
Studies
The Swiss Conservation-Restoration Campus offers a three year Bachelor’s and a two year Master’s programme. Each institution is a centre of learning and research with an interdisciplinary team of lecturers and professionals specialised in different fields of conservation-restoration. The titles conferred are recognized by the Swiss Confederation and they are valid internationally.
More information:
Bachelor in Conservation
The Bachelor’s programme in conservation emphasizes documentary work, condition assessment, preventive conservation and implementation of conservation measures.
The Bachelor’s programme in Conservation is fully modular and designed according to Swiss and European standards.
The full-time studies last three years and correspond to 180 ECTS credits. During the first two years students follow a coordinated curriculum defined by the four collaborating institutions and leading to commonly defined learning outcomes.
In the third year students attend courses on a specific field of conservation at the institution responsible for it.
Special conditions apply to the Abegg-Stiftung.
Master in Conservation-Restoration
The Master’s programme develops intellectual and practical skills in a specialised field of conservation-restoration, requiring scientific and technical research.
The Master’s programme in Conservation-Restoration prepares students for independent practice of the profession according to European ECCO and ENCoRE guidelines.
The full-time studies last two years and correspond to 120 ECTS credits. Each institution offers a Master’s programme in the corresponding field of specialisation. Students develop conservationrestoration concepts on the basis of scientific, historical and technical knowledge.
Admission to the study programs
The required qualifications and procedures for admission are published on the website of each Swiss CRC institution:
- Abegg Stiftung, Riggisberg
- Haute école Arc Conservation-restauration, Neuchâtel
- BA in Conservation at Hochschule der Künste Bern
- MA in Conservation-Restoration at Hochschule der Künste Bern
- SUPSI/DACD, Mendrisio
Studying Conservation-Restoration at HE-Arc CR
Studying Conservation-Restoration at HKB
Studying BA in Conservation at SUPSI

Specialisations
Each Swiss CRC institution offers one or several specialisations:
Abegg-Stiftung
Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)
Riggisberg
- Textiles
Haute Ecole Arc Conservation-restauration (HE-Arc CR)
Haute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse occidentale (HES-SO)
Neuchâtel
- Archaeological and ethnological objects
- Scientific, technical and horological objects
Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB)
Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)
Bern
- Architecture and furnishings
- Paintings and sculptures
- Books, graphic and photographic objects
- Modern materials and media
Dipartimento ambiente costruzioni e design (DACD)
Mendrisio
- Wall paintings, stone, stucco and architectural surfaces
Information about the specialisations can be found in our brochure or on the websites of the Swiss CRC partner institutions.

Master Theses
The students finish their MA programme with a Master thesis. The presentations by the students are open to the public – the dates are published in our agenda.
The abstracts of all theses are published as a brochure at the end of each year:
- Brochure MA Theses 2022
- Brochure MA Theses 2021
- Brochure MA Theses 2020
- Brochure MA Theses 2019
- Brochure MA Theses 2018
- Brochure MA Theses 2017
- Brochure MA Theses 2016
- Brochure MA Theses 2015
- Brochure MA Theses 2014
- Brochure MA Theses 2013
- Brochure MA Theses 2012
- Brochure MA Theses 2011
- Brochure MA Theses 2010

Conservator-restorer – The profession
Bachelor
With reference to the relevant professional associations at the European level a graduate at Bachelor’s level will be qualified:
- to register for Masters programs in conservation-restoration or related fields;
- to work as a technician in the conservation of cultural heritage, in the public or private sectors, and to carry out treatments under the supervision of a fully qualified conservator-restorer.
Master
With reference to the relevant professional associations at the European level a graduate at Master’s level will be qualified:
- to work as a conservator-restorer of cultural heritage, in the public or private sectors, fully responsible for the managing and execution of the projects;
- to register for PhD-programs in conservation-restoration.
More information

Continuing education
The Swiss CRC collaborates with the SKR to coordinate the offer of continuing education for conservators and restorers.
Links:
» SKR: https://www.restaurierung.swiss/de/veranstaltungen/weiterbildungsangebote
» HE-Arc CR: https://www.he-arc.ch/conservation-restauration/formation-continue/formation-continue/
» HKB: https://www.hkb.bfh.ch/de/konservierung-und-restaurierung/weiterbildung/