Historic structures in each country are a very important part of the structured environment. They represent almost all of the structures in archaeological sites and the vast majority of structures in the historic centers of cities and in traditional settlements. Their maintenance, repair and reinforcement, which contributes to their preservation and protection, has always been a timeless need that has arisen and continues to exist due to the continuous use and reuse of these structures.

A significant number of historic buildings are now recognized as monuments. Also, a significant number of historical buildings are characterized as "vernacular buildings" or "under preservation order buildings" and are protected by specific measures and laws which require special treatment of these buildings, especially as regards the use and the interventions in them.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries several theories regarding the philosophy and objectives that should govern the interventions in historical constructions and monuments were formulated. These interventions were enormous after the 1st and 2nd World Wars, as the historic centers of several cities had been destroyed, and the reconstruction and restoration of historic centers was at the heart of the efforts of many, mainly European, states.

The protection of historical structures and monuments is one of the most basic policies of international organizations and states, both in the field of culture and in the field of management of the built environment. In the context of this policy, the huge contribution of these constructions to human civilization is recognized and promoted in all ways by protecting and promoting them both locally, nationally and regionally as well as globally.

Over the past 100 years, there has been strong activity in this field, both at the state and at international level, which has led to the formulation of charters and laws that should govern interventions in historical constructions and monuments. Some of these achievements are illustrated internationally, such as the Athens Charter (1935), the Venice Charter (1963), other declarations and related directives from UNESCO, the European Union and other international organizations. Also, several Member States of the above-mentioned international organizations, and not just Cyprus, are in a constant effort to align with the above international declarations.

This harmonization is achieved, inter alia, through the adoption of national legislation, the adoption of relevant directives, the organization of specific state mechanisms for the monitoring and control of studies and work in the field of the protection and restoration of monuments.

Due to the complexity of these tasks, the necessity of a holistic approach to the problem, which calls for the interdisciplinary approach to protection and intervention, has been recognized and has led to the involvement of several scientific specialists in this field (archaeologists, historians, architects, geologists, civil engineers, chemical engineers, surveying engineers, art conservators, etc.). Furthermore, due to the highly specialized nature of these works, the necessity of educating each scientific specialty in matters relating to protection and interventions in historical and monumental constructions, is recognized.

In Cyprus today there are tens of thousands of traditional buildings and thousands of other historical buildings, most of them declared as monuments or protected by special laws and other provisions. The interventions in these buildings impose specialized knowledge and are awarded to experienced and proven architects and engineers. At the same time, the control of the studies and the work is carried out by competent departments of the state such as:

- Department of Antiquities
- Department of Urban Planning and Housing
- Department of Public Works
- District Administrations
- Turkish Cypriot property maintenance services
- Ministry of Education Technical Services, etc.

The above framework, as described, requires the existence of specialized Architects and Civil Engineers in the field of Conservation and Restoration of Historic Structures and Monuments.
Also, eight Universities (three state and five private) are currently operating in Cyprus. There are three Departments of Civil Engineering and four Architecture Departments. However, there is no Master Program in the field of conservation and restoration of historical constructions and monumentsin any of the other Universities.
It follows that the proposed Master Program is considered absolutely necessary for the Cypriot market and society in general and is believed to contribute to:

- The training of Architects and Civil Engineers in the field of Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Traditional Buildings capable of staffing public services, working as freelancers to meet market needs and to engaging in parallel research activities.
- Promoting interdisciplinary cooperation and research in the above field.
- Promoting cooperation between universities and competent authorities in the wider public sector.
- The transfer of know-how in Cyprus by experienced and internationally renowned professors of foreign universities with many years of research and professional experience.
- To protect the architectural heritage of Cyprus and to preserve and highlight its particular historical and cultural characteristics.

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading
i. The performance of students is judged through a wide range of assessment modalities such as exams, written work, e-portfolios, presentations, etc. The course grading will be based on the official scale (0-100). Students failing in one course (under grade 50) will be given a second chance for examination without repeating the course. If fail second time, in case of electives, they can choose another course.
ii. The Master’s thesis can only be undertaken when all necessary compulsory courses have been successfully completed.

Graduation Requirements
Students are eligible for graduation after successfully completing 90 ECTS credits from taught courses and the master thesis listed in the Program Structure, with CGPA greater or equal to 5.00 out of 10.00.

Access to Further Studies
The graduates of the Program have access to doctoral programmes (3rd Cycle) in relevant disciplines.