Today, preserving, understanding and passing on architectural heritage requires knowhow combining history, architecture, law, conservation techniques and heritage policy. To meet these challenges, the Executive Master’s Degree in Architectural Heritage, set up by ULB and VUB with Urban providing funding and expertise in support, is now open for enrolment for the 2026-2027 academic year.
This specialised university course offers a multidisciplinary approach to built heritage and its conservation. The programme, designed for professionals in the sector, but also for anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge in this field, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issues relating to the study, conservation, restoration and promotion of architectural heritage.
Through lectures by recognised experts and analysing real-life case studies, participants are encouraged to take a critical look at heritage in its many dimensions: historical, cultural, social, economic and urban. This approach is in line with Urban’s tasks: preserving and passing on heritage while incorporating it into the city’s current challenges, so that it remains a cultural, social and territorial resource for future generations.
The training course, which spans two academic years, combines theoretical teaching with methodological approaches and practical fieldwork. The first year covers, among other things, the challenges of conservation and restoration, the theoretical and legal framework governing built heritage, the history of architecture and gardens, the links between heritage and the city, documentary and historical research, as well as the archaeology of built heritage and diagnostic methods.
One of the main advantages of this training course is its flexibility. Participants can complete the full programme leading to a qualification, spread their studies over a longer period or enrol in specific modules on an individual basis, depending on their needs and availability.
Courses for the 2026-2027 academic year will start in late November 2026 and will be taught exclusively in French.
Practical information
- Duration: two academic years
- Start of the courses in November 2026
- Language of instruction: French
- Application deadline: 19.10.2026
- Jointly organised by ULB and VUB, with the support of Urban
