Postgraduate study
Postgraduate study
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Cultural Studies MScR

Awards: MScR

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Cultural Studies

Research profile

This programme enables you to study cultural phenomena, practices and texts at an advanced level. You will critically engage with theories and methodologies of transdisciplinary cultural research.

Research topics

The programme supports a range of research topics in visual and urban cultural studies, with a particular interest in:

  • place and memory
  • spatial violence and urban disintegration
  • post-socialist cities of Eastern Europe
  • visual and semiotic landscapes
  • materiality and spatiality of writing (graffiti, memorials and signage)
  • book space and architectures of reading
  • photography and visual knowledges
  • image-text-theory
  • forms of writing and experimental publishing
  • curatorial practices and multimodality in representation of research

Programme structure

You will be required to complete two courses selected in consultation with your supervisor and a 20,000-word dissertation based on your independent research.

The coursework will provide a methodological and theoretical grounding for your research project.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScRCultural Studies1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
MScRCultural Studies2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

Training and support

In addition to regular meetings with your supervisor, you will:

  • participate in postgraduate seminars and conferences
  • have opportunities to experiment with publications and curatorial projects

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

Normally UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 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 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also 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:

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).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Additional costs

Cost of travel and accommodation for participation in the Cultural Research Summer School in Berlin.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScRCultural Studies1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScRCultural Studies2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Scholarships and funding

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

Further information

  • Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Office
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • Evolution House, Grassmarket
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH1 2LE

Application deadlines

Programme start date Application deadline
11 September 2023 1 August 2023

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

Your online application should also include:

  • a detailed CV
  • a statement of interest related to this specific programme and its focus (this could be accompanied by an electronic portfolio that supports your claim on the fit into our programme and its specific academic profile)

  • a research proposal that outlines your project's aims, context, process and product/outcome. Read the application guidance before you apply:

  • a writing sample of 3,000-4,000 words on the topic showcasing your interest. (This may form part of your portfolio and could be, for example, an essay written for a course in your undergraduate studies, two shorter essays, or a chapter from your dissertation. You need to identify the text's original purpose, or clearly reference publication details.)

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Office
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • Evolution House, Grassmarket
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH1 2LE
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