Professor Craig Martin (pictured above), Personal Chair of Interdisciplinary Design Studies at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), has been elected co-chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education’s ‘Research Supervisors’ Network’ along with Dr Nicola Palmer of Sheffield Hallam University. The UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) is the representative body for postgraduate education and research.
Craig has almost 25 years’ experience with postgraduate research education, including the supervision of 15 PhD completions. His doctoral supervision experience covers the arts, humanities, and the social sciences. From 2020 to 2024 he was the Deputy Director of the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH), the AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Scotland.
Craig said: “I’m absolutely delighted to take on the role of co-chair of the UKCGE Research Supervisors’ Network, working alongside Dr Nicola Palmer.”
“This comes at a time of changes in doctoral provision, and I very much look forward to working with our community of supervisors across a range of disciplines, sharing best practices to help the next generation of doctoral students.”
Supporting supervisors at ECA
Craig’s appointment to the UKCGE Network builds on both his time at SGSAH, and also the support for supervisors at ECA, where regular events for supervisors help to foster a shared sense of the unique nature of doctoral education.
Craig added: “Supervising PhD candidates is one of the most rewarding aspects of my academic career, especially supporting new generations of researchers and seeing their original ideas flourish. For me, doctoral supervision is distinct from other forms of teaching in that it involves incredibly in-depth engagement with the research itself, as well as support for publication and dissemination, coupled with pastoral care, skills training, and employability. This is where I believe the communities of support offered by ECA and organisations such as UKCGE are vital.”
View Craig's profile on the ECA website
Interested in postgraduate research study at ECA?
ECA offers a suite of research programmes, including Masters by Research (MScR), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Our programmes can be either practice-led or theory-based and are spread across numerous disciplines, including art, design, music, architecture, landscape architecture, and history of art.
Students are supported throughout their studies through workshops, events, symposiums and more. Dedicated research methods courses focus on different methodologies of research.
How to apply
It is a good idea to discuss your research idea with a potential supervisor before submitting your application. You can find details of our academics’ research interests on their profile pages on the ECA website.
If you'd like to study on a postgraduate research programme at ECA, you must apply through EUCLID, our online application system. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh website, where you'll also be able to:
- See detailed entrance requirements for each programme on the Degree Finder
- Get information on what to expect after you apply
- Find out about study modes, start dates and fees
- Find out if, and how, you need to submit a portfolio, showreel or research proposal
- Find out where to go for further advice and guidance.
Funding opportunities
Details of scholarships and bursaries can be found on our website.
