Contemporary Art Practice MA (eca)

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Art and Design

Year of entry: 2027

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MA (eca) | 1 year | Start date: September 2027
Part-time
  • MA (eca) | 2 years | Start date: September 2027

Key facts

School

Edinburgh College of Art

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
Study location

Central Area

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About the degree programme

MA Contemporary Art Practice supports artists in further developing their practice and critical voice through practical experimentation, group critique, reflective writing, and public dissemination.

Our programme welcomes speculative approaches to art-making across all media. It provides the opportunity for review of existing experience as well as space and technical resource to hone new skills. 

Our programme is aimed at artists who want to develop a more ambitious practice by extending their practical, theoretical and organisational knowledge in relation to Contemporary Art.

A defining aspect of our programme is the emphasis it places upon speculative criticism – we encourage a questioning of what art is and a developing curiosity for what it might be. 

You will learn to produce and shape your own knowledge of Contemporary Art through self-directed practice and focused engagement with current discourse across the global stage. You will be guided by regular tutorials, group critique and debates, supported by a team of teaching art professionals who are all active in the creative field.

The programme aims to produce artists who are confident to share their work with public audiences, and who are equipped to compete beyond university for exhibition opportunities, Arts funding, competitive open calls and places on artist residencies. 

In addition, MA Contemporary Art Practice provides a rich knowledge base for students who want to work in Arts organisations and a strong academic foundation for those who wish to pursue a postgraduate research programme in Art or a related subject.

Thinking about studying MA Contemporary Art Practice at Edinburgh College of Art? Discover the programme, how you'll be taught, and hear from our students about their study experiences with us.

Study options

This programme can be studied full-time over 1 year or on a part-time basis over 2 years. 

Programme benefits

  • Activate a new momentum within your art practice through experimental learning
  • Become part of an internationally diverse community
  • Strengthen your artistic voice through our performative writing residency
  • You'll have the opportunity to work with our artistic partners across the city and adjacent areas
  • Access the University of Edinburgh’s world-leading workshops and archives

The postgraduate programme offered a fast-paced year split between practice and theory, offering freedom and time for self-directed inquiry and research. I enjoyed the breadth of media and voices on the course that allowed for meeting new cultures, practices and creative voices. My biggest highlights were freedom in making and accessibility to specific workshops and resources, which were run by amazing technicians and professionals.

The School of Art offered a range of artist talks and events by world-class artists and researchers, making it an accessible and fascinating place of study, with the opportunity to witness industry leaders. Overall, the course questioned, pushed, and allowed for new thinking and transformation of individual practice within the means of contemporary art. It was helpful to think beyond the parameters of the course and consider professional opportunities and next steps.  

Since finishing the course, I took part in the art residency in Florence, Italy as part of the RSA John Kinross Scholarship. I work as an Art and Wellbeing Key Worker for a local charity in Edinburgh, working with young people, developing their confidence, art practice and future skills. I am now a member of the OuterSpaces Studio Program in collaboration with Edinburgh Art Festival 2025, where we develop a collaborative, shared model for studio making and production. My works took part in numerous exhibitions including The Travelling Gallery, Edinburgh Art Festival, Royal Scottish Academy or Hidden Door Festival.

Remi Jablecki MA Contemporary Art Practice, graduated 2024

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Additional programme costs

We recommend you budget a minimum of £50 on top of the tuition fee for general basic materials. 

However, depending on your project's focus, you may optionally choose to incur costs associated with realising aspects of your work. Such costs are not compulsory and would depend on the nature of your project.

We would also advise budgeting an additional £50 on top of the tuition fee for travel for the year. You may need to pay the cost of local or national travel using public transport to galleries and museums for research.

Accommodation and living costs

You will need to pay for your accommodation and living costs (such as rent, food and utility bills) for the duration of your programme.

For 2026-2027, we estimate that it will cost an average of £18,504 each year (£1,542 each month) to live in Edinburgh as a postgraduate.

The exact amount you spend will depend on different factors, especially the accommodation you choose.

Living costs: estimates explained 

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2027-28 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2028-29 academic year will be published in early Oct 2027.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject.

If you do not meet the academic entry requirements you may still be considered on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.

You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. You can find out more about the portfolio requirements in the Applying section.

International equivalent qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test (restrictions apply)
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English (restrictions apply)
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) before 21 January 2026: total 92 with 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) from 21 January 2026: total 4.5 with at least 4.5 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

Semester 1

In Semester 1, the Studio course guides and supports students in honing the focus of their Art practice through:

  • thematic seminars
  • practice-led research in the studio and workshops
  • reflection with tutors
  • peer-to-peer discussion

The course facilitates opportunities to refine and develop technical skills, to test the presentation and documentation of artwork and learn through experimentation and active enquiry rather than pre-determining outcomes.

Semester 2

In Semester 2, Post Studio challenges you to continue developing your studio practice in relation to an external source (outside the College of Art) such as an archive, organisation, community or particular location that will inform your work. 

You will be encouraged to take a decisive ‘deep-dive’ and develop a new body of work that draws on and extends the practice developed in Studio.

Both semesters

Alongside Studio and Post Studio, the Critical Contexts course is taught across Semester 1 and 2. This course engages you in the field of contemporary art through a structure of talks by world-leading artists, small group seminars and critical writing exercises. You will be supported in developing skills to produce independent research and analytical responses to a range of art practices, exhibitions, events and publications.

Combined, the Studio, Post-Studio and Critical Contexts courses prepare you for the Master’s Exhibition.

Master's Exhibition

This course is designed to give you time, space and freedom to consolidate practice, and focus ambitions towards your graduate portfolio. Alongside the development of your artwork, you will work collectively with other students to stage your work within a public-facing group exhibition. 

The course offers the opportunity to undertake wide-ranging and in-depth artistic practice and investigation, professional experience of exhibition planning and a platform to share your work with the public.

Examples of student work from the MA Contemporary Art Practice programme.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Field trips

Postgraduate students have opportunities to work with our partners in Edinburgh and neighbouring areas on exhibitions, site-specific projects and field work in relation to individual objectives.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Learning happens primarily through the exchange of ideas in studio seminars, group crits and 1-1 tutorials.

We emphasise the centrality of dialogue to developing innovative work. We are committed to supporting an environment to nurture risk-taking as fundamental to producing ambitious original art. Critical conversations and debates are informed by:

  • Talks and presentations delivered by our team of award-winning teaching-artists.
  • A programme of lectures by prominent artists, critics and curators from across the UK and further afield.
  • Technical sessions in the workshops that support casting, metalwork, woodwork, textiles, photography and a spectrum of printing processes.
  • Visits to galleries and museums in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
  • Exhibition opportunities within ECA and with our industry partners in and around Edinburgh.
  • Independent experimentation, reflection and research.

Assessment

You will be assessed on written texts, work presented for exhibition and a digital portfolio.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

ECA’s Student and Academic Support Service (SASS) supports students throughout their studies in all degree programmes at ECA.

You will have a dedicated Student Adviser, based within SASS, who is specially trained to support you during your studies. Your Student Adviser will be your first point of contact for any support, including questions about your studies or your well-being. Your Student Adviser can support you with:

  • personal or wellbeing issues that you are facing, including how to access specialist support
  • queries related to your programme, such as course enrolments, programme transfers and academic progression
  • applying for extensions and special circumstances
  • advice about how to take a break from your studies
  • registering with the Disability and Learning Support Service

Our academic staff

You'll be taught by a number of staff throughout your time on the programme. These staff include:

  • Christine Ellison
  • Adam Benmakhlouf
  • Gabi Barkess-Kerr
  • Stuart Bennett

Learn more about ECA staff on the ECA People Directory

Where you will study

Study location

The majority of your teaching, including lecturers and seminars, will take place at ECA's Lauriston Campus in the Central Area. Each year, you will be assigned a studio in our main building.

The postgraduate studios are located in the historical building of Edinburgh College of Art adjacent to Edinburgh Castle at the heart of the city centre. As such we are immersed in the capital’s cultural centre while also within easy reach of the scenic East Coast and the dramatic landscapes of the Highlands.

You will also get to experience lectures and classes across the wider University of Edinburgh campus.

ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next 3 years, due to finish in April 2027.

The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.

The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston Campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.

You can find more about the project at the below link:

Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston Campus: Edinburgh College of Art

Academic facilities

Throughout your studies, you will have access to a wide range of spaces, facilities and equipment to aid you in experimenting with artistic processes and making work. 

Our purpose-built Main Building includes painting studios and studios for sculptural work. 

Specialist workshops 

In addition to the studios, you will be taught across a range of specialist workshop environments, which are predominantly located in the ECA Main Building, Hunter Building and our Evolution House building. 

You'll have access to:

  • foundry and casting rooms
  • hot and cold glasswork facilities
  • metal workshops
  • wood workshops
  • specialist analogue and digital photography suits
  • printmaking suite
  • digital fabrication facilities 

In addition to these facilities, we also have the ECA Store on-campus where you can purchase materials for your artistic projects, along with our Free Use Hub where you can access free recycled materials.

You will also have access to Bookit, where you can access and loan a wide range of digital and technical equipment for free as a student.

Bookit - Equipment loans and studio booking

Find out more about facilities and resources at ECA

Career opportunities

The programme will help you develop an ambitious art practice as well as provide you with the organisational and practical knowledge required to thrive as a self-employed artist.

Graduates produce exhibitions internationally, and have been selected for major residencies, exhibitions and prizes, such as:

  • Bloomberg New Contemporaries
  • RSA New Contemporaries
  • John Kinross Scholarship
  • Saatchi New Sensations
  • Glasgow Film Festival
  • Edinburgh International Art Festival

MA Contemporary Art Practice also prepares you for further academic study on doctorate or academic practice programmes.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Graduate profiles

Stephanie Wilson

Image shoes fashion styled art piece, with designs printed on a tshirt

Degree: MA Contemporary Art Practice

Year of graduation: 2018

Current work: Freelance Artist

The tutors provided practical and pertinent advice whilst on the course to take advantage of the time to use the facilities, experiment and take the time to make connections and friends.

Alumni Profile: Stephanie Wilson

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
13 September 2027 2 August 2027

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have sufficient time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. 

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. 

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete. 

We aim to issue decisions within 6-8 weeks of receiving your completed application. During peak times it may take us slightly longer to issue your decision but please be assured we will confirm a decision as soon as we can.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References 

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Portfolio

You need to submit a digital portfolio as part of your application.

You should start planning your portfolio as soon as you decide to apply.

If you do not submit your portfolio, your application will be unsuccessful.

Portfolio format
  • 1 PDF containing up to 10 pages.
  • The file should be a maximum of 50MB (any resolution).
  • Each page of your PDF can contain multiple images and text.
What to include
  • Images of your work (the number is up to you, but we would advise that you do not put more than 4 images on an individual page).
  • Accompanied image text detailing title, medium, date and where appropriate web link to any supplementary documentation of the referenced work (for instance, a link to video work).
  • A short artist statement (no more than 250 words).
  • No more than five URL links to any sites that further detail or document your work.

Your application and portfolio should demonstrate:

  • Evidence of practical and theoretical knowledge of, and experimentation with, a variety of formal, aesthetic and conceptual approaches to the production, distribution and exhibition of contemporary art.
  • Evidence of practical or theoretical work that addresses key thematic areas in contemporary art and theoretical discourse.
  • Evidence of collaborative working practices, either in a capacity as an artist or working curatorially.
  • Evidence of independent working practices, as an artist or curator.
Uploading your portfolio

A few days after submitting your application, you will receive an email asking you to upload your portfolio. This email will contain details of how and where to upload your portfolio.

The application portal's capacity limit is 4MB per document. If your portfolio is larger than this, please follow these steps:

  1. Upload the portfolio to an online sharing website (for example, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive).
  2. Copy and paste the link into a Word Document. Ensure the link is not password protected.
  3. Upload the Word document containing the portfolio link to your application.

All portfolios must be uploaded as a single file in the Applicant Hub. Do not provide multiple separate portfolio files.

We do not accept password protected files or links, nor platforms that require an account to access the document.

Once the application is complete and is under consideration, you can no longer make changes to the portfolio or provide a new version.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

What is it really like to study here? Our students share their experiences on our social media. 

You can find out what a day in the life is like for an Edinburgh College of Art student, from late nights in the library to their favourite walks around the city! 

Instagram: Edinburgh College of Art 

Our community

At Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) we bring together creative practices that shape the world around us.

We deliver innovative teaching, research and public engagement in an inclusive and sustainable environment with outstanding services and facilities to support your ambitions.  

With degrees in Art, History of Art, Music, Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and Design, you’ll be joining a diverse community of artists, art historians, designers, academics, researchers, architects, landscape architects and musicians.  

ECA is a rich, textured, and inclusive learning environment. Diverse practices co-exist as the embodiments of an individual and collective pursuit of knowledge, for the betterment of humankind and our planet.   

Our approach is explicitly inclusive, future facing and interdisciplinary, embracing of bold innovation and continuous enhancement.  

Find out more about the Edinburgh College of Art community

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s dynamic cultural scene boasts the largest collection of historic buildings, museums, art galleries and theatres of any city in Scotland.

The University of Edinburgh’s museums and galleries include:

  • the Talbot Rice Gallery
  • the Centre for Research Collections
  • St Cecilia’s Hall: Concert Room and Music Museum

Edinburgh is home to several major annual festivals, each bringing talent from around the world to our streets and stages, making the celebration of diversity an intrinsic part of the city’s culture. These include the:

  • Festival Fringe
  • Film Festival
  • Art Festival
  • Book Festival
  • Jazz and Blues Festival

Some of our students even participate in our annual festivals.

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office

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