History of Art, Theory and Display MSc

The programme is underpinned by two compulsory courses over the academic year, called:

• Research Theories and Methods
• The Cultures and Politics of Display. 

You will also take option courses ranging across Chinese and Islamic art, European art from Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and Modern times, right up to the most recent art being made in the UK and abroad today. 

In the end, you will have developed strong research abilities, a wide knowledge of art in its many contexts, an ability to communicate your ideas clearly, and, for those who study the work placement, first-hand experience of some of the practices and concepts of museology and contemporary curating.

Part-time study

If you choose to study part-time, you will take half the usual number of courses. Typically this will mean you study four courses in your first year (for example, one core course and three option courses), and then two courses (for example, one core course plus an option course), plus the Dissertation in your second year.

Teaching

Teaching includes a mixture of small-group teaching, individual tutorials, research seminars, and lectures. Tutorials are discussion-based, and you will be asked to join in with discussion of key texts, images and objects which are relevant to the course.

This programme is heavily based in reading academic texts, writing essays, and class discussion of ideas. Courses require students to read and prepare notes on up to 12 academic articles or book chapters per week, and a high level of personal and group participation in class discussion is expected. Approximately half of the working week involves independent study and research.

Assessment

Formal assessment is by means of essays, project work, presentations, and a dissertation.

Course assessment is through a mix of 4,000 word essays, presentations, and other academic tasks. Overall, students are required to write 12,000 words for their assessment each semester, as well as the 15,000 word Dissertation in the summer.

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.

All students have the opportunity to apply for a work placement in a local museum, gallery or achieve. These placements are competively awarded, and not all applicants can be guaranteed a place. Typically we award around 40 placements per year.

Students who successfully complete the programme will have developed:

• Knowledge and understanding of History of Art across a wide range of geographical and chronological periods.
• Up-to-date theoretical understanding of the latest methodological developments in the study and display of art.
• The ability to complete a major piece of original, independent art historical research for their dissertation.
• The capacity for further research in the History of Art.
• Transferable skills in the analysis of images and texts, research, academic writing, public presentations, and IT.

Graduates have found the History of Art, Theory and Display programme the ideal stepping-stone to pursue more in-depth study (such as a PhD), or to gain invaluable experience towards finding a position in the museum world and cultural sector.

Field trips

Many courses include a trip to a local museum, gallery or archive to discuss objects and displays on a theme relevant to the course.

Campus faciliites

Courses are taught in our purpose-built History of Art classrooms on the Lauriston Place campus, with occasional classes taught in local museums, galleries and archives.

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

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

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. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• 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 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

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

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Additional costs may include the travel fare to the site of local cultural institutions for training or seminars.

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money

  • taking out a loan
  • family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

• Edinburgh College of Art scholarships

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.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

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