Art and Social Practice MA

Course code W210

What is special about this course?

Are you committed to a career in an art practice that creatively engages with your community? If so, the MA Art and Social Practice is ideal.

Artists in the 21st century increasingly find themselves working in participatory settings where skills in creative and social engagement are essential. This programme addresses these changing needs and facilitates a shift in thinking away from conventional ideas about where art practices are located and how work is disseminated.

The course offers focused provision enabling you to develop an appropriate level of knowledge and research to inform practical work, together with the critical and analytical processes and technical skills required to effectively deliver a project in the public domain.

Special features

  • Taught by an inter-disciplinary team of artists and specialists from social anthropology, social and collaborative art practices and sculpture, who work across a range of local, national and international contexts, from urban centres to remote and small communities
  • You will have the option to meet in real life during the annual Winter School located in rotating locations in the Highlands and Islands
  • In the final stage of the module you will choose your own mentor from local, national or international specialists
  • You will meet leading figures in the field, from Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally, through the annual Virtual Symposium, visiting Lecturers and guest speakers

Entry requirements

  • 2:1 honours degree in a relevant subject such as art, design or new media, theatre practice and cultural studies or other closely related discipline such as community development, cultural production, arts administration or management
  • Applicants with other qualifications or relevant experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis

Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scotland-domiciled students)

Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland-domiciled students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.

(see fees/funding tab for more information)

Access routes

Students can access the course from a range of our undergraduate programmes including:

The program is very adaptable to student interests and needs. In my own set of circumstances, I was working to build a new identity as an artist, while simultaneously grappling with big themes that I wanted to explore through artistic means. The program allowed me to integrate multiple strands of inquiry and left me with a sense of clarity about my purpose and future directions.  

The course connected students to practising artists who shared their ideas and experiences. I had access to articles and books from artists and thinkers who helped me contextualize my own observations and experiences. 

I really enjoyed interacting with my fellow students and seeing their artistic work. I also appreciated the depth and breadth of the teaching staff’s experience. Lecturers were very responsive to feedback and worked to support student needs. I would describe studying the MA Art and Social Practice as life-changing.  

Patricia MacAulay studied the MA Art and Social Practice at UHI Shetland.

Apply for Art and Social Practice MA

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2025

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.