Art PhD, MPhil

Level: Postgraduate research

Subject: Art and Design

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Full-time
  • MPhil | 2 years | Start date: multiple dates
  • PhD | 3 years | Start date: multiple dates
Part-time
  • MPhil | 4 years | Start date: multiple dates
  • PhD | 6 years | Start date: multiple dates

Key facts

School

Edinburgh College of Art

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
PhD by Distance

Available

School location

Lauriston campus

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About the degree programme

Postgraduate research in the School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, is internationally renowned, interdisciplinary and publicly engaged. Our research creates, embodies and responds to new registers of contemporary art and culture, whilst rearticulating processes and practices associated with established artistic media.

We are an intellectually vibrant, ambitious and supportive community where research produced by staff and students – both individually and collectively – is disseminated nationally and internationally. Collaboration, experimentation and an outlook beyond the University are central to this. We aim for our research to constitute social and cultural impact within and beyond the University.

Both MPhil and PhD programmes in the School of Art allow for either a purely theoretical project or for a combined practice-and-theory approach to artistic research. The PhD by Practice programme is designed for applicants who have established a well-developed creative practice beyond their previous HE degrees that is strongly connected to their proposed research. 

MPhil and PhD candidates are supported by individually tailored supervisory arrangements made within the School of Art and ECA, as well as across the University of Edinburgh as a whole. PGR students are further supported through a broad portfolio of training events run by the University’s Institute of Academic Development (IAD). Our membership of the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) allows us to arrange cross-institutional supervision with our partners in the consortium, as appropriate for individual students’ project needs.

Study options

The PhD programme comprises 3 years of full-time (6 years part-time) research under the supervision of an expert in your chosen research topic within Art. 

You can choose to pursue either:

  • a theory-based PhD programme - producing a supervised thesis of up to a maximum of 100,000 words
  • a practice-based PhD programme - producing a substantial body of creative practice and a written thesis of up to 50,000 words.

In addition to the full-time, on-campus mode of study, the PhD in Art offers the following alternative study options:

Part-time study

The part time PhD is available to suitably qualified applicants in all the same areas as our on-campus programmes.

This option allows students who have other commitments on their time, professional or personal, to study for a PhD at ECA. 

Part time PhDs are expected to take 6 years rather than the 3 expected for full-time options. You can arrange the timing of meetings with supervisors and attendance at research training courses. Annual reviews will take place every year.

The estimated time commitment for the part-time mode of study is, on average, between 2 to 3 days per week.

It is often possible to transfer between part time and full-time modes of study during the PhD.

PhD by Distance

The PhD by Distance is available to suitably qualified applicants in all the same areas as our on-campus programmes. It allows you to study for a PhD in an ECA subject area from your home country or city if you do not wish to commit to basing yourself in Edinburgh.

If you study for an ECA PhD by Distance, we do not expect you to visit Edinburgh during your period of study. However, short-term visits for particular activities can be considered on a case-by-case basis, visa permissions and resourcing permitting.

It is often possible to transfer between distance and on-campus modes of study during the PhD.

More information on the PhD by Distance

MPhil

The MPhil programme comprises 2 years of full-time (4 years part-time) research under the supervision of an expert in your chosen research topic. This period of research culminates in either:

  • a theory-only thesis of up to a maximum of 60,000 words  
  • a practice-based output, including a substantial body of creative practice and a thesis of up to 30,000 words

Why choose this programme

  • Be part of a lively international cohort of students creating a vibrant and active postgraduate community across ECA
  • We actively promote cross-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches, supported and guided by world-class research supervisors
  • Develop different registers of writing which challenge conventional modes of practice and thought as part of your written contribution
  • Access to an excellent range of facilities, workshops and technicians to support your research practice and dissemination
  • Our students develop highly attuned critical and analytical skills, creative problem solving and self-direction, making them excellently placed for teaching opportunities within ECA and in academic roles in a postdoctoral capacity

The decision to pursue a PhD in the School of Art at ECA has proven to be one of the most fulfilling choices of my artistic and academic career. From the outset, I was drawn to the programme's emphasis on practice-focused, multidisciplinary research, and have been supervised by a vibrant faculty of experienced artists and academics who have encouraged me to be ambitious in my work. 

The availability of a dedicated PhD practice studio has been invaluable to the realising of my project, and has fostered collaborative opportunities with fellow researchers such as peer-to-peer crits, and student-led exhibitions in ECA's renowned Sculpture Court. Moreover, my research has been enriched by the wider intellectual community at ECA where I have attended regular Research Forums, hearing about the broad range of work being conducted by staff in the School of Art.

Beyond academic training, the PhD experience has given me the confidence to pursue independent research in the arts. During my period of study, I have presented at international conferences and published my findings, undertaken artists residencies, and exhibited with research colleagues. Further, through the student experience roles of Course Representative for Art and Tutor in Art, Architecture, and Landscape Architecture, I have had the opportunity to contribute to interdisciplinary knowledge exchange across ECA's schools while equipping myself with skills for future educational positions.

Overall, my PhD journey has not only advanced my artistic and academic career, but also deepened my passion for my field – opening up new ways of working that I may not have considered previously, and forging vital international and national connections. 

Miriam Hancill Art PhD student

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 have any questions about the application and admissions process, please contact the ECA Postgraduate Research Team.

Contact ECA Postgraduate Research

Finding a supervisor

You should search for a potential supervisor for your research topic before you submit an application.

Finding a research supervisor

You can find Edinburgh College of Art staff on the ECA website. Each member of staff has a profile page which gives a summary biography and research information along with their contact details.

We recommend you contact potential supervisors to discuss your research proposal and determine their willingness to supervise you. If you contact a potential supervisor before applying, they may ask to see your draft research proposal and may offer you feedback. If they are willing to look at a further draft, they may want to see how well you have understood and applied their advice.

After this discussion, if they confirm that your proposed research is within their expertise or supervisory remit, and they are interested in working with you, you can list their name on your application as your proposed supervisor.

Your principal supervisor will normally be based in the subject area you are applying to. Assistant supervisors can be based in the same subject area, from ECA, or the wider University of Edinburgh.

The selection panel will consider the proposed supervisor you have named on your application and discuss your application with them, and/or with other supervisors that may be relevant.

Academic staff at ECA

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
7 January 2026 1 November 2025
14 September 2026 30 June 2026
6 January 2027 31 October 2026

If you are applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. All applications must be received by the deadlines listed above.

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: 

and, if applicable:

  • your research topic
  • details of any published work

You will also need to provide some or all of the following supporting information and documents:

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

References

You must submit two references with your application, one of which must be an academic reference and preferably from your most recent studies.

Writing sample (all applicants)

We ask you to submit a writing sample with your application so that we can gain a clear sense of your research and communication skills. You should select a piece of written work – whether published or unpublished – that best represents your values and approach. 

This might include: 

  • An essay or conversation piece written for a critical audience.
  • A selected chapter from your dissertation for a Masters degree (do not submit an entire dissertation.)
  • A conference paper, or professional report, whether published or not.
  • A published essay or journal article. 

Please do not submit more than 10,000 words. A shorter, more focused essay or case study is usually a better indication of your abilities.

Portfolio (practice-based research applicants only)

If you wish to undertake research by practice, you will need to provide a portfolio of your work. This should include evidence of your recent creative work in relation to the ideas and concerns set out in your research proposal.

The portfolio represents your ability for critical, independent thinking and making at a professional level. Collaborative projects should be identified accordingly, and your role must be clearly defined.

Uploading your portfolio

Once you have submitted your application and have been sent your University login, you will be able to upload your portfolio.

Submit one PDF document, maximum 10 pages, including documentation and/or images of your works.

You should include captions such as title, artist, year, material, and descriptions for each image.

For time-based material, you should submit up to 8 minutes of material.

Video should be high-quality QuickTime .mov files.

Audio should be high-quality .mp3 or .aiff files.

Research proposal

You should submit a research proposal that outlines your project's aims, context, process and product/outcome.

Although we welcome perceptive proposals on traditional subjects, using established methodologies, we are particularly looking for applicants prepared to challenge and expand the traditional boundaries of the discipline.

The research proposal is a necessary and important part of your application. It should identify the objectives and scope of your research, and the stages necessary to complete it.

The proposal should indicate the nature of the outcome; for example, whether it will be a full thesis, or a smaller thesis and body of creative work. In the case of practice-based research, we advise you to give an indication of the kind of creative work you intend to undertake, and how it will engage with and further the research aims and process.

Your research proposal is the key that allows staff to understand your intentions and readiness for a research degree. The best research proposals are developed through several drafts. 

Your proposal may well later evolve and even change radically through your research process, but the initial proposal is required to help identify the particular question(s) or areas of concern prompting your research. It will also help staff identify suitable supervisory expertise if you are invited to interview.

You must upload the research proposal with your online application. We cannot fully consider applications until an adequate research proposal has been submitted.

Assessing your proposal

We will assess your proposal against the following criteria:

  • Aims: Identify a clear gap in existing knowledge. Succinctly and clearly explain your aims and objectives. Provide a title, identify a particular research question or area of concern prompting this research and convey its significance. For Art and Design programmes, please state if you are applying for a Theory Based or Practice Based PhD.
  • Context: Demonstrate excellent knowledge of the field and preparedness to undertake the proposed research project. Convey the intellectual, academic, artistic context of the research question(s) or concerns. Provide a bibliography of relevant scholarly literature and other key research resources.
  • Methods: Your proposal must be original and innovative, substantively and/or methodologically. Explain the research processes and methods that you will apply. Indicate why they are the most appropriate and, if relevant, most innovative methods.
  • Impact: The potential impact of the research must be explicit, with realistic and appropriate plans for maximising the impact identified (e.g. engaging possible non-academic partnerships.) Explain how your research will have academic and artistic impact and/or social and economic impact.
  • Clarity: Writing and presentation must be of the highest standard. Ensure that your proposal is succinct, clearly written and free of jargon (it should be readily understood by a non-expert).
Word count

The word count for your research proposal is 1,000 to 3,000 words.

Do not write more than the word limit.

You may also provide a bibliography of relevant scholarly literature and other key research resources. This is not mandatory, and does not count towards your word limit.

Missing documents

Once we receive your application, it will be processed by the Admissions Team and then sent to the Selection Panel for review.

If any essential documents are missing from your application, the Admissions Team will contact you about this.

Applications without a research proposal will be classed as incomplete and cannot be reviewed by the Selection Panel until this is provided.

Interview

If the Selection Panel feel that your application is of the required quality and there is supervisory expertise available you will be invited to attend a short interview. This is normally with the Programme Director and/or your proposed supervisors, where you will discuss your application and research proposal. 

The interview will normally be online (such as via MS Teams) but can be in person where relevant.

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:

Funding

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

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

Costs

Additional programme costs

If you choose a practice-based approach to research, you will be responsible for your own materials costs on top of the tuition fee.

How much you spend is dependent on the medium, materials, and individual projects you decide to use throughout the programme.

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent. If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of relevant professional experience. 
 
You must also submit a research proposal; see Applying section for guidance.
 
If your research is practice-based a portfolio should also be submitted; see Applying section for guidance.

International 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
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • 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 7.0 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): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 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)
  • Trinity ISE
  • 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

Research profile

In the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) School of Art we provide a highly dynamic and supportive research environment for our large and diverse graduate community. Our research students benefit from ECA's interdisciplinary research environment, which attracts postgraduate students and researchers across the fields of art, design, music, architecture, landscape architecture and history of art.

Research in this environment is further informed by collaborative exchanges with other areas in the University’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as the wider University (such as the School of Informatics in the College of Science and Engineering).

Our current areas of expertise include:

  • art
  • art and architecture
  • art education
  • artist-run initiatives and DIY culture
  • art and anthropology
  • cultural memory, trace and place
  • curating
  • expanded painting
  • feminism and intersectionality
  • folklore, ritual and superstition
  • haptic experiments
  • human, animal and ecological interactions
  • industrial landscapes
  • installation art
  • lens-based (film and photography)
  • material and cultural (in)stability
  • new media, digital culture and filmic disorientation
  • nonmodern, paragogy and weird materialisms
  • printmaking and print media
  • politics, site and aesthetics
  • psychophysical sound creation
  • sculpture and public art
  • utopian ideologies
  • visual anthropology and dreams
  • voice as material
  • weaving as process
  • 20th century continental philosophy and theory

Our research community

Teaching opportunities

Tutoring opportunities will be advertised to the postgraduate research community, which you can apply for should you wish to gain some teaching experience during your studies. 

We do not advise you do any tutoring work in the first year of your research studies, as your main focus should be on establishing the direction of your research. 

Programme structure

You will be encouraged to attend research methods courses at the beginning of your research studies.

Regular individual meetings with your supervisory team provide guidance and focus throughout the course of the research you are undertaking.

For every year you are enrolled on the programme you will be required to complete an Annual Progression Review, undertaken by an experienced member of staff not part of your supervisory team. This permits additional insights into your progress and the development of your research and provides valuable practice in communicating research ideas effectively.

Theory-based PhD programme

This period of research culminates in the production of a supervised thesis of up to a maximum of 100,000 words.

Practice-based PhD programme

The period of research culminates in the production of a substantial body of creative practice produced during the PhD, and a written thesis of up to 50,000 words.

MPhil programme

The MPhil programme comprises two years of full-time (four years part-time) research under the supervision of an expert in your chosen research topic, and culminates in either:

  • a theory-only option - a thesis of up to a maximum of 60,000 words
  • a practice-based - a substantial body of creative practice and a thesis of up to 30,000 words

Support

All of our research students benefit from Edinburgh College of Art's interdisciplinary approach. You will primarily work with at least two research supervisors who will have expertise relevant to your research topics or methods. It is therefore important that you research, decide, and agree who these supervisors should be.

Your first or lead supervisor would normally be based in the same subject area as your degree programme. Your second supervisor may be from another discipline within Edinburgh College of Art or elsewhere within the University of Edinburgh, according to the expertise required. On occasion more than two supervisors will be assigned, particularly where the degree brings together multiple disciplines.

Regular individual meetings with your supervisor provide guidance and focus for the course of research you are undertaking.

We encourage you to attend courses at the Institute for Academic Development (IAD), where all staff and students at the University of Edinburgh are supported through a range of training opportunities, including:

  • short courses in compiling literature reviews
  • writing in a second language
  • preparing for your viva

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) offers further opportunities for development. 

You will also be encouraged to refer to the Vitae research development framework as you grow into a professional researcher.

IAD support for postgraduate researchers

Facilities

You will have access to study space (some of which are 24-hour access), studios and workshops at Edinburgh College of Art’s campus, as well as University wide resources. There are several bookable spaces for the development of exhibitions, workshops or seminars. And you will have access to well-equipped multimedia laboratories, photography and exhibition facilities, shared recording space, access to recording equipment available through Bookit, the equipment loan booking system.

You will have access to high quality library facilities. Within the University of Edinburgh, there are three libraries:

  • the Main Library
  • the ECA library
  • the Art and Architecture Library

The Centre for Research Collections which holds the University of Edinburgh’s historic collections is also located in the Main Library.

The Talbot Rice Gallery is a public art gallery of the University of Edinburgh and part of Edinburgh College of Art, which is committed to exploring what the University of Edinburgh can contribute to contemporary art practice today and into the future. You will also have access to the extraordinary range and quality of exhibitions and events associated with a leading college of art situated within a world-class research-intensive university.

St Cecilia’s Hall, which is Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall, also houses the Music Museum which holds one of the most important historic musical instrument collections anywhere in the world.

In addition to the University’s facilities you will also be able to access wider resources within the City of Edinburgh. These include:

  • National Library of Scotland
  • Scottish Studies Library and Digital Archives
  • City of Edinburgh Libraries
  • Historic Environment Scotland
  • the National Trust for Scotland

You will also benefit from the University of Edinburgh’s extensive range of student support facilities provided, including:

  • student societies
  • accommodation
  • wellbeing and support services

Lauriston campus redevelopment

ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next 3 years, from April 2024 to 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.

Find out more about ECA’s Lauriston Campus redevelopment

Virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the Edinburgh College of Art and explore our facilities and campus with our virtual tour. 

Take a virtual tour of Edinburgh College of Art

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 

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 

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.

ecaresearchdegrees@ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)131 651 5741

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