Course summary

Our MPhil and PhD degrees are both major pieces of independent research, preparing you for a future in academic scholarship. We welcome prospective students with a strong idea of what they want to research and how they will carry it out. A willingness to engage with primary-source material and to interpret this alongside existing literature in the field are essential attributes in those wishing to undertake this programme. Your aim will be to make an original and substantial contribution to knowledge in your chosen area of study. Undertaking a research degree in History of Art at Edinburgh means you are part of one of the largest groupings of subject experts in the UK. Our students form a dynamic and supportive community working in close collaboration with experienced teachers and researchers within our School and beyond. As a student, you will have access to the world-class collections of Edinburgh University Library and the National Library of Scotland (one of five legal deposit libraries in the UK). The University is one of the major centres in the world for the study of the humanities, and interdisciplinary supervision teams are often set up across different schools. The University of Edinburgh houses outstanding art and manuscript collections developed over the last 400 years, while Edinburgh itself is home to a wealth of major museums, such as the National Galleries of Scotland and National Museums of Scotland.