefer us to address you differently to the details recorded in your official documents?

Please register the first name you go by and your gender (if binary) at the application stage, to ensure that we address you correctly during the application process. The relevant form is available on the BFH website. Please upload the completed form together with your application.

Supplementary Application Documents

Motivation

A written statement of your personal motivation to study at the HKB, a reflection on your academic career to date and your professional aspirations. We also welcome thoughts on the possible course of the Master’s programme and the topic of the Master’s thesis. We expect a detailed reflection of at least one page.

Restoration Documentation

Please send your restoration documentation by email or post directly to the Conservation and Restoration division:

Hochschule der Künste Bern HKB
Konservierung und Restaurierung
Fellerstrasse 11
CH-3027 Bern
kur@hkb.bfh.ch

If you completed your Bachelor’s degree at the HKB you can apply with existing documentation archived in-house.

The costs for the study program consist of registration, tuition and examination fees as well as contributions for teaching materials and excursions.

Application (per application) and aptitude assessment*  

CHF 250

Matriculation**  

CHF 100

Tuition fees (per semester) 

CHF 750

Tuition fees for international students*** (per semester)

CHF 950

Examination fee (per semester)  

CHF 80

Fee for social, cultural and sport offerings (per semester)  

CHF 24

Membership fee for the Bern University of Applied Sciences Student Association (VSBFH) (per semester)

CHF 15

Leave of absence fee (per semester) 

CHF 100

* The application fee can be paid by credit card or by deposit slip / paper invoice (+ CHF 10.– processing fee). There are no waivers or refunds for withdrawn or abandoned applications. The application is processed after payment has been received.
** If the application leads to matriculation, the matriculation fee is covered by the application fee.
*** International students are defined as persons of foreign citizenship who at the time of obtaining their university entrance qualification were domiciled under civil law neither in Switzerland nor the Principality of Liechtenstein.

There is also a fixed fee for materials whose amount depends on the degree programme as well as additional costs for teaching materials, specialist literature, supplies, etc.

Fees information sheet (PDF, 63 KB)
Take a look at general information about grants

If you have any questions regarding scholarships and loans please contact Karolina Soppa.

Advice + Information

Do you have any content-related or administrative queries? Would you like an individual, in-person advisory session? We are here to help!

Advice

We strongly advise you seek out our advisory service before beginning your studies, to allow us to assess your individual qualifications in good time. You may book an appointment with the secretariat of the division of Conservation and restoration.

Prof. Elke Mentzel

  • Co-Studiengangsleitung KuR / Leitung GSP
  • +41 31 848 38 89
  • Show e-mail

Prof. Dr. Karolina Soppa

  • Co-Studiengangsleitung KuR / Leitung GuS
  • +41 31 848 38 97
  • Show e-mail

Secretariat HKB Conservation and Restoration

  • +41 31 848 38 78
  • Show e-mail

The Bern University of Applied Sciences offers students a wide range of opportunities at its locations in Bern, Biel, Burgdorf and Basel to make life attractive and enjoyable during their studies.

Take a look at ‘Studies + Life’

What students and alumni say

  • Story

HKB-Studentin Sophie Berger befragt

24.03.2025 Sophie Berger studiert an der HKB Conservation-Restoration mit der Spezialisierung Moderne Materialien und Medien. Sie erzählt, wie es dazu gekommen ist und über die Vorteile der Arbeit an jungen Kunstwerken.

Information Event

Visit one of our information events and find out all about the degree programme, the admission requirements and your career prospects. Our students will share their experiences of university life with you.

  • Information Event

Master Conservation-Restoration

Taking responsibility for restoration projects yourself – that's where the Master's program in Conservation-Restoration will take you.

27.11.2025 – Fellerstrasse 11, 3027 Bern

Location + Facilities

Location

Facilities

At HKB, you study in an inspiring environment. Our studios, workshops and labs offer you plenty of space.

Explore our infrastructure: