Program Overview
The Contemporary Art Theory at The University of Edinburgh is a Master programme in Arts & Design over 12 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of arts & design. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Contemporary Art Theory programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 12 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 6.5
- Tuition: GBP 20,100 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Contemporary Art Theory programme are prepared for diverse careers in arts & design:
- Creative Director
- Graphic / UX Designer
- Art Director
- Curator
- Visual Artist
- Media Producer
Program Curriculum
During the programme you will apply aesthetics, art theory and criticism, art historiography, anthropology, and conceptual personae to engage with contemporary art’s variety of media, technologies, images, artefacts, tactics, texts, cultural contexts and professional practices.
The programme consists of 4 taught courses and 1 research capstone. Each taught course is broken down further into 3 or 4 ‘learning sprints’ which last 2-3 weeks.
You will complete each learning sprint to build the knowledge and skills required to tackle the summative assignment at the end of each course.
Professional development
Our programme will help you develop a creative and organisational professional-practice, one that allows you to take control of the production and distribution of your work by effectively combining the roles of professional artist, theorist and programmer.
Our unique focus on artistic learning also means that you will graduate with a heightened awareness of the educational possibilities of contemporary art as a catalyst for social and political transformation.
Multidisciplinary development
Current professionals
If you are a professional artist, theorist and/or curator, the CAT programme will greatly expand and develop both your existing knowledge of contemporary art and your own practice. It will situate both in relation to emerging tendencies in cognate disciplines in the arts, humanities and social sciences such as:
- materialist and cultural studies
- educational research
- geography
- social anthropology.
Aspiring professionals
If you are an aspiring art professional with a non-art background, the CAT programme scaffolds and supports your conversion to contemporary art from related undergraduate disciplines in the arts, humanities or social sciences.
Dedicated to widening participation in the arts and demystifying artistic learning, the CAT programme is unique in offering this bridge to anyone seeking a way in to our discipline.
Researcher development
This programme will specifically prepare you to establish a scholarly and artistic research-practice, enabling you to embark on a professional career as a researcher within the broad field of contemporary art in both academic (PhD) and artworld settings.
Compulsory courses
Semester 1
Themes in Contemporary Art (40 credits)
This course develops the core artistic research method of ‘thematic integration’ by focusing on three themes directly drawn from the current research of teaching staff.
Having completed the three learning sprints, you will then develop and work with your own theme in a summative project.
Contemporary Art and Open Learning (20 credits)
This multidisciplinary course engages with areas of overlap between the ‘educational turn’ in present-day artistic research and current developments in the field of open educational research.
Semester 2
Curating (40 credits)
This course develops the core artistic research method of ‘curating’.
Contemporary Art + Anthropology (20 credits)
This multidisciplinary course engages with areas of overlap between artistic research methods and research methods developed within the discipline of Anthropology.
Summer
Supervised Research Capstone: Contemporary Artistic Research Project (60 Credits)
After passing all four taught courses, you will continue to work on your own artistic research project over the summer with the support of your supervisor.
Your research capstone
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.
You may be asked to participate in an interview via Skype.
You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. Your application and portfolio should demonstrate:
- evidence of practical and theoretical knowledge of, and experimentation with, a variety of formal, aesthetic and conceptual approaches to the production and distribution of contemporary art
- evidence of practical or theoretical work that addresses key thematic areas in contemporary art and theoretical discourse
- evidence of collaborative working practices, either in a capacity as an artist or working curatorially
- evidence of independent working practices, as an artist or curator
If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.
English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 20,100 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: GBP 20,100 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 6.5
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact The University of Edinburgh directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
University of Edinburgh (Universitas Academica Edinburgensis) is a historic and globally respected public research university in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, founded in 1583, making it one of the...
University Profile- Application Deadline 14 September 2026
- Start Date 2017-09-18
- Language English
- Duration 12 months