About the Program

The Architectural Restoration Program is a two-year associate degree program designed to educate qualified restoration technicians capable of preserving and restoring movable and immovable cultural heritage assets in accordance with scientific conservation principles. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and practical skills required to protect cultural heritage without altering its original structural and visual characteristics, prevent further deterioration, and restore damaged or deteriorated components in compliance with internationally accepted conservation standards while preserving their authenticity.

Within the scope of theoretical and practical education, students acquire fundamental knowledge and competencies in conservation theory, restoration and conservation principles, architectural surveying (measured drawings), documentation techniques, analysis of historic structures, condition assessment, preparation of restoration and restitution projects, traditional construction techniques and materials, traditional crafts, cultural heritage documentation and inventory studies, photographic recording methods, and laboratory applications related to restoration. The curriculum enables students to develop the technical expertise required for professional practice in restoration laboratories, architectural conservation projects, and heritage preservation works.

Program Objectives

The primary objective of the Architectural Restoration Program is to educate qualified technical personnel who will contribute to the conservation, documentation, restoration, and sustainable management of cultural and natural heritage assets.

The program is designed to meet the growing demand for competent restoration technicians capable of working in architectural offices, conservation laboratories, restoration projects, and construction sites. Students are provided with comprehensive theoretical knowledge and practical experience in architectural surveying, construction materials, conservation legislation, building technology, architectural detailing, architectural history, and art history. Through an interdisciplinary educational approach delivered by experienced academic staff, graduates are equipped with the professional competencies, technical skills, ethical awareness, and conservation consciousness required by the cultural heritage sector.

Mode of Study

The program is offered as a full-time formal education program consisting of theoretical courses, practical laboratory work, workshop applications, field studies, and compulsory professional internship.

Graduation Requirements

Students are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to graduate from the Architectural Restoration Program:

• Successfully complete all courses in the curriculum corresponding to a total of 120 ECTS credits.

• Achieve a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.00 out of 4.00.

• Successfully complete a compulsory 30-working-day industrial internship (2 ECTS).

• Attend at least 70% of theoretical courses and 80% of practical/laboratory courses, in accordance with university regulations.

• Successfully complete all assessment requirements, including at least one midterm examination and one final examination for each course. The final course grade is calculated based on 40% midterm assessment and 60% final examination. All examinations are evaluated on a 100-point grading scale.

Degree Awarded

Students who successfully complete all academic and practical requirements of the program are awarded an Associate Degree in Architectural Restoration.

Graduates are qualified to work as Restoration Technicians (Restorers) in accordance with the relevant legislation governing professional practice in Türkiye.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the Architectural Restoration Program are employed as Restoration Technicians in both public institutions and private organizations engaged in the conservation of cultural heritage.

Employment opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Units affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,

• The General Directorate of Foundations,

• Relevant departments of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change,

• Museums and conservation laboratories,

• Restoration and conservation centers,

• Municipalities and local administrations,

• Archaeological excavation projects,

• Architectural and restoration consultancy offices,

• Restoration construction sites,

• Historical site management units,

• Private companies specializing in cultural heritage conservation and restoration.

Graduates may also participate in documentation, conservation planning, restoration implementation, condition assessment, material analysis, and cultural heritage management projects.

Access to Further Studies

Graduates who successfully complete the associate degree program may continue their education through the Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS) administered by the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), provided that they satisfy the admission requirements established by the Council of Higher Education.

Depending on the regulations in force, graduates may transfer to undergraduate programs including, but not limited to:

• Architecture

• Interior Architecture

• Interior Architecture and Environmental Design

• City and Regional Planning

• Traditional Turkish Arts

• Illumination Arts (Tezhip)

• Tile Art (Çini)

• Restoration of Historical Tiles

• Teaching of Traditional Turkish Handicrafts

or other bachelor's degree programs approved for vertical transfer by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).