For those interested in graduate/postgraduate study under Dr Glaire Anderson's supervision
This advice is provided by Glaire Anderson, PhD acting in a personal capacity, and not as a staff member or representative of the University of Edinburgh.
If you do not already have a Master's degree in History of Islamic Art or Architecture, I recommend Master's level training in history of art or architecture as preparation for PhD study under my supervision. If you would benefit from support on identifying the right graduate program, get in touch.
At the University of Edinburgh, the following postgraduate programmes in the School of History of Art, Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) provide the necessary training to apply to work with me at the PhD level:
MSc in History of Art, Theory and Display (recommended for candidates with degrees from other humanities and social science disciplines).
MSc in Global Premodern Art: History, Heritage, and Curation
Anderson is considering applications for doctoral study under her supervision at the University of Edinburgh.
The PhD programme in the School of History of Art at the University of Edinburgh is an accelerated 3 or 4 year programme (full-time). Candidates must have a prior Master's degree in art/architectural history from an accredited institution, and a clear, focused research project appropriate for the PhD level. She is currently accepting proposals for PhD candidates starting in 2027-28.
Information on how to apply to the PhD program in History of Art is available on the University of Edinburgh's page here.
Important:
Anderson does not generally accept PhD applications from students without a prior degree in art/architectural history or an allied discipline (such as History, English, or Middle Eastern Studies). If your background is in other disciplines (for example Design, Architecture, Art, Music, Conservation, Fine Art, etc.) the recommended route is to first apply to Edinburgh's History of Art, Theory & Display MSc Programme, which provides the necessary training for study in History of Art at the PhD level.
Alternatively, you may wish to consider 1) another ECA programme that fits your disciplinary background, and to name Anderson as a potential co-supervisor in your proposal, or 2) consider the ECA PhD in Cultural Heritage, naming Anderson as a supervisor. Info on the Cultural Heritage PhD programme is here.
*Please note Anderson does not comment on proposals prior to application.
Students should enter with a working knowledge of classical Arabic and/or Persian, and other pertinent languages depending on specific research interests (Spanish for projects focused on al-Andalus, etc.)
Edinburgh has important collections of Islamic visual culture at the National Museum of Scotland and in the museums and special collections of the university itself.
Besides the resources available in the School of the History of Art, ECA has great strengths in History of Architecture/Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Design, Music, and Art.
Other important resources at University of Edinburgh:
Late Antique Islamic, and Byzantine Studies (LAIBS) programme in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA)
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) programme in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures (LLC)