Master in Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught LM-11-R master's on the University of Bologna's Ravenna campus, training conservation scientists in the study, diagnostics and conservation of cultural heritage. Open access, with a science degree rule, a grade check and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-11-R) taught in English by the University of Bologna on its Ravenna campus. Entry needs a three-year science degree, or a related degree with 18 science credits, a committee check of your grades and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage master asks for a three-year degree in a listed science class, or a cultural heritage, engineering, architecture or building degree with at least 18 science credits, plus English at B2 and a committee check of your grades, with an online interview if needed. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a three-year bachelor's degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable under Italian rules that gives access to a similar master's in the country where it was issued. It must fit one of two routes: [1]
- Route A, a science degree: Biological Sciences (L-13), Chemical Sciences and Technologies (L-27), Physical Sciences and Technologies (L-30), Sciences and Technologies for the Environment and Nature (L-32), Geological Sciences (L-34), Diagnostics for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (L-43), Materials Science (L-Sc.Mat) or the single-cycle degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (LMR/02).
- Route B, a related degree plus 18 credits: Cultural Heritage (L-1), Civil and Environmental Engineering (L-7), Industrial Engineering (L-9), Architecture Sciences (L-17) or Sciences and Techniques of Building (L-23), with at least 18 CFU in physics, chemistry, earth sciences or biology, or in listed related sectors such as materials science, metallurgy, applied and industrial chemistry, restoration and archaeological methods.
For students without an Italian qualification, the evaluation committee assesses the application. If you do not meet all the curricular requirements, you cannot register for the programme. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The rule is set by Italian degree class, so for a foreign degree the committee compares your subjects with these classes. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geology, Environmental Science or Materials Science.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil, Mechanical, Chemical or Metallurgical Engineering, a B.Arch, or a BA in Archaeology or History of Art. These sit closer to route B, so your transcript needs at least 18 credits in physics, chemistry, earth sciences or biology, or in the listed related sectors.
- Often short: a BCA, B.Com, BBA, a B.Tech in Computer Science or a BA without science units, which match neither list.
If you are still finishing your degree, you can apply once you have at least 140 credits. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, proven at the application stage. The call accepts any of these: [1]
- a certificate on the University of Bologna Language Centre's list of recognised certificates
- a degree obtained in English
- English proficiency obtained in other academic cycles
- being a native speaker
The call does not list specific test scores; the Language Centre's list sets which certificates count. [1]
Grade check and interview
There is no written entrance test. Access is open, with no cap on places, but an evaluation committee appointed by the Department of Chemistry Giacomo Ciamician checks your personal preparation from your graduation grade and your CV. [1]
- Grade route: a final grade of 100/110 or higher meets the requirement. For foreign degrees, the committee converts your final grade.
- Below that, or not yet graduated: the committee looks at other parts of your CV, such as grades in single courses, subject knowledge or relevant professional experience, and may call you for an online interview on Microsoft Teams, which can cover physics, chemistry or both.
If you are not admitted, you can reapply in a later intake with complete, updated documents. If you do not pass the interview, you can repeat it once, in the next intake. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Five intakes were open to EU and non-EU applicants, each closing at 12 p.m.: [1]
- Intake 1: 2 February to 16 March 2026, first results from 31 March 2026.
- Intake 2: 17 March to 20 April 2026, first results from 7 May 2026.
- Intake 3: 21 April to 25 May 2026, first results from 11 June 2026.
- Intake 4: 26 May to 6 July 2026, first results from 16 July 2026.
- Intake 5: 7 July to 31 August 2026, first results from 10 September 2026.
- Intake 6, EU and EU-equivalent applicants only: 1 to 25 September 2026.
Matriculation for 2026/27 runs until 19 November 2026, with a late-payment fee from 30 October 2026. Graduating applicants must obtain their degree by 31 December 2026, otherwise the registration is cancelled. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on Studenti Online, and the committee assesses only the documents uploaded there. The application includes: [1]
- a valid identity document, or a passport if your ID has no English translation
- your foreign qualification translated into Italian or English, with the transcript of records and Diploma Supplement where available, or your list of exams if you have not yet graduated
- a CV in English
- proof of B2 English
- a residence permit, if you already hold one
Mandatory documents that are missing or only partly uploaded by the intake deadline mean the application is not considered. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad must also pre-enrol on Universitaly and request a study visa. After admission you matriculate online, pay the first instalment and upload your qualification and visa. In Italy, the original documents are shown to the student office, and the Ravenna campus office checks the eligibility, authenticity and value of your foreign qualification before your career is activated. For 2026/27, careers had to be activated by 26 February 2027. [1]
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.
- University of Bologna, Department of Chemistry Giacomo Ciamician. Admission notice to the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage (S.Co.Re, class LM-11 R, code 6684), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Second Cycle Degree Programme in Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage, programme website overview (teaching language, campus, degree class and access). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage is a two-year second cycle degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-11-R, Conservation and restoration of the cultural heritage. It is taught entirely in English on the University of Bologna's Ravenna campus, not in the city of Bologna, by the Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician" (CHIM). The degree is worth 120 ECTS, has open access and is directed by Giorgia Sciutto.
The university states that the course is aimed at the education and training of conservation scientists. It suits graduates in the sciences who want to apply their knowledge to the study and care of cultural heritage as members of interdisciplinary teams.
What you will study
Under the line "studying and preserving cultural heritage", the degree gives advanced scientific expertise in three connected areas named by the university:
- The scientific study of cultural heritage
- Diagnostics, to understand the materials and condition of heritage objects
- Conservation, to help preserve them over time
The university stresses that this expertise is meant to be used within an interdisciplinary team. The individual course units, with their credits and teaching periods, are listed in the course structure diagram on the degree website; we check the 2027/28 structure before you apply.
Career paths
Graduates are trained as conservation scientists: specialists who contribute scientific study and diagnostics to the conservation of cultural heritage inside interdisciplinary teams. A laurea magistrale also opens the way to PhD programmes, and the University of Bologna's job placement service lists job offers and career events for its graduates.
Fees and scholarships
This degree is in a higher fee band for 2026/27, and the amount falls with family income. With an ISEE of €27,000 or less, this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Foreign income is declared to ER.GO, which also runs the regional scholarship. Non-OECD citizens with family income only abroad may choose a reduced flat fee instead.
How to apply from outside the EU
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could apply in five intakes between 2 February and 31 August 2026, each closing at 12 p.m.; a sixth intake in September was reserved for EU and EU-equivalent candidates. Applications go through Studenti Online, and as an open access degree there is no cap on places. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]
After admission, we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment and wait for the university to validate it before you book your visa appointment. Enrolment and the first instalment are done online, and the student office for the Ravenna campus checks your original documents when you arrive.
Compare related master's programmes
If you are exploring cultural heritage and conservation, compare the curriculum and entry requirements on these programme pages before choosing your shortlist.
- Master in Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage at Sapienza University of Rome
- Master in The Ancient Mediterranean World: History, Archaeology and Art at University of Pavia
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 Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Studenti Online application with your degree, transcript, English CV and B2 proof, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Bologna's Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage master?
A three-year degree in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, geology, heritage diagnostics or materials science. Cultural heritage, civil or industrial engineering, architecture and building graduates can also apply with at least 18 credits in physics, chemistry, earth sciences or biology. The committee assesses foreign degrees. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. Access is open, but a committee checks your preparation. A final grade of 100/110 or higher, converted for foreign degrees, meets the requirement. Otherwise the committee reviews your CV and may call you for an online interview on physics and chemistry. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, proven when you apply. The call accepts a certificate on the Bologna Language Centre's recognised list, a degree obtained in English, proficiency from earlier studies or native-speaker status. It does not list specific scores, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could use five intakes: the first closed on 16 March 2026 and the last at 12 p.m. on 31 August 2026. A sixth intake in September was for EU and EU-equivalent applicants only. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you already have at least 140 credits. For 2026/27, admitted students had to obtain their degree by 31 December 2026, otherwise the registration is cancelled. [1]
I have a B.Tech in Civil Engineering or a BA in Archaeology. Can I apply?
Possibly. Civil engineering and cultural heritage degrees fall under the second route, which also needs at least 18 credits in physics, chemistry, earth sciences or biology, or in listed related sectors. We check your transcript against this rule before you apply. [1]
Where is this degree taught?
On the University of Bologna's Ravenna campus, by the Department of Chemistry Giacomo Ciamician, not in the city of Bologna. All teaching is in English, and the Ravenna campus office handles matriculation checks. [1][2]
What does the degree train you to do?
It trains conservation scientists: specialists who bring advanced scientific expertise to the study, diagnostics and conservation of cultural heritage, working within an interdisciplinary team. A laurea magistrale also gives access to PhD programmes.
Can someone handle my whole application to Science for Conservation-Restoration at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Science for Conservation-Restoration?
A three-year Indian B.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geology, Environmental Science or Materials Science sits closest to the science classes Bologna lists. Civil or industrial engineering, architecture and cultural heritage graduates also need 18 science credits. You need English at B2 and a committee check of your grades. The steps are the Studenti Online application, the committee's review 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 Science for Conservation-Restoration are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in one of the intakes open to non-EU applicants, the committee's review 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 Science for Conservation-Restoration are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in one of the intakes open to non-EU applicants, the committee's review and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Science for Conservation-Restoration are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: Studenti Online application in one of the intakes open to non-EU applicants, the committee's review and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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