Course information
UK fee £9,550
International fee £18,950
Taught by History
Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
Submit a course enquiry
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 2587
hypirpg@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
This course will provide you with specialist knowledge in issues of urban conservation and heritage and prepare you for professional practice within the field.
The course has achieved full recognition by the Institute for Historic Building Conservation, the principal body representing Conservation professionals.
The course combines the historical study of cities and conservation practice with an understanding of architecture, material culture and the principles of establishing heritage value to provide a multi-disciplinary grounding in an area of growing significance for planning, tourism and urban policy.
You will develop an understanding of research design and acquire advanced analytical skills which will prepare you to undertake and complete a dissertation on an original topic of your choice.
You will gain practical skills in areas such as project management and scientific practice, ensuring you develop the expertise and knowledge to further your career in urban conservation or to undertake PhD study.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
2:1 degree in history or another relevant discipline.
We welcome applicants who do not have a degree but who can show enthusiasm and competence by having attended relevant certificated courses, by submitting published work or by writing qualifying essays to a first degree standard.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries ListFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in September 2025
- MA: £9,550
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you’re eligible.
Additional costs
Additional costs for 2024/25 are yet to be confirmed but, as an indication, the following was the case for students who started in 2020/21:
There are optional field course costs associated with this course. If you choose to take part in the one day field trip to Birmingham, you will incur travels costs in the region of £40-50.
International Students
Starting in September 2025
- MA: £18,950
You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Additional costs
Additional costs for 2024/25 are yet to be confirmed but, as an indication, the following was the case for students who started in 2020/21:
There are optional field course costs associated with this course. If you choose to take part in the one day field trip to Birmingham, you will incur travels costs in the region of £40-50.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our MA course will offer you a very strong competitive advantage and career choices and your future salary can be considerably enhanced by postgraduate qualifications.
A postgraduate degree in history provides you with a wide range of skills including:
- critical analysis of textual, visual, and material evidence
- statistical analysis and database design
- advanced written and oral presentation skills
- time management and independent working on a large-scale research project
As a postgraduate student in the department, you will also have the opportunity to plan meetings and conferences, as well as possible opportunities for teaching and demonstrating to undergraduate students.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Course structure
Semester 1
Semester 1
Modules
If you enrol on our two-year part-time course you will take one core module and one option module in each semester over the two years and complete a 15,000-word dissertation in the second year.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Semester 2
Semester 2
Modules
Plus your Urban Conservation Dissertation
If you enrol on our two-year part-time course you will take one core module and one option module in each semester over the two years and complete a 15,000-word dissertation in the second year.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
The Centre for Urban History has a close partnership with Leicester City Council and other employers such as Montagu Evans, a firm of chartered surveyors and property consultants. Working closely with such employers ensures the course is always professionally relevant and helps provide opportunities for work experience.
We are home to the HyPIR Lab, a dynamic initiative set up by postgraduates for postgraduates to provide an interactive forum to discuss history and share ideas. We have a wealth of dedicated postgraduate facilities, including audio suites, a map room, and specialist libraries covering local and urban history.
Leicester is a fun and diverse city, conveniently located in the centre of the country. The strong emphasis on extra content such as practical building conservation sessions, mock design reviews panels and working through managing planning applications in the local Planning Department gives added value.
You will benefit from the expertise of practitioners who are brought together through Leicester’s connections to leading national bodies including English Heritage and Historic England. Guest talks and site visits give students a fuller picture of urban conservation as future career.
Teaching and learning
The course contains input from professional practitioners and employers, and you will have the opportunity to take part in field work as well as class-based study, and independent learning.
Assessment will include essays, oral presentations and a formal research-based dissertation. Practice-based assessments will also be conducted on activities such as project management so that you can feel confident about your practical abilities as well as your critical skills.
Fieldwork
The course provides a wide range of opportunities for fieldwork, looking at examples of conservation and urban regeneration in places like Leicester's cultural quarter, Nottingham’s Heritage Action Zone, and Kings Cross in London. It also explores heritage in more rural and suburban settings.
Key dates
September 2025 start
- Application deadline: 8 September 2025 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 25 July 2025)
- Deposit payment deadline: 8 August 2025
- CAS request deadline: 5 September 2025
- 70% tuition payment deadline: 5 September 2025
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Urban Conservation | Qualification MA | Duration 1 year full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Urban Conservation | Qualification MA | Duration 2 years part-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
My course has enabled me to study a wide range of core topics whilst also specialising in my favoured area. I feel that I have a more in-depth and rounded knowledge – the skills that I have gained have put me in a good position for a diverse range of careers.