Edinburgh College of Art is one of the oldest and largest art colleges in Europe. It can trace its origins back to 1760 and the Drawing Academy of Edinburgh. It is located in the heart of the historic Old Town of Edinburgh. Its studios have breathtaking views of the spectacular skyline dominated by the castle.
ECA has four sites. The main campus at Lauriston Place and the two Grassmarket Campuses are located in the centre of the city, within walking distance of Princes Street. The Inverleith Campus, which mainly houses studios for postgraduate students in the Schools of Drawing & Painting and Sculpture, is just a short bus ride from the main campus. Edinburgh's two rail stations, Waverley and Haymarket, are both conveniently close to the College, and while car parking at ECA is limited, priority will be given to those with particular needs.
ECA also has an international reputation, and welcomes applications from around the globe.
In the session 2003-2004, the College had 350 students from 50 countries outside the UK studying alongside students from throughout the British Isles, participating in full-time first degree or postgraduate programmes. Others came on exchange and visiting programmes.
The international mix of students within the College brings many benefits. It adds a valuable global dimension to the educational programmes, widening horizons and offering new perspectives to students and staff alike. For students coming from overseas, the College offers outstanding opportunities. Those studying Art and Design will find themselves working in world-class studios in a richly cultural city renowned for its galleries, museums and the Edinburgh International Festival. Those involved in Environmental Studies will appreciate Edinburgh's unique environment, which contrasts the medieval Old Town with the Georgian elegance of the New Town and offers access to resources such as the Royal Botanic Gardens and the beautiful wilderness of the Scottish Highlands.
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City of Edinburgh |
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Getting Here
Edinburgh's public transport systems are excellent. There is a comprehensive network of bus routes in and around town. London is approximately five hours away by train; Glasgow less than one hour and the Highlands are also within easy reach. Edinburgh Airport, which has a thirty-minute express bus link from the city centre, operates regular domestic and international flights.
Edinburgh is one of Europe's finest capitals, and it has a rich sense of history as well as a lively contemporary feel.
It lay at the centre of the Scottish Enlightenment, which revolutionised European thinking, and has been the backdrop to centuries of debate and freethinking. The city has attracted generations of artists and writers, scientists and philosophers. It welcomes the new, and the current of history that flows through it provides context and perspective.
Edinburgh has a very large student population, and there is a thriving and lively array of bars, cafes, restaurants, clubs and performance venues. The range of food is truly international and covers all price levels. The city's dynamic nightlife is in constant flux. The traditional Scottish pubs are still there, but they have been joined by a great variety of cosmopolitan and convivial alternatives.
The famous Edinburgh International Festival has now so many siblings that the City seems to be in the grip of one event or another for most of the year. There is the International Film Festival, the Jazz Festival, the Science Festival, the Book Festival, the Television Festival, the Children's Festival and, of course, the anarchy and comedy of the Fringe.
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