What does the entrance exam look like?

The following are the conditions of enrolment, and they serve to inform future applicants for enrolment in the study of conservation and restoration of works of art. Applicants are advised to check the general conditions of enrolment and the necessary documentation for access to the examination of special knowledge, skills and abilities on the enrolment page

What kind of students are we looking for?

The profile of a candidate for the study of conservation-restoration of works of art usually connects specific characteristics and interests. It is not enough just to "draw well" or "love art". The profession of conservation-restoration includes many disciplines; at its core, it is a combination of art, natural sciences, humanities and very precise practical work.

The best candidates for the study are:

Patience and concentration for long-lasting, detailed work
developed fine motor skills and a sense of materials
understanding scientific disciplines such as physics, chemistry and biology
Tendency to think analytically and notice details
interest in art history and cultural heritage (visiting exhibitions, travelling, preference for reading and following cultural events)
discipline and responsibility in work, which is especially important when working on protected cultural heritage objects
Ability to work independently and in a team
Willingness to face challenges
intellectual maturity and mental strength, and perseverance when work does not bring quick results

It is also important that the candidate is not:

a person who expects a fast, dynamic or very "glamorous" job
A person who quickly gets bored with repetitive and precise work
A person who finds it difficult to accept that a conservator-restorer is sometimes not allowed to interfere too much with an object

What does the entrance exam look like?

Admission requirements for the Academy of Fine Arts

The right to enrol in the full-time university integrated undergraduate and graduate study of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art is granted to persons who have completed a four-year secondary school. Only one study programme can apply to the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Zagreb within the same period.

Ranking lists of applicants for enrolment in study programmes are compiled according to the following scoring system:

Based on high school performance – 10%
Based on the passed exams at the state graduation exam: - Croatian language – B level – 10 %
Based on a test of specific abilities (hereinafter referred to as the test of specific knowledge, skills and abilities) – 80 %

Note: Candidates for enrolment at the Academy of Fine Arts, who have completed at least four years of secondary education in the Republic of Croatia from the school year 2009/2010 until today, are required to pass the compulsory state graduation exams at the B level (Mathematics, Croatian language, Foreign language).

Applications for the Examination of Special Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

From the academic year 2023/2024. In 2023/2024, changes have been introduced to the procedure for verifying special knowledge, skills and abilities, so applicants for the university integrated undergraduate and graduate study of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art; majors: Painting, Sculpture are no longer required to submit a folder or sculptural works, so they enclose the following with their application:

Proof of payment of the costs for the verification of special knowledge, skills and abilities in the amount of EUR 53.09. Applicants for university undergraduate studies and for university integrated undergraduate and graduate studies should pay this amount to the account of the Academy of Fine Arts: HR6423900011101077341 with the indication "verification of special knowledge, skills and abilities"; enter the candidate's OIB in the REFERENCE NUMBER section;
Certificate of impunity (not older than three months),
Curriculum vitae (up to 2500 characters)
A motivation letter of approximately 350 characters with spaces of up to 2500 characters, in which it is necessary to state what are the interests and reasons for applying for that study program, the applicant's opinion on what skills make him/her competent; mention artists, works and/or artistic directions that the applicant knows and that inspire him/her. Up to approximately 20% of the content of the motivation letter should relate to other interests and skills of the applicant that he/she possesses and that can be related to the interest in study. The motivation letter should be grammatically and semantically arranged.

Applications without the required contributions will not be considered by the committee.

Procedure Examination of Special Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

THE FIRST PART - THE THEORETICAL PART.

A test in the history of art and culture a written test of knowledge: knowledge of art history within the framework of the curriculum for secondary schools. The following literature is recommended for the written part of the exam in all studies:

J. Damjanov: Fine Arts I and II /textbooks for secondary school/, Školska knjiga, Zagreb.
R. Ivančević: Visual Speech – Introduction to the World of Fine Arts /textbook for the first grade of high school/, Profil, Zagreb 1997.
R. Ivančević: Styles, Periods, Life I – From the Palaeolithic to the Pre-Romanesque /textbook for the second grade of high school/, Profil, Zagreb 1998.
R. Ivančević: Styles, Periods, Life II – From Romanesque to Art Nouveau /textbook for the third grade of high school/, Profil, Zagreb 2000.
R. Ivančević: Styles, Periods, Life III – Art of the XX Century /textbook for the IV grade of high school/, Profil, Zagreb 2001.
S. Kalčić: The Uncertainty of Art /textbook for the fourth grade of high school/, Školska knjiga, Zagreb 2005.
M. Bačić and J. Bačić: Introduction to Artistic Thinking, Školska knjiga, Zagreb 1994.
H. W. Janson: History of Art, Stanek d.o.o., Varaždin 2003
Encyclopaedia of Fine Arts 1-4, Institute of Lexicography of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, Zagreb 1959 - 1964 (consult the article "Croatia" and entries on important terms in the field of painting, graphics, sculpture and architecture)

Most of these texts are available on the Internet, and Barthes, Foucault, Benjamin, Mulvey, Pollock, Bey have been translated into Croatian and available in libraries.

Examples of tasks from the written test of art history and general culture for the university integrated undergraduate and graduate study of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art, majors: painting, sculpture can be purchased at the Department at Zamenhofova 14, with prior notice.

SECOND PART - PRACTICAL PART

For drawing, color test and manual skills, the Academy provides appropriate paper, drawing boards, scalpels and fine modelers

Pencil drawing according to the plaster model - the gateway should bring a pencil HB and an eraser;
Color and manual skills test - the candidate should bring a set of tempera and painting accessories, other accessories are provided by the Academy (scalpels and fine modelers);
Interview with the candidate – the examination committee conducts an interview with the applicant for approx. 10 minutes.

In each part of the procedure, the applicant can achieve the following number of points:

Art and Culture History Test - up to 200
pencil drawing according to a plaster model - up to 250
Color and Manual Skills Test - up to 250
interview with the candidate - up to 100

The total sum of points in the procedure of verifying special knowledge, skills and abilities can be a maximum of 800 points. The point threshold for enrolment in the university integrated undergraduate and graduate study programme in Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art; majors: Painting, Sculpture is 400 points.

General information

For the theoretical and practical part of the examination of special knowledge, skills and abilities, applicants are required to bring an identity card. For the practical part of the procedure, the applicant should bring an HB pencil and an eraser; a set of tempera and painting accessories.

On all papers, the applicant writes the name and surname and the study for which he is applying. The papers must not be taken out of the room in which the applicant works. The Examination Committee will initial the exam papers and only the papers marked in this way will be evaluated during scoring. Written papers are also marked with the name, surname and name of the study, and after the written part of the exam is completed, they are handed over to the duty member of the Examination Committee, with a handwritten signature on an evident sheet.

Immediately after the expiration of the time of verification of special knowledge, skills and abilities, applicants personally submit their exam papers to the Examination Committee.

Failure to attend one part of the examination of special knowledge, skills and abilities, or failure to submit a certain number of exam papers, i.e. written work, entails disqualification of the applicant.

The eliminatory threshold for enrolment in the study on the basis of tests of special knowledge, skills and abilities is 400 points out of a possible 800 points.

Papers made on the examination of special knowledge, skills and abilities are not returned to the candidates. Instructions on the examination of special knowledge, skills and abilities can be obtained at the Student Office for University Undergraduate, Graduate and Integrated Studies of the Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb, Ilica 85.

All announcements related to the dates of publication of results, enrollment, download of documents and folders will be published on the notice boards of the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Zagreb and on the website of the www.alu.unizg.hr

What is important to us and what we would like you to know

The study of conservation and restoration of works of art is intended for candidates interested in art, cultural heritage and practical work. Patience, precision, developed motor skills, the ability to perceive details and readiness for a long and responsible work process are important. We value curiosity, continuous learning and interest in different artistic techniques and materials. No previous experience in restoration is required, but motivation, dedication and openness to teamwork and interdisciplinary work are important.

How to prepare?

For the classification process, we recommend developing drawing and painting skills, especially observing proportions, tones and details, as well as the ability to distinguish color shades and the skills of precise mixing of tones. It is useful to regularly draw according to observation, get to know the basic art techniques and develop a sense of materials and handicrafts. It is good to visit museums, galleries and follow events in culture and on the art scene. Candidates should show interest in precise and patient work and the ability to concentrate. We recommend that you find out about the field of conservation and restoration through literature, exhibitions and interviews with experts to better understand the specifics of the profession.

What to do after studying?

Upon completion of the study, the academic title of Master of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art (mag. art./MA) is acquired, and students acquire the following competencies, which are enrolled in the supplement diploma:

Knowledge and understanding:

identification, classification and description of the main historical-artistic periods and characteristics of artistic movements
defining and understanding the general principles of restoration theory and conservation-restoration ethics, as well as identifying restoration methods throughout history, and
understanding and implementation of the process of creating a work of art

Application of knowledge and understanding:

application and mastery of fine art skills
Recognizing and analysing constructive materials and the degradation processes they undergo with ageing
research, identification and dating of historical and contemporary materials and techniques
recognizing the ambient conditions in which the object is located and categorizing, describing and interpreting their impact

Reasoning and reasoning:

researching, selecting, evaluating, analysing and interpreting historical and other data that speak about the history of a work/heritage object
identifying, analyzing, documenting and interpreting the causes of deterioration of a work/object
synthesizing data on the work and designing and implementing the plan and program of works on the facility
selection and application of the optimal method in accordance with the principles of conservation and restoration ethics
planning, coordinating and carrying out the conservation and restoration procedure
planning applied scientific analyses, interpreting and evaluating the results of research carried out by someone else

Communication:

communication and cooperation with experts from related disciplines who participate in the protection of heritage objects
presentation and argumentative explanation of own projects, the course of the procedure, selected methods and results

Upon graduation, the alumni of our Department are successfully involved in projects of state institutions such as the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Conservation Institute, in the work of various museum and gallery institutions, and a large number of them establish and operate within private restoration workshops. Continuing one's career is also possible within the secondary and higher education system, and upgrading the acquired competencies can be achieved in postgraduate studies of related disciplines in the country and abroad.

Contact

Contact us for consultation and interview. All interested candidates for enrollment in the study can contact us by phone, online, and in person with prior notice.