PhD History of Art in Edinburgh United Kingdom | The University of Edinburgh

The History of Art department at Edinburgh College of Art offers a vibrant and nurturing research atmosphere for our extensive and varied postgraduate community. Our unique strength lies in embracing worldwide art traditions, spanning from Japanese and Chinese to Islamic and Indian art, alongside diverse methodological approaches and historical specializations in more conventional fields. Our faculty features robust expertise across Medieval, Renaissance, Early Modern, 19th-Century, Modern, and Contemporary periods.

Potential research areas we supervise include, but aren't restricted to:

Medieval Art Studies
South Asian Visual Traditions
Japanese Artistic Heritage
Renaissance Art and Material Culture
18th-Century Art History
Modern & Contemporary Art Studies
Islamic Artistic Traditions
19th-Century Visual Arts
Curatorial Studies and Practice
Scottish Visual Heritage
Early Modern Art
Digital Culture in Contemporary Art
Contemporary German Visual Arts
Chinese Artistic Traditions

Our PhD program involves three years of full-time study (or six years part-time) with specialized supervision in your selected art history focus, culminating in a 100,000-word thesis.

The MPhil program consists of two years full-time (or four years part-time) research under expert guidance, concluding with a 60,000-word dissertation.

Regular one-on-one supervisory meetings ensure focused direction throughout your research journey.

We strongly recommend participation in research methodology courses at the start of your studies.

Annual progress reviews are mandatory for all enrolled students throughout their program duration.