Top universities to study arts | 10 must-know ones!

Over the recent years and particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, art studies are fast becoming one of the most popular disciplines pursued by the student community. This is primarily because of the several well-paying, creative, and stimulating job profiles that need you to have the relevant skills and qualifications. Therefore, pursuing your undergraduate or postgraduate studies from one of the best art universities globally will be beneficial for your career. Keep reading to discover the top universities to study arts! 

Rhode Island School of Design (United States) 

RISD is ‌one of the most reputed universities to study arts globally. One of the key features of this university is that it has an associated museum that is replete with thousands of works and collections. Moreover, each of the collections spans different media, cultures, and periods. The following are the different undergraduate courses offered at this university- 

• Bachelor of Architecture 
• Bachelor of Fine Arts 

At the graduate level, the courses offered include – 

• Interior architecture 
• Interior studies 
• Industrial design 
• Master of fine arts 

RISD is also well-known for its spectacular 90% employment rate, with an average postgraduate salary estimated at USD 56,400. 

Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design (England) 

The Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design is among the top universities to study arts in the world. It is a constituent university of the arts in London. This university also offers a wide range of niches for students to choose from, including Jewelry & Textiles, Fine Arts, and Graphic Communication Design. The following are the different ‌degrees offered by Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design- 

• Short courses 

These are courses conducted all year round and are open to candidates from all levels. However, a significant factor to consider is that some of these short courses are for children and teenagers. 

• Pre-degree courses 

Pre-degree courses are short-term courses that ‌equip you with all the relevant skills you need to get into a competitive undergraduate degree. 

• Undergraduate courses 

Central Saint Martins’ undergraduate courses ‌provide students with the latest ideas and methods in their particular field. The course also provides several opportunities for you to develop your interests and core identity. 

• Postgraduate courses 

Postgraduate courses from this university not only offer a vibrant research environment but also allow you to develop agendas for intellectual & industrial debate. 

Berlin University of the Arts (Berlin) 

The Berlin University of the Arts is one of the top universities to study arts owing to its renowned faculty. The faculty of this university also includes some of the most influential and respected contemporary artists on the international scale (including Chinese social activist and artist Ai Weiwei). 

The university is also home to four sister colleges that offer courses in the following – 

• Performing Arts 
• Fine arts 
• Music 
• Design 

One of the most notable features of this university is that it has more than 170 partnerships with universities across the world. Berlin University of Arts also hosts more than 500 events in an academic year, making it a cultural venue in the city.

Berlin University of the Arts is also the biggest arts university in Germany, known for its 300-year rich tradition. Additionally, the university’s educational model is interdisciplinary, delivered by top-ranking professionals, and recognized for its artistic excellence. 

Pratt Institute (United States) 

Particularly owing to its distinguished art scene, Pratt Institute is among the top universities to study arts. It has consistently ranked among the top universities to study arts globally. Since the faculty are industry leaders in different artistic fields, it allows you to create a network of professionals and like-minded peers. 

One of the key advantages of pursuing a course at this university is that the counseling services are remarkable. Moreover, the quality of counseling has a direct role in the high job placement rates after graduation. 

Pratt University offers more than 25 undergraduate courses and 26 graduate courses. These are qualifications provided by the Schools of Art, Architecture, Design, Information, and Liberal Arts & Sciences. 

One of the key characteristics of this university is its dual-degree courses that provide you with an interdisciplinary set of skills. Pratt University also offers eight Advanced Certificate courses in the following subjects – 

• User Experience (UX) 
• Spatial Analysis & Design 
• Conservation & Digital Curation 
• Digital Humanities 
• Museum Studies 
• Museum Libraries 
• Archives 
• Art & Design Education 

The Glasgow School of Art (Scotland) 

Glasgow School of Art is Scotland’s only public self-governing art school. This institute is among the top universities to study arts owing to its position as the head of research in creative disciplines. The university has research centers such as – 

• Mackintosh Environmental Architectural Research Institute 
• Digital Design Studio 
• Institute of Design Innovation 

Some of the most popular undergraduate degrees offered by The Glasgow School of Art are specializations in the following – 

• Fashion design 
• Product design
• Engineering with architecture 
• Painting & print-making 
• Interior design 
• Interaction design 
• 3D Modeling 

The graduate degrees offered by this university‌ are significantly more competitive (with an intake of 20%). The different specializations offered include – 

• MFA (Master of Fine Art) 
• Design Innovation & Environmental Design 
• Design Innovation & Citizenship 
• Curatorial Practice
• Interior Design 
• Art Writing 
• Heritage Visualization 

National School of Fine Arts (France) 

It is among the top universities to study arts in France because this university is home to more than 450.000 historical and cultural art such as books, paintings, and sculptures. The university is also referred to as Ecole nationale superieure des Beaux-Arts. 

It is a part of the PSL Research University (in association with Beaux-Arts de Paris, a French school). Additionally, the faculty and alumni include several internationally recognized artists who have made a name for themselves with their skills. 

The key art course is a five-year curriculum that is made of two consecutive ‘cycles’. During the first three years of the course, students learn the fundamentals of theoretical practice, followed by two years of artistic creation. The school is one of the top universities to study arts for its several partnerships with esteemed institutions around the globe such as- 

• University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Western Switzerland)
• Central Saint Martins (London) 
• Cooper Union (New York) 

Some of the most notable alumni of this university include – 

• Theodore Gericault 
• Edgar Degas 
• Gustave Moreau 
• Pierre-Auguste Renoir 

Tokyo University of the Arts (Japan) 

Since it is the only national arts university in the country, the university emphasizes developing Japanese art & culture. Therefore, a core emphasis of the syllabus is on artistic creativity and freedom. 

Therefore, one of the key educational and research objectives of this university is to impart extensive knowledge in specialized arts, facilitating in-depth education. The Tokyo University of the Arts is divided into the following schools – 

• Faculty of fine arts 
• Faculty of music 
• Tokyo University of the Arts (Graduate School) 
• Fine Arts 
• Music 
• Film & new media 

You must also know one of the most noteworthy aspects of this university is its university library facility. The library is home to more than half a million volumes on topics related to arts and music. It also offers access to other research facilities in the country with inter-library loans. 

China Central Academy of Fine Arts (China) 

The China Central Academy of Fine Arts is one of the most selective schools in China. It is the most prestigious art academy in the country, which comprises the following six specialty schools – 

• Urban design
• Humanities 
• Architecture 
• Design 
• Chinese painting 
• Fine art 

In addition, one of the reasons why this institution is among the top universities to study arts is its heavy involvement with the national Chinese design projects. For example, the designs for the 2008 Beijing Olympics were produced by the faculty-student collaborations from this university. China Central Academy is also home to a museum that houses more than 2000 Chinese scroll paintings that date back to the Ming Dynasty. 

Aalto University (Finland) 

This university is among the newer public universities in Finland and has made it to the list of top universities to study arts globally. The University was founded in 2010 after merging the University of Art & Design, the Helsinki School of Economics, and the Helsinki University of Technology. 

Despite being among the newer universities to emerge for art studies, the school offers more than 90 different degree courses. These are available at the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels. The courses are divided across the following study fields – 

• Technology & engineering 
• Business & economics 
• Art & design 

The courses are offered across 3 languages of instruction- Finnish, Swedish, and English. The most specialized courses are the Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design, and Architecture. Moreover, this is a four-year course for aspirants seeking careers in architecture, media, and film. 

Parsons School of Design at The New School (United States)  

The New School is a design institution that emphasizes critical thinking approaches to solving industrial problems on a global scale. 

While located in the bustling city of New York, Parsons provides interdisciplinary approaches to the study of the arts. Therefore, as a part of the course curriculum, you will be encouraged to produce design projects that have a focus on community service and social justice. 

This institution is among the moderately selective top universities to study arts in the United States. The associate’s courses are also recognized as among the most reputed courses in the country. These are offered in the following specializations: 

• Interior Design 
• Fashion Marketing & Communication 
• Fashion Design 
• Communication Design 

As a student, you will also be required to undertake collaborative projects with other students and professionals. This enables you to tailor your education and enrich your learning experience. 

Key takeaways 

• Art, as a discipline, is growing at a steady pace owing to the several lucrative and high-paying career opportunities that are presented to students. 
• Pursuing a degree from among the top universities to study arts globally can equip you with a wide range of industry-relevant skills. 
• Several recognized universities across the globe also offer internationally accredited courses.
• Lastly, a good university will have curricula that are designed to accommodate the current trends within the industry. 

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. In case of any queries or information on the top universities to study arts, reach out to us or drop a comment below!

Liked this blog? Read next: 7 Best courses after 12th arts you can pursue

FAQs 

Q1. Does working with art help increase empathy and awareness of emotions? 

Answer – Absolutely! Research shows that studying art can be a great way to connect with your emotions and increase empathy. 

Q2. What is the acceptance rate of Parsons School of Design? 

Answer – The acceptance rate of Parsons School of Design is 57%. 

Q3. What is the enrollment number for the Berlin University of the Arts? 

Answer – On average, 3500 students enroll every academic year for courses at the Berlin University of the Arts. 

Q4. When was Rhode Island School of Design established? 

Answer – Rhode Island School of Design was established on 22 March 1877. 

Q5. How many student clubs does Rhode Island School of Design have? 

Answer – The Rhode Island School of Design campus provides several remarkable facilities for academic and extracurricular activities. There are a total of 73 student clubs, with more than half of the clubs dedicated to sports (from the Fine Arts school).