Skip navigation
Contemporary Art Theory at The University of Edinburgh - UCAS

Course options

2026 - 2027
Apply

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Open days

19Nov
The University of Edinburgh - Postgraduate Virtual Open Days
Virtual and digital

Course summary

Established in 2001, the Masters of Contemporary Art Theory (MA CAT) is a post-studio programme that supports the research and practices of artists and aspiring art professionals. The MA CAT encourages practices that are speculative and reflective, developing artistic research on, and in, a range of media, sites and organisations. The programme supports an applied knowledge of art now, grounding schooling in the practices of art and contemporary art theory as well as extra-disciplinary and intermedial approaches. The taught curriculum consists of an innovative series of learning sprints designed to support the development of your artistic research and practice through:

  • workshops
  • practical partnerships with art organisations
  • carefully scaffolded approaches to collaborative inquiry (‘problem-based learning’)
  • peer-production (‘paragogy’)
You will create art projects designed to engage and develop emerging hypereconomies of contemporary art and its variety of media, technologies, images, artefacts, tactics, texts, cultural contexts and professional practices. Our philosophy and values A defining aspect of our theory programme is the emphasis we place upon speculative scepticism – not starting from the position of knowing what post-studio practice is but being motivated by speculation on what it might be. We generate a dynamic, intellectually ambitious environment in which staff and students can learn together. We attract students with very different backgrounds and experiences. This difference generates diversity and a richness that is key to learning about, and expanding, the field of contemporary art. The focus on building a supportive creative community through innovative forms of peer-generated knowledge, the rigorous and experimental combination of theory and practice and the international profile of the student body makes our master’s programme unique. Our academic staff provide specialist support for students wishing to pursue research on and in established fields of contemporary art practices and theory, while fully engaging with the ever-changing context of emerging media and innovative forms of critical and organisational praxis.

Modules

See the University of Edinburgh website for detailed programme information.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on our website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Tuition fees vary between degree programmes. Find the specific fees for your chosen programme on our website.
Contemporary Art Theory at The University of Edinburgh - UCAS