Cultural heritage conservation science

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Cultural heritage conservation science
Course sheet
A.Y. 2025/2026
Master programme
LM-11 R - Scienze per la conservazione dei beni culturali
Master programme
120
ECTS
Access
Open with entry requirements examination
2
Years
Course location
Milan, Italy
Language
Italian
Il corso di laurea magistrale in Scienze per la Conservazione e Diagnostica dei Beni Culturali ha l?obiettivo di formare esperti con una solida preparazione interdisciplinare, in grado di operare con eccellenza nel settore della conservazione e diagnostica dei beni culturali.
Questo programma fornisce una conoscenza approfondita e aggiornata delle tecniche di indagine scientifica sui beni culturali, partendo dalla fase di acquisizione dei dati diagnostici fino alla loro applicazione negli studi di conservazione, anche in contesti complessi. Gli studenti acquisiranno competenze avanzate sulle caratteristiche, proprietà e processi di degrado dei materiali costitutivi dei beni culturali e dei materiali utilizzati per il restauro. Verranno inoltre formati sui metodi dell?archeometria e della metrologia applicata, sulle interazioni tra ambiente e bene culturale, e sulle proprietà chimiche-fisiche dei materiali di restauro e conservazione.
Al termine del percorso di studi, i laureati magistrali dovranno dimostrare una padronanza del metodo scientifico di indagine e delle tecniche diagnostiche, necessarie per la progettazione e l?identificazione delle procedure più idonee per il recupero e la conservazione dei beni culturali, compresi quelli naturalistici. Saranno capaci di operare anche in realtà complesse, partecipando a iniziative di tutela territoriale che includano i beni culturali, in progetti di tutela e sviluppo dei luoghi della conservazione, supportando interventi di restauro, ricognizione del patrimonio storico-artistico, monumentale ed archeologico, e attività di archeologia preventiva.
Il corso fornisce una conoscenza approfondita delle moderne strumentazioni di analisi e di rilevamento, delle tecniche statistiche ed informatiche di analisi e di archiviazione dei dati relativi ai beni culturali. La preparazione scientifica avanzata dei laureati include le caratteristiche, proprietà e processi di degrado dei materiali costitutivi dei beni culturali, nonché aspetti relativi ai beni naturalistici. Saranno inoltre formati su avanzate conoscenze scientifiche relative alle applicazioni archeometriche e geoarcheologiche, alle problematiche della conservazione dei beni culturali museali e alle caratteristiche e problematiche della conservazione e diagnosi dei supporti dell?informazione.
Il corso mira a formare figure di "Conservation Scientists" con una preparazione interdisciplinare che includa esperti di diagnostica e tecnologia applicata ai beni culturali storico-artistici, archeologici, architettonici, museali e dei supporti dell?informazione. Questi professionisti saranno capaci di progettare e coordinare campagne diagnostiche multi-analitiche e di collaborare con altri specialisti per affrontare i complessi problemi relativi alla conservazione e prevenzione del degrado dei beni culturali.
I laureati potranno occuparsi della progettazione e della direzione di interventi di diagnostica, con particolare attenzione all'individuazione di metodi, materiali, misure e tecniche per il recupero, la conservazione e il restauro dei beni culturali storico-artistici, archeologici, museali e dei supporti dell'informazione. Inoltre, saranno in grado di progettare protocolli di diagnostica per la conservazione dei beni culturali in ciascuna delle categorie previste, anche in rapporto alle procedure di riferimento e alle buone pratiche in uso. Contribuiranno alla progettazione e organizzazione di musei, parchi archeologici, mostre ed eventi culturali, e collaboreranno alla realizzazione di sistemi informativi per il trattamento dei dati relativi ai beni culturali.
Le attività didattiche si articolano in lezioni frontali, esercitazioni, laboratori, seminari, attività pratiche sul campo, cantieri, laboratori e musei, corsi liberi e tesi di laurea svolte in strutture universitarie e/o all'esterno presso enti qualificati, musei, enti di tutela.
In accordo con le finalità del corso, il percorso formativo include discipline specificamente dedicate alla mediazione e comunicazione didattica, nonché all'economia d'impresa.
Nel rispetto dei principi dell'armonizzazione europea, le competenze sviluppate dai laureati, in termini di risultati di apprendimento attesi, rispondono agli specifici requisiti del sistema dei descrittori di Dublino.
Il corso di Scienze per la conservazione e la diagnostica dei beni culturali prepara figure di Esperti di diagnostica e tecnologia applicata ai beni culturali, come previsto dalla recente legge Madia (110/2014).
The University of Milan supports international mobility by providing its students with the opportunity to spend study and internship periods abroad. It is a unique chance to enrich your educational path in a new exciting environment. The agreements entered into by the University with over 300 universities from the 27 EU member countries under the European Erasmus+ programme allow regularly enrolled students to carry out part of their studies at one of the partner universities or to undertake internships at companies, training and research centres and other organisations.


Similar international mobility opportunities are provided outside Europe, through agreements with a number of prestigious institutions.


The University of Milan is a member of the 4EU+ European University Alliance that brings together eight public multidisciplinary universities: University of Milan, Charles University of Prague, Heidelberg University, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, Sorbonne University of Paris, University of Copenhagen, University of Geneva, and University of Warsaw. The 4EU+ Alliance offers integrated educational pathways and programmes to promote the international mobility of students (physical, blended and virtual).
La frequenza ai corsi e ai laboratori è fortemente consigliata.
Enrolment
Admission requirements:
Bachelor's graduates in Diagnostics for the conservation of cultural heritage (class L-43) can access the Master's degree programme in Science and technology for the diagnosis and preservation of cultural heritage. Graduates from other eligible programmes, both in Italy and abroad, can also be admitted, if they meet skills requirements.
Admission assessment
All candidates will be assessed through an interview with a board made up of faculty members appointed by the Academic Board, with a view to identifying any shortcomings in their educational background. The interview may also take place before graduating from the Bachelor's programme. However, for the purpose of enrolment, the candidate must obtain their degree by 31 December 2024.

Curricular requirements
Access to the Master's degree programme requires solid foundations in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, agricultural disciplines, and a total of at least 60 CFU across the following areas: AGR, BIO, CHIM, FIS, GEO, ICAR, INF, ING-INF, IUS, L-ANT, MAT, SECS, of which at least 6 CFU in three out of five of the following areas: BIO, CHIM, FIS, GEO, INF.
Application for admission:
The application for admission is mandatory and must be submitted electronically from 22 January to 25 August 2024 (learn more at https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/degree-programme-enrolment). Graduates and upcoming graduates who will obtain their degree by 31 December 2024 may submit the application for admission.

Only graduates who have passed the assessment test may enrol.
Milan University students who have submitted an application for admission, and who during their Bachelor's degree programme have earned credits in excess of the 180 requirement, through courses and/or laboratories offered by the Master's degree programme, may apply for transfer credits for the purposes of achieving the required 120 credits.
Candidates from another university graduating after the interview are required to update the documents submitted to the Student Registrar as soon as they obtain their degree.
Candidates who fail the interview, whether graduates or upcoming graduates, may not enrol on the Master's degree programme for the current year.
For academic year 2024/2025, interviews have been scheduled on 20 September 2024, with place and time details to be posted on the home page of the degree programme website (https://conservazionebeniculturali-lm.cdl.unimi.it/it)
Candidates are required to show up with a valid ID on the specified date and time. Students from other universities must also hand in a photocopy of their ID (for in-person interviews).

Admission

Application for admission: from 22/01/2025 to 31/10/2025

Application for matriculation: from 02/04/2025 to 15/01/2026


Attachments and documents

Admission notice


Notice

The admission notice is available only in Italian as the programme is offered in Italian. Students wishing to enrol must be proficient in Italian.

Learn more:
Programme description and courses list
Optional programme year

Compulsory activity
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
English Proficiency B2 (3 ECTS) 3 0 English Open sessions
Prova finale 33 0 Italian year
Stage 12 0 Italian Open sessions
- 18 credits chosen from the following qualifying exams (Conservation Sciences and Technologies area).
N.B. The teaching of advanced physical techniques applied to cultural heritage, laboratory can only be chosen by students who have already acquired at least 12 credits in courses in the FIS/07 and/or FIS/03 sector between the three-year and master's degrees.
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Physical Techniques Applied to Cultural Heritage, Laboratory 6 56 Italian year FIS/07
Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis, Laboratory 6 48 Italian First semester CHIM/02
Dating and Monitoring of Cultural Heritage 6 60 Italian First semester FIS/07
Analytical Methodologies for the Environmental Degradation of Assets 6 48 Italian Second semester CHIM/01
Conservation and Enhancement of Scientific Instrumentation 6 48 Italian Second semester FIS/07
- Characterizing Formation Activities - Earth and Natural Sciences (18 CFU)
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Advanced Mineralogical Analysis Applied to Cultural Heritage, Laboratory 6 60 Italian First semester GEO/06 GEO/07
Applied Geology for the Safeguarding of Archaeological and Architectural Heritage 6 48 Italian First semester GEO/05
Laboratory of Geochemistry Applied to Cultural Heritage 6 60 Italian First semester GEO/08
Sedimentology Applied to Cultural Heritage 6 48 Italian First semester GEO/02
Archaeobotany 6 48 Italian Second semester BIO/02
Geophysics Applied to Cultural Heritage 6 48 Italian Second semester GEO/11
Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleontology for Paleontological Museography 6 48 Italian Second semester GEO/01
- Characterizing Formation Activities - Interdisciplinary Formation (12 CFU)
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Assessment and Management of Risk Caused By Fungi and Insects At Cultural Heritage, Laboratory 6 48 Italian First semester AGR/11 AGR/12
Colorimetry and Heat Management for Cultural Heritage 6 48 Italian First semester ING-INF/05
Molecular Biotechnology for Cultural Heritage, Laboratory 6 48 Italian First semester AGR/16
Methodology of Archaeological and Archaeometric Research 6 48 Italian Second semester L-ANT/10
Metodologie e tecniche per il restauro cinematografico e fotografico 6 48 Italian Second semester INF/01
- 12 credits to be acquired chosen from the following related and supplementary courses
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Geomatics Applied to Cultural Heritage 6 48 Italian Over several sessions ICAR/06
History of Technology 6 48 Italian First semester FIS/08
Polymer Testing and Analysis 6 48 Italian First semester CHIM/04
Advanced Diagnostics Applied to Archaeological Sites 6 48 Italian Second semester GEO/04
Analysis and Diagnostics of Architectural Cultural Heritage 6 48 Italian Second semester ICAR/20
Gemmologia 6 48 Italian Second semester GEO/06 GEO/09
Microclimatology for Cultural Heritage 6 48 Italian Second semester GEO/12
X-Ray Methodologies for Cultural Heritage 6 48 Italian Second semester FIS/07
- Other Formation Activities, freely selected by students among courses held by University of Milan (12 CFU)
The program of each course indicates the preliminary knowledge necessary to adequately deal with the contents of the course itself. It is the responsibility, as well as the interest, of the student to comply with these indications.
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Location
Milan, Italy
Course locations
Le lezioni e le esercitazioni/laboratori, si svolgono nelle aule del Settore Didattico di Città Studi.
Laboratory locations
Le attività didattiche di laboratorio si svolgono sia in strutture dipartimentali, attrezzate con collezioni e strumentazioni tecnico-scientifiche, sia sul terreno, usufruendo di logistica specificamente sviluppata.
Le attività nelle aule attrezzate si svolgono presso i laboratori dei seguenti Dipartimenti: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Dipartimento di Chimica, Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (Scienze Agrarie e Alimentari), Dipartimento di Fisica, Dipartimento di Informatica.
Head of study programme
Erasmus and international mobility tutor 
Internship tutor
Seminar and workshop tutor
Dissertation tutor
University and programme transfer tutor
Master's degree admission tutor
Credit recognition tutor
Contacts

The tuition fees for students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes are divided into two instalments with different calculation methods and payment schedules:

  • The amount of the first instalment is the same for all students
  • The amount of the second instalment varies according to the ISEE University value, the degree programme and the student status (on track / off track for one year or off track for more than a year) 
  • An additional fee is due for online programmes

The University also offers:

  • Concessions for students meeting high merit requirements
  • Diversified tuition fees according to the student's home country for international students with assets/income abroad
  • Concessions for international students with refugee status

Scholarships and benefits

The University provides a range of financial benefits to students meeting special requirements (merit, financial or personal conditions, international students).

Learn more