According to its website, Edinburgh College of Art rates as one of the most successful independent art schools in the United Kingdom and Europe. This school's roots date back to 1760, when the Academy of Arts -- as the school was originally called -- began. The current location for the school was built in 1907, then completed in 1911. The school offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Students choose from Art or Design, Landscape Architecture, Architecture or Combined Studies. The Art or Design program takes two years to complete and features specialties such as Animation, Illustration, Painting and Sculpture. A 5-year Fine Art program is also available as a joint degree, with courses primarily taught at the University of Edinburgh.
The Glasgow School of Art began in 1845. Since then, it has gone on to become the second-largest art and design research center in the UK. Students at GSA study either Fine Art, Design or Architecture. Undergraduate students of GSA enroll in one of four different subject areas as a Fine Art student: Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Environmental Art or Fine Art Photography. In the masters program, subjects boil down into specialties. Students choose from degrees in Animation, Fine Art, Fine Art Practice and other artistic areas. Students may also seek research degrees in Philosophy and Architecture.
Gray's School of Art operates as part of the larger Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. The school began in 1885 as the Gray's School of Science and Art, named for founder John Gray. The school offers undergraduate and postgraduate coursework, as well as postgraduate research degrees and evening or short courses for people with limited time. Undergraduate students choose from 12 different courses, including Commercial Photography, Painting, Sculpture and Textiles and Surface Design. Postgraduate courses revolve around Art and Design, with students choosing between a Master of Design degree and a Master of Fine Art degree.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design is part of the University of Dundee, located in Scotland's fourth largest city. Founded in 1892, DJCAD boasts students who have won more awards for their work at the London New Designers exhibition than students from any other UK school. Undergraduate students have 12 courses available to them, including Fine Art, Interior Environmental Design and Jewelry and Metal Design. As a postgraduate student, degrees can be obtained in Design, Fine Art, Forensic Art, Media Art, Medical Art, Design Ethnography and Animation and Visualization.
Located in Edinburgh, the Leith School of Art has been helping students realize their artistic capabilities since 1988. Rather than being run from a traditional school building, Leith School of Art operates within the oldest Norwegian Lutheran Church located outside of Norway. As more students enroll in the school, more conversions to the church occur to make space. Students of Leith can enroll in Painting, Drawing, Figure Painting and Advanced Drawing and Painting courses. Foundation and evening courses, as well as workshops open to anyone over the age of 16, are also available.