Postgraduate Course: Contemporary Artistic Research Project (ARTX11050)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | The Contemporary Artistic Research Project supports you to plan, develop and realise an independent work of artistic research. This is the principal outcome of your postgraduate programme and challenges you to identify and apply a range of innovative methods in domains of artistic theory and/or practice in order to produce and communicate new insights. |
| Course description |
This course provides MA Contemporary Art Theory students (CATs) with the experience of designing, conducting, analysing and disseminating your own artistic research project, consolidating the knowledge and understanding gained during the taught stages of your programme. It will support you to become an effective research project manager and will help you to become an insightful, responsive and ethical independent researcher.
A series of introductory lectures will cover topics including effective project design, questions of communication and presentation, and writing as a scholarly and creative practice. You will be additionally supported with regular one-to-one meetings with an identified tutor who will offer formative feedback and suggestions, as well as group meetings which allow for peer-to-peer sharing amongst your community of practice. Your project is scaffolded by a series of key tasks intended to address research milestones. This course requires you to work independently and extensively outside of scheduled activities in order to complete your project.
The course progresses through distinct phases: planning and design; fieldwork and process; revision and review. This requires advance consideration of your area of interest, starting in Semester 2.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is only available for students on the MA Contemporary Art Theory programme. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (sem 2) |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Lecture Hours 4,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 4,
Online Activities 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
571 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course has 1 component of assessment, with an option of 2 distinct modes of submission:
A body of art-writing of no more than 9,000 words total, 100% weighting, assessed against all Learning Outcomes weighted equally.
Or, an artistic research project book comprising both a portfolio of 10-15 pages and a reflective analysis of no more than 5,000 words total, 100% weighting, assessed against all Learning Outcomes weighted equally.
Regardless of mode, submissions are due in the final week of the course.
The resubmission arrangements for this course are as follows:
The resit task should be the same as the initial mode of submission.
Students will receive further resubmission information as per University regulations as necessary. |
| Feedback |
Formative Feedback
You will be given verbal formative feedback on key tasks at each individual tutorial and are expected to keep notes.
You will be given verbal formative feedback from student peers at each group meeting.
You will received written formative feedback from your tutor in week 10 on a draft chapter submitted in week 9, at the review stage of the course. You should incorporate this feedback into your summative submission.
Summative Feedback
Your summative submission will receive one set of written feedback consolidated by two assessors, not including your tutor.
Your summative submission will be graded using the course Learning Outcomes in equal weighting.
Summative feedback will be provided according to University regulations. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Situate, develop and articulate a coherent and convincing argument which demonstrates clear comprehension and productive analysis in the field of contemporary art, a chosen sub-topic, and relevant theory and concepts.
- Identify, design, justify and apply a range of appropriate research methods which enable them to plan, realise and professionally resolve an independent, ethical and timely research project.
- Understand, interpret, create and communicate appropriately within academic and artistic contexts, carefully and clearly evidencing, analysing, evaluating, synthesising and presenting your research.
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Reading List
Alvesso, Mats, and Jörgen Sandberg. "Research Questions: A Core Ingredient in Developing Interesting Theories." In Constructing Research Questions: Doing Interesting Research. SAGE, 2013.
Didion, Joan. ¿Why I Write.¿ The New York Times, December 1976.
Dillon, Brian. Essayism. Fitzcarraldo, 2017.
Eco, Umberto. How to Write a Thesis. Translated by Caterina Mongiat Farina and Geoff Farina. MIT Press, 2015.
Newton, Rae R.¿and Kjell Erik¿Rudestam. Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process. Sage, 1992.
Sontag, Susan. Against Interpretation. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1966.
Williams, Gilda. How to Write About Contemporary Art. Thames & Hudson, 2014. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This SCQF Level 11 course aims to support the research skills and attributes delineated within the UK's Vitae Researcher Development Framework 2025. It is also aligned with sectoral priorities identified in the Visual Arts Manifesto (Engage Scotland, Scottish Artists Union and Scottish Contemporary Art Network, 2017). This will prepare CATs to continue to work as researchers both in the professional contemporary artworld and in higher education (SCQF Level 12).
Skills for Success Framework
Critical Thinking:¿The extended research process encourages you to develop a questioning voice, challenge prevailing norms and biases, and identify themes and patterns in information.
Problem Solving: In designing and delivering an ambitious research project, you will learn to identify and address issues, synthesise information, and generate useful knowledge in different contexts.
Reflection:¿In writing, editing and acting upon feedback, you will learn to bring consideration to decision-making, recognise your strengths and demonstrate awareness of your personal values. |
| Study Abroad |
Since this course is delivered online, it is available to and supports students while they are studying abroad and away from the University. |
| Keywords | capstone,contemporary art,art theory,artwriting,artistic research,research project,research creation |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Marcus Jack
Tel:
Email: M.Jack@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Tom Clayton
Tel:
Email: tclayto2@ed.ac.uk |
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