Edinburgh College of Art

Introduction

Edinburgh College of Art (eca) is one of the largest, longest-established and most distinguished independent art colleges in Europe, which dates back to the original drawing academy in 1760. It’s a modern, international institution with a friendly, supportive and enriching learning environment, offering a high level of individual instruction. Most tutors are practising artists with strong international reputations in their own right. All degrees are awarded by the University of Edinburgh. Students leave eca with a strong foundation in the creative practice and find success in an impressive array of creative industries.

Quick facts

Website address

http://www.eca.ac.uk/

Study

The emphasis is on Fine Art, Design, Architecture and Landscape Architecture at undergraduate and postgraduate level, with around 17-20 programmes at both levels. There is also a strong research culture, with study to PhD level co-ordinated through the Graduate Research School.

First year undergraduate students are given the unique opportunity to experiment and refine their skills in different areas before they choose where to specialise in years 2-4. Most programmes are studio-based and offer students dedicated studio space. An enviable staff-to-student ratio and access to the latest methods and technologies gives students the opportunity to equip themselves with the skills and confidence their specialist subject requires.

Highlights

• Annual Fashion Shows and Degree Shows are always very popular and critically well-received. Many students and graduates have won awards, particularly in fashion, jewellery, animation, film & TV, architecture and painting
• The only Landscape Architecture School in Scotland
• A unique Art, Space and Nature Master's degree programme
• The only Glass department in Scotland

Location

With the purchase of a new award-winning building on West Port, Edinburgh College of Art has consolidated to a unified, city centre campus in the heart of the capital. This enables students to integrate more closely and marks the beginning of their ambitious plans for the next 100 years of first-class art and design education.

Undergraduate students: 1400

Postgraduate students: 300

International students: 20% of all students from over 70 countries

Some famous alumni:

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw (architect, President of Royal Academy), Sir Basil Spence (architect), Dame Elizabeth Blackadder (artist), William George Gillies (artist), Anne Redpath (artist), Callum Innes (painter and Turner Prize nominee), Sir Eduardo Paolozzi (sculptor and artist), Stewart Parvin (fashion designer), The Rezillos (1970s band), Adrian McDowall (director, BAFTA and Scottish BAFTA award winner), Graeme Black (fashion designer), Paul Mooney (artist, winner of the Northern Art Prize 2008), The Beta Band, Katie Paterson (artist, Creative 30 award winner) Morag McKinnon (BAFTA award winning director).