Edinburgh College of Art

It's not one of the Universities, but I was wondering if anyone had any views on the Edinburgh College of Art?
I have an offer from there and I'm trying to decide between it's First Year Studies course (leading to a BA in a specialism,) or Fine Art at Leeds Uni?
I know lots about what Leeds Uni has to offer but no one ever seems to know much about eca! Has it got a good reputation, would anyone recommend it? Any comments would be much appreciated
Thanks :smile:

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Reply 1

Lulu34

as far as i was aware the college of art is attched academically to Edinburgh uni.... which its situated quite close to..... and its got a pretty good reputation locally.

have you tried looking at the eca website?
http://www.eca.ac.uk/eca.html

Reply 2

Chihuahua

Just wondered what ppls thoughts were on it, cos it's not mentioned on any of these forums!

so thanku that's great :-)

Reply 3

gausden13

Hi,

I'm a graduate from the ECA. I studied there for my BA (Hons) Illustration. The college is currently associated with Heriot Watt University but that is changing this year (or is it next year?) when it becomes part of Edinburgh University. The college has a good reputation and receives a high volume of applications, it can be difficult to get in (not necessarily a sign that it is any good of course!). I didn't do the foundation course there so I can't comment on that. What I will say is the college has a great atmosphere, friendly and inspiring and the majority of the tutors are also approachable and helpful. At the moment its all a little bit cramped but plans are underway to create new space for students. The written side of the course is well taught (although I hear people complaining all the time that it doesn't relate enough to their main subject). Relationships between different departments are sometimes lacking, as an Illustrator I did joint projects with the Graphics department only and saw the inside of Photography and Animation only when doing a two week elective (you get to pick another area of study and get set a project during that period). Some departments are also better organised (and it seems better funded) than others.

The building itself is beautiful and, of course, Edinburgh is an amazing place to study. As an ECA student when I was there we had limited access to the Edinburgh Uni facilites and I've never even been to Heriot Watt! The City librairies proved invaluable and the Modern Art Gallery and Dean Gallery were interesting to visit.

I'd suggest paying the college a visit and talking to students already studying there.

Vicki

Reply 4

michaela_banana

just a quick question, where abouts in edinburgh is eca? Just being nosy...

Reply 5

Chihuahua

Thankyou v much for your help, yeah I've been to visit & chatted to a few students. I loved it and have accepted as my firm choice. ECA is in the 'Old Town' of Edinburgh sort of just behind the castle.
"It has four sites - The main campus at Lauriston Place and the two Grassmarket Campuses are located in the centre of the city, within easy 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."

That's what it says on the site :smile:

Reply 6

michaela_banana

so not far from where i'll be. excellent. I shall be in the same region as all the fabulously pretentious art cinemas. see you there!

hurrah!

What's the fashion course like there?

Reply 9

Ariasa

Whats the Jewellery course like at ECA?

Reply 10

yossarianlives

I mooch off the ECA art shop.

Cheap cheap cheap. XD

Reply 11

helen*_*

has anyone heard back from eca yet? my application must have been one of the first they got :p:

as my teachers made me apply in november :rolleyes:

is there anyone else who's applied for FYS this year?

Reply 12

fakeplasticsmee

I've applied for FYS :wink:

Got my interview too yay

Edinburgh's my first choice I'd love to go there.

Reply 13

JMK

Hello everyone!

I want to study film in the UK. And I want to develop in the areas Documentary/Cinematography. I got accepted at all the three schools I applied to which is the Edinburgh College of Art (BA Film /TV Level 2), London College of Communication (BA Film/TV) and Photography,Film & Imaging at Napier.

Now I have the hard task to decide on where to go...

Does anyone know about the institution and their qualities?

Would be a great help to me to get some more "free" advice!

Reply 14

helen*_*

anyone off to portfolio assessments at eca? i've got mine on wednesday and i think my portfolio is actually going to be finished! :smile:

Reply 15

fakeplasticsmee

I went, it was really daunting, the standard of work is amazing.

There's no one on one interview so theres not too much pressure.

Reply 16

fakeplasticsmee

Anyone heard back from their interviews yet?

For First Year Studies or second year applications?

Reply 17

poise

Got my place at eca for next year wooo! not quite sure about accomondation tho, seeing as they dont provide anything...

Reply 18

fakeplasticsmee

For first year? There's some accomodation at Sciennes apparantly. If not theres the expensive private halls, can't remeber what they're called but they're just round the corner from the main ECA building.