Best art schools in the world | Online Gallery (2023)

Best art schools in the world | Online Gallery (1)

14 May - 2021
by Alice Broeksma

1006

Art professionals are sought after, particularly those who can apply skills in both fine arts and the commercial environment. Design today is often a strategic tool for improving companies and economies. Not underestimating the talentand skills of the self-taught, earning a degree confirms advanced abilities in art speciality subjects. Internationally recognised degrees are the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Master of Arts (MA). The latter is a good base for a careerin, for instance, art teaching, leading positions in museums, publishing. The MFA program is the hands-on curriculum for aspiring artists, with art specialities such as drawing, painting, graphic design or visual communication. Choosingan art course is very personal and there is no such thing as the only right choice. Shop around, contact schools for more information about their programs and see what suits you. The world has fantastic art courses on offer. Here isa selection of arguably the best art academies: in Europe, America, Canada, Mexico, Asia, Australia.

Belgium

Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp

Disciplines include ceramics, graphic design, jewellery/metal, painting/drawing, sculpture, textiles. Motto: ‘Free your artistic beast’.

http://www.academieantwerpendko.org

Britain

(no longer in Europe, but near enough)

Royal College of Art, London

Postgraduate degrees in art and design. Programs include applied arts, ceramics/glass, jewellery/metal.

https://www.rca.ac.uk

University of the Arts, London

Ranked among the world top 10 art schools, with six art colleges, including the world-famous Central Saint Martins Art and Design College, and the London College of Fashion. Large range of art and design courses, such as graphic design, 3D design, photography, fine art: painting/drawing, sculpture, visual arts, new media.

https://www.arts.ac.uk/subjects/fine-art

Denmark

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen

Well-known for its architecture and visual design program (visual communication/visual game design). Alumni include installation artist Jeppe Hein and filmmaker Jane Jin Kaisen.

https://royaldanishacademy.com/institute/visual-design

Finland

Aalto University, Helsinki

Home to the Design Factory. Disciplines include art education, visual culture, curating and contemporary art. Arts & design, with programs in ceramics, glass, textiles, sculpture, drawing/painting, multi-material, 3D print.

http://www.aalto.fi/en/

France

École des Beaux-Arts (Bap), Paris.

National school of Fine Arts, 350 years old and world famous: Claude Monnet and Pierre Bonnard were students here. Courses nowadays include hypermedia. Artistic Practice Department with 29 studios. Drawing department; the material/space department groups the fresco, mosaic, molding, carving and painting techniques studios.

https://beauxartsparis.fr/en

ENSCI-Les Ateliers, Paris

‘Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Creation Industrielle’. Founded in the 1980s, this prominent school specialises in industrial design, textile design and new design.

(Video) This is One of the Best Art Schools I've Seen

www.ensci.com/en

Pantheon-Sorbonne, Paris

Also known by its name Paris 1 and well-known for its courses in plastic arts, such as sculpting and ceramics. Programs include art and creation, contemporary creation, and (unique in France) aesthetics, art restauration.

https://www.pantheonsorbonne.fr

Germany

Bauhaus University, Weimar

Art and design courses, disciplines include media art and design, visual communication. PhD program in art and design, the only one of its kind in Germany.

https://www.uni-weimar.de/en

Berlin University of the Arts

This university is recognized worldwide for being one of the biggest and most diverse universities in the field of art and design, including programs in illustration, innovation/communication design, photography.

https://www.ue-germany.com

State Academy of Fine Arts, Stuttgart

Twenty courses in art, design and architecture. Fine arts: sculpture, digital and time-based art, photography, graphics (drawing/printmaking), glass design, installation art, ceramics, painting, performance art, video art.

https://www.abk-stuttgart.de

Italy

Politecnico Milano

Largest university of its kind in Italy, in famous design city of Milan.

Schools of architecture, design, fashion. Disciplines include aesthetics, cultural and creative industries, design for cultural heritage, design history, museum studies, visual arts.

https://www.polimi.it/en/

The Netherlands

Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE)

World famous for art programs in design, fashion design, graphic design, art, architecture.

DAE sees design as a global phenomenon with an increasing urgency to reform social structures and systems. With workshops specialising in 3D design, working with wood, metal, plastics, textiles, plaster, silkscreen printing, digital printing an imagery.

https://www.designacademy.nl

Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam

International university of applied sciences for fine arts and design. Programs available such as photography, moving image, ceramics, fine arts.

https://rietveldacademie.nl

Spain

University of Barcelona (UB)

One of Spain’s top universities in a great city of culture. The Faculty of Fine Arts has been active since the 1970’s. New bachelor degrees in fine arts and design.

https://www.ub.edu/web/portal/en/

Complutense University of Madrid (UCM)

With 80.000 students one of the largest universities in Europe. Prestigious and a big reputation in the fine arts. Faculties of Art History and Design. Disciplines include graphic design, painting/drawing, sculpture, new technologies.

https://www.ucm.es/english

(Video) Rhode Island School of Design Campus Tour

United States of America

Source: Best Grad Schools – U.S. News & World Report – Rankings (2020), Top Ten

University of California (UCLA) – Los Angeles, CA

University (30.000 undergraduates) based in artsy centre of Los Angeles.

Fine arts, specialities: Painting/Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, Time-Based Media/Media https://www.ucla.edu/the-arts/school-of-the-arts-and-architecture

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), IL

Largest accredited independent art school in the country.

Fine arts, specialities: Painting/Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Time-Based Media/Media

https://www.saic.edu

Yale University, New Haven, CT

Fine arts, specialities: Graphic Design, Painting/Drawing, Photography, Sculpture

https://www.art.yale.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Fine arts, specialities: Graphic Design, Painting/Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Time-Based Media/New Media

https://www.vcu.edu/arts/

California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA

Also known as CalArts. Private arts school.

Fine arts, specialities: Painting/Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, Time-Based Media/New Media

https://calarts.edu/

Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

Fine arts, specialities: Ceramics, Graphic Design, Painting/Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Time-Based Media/New Media

https://www.risd.edu

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Fine arts, speciality: Time-Based Media/New Media

http://www.art.cmu.edu

Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

Fine arts, specialities: Graphic Design, Painting/Drawing, Sculpture

https://www.mica.edu

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Fine arts program

https://stamps.umich.edu/

(Video) Youth Art Focus 2022 - Middle and High Schools Gallery Tour

Alfred University – New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred, NY

Fine arts, speciality: ceramics

https://www.alfred.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-ceramics/index.cfm

Canada

Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Vancouver, British Columbia

Renowned for sustainable design program, co-op programs. Small student body.

https://www.ecuad.ca

Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), Toronto

Largest and most comprehensive art, design and media university in Canada.

Home to Sharp Centre for Design. Disciplines include Painting/Drawing/Digital Painting/Expanded Animation, Integrated Media, Photography, Printmaking & Publications, Sculpture/Installation, Criticism & Curatorial Practice

https://www.ocadu.ca

Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec

Fine arts ranging from ceramics to fibre to studio art. Multidisciplinary focus.

Programs in the visual, performing, cinematic, design, digital, and therapeutic arts.

https://www.concordia.ca

Nova Scotia for Art and Design (NSCAD), Halifax, Nova Scotia

On the east coast, and the oldest arts school in Canada. Disciplines include photography, film and fashion.

https://nscad.ca

Mexico

Universidad Ibericoamericana (IBERO), Mexico City

One of Mexico’s first private universities and the oldest Jesuit university.

Art programs include graphic design, history of art and fashion design

https://ibero.mx/welcome-ibero

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City

Largest university in Latin America and ranked the best in Latin America.

Founded in 1551, campus now a World Heritage Site featuring work of Diego Rivera.

Amongst programs: art and design, Virtual Reality

https://www.unam.mx

China

Tsinghua University, Beijing

China’s Tsinghua University in Beijing is ranked first in the country for all academics, including art and design. Xinya College is the undergraduate liberal arts school within the university.

https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/index.htm

Tongji University, Shanghai

(Video) 13 Types of Students in ART Class

Prestigious art programs. The school’s College of Design and Innovation has been around since the 1940s and was influenced by the German Bauhaus School of Art. Today, disciplines include design history, design theory and architecture.

https://www.tongji.edu.cn

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Design School of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, PolyU Design, is the only school in Asia to have reached the list of theTop 25 Design Schools in the World.

https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/

Japan

Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA)

National arts university emphasising Japanese art and culture, and a spirit of artistic freedom and creativity.Collaboration with other universities, to create new forms of artistic expression and demonstrate the power of art in the international environment.

https://www.geidai.ac.jp/english/

South Korea

Seoul National University

The most prestigious school in South Korea, Seoul National University offers a BFA program in design through its College of Fine Arts. The school is particularly well-known for its work in plastic arts. Departments of painting, oriental painting, sculpture, crafts and design.

https://en.snu.ac.kr/index.html

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)

Seen as the number one university for art & design in Asia Pacific.

Fine and visual art, photography.

https://www.rmit.edu.au

University of New South Wales, Sydney

With the largest community of art and design in Australia.

Three main areas: media, fine arts and design.

Amongst study options: digital designing, branding, arts writing, photography

https://www.unsw.edu.au

University of Sydney

Amongst study options: art curating, visual arts, UX design, digital media production.

https://www.sydney.edu.au

University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Campus in historical area, university with Indigenous commitment.

Amongst study options: animation, fashion and textiles, visual communications, product design, photography.

https://www.uts.edu.au

University of Melbourne

Named as one of the top twenty faculties in the world of Arts by QS World University Rankings by Subject (2020).

Amongst study options: fine arts, visual art, animation.

(Video) FINE ART Music and Painting PEACEFUL SELECTION (Calm Melodies and Beautiful Pictures)

https://www.unimelb.edu.au

Image header:Gerrit Rietveld Academie en Sandberg Instituut - Jeroen Verrecht

FAQs

What is the number 1 art school in the world? ›

Royal College of Art (London, EN)

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art ranks 1st in art and design, according to the QS World University Rankings.

What is the hardest art school to get into in the world? ›

What is the hardest art school to get into? Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the hardest art and design school with the lowest acceptance rate in the world.

What is the number 8 art school in the world? ›

8. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) opened its doors nearly 150 years ago and offers one of the most top-rated programmes in North America.

What is the best country to study art in? ›

Best Countries to Study Art Abroad
  1. France. Reasons: Popular among international students, welcoming to international students, simplified student visa application, scholarship grants by the government, well-known for their art, and various art pieces on showcase. ...
  2. Italy. ...
  3. China. ...
  4. The Netherlands. ...
  5. Greece. ...
  6. Japan. ...
  7. South Africa.

What is the rarest school in the world? ›

Institut Le Rosey
GenderCo-educational
Enrollment~400
Student to teacher ratio5:1
Annual tuitionCHF 130,500 ($136,000) (varies within different age groups, and does not include bonus going up to another CHF 20,000, to a total of CHF 150,500 ($157,000))
15 more rows

What art style is the hardest? ›

Hyper-Realism

These styles garner huge attention and praise from the public, but not necessarily other artists. For those who do not practice painting, hyper-realism and photo-realism are often considered the most difficult due to the wow factor.

What is the most profitable art degree? ›

Here are six careers you can get with an art degree that will keep you fulfilled financially and creatively.
  • Art director. Average pay: $89,760 per year. ...
  • User Experience (UX) designer. Average pay: $87,883 per year (Glassdoor) ...
  • Multimedia artists/animators. ...
  • Architect. ...
  • Creative director. ...
  • Fashion designer.

Is art major stressful? ›

Meanwhile, some of the downsides of majoring in art include occasional unconstructive criticism and a stressful workload with tight deadlines.

What are the 7 major art? ›

However, today contemporary fine art is more than just painting and is defined by 7 fine art disciplines: painting, sculpture, architecture, poetry, music, literature, and dance.

What is the most prestigious art school in Europe? ›

Top Art Schools in Europe
  1. Zurich University of the Arts. Zurich University of the Arts Degree Programs. ...
  2. Goldsmiths, University of London. ...
  3. Oslo National Academy of the Arts. ...
  4. Royal College of Art. ...
  5. Design Academy Eindhoven. ...
  6. University of the Arts London. ...
  7. Aalto University. ...
  8. University of Oxford.

What university is known for art? ›

SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips
  • Make your dreams a (sur)reality.
  • Rhode Island School of Design.
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
  • California Institute of the Arts.
  • CSM College of Art and Design.
  • Parsons.
  • Berlin University of the Arts.
  • Pratt Institute.
1 Aug 2022

What is the best country to live in as an artist? ›

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen consistently ranks high on lists of the most livable places in the world. But it also offers a healthy art community with many artist-run exhibition spaces and artist collectives, making it one of the top places for artists to live.

Is it worth it to study art abroad? ›

Completing a fine art degree abroad can give you artistic inspiration from your new surroundings, and a new culture from which to view art. By understanding a different part of the world you will experience new techniques, artists and trends which may not be commonplace in your home country.

Which is the best field in art? ›

High-paying arts field jobs
  • Fashion designer.
  • Art director.
  • Industrial designer.
  • User experience (UX) designer.
  • Product designer.
  • Art lecturer.
  • Corporate lawyer.
  • Journalist.
22 Jul 2021

What is the richest school on Earth? ›

In this article, we look at the 50 wealthiest universities in the world. They are ranked according to each school's financial endowment.
...
See also: 50 Most Affordable Nonprofit Online Colleges.
# 50OSAKA UNIVERSITY$2.300
# 1UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM$69.210
48 more rows

Where do billionaires send their kids to school? ›

8 Stanford University – Rich & Ambitious Kids

With undergraduate fees easily topping $60,000 each year, many of Stanford University's students in California are extremely wealthy. The New Yorker recently referred to this university as “Get Rich U” because it feeds so many bright grads into Silicon Valley.

What is the world's toughest school? ›

Topping the list of the hardest school to get into in the world is Stanford. It has been featured top of this list for several years and no other university anywhere in the world has managed to replace it yet.

What school has the happiest students? ›

Top 25 Happiest Colleges
  • University of Iowa.
  • Fairfield University.
  • University of California, Berkeley.
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
  • Clemson University.
  • Rice University.
  • Auburn University.
  • Florida State University.
28 Aug 2022

What is the most elite school in the world? ›

1. Harvard University. Established in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest higher education institution in the US. It is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world and has topped the THE World Reputation Rankings since 2011.

What type of art is in demand? ›

Modern or semi-abstract landscapes seem to sell particularly well. These days, the trend in décor is towards the minimal and modern, so it makes sense that tastes in art would follow suit. Impressionistic landscapes also have a wide appeal.

What type of art is most popular? ›

Pop Art is perhaps one of the most well-known and well-loved art styles throughout history and for good reason. It is, after all, a reimagination of sorts that “popped up” and took inspiration from mass or popular culture, particularly American consumerist culture, hence the name.

What should I major in if I love art? ›

A fine arts degree gives you an education in the visual arts. You may decide to focus on painting, drawing or printmaking. With this degree, you will be introduced to oil painting, the media of watercolor and drawing techniques. You may also choose concentrations, such as photography and sculptural practices.

Which career is best for art student? ›

10 Best Jobs for Arts Students
  • Lawyer.
  • Fashion designer.
  • Graphic designer.
  • User experience (UX) designer.
  • Photographer.
  • Animations.
  • Hotel management.
  • Media & journalism.
1 Aug 2022

Is art harder than science? ›

Not easy and difficult than science, science is the most difficult but art seems difficult and sometimes easy ..

Are art jobs worth it? ›

The short answer is yes. There are so many opportunities for artists — not just to get work, but also to learn and hone their craft however they can. It's undoubtedly a good time to be a freelance artist, though you might want to keep your day job as you work toward becoming a full-time artist!

Is art in high demand? ›

Job Outlook

Overall employment of craft and fine artists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 5,900 openings for craft and fine artists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

What are the 5 rules of art? ›

The traditional way of looking at art, namely the visual arts, suggests that there are five basic elements of an artwork – line, shape, color, texture and space.

What is the 8th art? ›

Film is sometimes called the "eighth" and comics the "ninth art".

Are there Ivy League art schools? ›

Yale (equal)

An Ivy League school offering a world-class art and design course might surprise you, but Yale is a place for creatives and academics alike. Yale also offers Liberal Arts programs, allowing students to think and learn across many disciplines, not deciding on a major until their final year at college.

Where is the best art college in the world? ›

  • =9) School of the Art Institute of Chicago. ...
  • 8) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ...
  • 6) Aalto University. ...
  • 5) Politecnico di Milano. ...
  • 4) Rhode Island School of Design. ...
  • 3) The New School. ...
  • 2) University of the Arts London. ...
  • 1) Royal College of Art.
27 Sept 2022

Where is the art capital of the world? ›

New York. New York is the art capital of the world, boasting 654 art events to visit this year, nearly double London which is ranked second. The Big Apple hosts over 500 art galleries with an impressive average gallery Google Rating of 4.6.

Do most artists go to art school? ›

The answer is no, but it can increase your advantages of earning your dream job as an artist. Going to art school is not necessary. Statistics show that out of the 1.4 million working artists, only 40% of them do not have a bachelor's degree but of the remaining 60%, only 16% have an arts-related bachelor's degree.

What city is known for art? ›

Beyond the impressive architecture, Venice had the highest marks among the top 10 cities for its number of monuments and statues (94 per million people), as well as museums (183.3 per million people). Coming in second place is Miami, a city once known only for its beaches and wild nightlife.

What is the #1 art school in the US? ›

Best Art Schools
NAME/RANKPEER ASSESSMENT SCORE
University of California--Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA #1 in Best Fine Arts Programs Save4.5
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL #2 in Best Fine Arts Programs (tie) Save4.3
Yale University New Haven, CT #2 in Best Fine Arts Programs (tie) Save4.3
9 more rows

What country loves art the most? ›

The United States was the leading art market worldwide in 2021, generating 43 percent of the global art market value.

Where Are artists paid the most? ›

FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

However, architects' earning potential can vary significantly between locations in the U.S. When adjusted for cost of living, the typical salary for an architect is highest in Arizona, where the median adjusted wage is $97,153 per year.

What city has the best art galleries? ›

Top cities for art lovers by the total number of establishments
RankCity, StateTotal Art Establishments
1New York, NY1,270
2Los Angeles, CA435
3San Francisco, CA376
4Chicago, IL345
6 more rows
29 Jan 2019

Which European country is best for arts students? ›

One of the most popular European destinations, Italy welcomes thousands of foreign students and tourists alike at any time of the year. If you're interested in arts, architecture or world history – some of the most searched study fields in this country, Italy would definitely be the ideal spot for you.

Can a arts student get job in abroad? ›

Students who want to pursue a career that uses their creative skills can opt for careers in Design, Animation, or Arts. So when you pursue your undergraduate degree with B.A. the graduates can find jobs in abroad countries.

Is art school free in Germany? ›

In Germany, education at public universities is largely free of tuition, which provides you with the opportunity to study arts in Germany for free. Look for example at the highly renowned Berlin University of the Arts, Europe's largest arts university.

What are 10 careers in art? ›

Read on to find out more about which careers in art would best suit you, and how to increase your employability in these areas.
  • Professional artist. Tool. ...
  • Illustrator. ...
  • Photographer. ...
  • Animator. ...
  • Graphic designer. ...
  • Curator. ...
  • Printmaker. ...
  • Art teacher/university lecturer.

Which art University is best? ›

  • University of Oxford.
  • The University of Edinburgh.
  • Bangor University.
  • University of Lincoln.
  • Coventry University.
  • University of the Arts London.
  • Sheffield Hallam University.
  • University of South Wales. VIEW COURSES.

What is the number 1 top school? ›

University of California, Berkeley
  • #1. in Top Public Schools (tie)
  • #20. in National Universities (tie)

Are art schools worth it? ›

Despite the stigma surrounding art majors, an art degree can be an excellent opportunity to develop and hone the studio skills necessary to forge a career as a professional artist. Both the environment and length of the program allow students to learn relevant tools and surround themselves with like-minded individuals.

What major is best for art? ›

The following is a list of the best 10 degrees for artists:
  • Fine Arts. A fine arts degree gives you an education in the visual arts. ...
  • Graphic Design. ...
  • Business. ...
  • Digital Arts. ...
  • Game and Interactive Media Design. ...
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production. ...
  • Theater Arts. ...
  • Fashion Design.

Which city is best for arts? ›

Beyond the impressive architecture, Venice had the highest marks among the top 10 cities for its number of monuments and statues (94 per million people), as well as museums (183.3 per million people). Coming in second place is Miami, a city once known only for its beaches and wild nightlife.

What art school has the highest acceptance rate? ›

Academy of Art University San

Which country is best for visual art? ›

Best countries to study fine art
  • Fine Art in New Zealand.
  • Fine Art in USA.
  • Fine Art in UK.
  • Fine Art in Canada.
  • Fine Art in Australia.
  • Fine Art in Cyprus.
  • Fine Art in Netherlands.
  • Fine Art in Italy.

What is the number 1 hardest school to get into? ›

The rankings are based on acceptance rates and SAT/ACT test scores. Harvard ranked as the toughest school in the country to get into. It has a 5% acceptance rate, according to Niche. Stanford came in second on the list— with an acceptance rate of 5% as well.

What high school sends the most kids to Harvard? ›

Nationwide, these are the three top schools with the most graduates who registered at Harvard, Princeton or MIT from 2015-18: Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, Virginia: 96; Stuyvesant High School in New York City: 94; and Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire: 87.

What are the top 3 graduates called? ›

Generally, the highest honor in college is the valedictorian, followed by the salutatorian. As a group, the highest honor is summa cum laude. The next highest is the magna cum laude, and the third is the cum laude.

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