Contemporary Art Practice MA (eca)

Our studio programme welcomes speculative and reflective approaches to art-making across all media.

It provides opportunity for reflection, review and refinement of contemporary art practice towards public exhibition and professional portfolio.

The programme is aimed at artists who want to develop a more ambitious practice by extending their practical, theoretical, organisational and economic knowledge in relation to contemporary art.

As a student on this programme you will be supported through multiple opportunities for developing confidence as an artist, including:

• group presentations
• collaborative exhibitions
• peer-to-peer exchange.

You will build on your existing skillset as you refine your approach and, ultimately, develop your artistic voice. At the end of the programme you will have a portfolio of work that is ready for wider public dissemination.

A defining aspect of our programme is the emphasis it places upon speculative scepticism - not proceeding from the position of knowing what art is but being motivated by speculation on what it might be. We generate an atmosphere that supports mutual co-operation, a dynamic, intellectually ambitious environment in which staff and students can learn together.

Our students often work collaboratively, therefore we are keen to select applicants based on their ability to work well as part of a creative team as much as we are interested in individual artistic and academic potential. The focus on building a supportive creative community, on the rigorous and experimental combination of theory and practice and the international profile of the student body makes our master's programme unique.

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.

You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. Your portfolio should be formatted as an A4-sized PDF document of no more than 10 pages and contain:

• images of your work (the number is up to you, but we would advise that you do not put more than four images on an individual page)

• accompanied image text detailing title, medium, date and where appropriate web link to any supplementary documentation of the referenced work (for instance a link to video work)

• a short artist statement (no more than 250 words)

• no more than five URL links to any sites that further detail or document your work

Your application and portfolio should demonstrate:

• evidence of practical and theoretical knowledge of, and experimentation with, a variety of formal, aesthetic and conceptual approaches to the production, distribution and exhibition of contemporary art

• evidence of practical or theoretical work that addresses key thematic areas in contemporary art and theoretical discourse

• evidence of collaborative working practices, either in a capacity as an artist or working curatorially; evidence of independent working practices, as an artist or curator

If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

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 6.5 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 92 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 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in 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:

• English language requirements

The programme will help you develop an ambitious art practice as well as provide you with the organisational and practical knowledge required to thrive as a self-employed artist.

Graduates produce exhibitions internationally, and have been selected for major residencies, exhibitions and prizes, such as:

• Bloomberg New Contemporaries
• RSA New Contemporaries
• John Kinross Scholarship
• Saatchi New Sensations
• Glasgow Film Festival
• Edinburgh International Art Festival

MA Contemporary Art Practice also prepares you for further academic study on doctorate or academic practice programmes.