Work by Louisa Katherine Thomson
Our programme aims to produce designers who create fresh, exuberant work demonstrating originality and innovation.
We encourage you to combine new technologies with traditional techniques, using a range of materials. This might include:
Alongside your practical studio work, you will gain a contextual and theoretical understanding of contemporary design through our Design and Screen Cultures courses.
Our graduates emerge with the confidence to establish themselves as:
Our past graduates have gone on to work with many reputable employers, including:
Recent awards and recognition have been received by our graduates from organisations such as:
Our graduates' work has recently been featured in publications such as Wallpaper magazine and Dezeen.
Our alumni have exhibited their work internationally.
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:
Visit the Careers Service website
After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:
Find out about options for further study
Postgraduate degrees you might be interested in could include:
You will join a small specialist programme led by expert staff who regularly exhibit their work and lecture internationally.
Our programme has an impressive track record of employability and strong industry links.
Join a programme with an outstanding international reputation.
You can regularly visit local archives, museums, and galleries for location drawings, curator talks, and collection handling sessions.
You can access a dedicated bench space and jewellery and silversmithing workshops from 9am until 10pm every day.
Amongst the many opportunities we offer our student on our programme, we have an industry linked work-based placement opportunity which is available to apply for in year 3 of studies. The students are paid to work in a UK-leading luxury Jewellery/Silversmithing Workshop for the entirety of semester 2.
Every year we work alongside an industry manufacturer to provide students with the experience of communicating/working with industry as well as having parts of their work produced.
We have regular public exhibitions in the run up to the final year degree show.
We take our final year degree show to London to showcase at New Designers, a trade show that attracts industry professionals offering opportunities including employment.
ECA works with the University of Edinburgh Widening Participation (WP) team.
Widening Participation for undergraduates at the University of Edinburgh
Find out about Access to Creative Education in Scotland (ACES), a Widening Participation programme for eligible S4 to S6 students at state secondary schools in the south-east of Scotland.
If you'd like to study on an undergraduate programme at Edinburgh College of Art, you must apply through UCAS. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh website, where you'll also be able to:
You need to submit a digital portfolio to show your artistic skill and potential.
The portfolio guidance for 2026 entry will be released in August 2025.
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office
futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
