Postgraduate study

Postgraduate taught 

Textile Conservation MPhil

A student on the programme working on a garment in our lab.

Textile Conservation is a multidisciplinary subject which combines academic knowledge with cultural awareness, aesthetic sensitivity and technical skill. This MPhil is both an academic programme and professional training; it will give you a framework of theoretical knowledge and a range of practical experience which will enable you to contribute to the understanding and preservation of culturally significant textile artefacts.

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Why this programme

Studying Textile Conservationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lpA-oIUZz8
  • This is the only programme of its kind in the UK, and one of only a few specialist textile conservation programmes in the world.
  • You will be based in our specialist conservation laboratories.
  • You will benefit from our close links with Glasgow Museums, as well as the University’s own Hunterian Museum. Glasgow’s civic and university collections are some of the richest and most diverse in Europe and are of international standing. You will have the opportunity to draw on the museums’ rich and varied textile collections.
  • You will be taught by visiting specialists from local and national museums in Scotland and the wider UK.
  • You will take part in a project-based work placement, where you can explore a possible future career while meeting professional practitioners and developing your skills and experience.

    • Training to be a Textile Conservator

Programme structure

The students develop a wide breath of academic, practical and professional skills. You will take core courses over two semesters in each year, with a work placement in the summer between the first and second years. You will write up your dissertation over the second summer and submit it at the end of August.

Year 1

Core Courses

Summer Placement

Year 2

Core Courses

Summer Dissertation

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. More information: Student contract.

Career prospects

Preparing for a Career in Textile Conservation

The great majority of graduates of this programme and of its predecessor, the Textile Conservation Centre’s MA Textile Conservation programme, now work in museums and other institutions. Graduates of the two programmes have an outstanding record of employment on graduation and of remaining in the sector. They now work in nearly 40 countries and are in senior positions worldwide. Our graduates have worked in museums and conservation institutions from San Francisco to Singapore and from Auckland, New Zealand, to Alaska.

Many of our graduates have been awarded fellowships and internships in the UK, USA, Canada and Europe including Historic Royal Palaces, The National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian, and the Abegg-Stiftung. In many cases these one-year internships, or short contracts, have resulted in graduates being permanently employed in their host institutions, such as the British Museum, National Museum Scotland. and Historic Royal Palaces.

However, it is worth noting that many graduates initially go on to short-term contract posts. It is easier to find employment as a textile conservator if you are able to be flexible in terms of location.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2027-28

MPhil

Home & RUK

  • Full-time fee: £15,500

International & EU

  • Full-time fee: £30,390

UK part-time fee: £1722 per 20 credits

This programme is a two year programme. The fee stated is for one year of study. Students will be charged the same fee in each of the two years.

Fee status

Deposits

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 to secure a place on this programme.

Deposits: terms & conditions

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% administration fee will be deducted unless otherwise stated. 

a: Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

  1. Where the University is unable to offer you a place on the programme as specified on the offer. A full refund will be issued in this case.
  2. Death of a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  3. SERIOUS ill health of the applicant or a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  4. Applicant does not meet conditions of offer. This may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide at least two language tests which were taken after the date the deposit was paid).
  5. Visa / ATAS refusal: we will only consider a refund if the visa / ATAS refusal was based on matters outside of the applicant’s control.
  6. If a refund request is received within 14 days of the deposit being received a full refund will be issued under the Consumer Protection Regulations.

b: Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

  1. An applicant decides not to attend the University for any reason not outlined above.
  2. Personal financial constraints / unsuccessful scholarship application.
  3. Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicant’s account to secure their place for the following year of entry. You may defer twice. After the second deferral standard conditions will apply.
  4. There is still time to meet the English language test requirement before the final upload date. Please see section a) 4.
  5. Visa / ATAS was applied for too late. Please see section a) 5.
  6. Any documents used for admission are proven to be fraudulent. We work in partnership with Qualification Check to check academic qualifications. English language qualifications are verified with the provider.
  7. The refund request is received more than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email.

Timeframe for requesting a refund

Refund requests must be received no later than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email. As per section b)7 above the request will be denied.

Receiving a refund

  1. To comply with Money Laundering Regulations, the University will pay all refunds to the original payer using the source payment details. This is known as a “return to source” payment.
  2. All appropriate documentation and evidence relating to the original payment must be provided, when requested.
  3. All payments and refunds are in GBP currency - the University is not responsible for any exchange rate fluctuations or beneficiary bank charges associated with the refund.
  4. Where University approved payment methods have not been used, this may cause significant delays or prevent payment altogether.
  5. We will aim to issue the deposit refund within 8 weeks of receipt of information per point 2 above. At peak times this may be longer.

How to request a deposit refund

Please go to our enquiry form and select 'Fees and Deposit' as the enquiry reason and then 'Can I have a deposit refund?'.

Please upload all supporting documentation to your applicant self-service portal before submitting the above request.


Additional fees

  • Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
  • Registration/exam only fee: £170

The selection process for the MPhil Textile Conservation programme begins nearly a year before the start of the academic year, to allow students time to raise funds for their study. The closing date for applications is normally in November, for entry in the next academic year.

The fees for the MPhil Textile Conservation are high because of the intensive and high quality teaching and range of facilities and equipment that are provided on this internationally leading programme. We realise that fees at this level may appear daunting but, through our supporting charity, The Textile Conservation Foundation (TCF), we give considerable support to successful applicants to help them in their fundraising efforts. All those who accept places are given detailed guidance and support from the TC Foundation to help their own fundraising efforts; advice is also available from the College of Arts & Humanities Graduate School (for more information please see: School of Culture and Creative Arts Funding).

In addition there is bursary funding available through the Textile Conservation Foundation – all successful applicants are eligible to apply to the TCF for funding. There are some other sources such as smaller trusts and grant-giving bodies in the UK, as well as some overseas sources. The majority of students successfully secure funding for at least part of the cost of their fees.

If you are concerned, we recommend that you apply and that we discuss fees and fundraising as part of the interview process.

Prospective applicants could begin to investigate potential sources of funding, but you should not make contact with funding bodies before you have been offered and accepted a place on the programme.

Funding opportunities

The scholarships shown are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database


Entry requirements

2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in any subject.

A 2.2 Honours degree will be considered where the degree is in a related subject, or you can demonstrate other relevant experience.

You will also require a GCSE/Higher/international equivalent Chemistry qualification. A pass in a distance-learning course, such as the International Academic Projects Chemistry for Conservators is also accepted.

Previous conservation or museum experience is desirable but not essential. It is, however, necessary to demonstrate an understanding of, and interest in, textile conservation as a profession. Candidates are recommended to gain insight into the sector and the type of work involved – for example, by visiting conservation laboratories, speaking with conservators, and engaging with professional bodies and related activities. Please upload a short personal statement of approximately 500 words in PDF format covering these requirements.

Please provide an academic reference. Where this is not possible, a reference from a current employer may be accepted.

Substantial, directly relevant experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications. However, we may also ask for a sample of academic writing.

Applicants who meet these requirements will be invited to interview and asked to provide a portfolio of work. This may include examples in any medium, but must demonstrate excellent hand-stitching skills, with clear attention to detail and a high standard of finish. The portfolio should be submitted electronically in advance of the interview.

We strongly encourage you to submit your application by the November deadline to ensure consideration for the Round 1 interviews to be held in January 2027. Round 2 interviews will be subject to remaining place availability.

English language requirements

 

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

For applicants from non-majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

Accepted English Language Tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.  

IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic for UKVI/ IELTS Academic online

  • 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0 
  • IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
  • We do not accept General Training

TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)

Test taken up to 20 January 2026

  • 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21 

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

  • 92 overall with no subtest less than 4.5

PTE Academic (test centre only)

  • 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
  • We do not accept the online PTE Academic

Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall with no subtest less than 169

Oxford ELLT

  • 7 overall with no subtest less than 6

LanguageCert Academic/Academic SELT/ Academic Online

  • 70 overall with no subtest less than 65

Password Skills Plus

  • 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

  • 96 overall with no subtest less than 90

Kaplan Test of English

  • Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher

PSI Skills for English

  • B2 Pass with Merit

Duolingo English Test

  • 120 overall with writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110

Oxford Test of English Advanced

  • 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher

Alternatives to English Language test

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

  • students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.

TNE degree from UK university taught at a campus outside of the UK

  • students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study and remain valid for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Our courses give you: 

  • direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS); 
  • essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University; 
  • flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mlc/eas/pre-sessionalcourses/

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

  • Heriot Watt
  • Kingston Upon Thames
  • Middlesex University
  • Manchester University
  • Reading University
  • Edinburgh University
  • St Andrews University
  • UCL
  • Durham 

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

  • A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
  • Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
  • Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
  • Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
  • A copy of the photo page of your passport
  • A personal statement
  • A reference

We may also request additional documents such as a portfolio or a sample of academic writing to support your application.

The reference should typically be an academic reference. However, where this is not possible, a reference from a current employer may be accepted. If you already have a copy of your reference on letterheaded paper, you can upload this with your application. Otherwise, you may provide your referee’s name and contact details on the online application, and we will contact them directly.

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

  • Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
  • Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
  • Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
  • Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
  • Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Application deadlines

For entry in September 2027

All applicants

Round 1

Application Deadline: 13 November 2026
Interview Date: Week beginning 4 January 2027
Outcome Notification: Week beginning 18 January 2027

Round 2

Application Deadline: 19 April 2027
Interview Date: Week beginning 17 May 2027
Outcome Notification: Week beginning 31 May 2027

We strongly encourage you to submit your application by the November deadline to ensure consideration for the Round 1 interviews to be held in January 2027.  Round 2 interviews will be subject to remaining place availability.

Apply now

More information about this programme

Related programmes

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more related History of Art programmes

Related links

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