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 (1990s band), Katie Paterson (artist,
Creative 30 award winner) Morag McKinnon (BAFTA award winning
director).
