Students' testimonies: What do students say about the M.Sc. program Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation?

"The study of digital technologies in heritage conservation offers those, who want to learn modern methods of documentation, recording and visualisation of cultural assets, the opportunity to deepen their knowledge. Furthermore, the study programme offers the possibility of acquiring the handling and understanding of various software, which enables one to further educate oneself independently even after graduation. This allows you to expand your own range and expertise and opens up new career prospects that may have been rather limited before." Lea Puglisi, M.A. conservator on studying her second masters digital technologies in heritage conservation programme.

"By using the two scanners, the students were able to put the theoretical background they had learned into practice and were confronted with both the advantages and disadvantages of the technologies in the field of heritage conservation.  (...) The versatile applicability and intuitive operation as well as the very fast environmental recording with permanently constant accuracy and quality guaranteed by the technologies is already indispensable for the creation of precise building surveys or the monitoring of cultural assets." (Work report in module "Digital object recording" 2021 at Bamberg Cathedral - student Nikolas Schmidt)

Excellent conditions for study

The University of Bamberg and the Coburg University of Applied Sciences enjoy an excellent reputation in the fields of heritage conservation, conservation sciences and engineering sciences as well as in application-oriented digital technologies. With the formation of the " Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT)", a unique learning environment has been established in Bamberg. In addition, Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation are now part of the research focus areas "Digital Humanities, Social and Human Sciences" and "Access and Conservation of Cultural Property" at the University of Bamberg.

The degree programme benefits from both an excellent interdisciplinary team in both Bamberg and Coburg, who are happy to impart their expert knowledge to the students, and access to a variety of cutting-edge technical hardware and software. A dynamic, market and research-oriented approach allows for the training of specialists with up-to-date knowledge and skills. The degree programme has been accredited since October 2019.

In addition, the programme is being constantly evaluated and improved, so that from October 2022 further optimising and inidvidualising the degree programme for you is possible. Furthermore, Bachelor of Architecture graduates can now obtain eligibility to the enter the German chamber of Architects via our degree programme. During your studies, you will benefit from the expertise in all the disciplines taught on the course: Heritage Conservation (Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation) and Applied Computer Science (Cultural Informatics and Media Informatics) in Bamberg and Engineering and Natural Sciences in Coburg.

Due to its small size, the degree programme offers a very good ratio between students and lecturers; teachers are always available to and can provide personalised one-to-one supervision.  

The lectures take place at the Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg and at the University of Applied Sciences in Coburg. Students enrol as a main student at Bamberg and as a secondary student at Coburg and thus receive a semester ticket allowing them to commute free of charge between the two locations and within the region.

The programm is taught in German.

High-tech equipment

You will benefit from the latest equipment with sensors currently used in heritage science. You will go through practical training that will familiarise you with 3D scanners (laser and light projected light scanners) as well as photogrammetry and classical tacheometry/ total station, as well as building physics and metrology. You will also learn the associated software for the post-processing or elaboration of digital products, e.g. with applications such as Heritage/Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) and 3D printing. Learning these technologies paves the way for your entry into the professional world.

Networking

Diverse co-operations and networking opportunities enable application-oriented specialisation, and a final thesis on a real-world issue all support future career entry.

We cooperate with the following institutions or facilities:

  • Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments
  • Bavarian Castles administration
  • Fraunhofer Institute
  • Bavarian Chamber of Architects
  • EURAC Institute Bolzano
  • ISAT (Institute for Sensor and Actuator Technologies Coburg)
  • Museums of the City of Bamberg
  • Bamberg University Museum / Bumiller Collection
  • Bamberg Museum of Natural History
  • Bamberg Cathedral authorities
  • Diözesanmuseum Bamberg
  • City Archive and State Archive Bamberg

Research

The development of the new subject "Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation" offers exciting research perspectives within the framework of the Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT) . You can align your Master's thesis with current research topics in the ever-expanding field of heritage sciences.

 

Take part in exciting projects and look behind the scenes, e.g. at the English Theatre in Frankfurt (University of Applied Sciences Coburg). Or find out about the current projects at the Chair and in the Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation department (Uni Bamberg).