This is a new course and has been designed in order to meet the needs and growing expectations of an expanding conservation profession.  Relating particularly to developing technologies – in particular the surface cleaning of art and architectural artifacts, as well as fossils and other archaeological remains. The course is offered at mid-career and/or advanced level to both practicing conservators (any discipline) and conservation scientists, from either the public or private sector. It is also offered to those employed in a hands-on capacity within  industries concerned with exterior or interior cleaning of built, carved, cast and wrought surfaces as well as other applied surface decoration.
It is intended that students who undertake the course will study as part of a career development programme alongside their existing employment.  It is  hoped they will bring specific projects that they may be currently working on to the course, and that this  will form the basis of their studies, although some degree of flexibility may be necessary.
The course will aim to provide an extended period of concentrated practical training and proficiency in a variety of current cleaning methods. This will involve both established, new and developing technologies  including LASER cleaning on a wide range of  materials and objects e.g  stone, marble, plaster, ivory, bone and metal.
Importantly the course also aims to provide a degree of critical study, analysis, and wider understanding. The opportunity for an in-depth period of study, research, and comparison of cleaning technologies  involving a critical overview of current ethics and related current research, will be second to none.

Qualifications, course content and length are offered at two levels:

a) 1 year part-time certificate of study
Content includes:

• Material Science Studies (some basic related Chemistry and Physics as background)
• Contextual Studies (some basic study of Art, Architecture or other relevant background skills knowledge as relevant to the individual)
• Practical cleaning techniques (including laser cleaning)
• I.T. skills – as relevant/desired by the individual
• Health and Safety, COSHH and risk assessment
• Testing, analytical skills, critical study and research
• Report writing, reading and study in your own time

Evidence of work includes:

1. 1. Course notes
2. 2. Tutorial assessment
3. 3. Two in-depth case studies with associated conservation reports
4. 4. Viva voce final assessment

b) 2 years part-time post- graduate diploma
Content includes:

• Material Science Studies (some basics related Chemistry and Physics as background if required)
• Contextual studies (some basic study of Art, Architecture or other relevant background skills knowledge if required)
• Practical cleaning techniques (including laser cleaning)
• In-depth testing, comparative study and research
• Report writing, reading, and study in your own time

Evidence work includes:

1. 1. Course notes
2. 2. Tutorial assessments
3. 3. One extended risk assessment report
4. 4. Two case studies with in-depth associated conservation reports including comparative critical study
5. 5. 1st year progression assessment
6. 6. 3 dissertation progression assessments (2nd year)
7. 7. One 8,000 word dissertation (subject of choice) by June of 2nd final year