Master in Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Two-year English-taught LM-11-R master at Ca' Foscari's Mestre science campus that trains conservation scientists in chemistry, physics, biology and geology applied to heritage, with laboratories, internships and a research thesis. Entry needs a heritage science degree or 48 listed credits, and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Venice
English
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-11-R) taught in English at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, on its Mestre science campus. Entry needs a bachelor's in heritage diagnostics or conservation, or 48 credits in the listed fields with 24 in science, plus certified English at B2 by enrolment. There is no entrance test.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Ca' Foscari's Conservation Science master has open admission with an individual assessment. You need a bachelor's of at least three years in heritage diagnostics or conservation, or one with at least 48 credits in the listed fields (24 of them in science), certified English at B2 by enrolment, and a review of your preparation that may include an interview. These rules come from the teaching regulations in force from 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a bachelor's degree. With a foreign qualification, it must be a degree of at least three years, and the Teaching Committee pre-evaluates your studies. [1]
Graduates in Italian class L-43 (diagnostics for heritage conservation) or the single-cycle class LMR/02 (conservation and restoration), or with a foreign qualification recognised as suitable, meet the curricular requirements. Graduates in other fields need: [1]
- At least 48 CFU in the listed fields: chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science and information engineering, earth sciences, biology, statistics, architecture and civil engineering, art history, archaeology and ancient history, law, history, and anthropology.
- At least 24 of them in science: chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science and information engineering, earth sciences or biology.
Missing credits must be made up before enrolment, only through single bachelor's-level courses at Ca' Foscari or another university. [1]
The provisional 2027/28 rules on the admissions portal keep the 48-credit total, with at least 24 in sciences such as biology, chemistry, electronics, geography, informatics, mathematics or physics. [2]
What this means for your transcript
For degrees from countries outside the Bologna Process, the Teaching Committee checks your subjects using the ECTS workload, where one credit is about 25 hours of work. [3] As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Geology or Biology, or a B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Maths, which usually exceed the 24 science credits and reach 48 in total.
- Check carefully: a B.Arch, a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering, or a BCA or B.Sc. in Computer Science. These count towards the 48, but we check the 24 science credits and the basic science, humanities and conservation knowledge the committee looks for.
- Often short: a BA in Archaeology, History or Fine Arts, or a B.Com or BBA, which rarely include 24 credits in science.
English
Certified English at B2 or higher, which you must hold by enrolment. [1] You can apply without a certificate, but you need one, or one of Ca' Foscari's recognised exemptions, to complete enrolment. Ca' Foscari does not test English during admission. [2]
Students without Italian at B1 take 3 credits of Italian during the degree. [1]
Assessment
There is no entrance test, and admission is open. The Teaching Committee must check your personal preparation, meaning basic knowledge of the sciences (chemistry, physics, mathematics and natural sciences) and the humanities, plus some knowledge of heritage conservation. It does this by reviewing your CV and, if needed, an interview. Graduates of the eligible classes with at least 85/110 are normally considered adequately prepared. [1]
For 2027/28, the application also asks for a motivation letter written for this programme. [2]
Deadlines
Ca' Foscari sets admission rounds by applicant category, with separate rounds for applicants who need a study visa. The 2027/28 rules on the portal are provisional, and the 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [2]
For 2026/27, non-EU students with a study visa have until 18 December 2026 to finalise enrolment. [4]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on Ca' Foscari's online platform and pay a one-time, non-refundable €30 fee, which covers up to two programmes. You upload your transcript of records, CV and motivation letter, with qualification documents in English or Italian, or with a professional translation. [2]
Non-EU students living abroad are admitted within the number of places the university sets. [1] If you need a visa, you must pass the pre-evaluation to receive a letter of enrolment eligibility, then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and obtain a study visa, which is mandatory for enrolment. [4]
To complete enrolment you need one of these for your qualification: a CIMEA Statement of Comparability, a declaration of value, an ARDI statement of correspondence with a CIMEA Statement of Verification, or a Diploma Supplement in the international model from a country in the European Higher Education Area. Provisional documents must be replaced by final versions before the enrolment period ends. [3]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics. Teaching regulations, Master's degree in Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage (LM-11-R, CMR60), in force from academic year 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice, international admissions page for the master's in Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage, provisional rules for academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Entry requirements for applicants holding an international qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Enrolment for non-European students who require a visa, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage is a two-year master's degree at Ca' Foscari's Scientific Campus in Venice Mestre. It is taught entirely in English and carries 120 ECTS.
The degree belongs to class LM-11-R and is run by the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, with the Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems also involved. Admission is open, subject to an assessment of each applicant. Lecture attendance is free, but you must attend at least 75% of each laboratory course to sit its exam. [1]
The degree trains conservation scientists who can study, diagnose and conserve cultural heritage and oversee the key stages of conservation in different settings.
It suits graduates in chemistry, physics, biology, geology or materials, and graduates in heritage or archaeology who have a solid science base.
What you will study
Chemistry, physics, biology, computer science and geology are all applied to heritage. The first year covers diagnostics and preservation methods. The second year combines science and humanities with internships and thesis research. Units in the 2026/27 first-year timetable include:
- Scientific Strategies in Conservation Science
- Advanced Materials for Heritage Preservation, with laboratory
- Analytical Chemistry in Heritage Science, with laboratory
- Physical and Chemical Methods for Heritage Investigation, with laboratory
- Geophysics and Climate Impact in Heritage Preservation
- Statistics and Experimental Design
- Process Management for Cultural Heritage
How the programme is taught
Teaching relies on well-equipped laboratories, and the university says the degree is the only one in Italy with an advanced laboratory for the conservation of modern and contemporary art.
Fieldwork and internships use real case studies in architecture, archaeology and art history, with placements at museums, libraries, heritage authorities and companies.
The fourth semester is mainly given to individual projects and the thesis, a research project often run with national or international research institutes or companies and written and defended in English. Students without Italian at B1 take 3 credits of Italian in place of part of the internship. [1] A double degree is offered with Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology.
Career paths
Graduates work for heritage authorities, museums, libraries and archives, for public or private conservation and restoration companies, and for research institutes. Roles named by the university include:
- Conservation scientist
- Diagnostics expert in conservation research
- Designer of experimental protocols
- Museum technician or restorer
- Cultural consultant
- Restoration technology development
Graduates can also go on to a PhD, such as the National PhD in Heritage Science, a second-level master or a specialisation school.
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, non-EU master's students pay a flat fee based on citizenship. The listed totals include the €192 regional tax and €16 stamp duty:
- €700 for countries on the ministry's low human development list
- €1,300 for most other countries, including India
- €2,300 for OECD countries
International students can apply for the Veneto regional scholarship with an ISEE parificato, and those who meet its limits are exempt from fees, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Applications go through apply.unive.it, where we upload your transcript, CV and a motivation letter written for this degree. The Teaching Committee checks your academic credits and preparation.
Applicants from other degree backgrounds need at least 48 credits in the accepted fields, including at least 24 in science subjects. Missing credits must be made up before enrolment through single bachelor's-level courses. [1]
There is no entrance test, and a non-refundable €30 fee covers up to two programmes. The 2027/28 admission rules on the portal are provisional, and the 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [2]
After a letter of enrolment eligibility, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and you apply for a study visa, which is mandatory for enrolment. To complete enrolment you need a CIMEA Statement of Comparability, a declaration of value, an ARDI statement of correspondence with a CIMEA Statement of Verification, or a Diploma Supplement from a country in the European Higher Education Area. [3][4]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your transcript against Ca' Foscari's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with your transcript, CV and motivation letter, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What bachelor's degree do I need for Conservation Science at Ca' Foscari?
A bachelor's of at least three years. Degrees in heritage diagnostics or conservation qualify directly. Other graduates need at least 48 credits in the listed science, heritage, history and law fields, with at least 24 in chemistry, physics, maths, computing, earth sciences or biology. [1]
Is the Conservation Science master taught in English?
Yes. Lectures, exams and the thesis are all in English, mainly at the Scientific Campus in Venice Mestre. Students without Italian at B1 take 3 credits of Italian during the degree. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No. Admission is open. The Teaching Committee checks your preparation in science, humanities and heritage conservation from your CV and may hold an interview. Graduates of the eligible classes with at least 85/110 are normally considered prepared. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
Certified English at B2 or higher, which you must hold by enrolment. You can apply without a certificate. The teaching regulations do not list specific IELTS scores, so we check which certificate or exemption your file can use. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
Ca' Foscari sets rounds by applicant category, with separate rounds for visa applicants. The 2027/28 rules on the portal are provisional, and the 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply with provisional documents, but you must upload the final versions before the enrolment period ends, together with one of the accepted comparability documents. [3]
I have a B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry and Maths or a BA in Archaeology. Can I apply?
A three-subject science B.Sc. usually covers the 24 science credits and often the full 48. A BA in Archaeology counts towards the 48 but often lacks the 24 science credits, which must be made up through single bachelor's courses before enrolment. [1]
What careers does it lead to?
Graduates lead diagnostic and conservation projects as conservation scientists, or work as museum curators, conservators and researchers for heritage authorities, museums, libraries, archives, research institutes and companies. They can also continue to a PhD, a second-level master or a specialisation school. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Conservation Science at Ca' Foscari?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Ca' Foscari's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Conservation Science?
A recognised three-year Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Geology or Biology, can meet the rule if it has 48 credits in the listed fields, 24 of them in science, and you need certified English at B2 by enrolment. The steps are the online application, the Teaching Committee's assessment, a letter of enrolment eligibility and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Conservation Science are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the Teaching Committee's assessment, a letter of enrolment eligibility and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Conservation Science are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the Teaching Committee's assessment, a letter of enrolment eligibility and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: online application, the Teaching Committee's assessment, a letter of enrolment eligibility and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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