External summary

Our theory programme encourages practices that are speculative and reflective, encouraging research on key debates and practices within contemporary art. It is a team-taught programme, with staff from the Visual Cultures department and the MFA and MA in Contemporary Art practice delivering a range of courses on key areas in contemporary art theory and practice. The Theory MA supports an applied knowledge of art now, grounding schooling in practice, curating and critical writing not only in contemporary art theory but in extra-disciplinary approaches. It is concerned with research methods that are experiential ??? embodied through and understood by the acquisition of a practice. You will originate new ways of contributing to contemporary art???s expanding field by drawing on related fields, specifically the latest theories and methods in visual cultures

MA theory students are given a space in our masters studio, where they are encouraged and supported in developing a distinctive and ambitious research practice by learning from and working as part of, a community of artists. The curriculum is based on a blend of projects and teaching,  with MA theory students studying in seminars with practice-based students on the MFA and MA, and on their own, in specialist seminars, workshops and tutorials. We place an emphasis on learning through doing and you will be involved in collaboratively developing exhibition projects in Edinburgh galleries with MFA and MA studio students. For assessment, you have the opportunity to submit project-work that utilises a variety of media, technologies, images, artefacts, tactics, texts, cultural contexts and professional practices.

The programme is aimed both at aspiring writers, curators, arts professionals and artists who want to develop a research-based practice by extending their practical, theoretical, organisational and economic engagement with contemporary art. It develops from a broad to a specialist understanding of the technical resources and validating contexts in which artists work today, drawing inspiration and nourishment from the experience of our international student cohort.

Our students often work collaboratively, therefore we are very eager to select applicants based on their ability to work well as part of a creative team as much as we are interested in their artistic and academic potential. We attract students from all over the world with very different backgrounds and experiences. The focus on building a supportive creative community, on the rigorous and experimental combination of theory and practice and the international profile of the student body makes our Masters programme unique.

Educational aims of programme

The programme aims to provide you with both an overall level of expertise in recent developments in art practices and theories, and a high degree of specialisation within this field, culminating in an original Research Project.

This programme has the following specific aims:

• To undertake a systematic examination of major international art practices.
• To analyse the major strands of theory and criticism that have informed art practices, institutions and related cultural ecologies.
• To explore some of the principal critical and theoretical positions informing the interpretation of contemporary art and its organisational contexts.
• To provide you with a set of critical tools necessary for the advanced analysis and creative organisation of art and contemporary culture.
• To provide you with a set of competencies, skills and understanding that will enable you either to undertake further academic research and/or to pursue a range of creative careers.
• To explore some of the principal critical and theoretical positions informing the interpretation of your work and its organisational contexts.
• To provide you with a set of competencies, skills and understanding that will enable you to pursue a rewarding life as an artist, writer, curator or arts professional.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

• Knowledge that covers and integrates most, if not all, of the main areas of the subject/discipline/sector ??? including their features, boundaries, terminology and conventions.
• A critical understanding of the principal theories, concepts and principles.
• A critical understanding of a range of specialised theories, concepts and principles.
• Extensive, detailed and critical knowledge and understanding in one or more specialisms, much of which is at, or informed by, developments at the forefront.
• A critical awareness of current issues in a subject/discipline/sector and one or more specialisms.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

• In using a significant range of the principal academic skills, techniques, practices and/or materials associated with the subject/discipline/sector.
• In using a range of specialised skills, techniques, practices and/or materials that are at the forefront of, or informed by forefront developments.
• In applying a range of standard and specialised research and/or equivalent methods and techniques of enquiry.
• In planning and executing a significant project of research, investigation or development.
• In demonstrating originality and/or creativity in academic thinking.
• To practise in a wide and often unpredictable variety of professional/academic level contexts.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

• Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues, or issues that are informed by forefront developments in the subject/discipline/sector.
• Identify, conceptualise and define new and abstract problems and issues.
• Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues.
• Critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking in a subject/discipline/sector.
• Deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

• Communicate, using appropriate methods, to an academic and/or professional audience (e.g. curators)
• Understand the skills relevant to communicating to a range of audiences with different levels of knowledge/expertise.
• Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists.
• Use a wide range of ICT applications to support and enhance work at this level and adjust features to suit purpose, as appropriate
• Undertake critical evaluations of a range of data (if relevant).

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

• Take responsibility for own work and/or significant responsibility for the work of others (if working a team).
• Take significant responsibility for a range of resources of relevance to research.
• Understand and process criticism offered by peers and senior specialists (teaching staff) to achieve improvement.
• Demonstrate leadership and/or initiative and make an identifiable contribution to change and development and/or new thinking.
• Practise in ways which draw on critical reflection on own and others??? roles and responsibilities.
• Manage complex ethical and professional issues, if they appear, and make informed judgements on issues not addressed by current professional and/or ethical codes practices.

Programme structure and features

The programme normally requires a UK 2:1 honours degree or its equivalent if outside the UK.  Applicants not achieving this requirement may be admitted if able to demonstrate extensive or distinctive professional experience relevant to the aims and objectives of the programme.

Applicants may be asked to participate in an interview via Skype.

Applicants must submit a portfolio as part of their application. The 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, distribution and exhibition 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

 For international applicants we follow the proficiency in English language criteria laid out by Edinburgh College of Art for admissions to taught postgraduate programmes.

Programme Structure:

In accordance with the University???s Curriculum Framework, the programme is of 12 months duration. It consists of 180 SQCF credit points, of which 120 constitutes the taught portion of the programme with the remaining 60 devoted to the dissertation component of the degree. The programme has two fundamental components:

• 120 credits at SCQF level 11 for 4 compulsory courses
• 60 points at SCQF level 11 for the final project element of the programme

 A series of research themes run each month to ensure that theory courses integrate across our graduate cohort. This enables you to collaborate with peers on a range of assessed projects in semester one, co-curating an exhibition at an external space in your second semester. The programme concludes with a major research project.

Degree Programme Table and Modes of Study:

Assessment

The programme uses the University???s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme CMS4.

Assessment has four distinct aims:

1.            To promote your learning by providing feedback to improve performance.

2.            To evaluate your knowledge.

3.            To provide a grade that enables your progress to be established transparently against that of your postgraduate peers in Edinburgh College of Art, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and internationally.

4.            To enable the public (including employers) to apprehend that you have reached an internationally validated and externally assessed level of academic standard.

Throughout your programme you will be required to submit for various forms of assessment. The principal purpose of assessment is to enable you to demonstrate formally the extent to which you have met the objectives of your study.

These are referred to as ???Learning Outcomes.??? You will demonstrate your achievement of these in other ways, too, including participation in group discussions. All aspects of your participation in this programme is formally assessed.

Progression and Awards

The programme conforms to the University???s taught Assessment Regulations.

Progression Requirements

Students must pass the assessment requirements of the taught stage at an appropriate level at the first attempt before progression to the dissertation. In order to progress to the masters dissertation students must:

Pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 50% in each of the courses which make up these credits; and attain an average of at least 50% for the 120 credits of study examined at the point of decision for progression

Award: Contemporary Art Theory (MA) (pass)

Students must average at least 50% over their course marks for the first 120 credits of the programme in semester one and two.  In addition they must secure a mark of 50% or higher in the Contemporary Art Theory final project.

Award: Contemporary Art Theory (MA) with Merit

The student must be awarded at least 60% on the University???s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation/final project and must pass all other courses with an average of at least 60%.

When a student does not qualify for a distinction as of right, they may be considered for the award of distinction if (a) their final research project mark and (b) their credit-weighted average mark across all the taught courses are both 58.00% or higher.  The decision whether or not to award the distinction in such cases is at the discretion of the Board of examiners.  In exercising its discretion, the Board will take into account the following factors: (a) the student???s credit-weighted average across the degree as a whole; (b) the number of courses (including the dissertation/final project) in which the student received a mark of 60%, and the credit weighting of those courses; (c) any special circumstances, such as illness or other adverse personal circumstances, which have been brought to the Board???s attention.

Award: Contemporary Art Theory (MA) with Distinction

The student must be awarded at least 70% on the University???s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation/final project and must pass all other courses with an average of at least 70%.

When a student does not qualify for a distinction as of right, they may be considered for the award of distinction if (a) their final research project mark and (b) their credit-weighted average mark across all the taught courses are both 68.00% or higher.  The decision whether or not to award the distinction in such cases is at the discretion of the Board of examiners.  In exercising its discretion, the Board will take into account the following factors: (a) the student???s credit-weighted average across the degree as a whole; (b) the number of courses (including the dissertation/final project) in which the student received a mark of 70%, and the credit weighting of those courses; (c) any special circumstances, such as illness or other adverse personal circumstances, which have been brought to the Board???s attention.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) in Contemporary Art Theory

Students who have not fulfilled the criteria to be presented for the award of an MA degree can be awarded a Diploma in Contemporary Art Theory.  In order to be awarded the Diploma, students must pass at least 80 credits at SCQF level 11; and attain an average of at least 40% for the 120 credits of study examined for the Diploma in semester 1 and 2.

Students who have fulfilled the criteria to proceed to dissertation/final project but do not wish to progress are eligible for the award of the Diploma in Contemporary Art Theory. 

Students who achieve a mark below 50% in their dissertation/final project may be awarded a Diploma in Contemporary Art Theory for attainment in the taught component only.

Exit award: Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Contemporary Art Theory

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

A defining aspect of our Masters Theory programme is that it places emphasis upon questioning accepted notions of artistic production as a means of encouraging you to develop a highly ambitious research-practice. To this end, we seek to provide specialist support for students wishing to pursue research on and in established fields of contemporary art practices, art theory, art criticism and curating while fully engaging with the ever changing context of emerging media and innovative forms of critical and organisational praxis.

Students on the theory programme have access to a wide range of studio equipment, technicians and resources, including printmaking, metal, wood, casting, painting, photography, reprographic and digital facilities. As well as being able to work on your preferred media and approaches, you???ll collaborate with your fellow artists on critical, creative and curatorial projects.

Facilities

Students on this programme will benefit from studio-based learning in Edinburgh College of Art's (ECA) historic Lauriston Place campus, along with the exhibitions and events associated with a vibrant art college. The art college experience will be complemented by the University's extensive range of student support facilities, its libraries, student societies, and student accommodation.

Our studios are adaptable, serving both as working studios and project and exhibition spaces. Our workshops and foundry provide excellent accommodation for working in wood, metal, mould-making, casting and carving and there are facilities for working with sound, digital imaging and video editing.

The programme develops from a broad to a specialist understanding of the technical resources and validating contexts in which artists work today, drawing inspiration and nourishment from the experience of our international student cohort.

Festival of Creative Learning

Assessment methods and strategies

At the beginning of each course you will be taken through a Learn page containing all briefs and submission deadlines, including how, when and where to submit your work for assessment. You will usually be required to submit written work directly to Learn .

Learning and continuous assessment takes place in studio, group seminars, crits, and tutorials through set assessment tasks wherein you are encouraged to exchange ideas relating to your working process.

All summative work will be given a mark which remains provisional until ratified by the Board of Examiners, which meets in January to confirm first Semester course marks.  The board then meets again in June to confirm second semester course marks and confirm progression to the dissertation stage, and again for final assessment in September/October. The Board of Examiners includes an External Examiner, whose role is to assure standards of assessment and provide a further source of advice on the Programme.

Mode of study

Full-time (12 months)

Career opportunities

The Theory MA will nurture the creative, organisational and economic knowledge required for a career in the contemporary art world that traverses the roles of artist, academic, art critic, art writer and curator. The Theory programme is intended, equally, to bridge the gap between undergraduate and doctoral research, enabling you to prepare a successful application to a PhD programme.

Other items

• Each student will be assigned a supervisor and a Personal Tutor; the supervisor monitors the overall academic progress and directs the final research project.
• Students will have at their disposal a range of relevant university computer services, with network access.
• Students will be entitled to use library facilities including the University Library, the copyright and the National Library of Scotland.
• Edinburgh has a strong research community in the arts and humanities and students will be encouraged to participate in research activities that are relevant to their studies, such as seminars, colloquia and conferences.