Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation MSc
Awards: MSc
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation
This programme invites you to join one of the largest and most diverse concentrations of medieval, renaissance and early modern art historical expertise in the UK. Together, we will uncover neglected narratives and scrutinise assumptions that have often served as the foundations of art historical scholarship.
This programme aims to:
- diversify art history
- reveal meaningful connections and shared concerns
- embrace a breadth of theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches to objects from across the world.
You will cover a period from the third to the eighteenth century, with a far-reaching geographical scope, including:
- the British Empire
- Europe
- the Mediterranean
- Latin America
- the Middle East and North Africa
- India, China and Japan.
You will also study cultures from Christian to Islamic and Hindu to Buddhist.
The programme will allow you to conduct in-depth research projects in Edinburgh’s rich collection of archives and libraries, with behind-the-scenes access to world-leading galleries and museums.
You will also have the opportunity to spend a week in a place of global importance during the premodern period, such as Rome or Paris, working closely with members of the programme team.
You will study three compulsory courses:
- Approaching World Objects - focuses on global material culture and heritage, exhibition design and interpretation (Semester 1)
- Global Rome - incorporates an optional study week in a place of global importance during the premodern period, such as Rome (Semester 2)
- Dissertation - on a premodern art subject of your choice (Summer).
You will also choose four option courses, from a range reflecting the expertise of the programme’s staff, as well as relevant courses in:
- music
- literature
- history
- languages
- architectural history
You will have the option to gain hands-on experience through our internship opportunities at national and local institutions that specialise in the display, documentation and social relevance of art and culture.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
MSc | Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
Students who successfully complete this programme will be able to:
- critically analyse, evaluate, and synthesise the study of global art histories informed by developments at the forefront of research
- scrutinise the setting and display of art historical objects, taking account of their physical, institutional, cultural, and historical context
- plan and execute a significant project of research, including defining research questions or problems and testing them against evidence and existing research
- deploy a wide range of media to present art history to a broad public
- pursue professional careers in art history and the cultural and heritage sectors.
The wide-ranging nature of this programme will equip you for further, more specialised, study and potentially a future academic career.
The vocational element is the ideal stepping-stone to a career in art history, whether in the public or private heritage sectors, including:
- museums
- galleries
- libraries
- archives
- auction houses
- the media.
Transferable skills
You will gain an array of highly transferable skills that employers look for in graduates. These include:
- communication
- project management
- problem-solving.
More specifically, our approach means you will gain confidence in employing analytic skills especially attuned to the nuances of cultural exchange and a global outlook.
Lauriston campus redevelopment
ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston campus over the next 3 years, from April 2024 to April 2027.
The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.
The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.
You can find more about the project at the below link:
Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston campus | Edinburgh College of Art
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.
Students from China
This degree is Band C.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Additional programme costs
The optional study trip abroad is not included in the programme tuition fees.
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
MSc | Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
- borrowing money
- taking out a loan
- family support
- personal savings
- income from work
- employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
Featured funding
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office
- Programme Director, Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth
- Contact: cmccaffr@exseed.ed.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Admissions Office
- College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- 57 George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9JU
- Programme: Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation
- School: Edinburgh College of Art
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation - 2 Years (Part-time)
We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2025/6 will be published shortly.
You must submit one reference with your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office
- Programme Director, Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth
- Contact: cmccaffr@exseed.ed.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Admissions Office
- College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- 57 George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9JU
- Programme: Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage and Curation
- School: Edinburgh College of Art
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences