Global ECA

At Edinburgh College of Art, we promote internationalism and diversity in everything we do. As the University of Edinburgh’s cultural and creative hub, we work to extend our global influence through our teaching and research, our international exchange and collaboration, our postgraduate community, and our place at the heart of a world-leading city.

The University and the city of Edinburgh

As the face of the University’s culture and creative arts, Edinburgh College of Art is at the centre of a city which is famous for its international arts scene.

Host to the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (the largest arts festival in the world), this beautiful capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The University plays an important part in the life of the city where staff, students and visitors have the opportunity to participate in a range of innovative cultural activities.

Teaching and research

Staff and students from all corners of the world come to Edinburgh to teach and to study, thanks to our world-class resources and reputation as a leading international research faculty. Farther afield, ECA enjoys a fruitful collaboration with the Shanghai International College of Fashion at the University of Donghua.

Find out more about the Shanghai International College of Fashion collaboration

Postgraduate community

Postgraduate research at Edinburgh College of Art is supported by world-class resources in art, music, architecture and design, drawing on both the University and the city of Edinburgh in its internationally-renowned libraries, museums and galleries, archives, university collections, and built heritage.

Many of our postgraduates go on to take up roles in universities, conservatoires and art galleries around the world.

Photo of two students outside the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art — Image courtesy of Huanran (Patrick) Sun
Dimitris and his housemate Monika outside the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

"I was accepted by a number of leading UK universities when applying for my Masters; I chose to come to Edinburgh because it combines reputation, high quality of studies, and well-known staff. The quality of life offered by the city was also a factor, not to mention its beauty."

Dimitris Spyrou, History of Art, Theory and Display - MSc student

International collaboration

We support international networks and partnerships for collaborative teaching and research with other institutions around the world, to promote a worldwide sharing of knowledge, and to strengthen the global outreach of our work.

Every year we welcome distinguished scholars, architects, artists and musicians from around the world to Edinburgh to work with our staff and students.

Find out more about the ECA India Season

International exchange

We encourage our students and staff to study and teach abroad, with the aim of broadening their minds, improving their employability and acting as ambassadors for the University.

We currently have two exchange programmes: Erasmus + and the International Exchange. The first will take you to one of our destinations in Europe, and the second will give you the chance to travel to our partner institutions worldwide, including the US, Canada, Australia and China.

In return, we welcome visiting students to Edinburgh as one of the many ways in which we promote a multicultural learning environment for our learning and teaching community.

Go Abroad information on the ECA Intranet (login required)

Photo of graduating students in the Sculpture Court — Image courtesy of Federica Mentasti
Students at a Graduation reception in our historic Sculpture Court

Photo of two students in a snowy landscape — Image courtesy of Pippa MacNeil
Students in New Hampshire while on exchange at McGill University, Montreal

Global alumni network

Edinburgh College of Art has a strong tradition of producing graduates who go on to achieve prominence in their chosen fields across the globe.

Our alumni’s expertise and experience in the world of art, architecture, design, music and landscape architecture can provide development and learning opportunities for our students.