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A piece of contemporary art in a gallery - a set of stairs that have been decorated in vertical stripes in various colours including green, orange, blue and yellow Courtesy of the Fruitmarket Gallery. Photography by Ruth Clark.

Postgraduate

Modern and Contemporary Art: History, Curating and Criticism - MSc

MSc

Features

1 year
Full-time

Outline

Offered in one of the largest, oldest and most research-focused art history departments in the UK, set in a culturally rich capital city, the MSc in Modern and Contemporary Art provides in-depth understanding of art and its contexts of interpretation and mediation.

The programme focuses on the period from the 19th century to the 21st century, spanning from the historical avant-gardes to the latest trends of contemporary art.

Through two core courses and a wide range of option courses, you will acquire solid knowledge of art in the covered period and of how artworks are mediated to the public through curating, exhibition making and event organising.  

Our option courses are taught by expert academics and include a Work Placement, offered on a competitive basis and in collaboration with art institutions in and near Edinburgh.

The option courses include topics such as:

  • radical art movements, on critical positions such as feminism and postcolonialism
  • institutions such as modern art museums, art biennials and independent art spaces
  • practices such as artists' film, photography and performance.

The MSc combines a focus on art history, what is happening now in the art field, theoretical frameworks, and curatorial thinking while it prioritises the encounter of art and society.

To find out more about this course, visit our Degree Finder: Modern and Contemporary Art: History, Curating and Criticism.

Careers

The comprehensive nature of this programme, including its specialised option courses, will equip you for a confident start in a range of art world and related work contexts and will be invaluable if you are interested in further academic study, such as a PhD, or a career in an art-world setting.

Contact with scholars and professionals means that you can network and understand the demands of specific settings.

The diversity of regions and art scenes addressed through our courses, and the emphasis we place on the contemporary art field, broaden your horizons and allow you to pursue career paths with confidence.

Why you should choose this programme

1

The standing and diversity of academic staff teaching the MSc ensures breadth and depth of knowledge as well as wide choice, while our students are confident that they are taught the latest developments in the field in world-class context.

2

Work placements, contact with the Fellow in Contemporary Art Theory and Curating, and research seminars by invited scholars enhance the student experience, expanding and gratifying intellectual enquiry.

3

Excellent selection of option courses deepen knowledge and understanding of modern and contemporary art in a unique way.

4

State-of-the-art facilities, including library provision, and a central location in an exceptional capital city ensure a rounded experience of living and learning.

5

The MSc is Modern and Contemporary Art: History, Curating and Criticism has been running for over a decade, receiving hundreds of applications annually in recent years. Offered in the context of a world-leading University, with an emphasis on research and research-led teaching, the MSc offers an unparalleled learning environment.

Opportunities

The work placement option course is a popular feature of our programme.

If you choose this course, you will need to prepare for an interview with a partner institution or other art context to gain hands-on experience in appropriate tasks from a real work environment.

Work placements are offered on a competitive basis. The art institution offering the placement decides who receives the place. Work placements normally take place in Edinburgh or elsewhere in Scotland.

How to apply and entry requirements

If you'd like to study on a postgraduate programme at Edinburgh College of Art, 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.

Get in touch

Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Admissions

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
+44 (0)131 650 4086

Field trips

There is no mandatory field trip for the MSc, although specific courses may require visits to relevant collections and institutions.

Campus facilities

Our courses are taught in appropriate rooms, normally on the ECA campus. The ECA campus, on Lauriston Place, is in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, minutes away from Edinburgh Castle. Our campus enjoys easy, walking-distance access to parkland and busy city life.

The MSc benefits from two specialist art libraries as well as the Main Library and the University’s other Libraries. You may also have access to the University’s Contemporary Art Research Collection.

The University has its own contemporary art gallery, the Talbot Rice, set in Old College and its impressive surroundings. The Talbot Rice hosts notable exhibitions by contemporary artists.

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.

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

Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston campus | Edinburgh College of Art

Support for learning

You can also benefit from the courses offered through the Institute for Academic Development (IAD) and Academic Language and Literacies for In-sessional Study (ALLIS).

Both of these facilities can enhance your academic experience and help improve performance where needed.

Scholarships and bursaries

See all Scholarships and bursaries

Facilities and resources

Our alumni

Meet our staff