15 Best Art Schools In The World

Hey there! Are you a creative with a lot of potential looking for where to develop your creative and artistic talents? Look no further! Curated here is the list of best art schools in the world with specific details on entry requirements and application process. Sit back, relax, and read through to find a suitable school that will shape you up and help you achieve your dream.

Art involves a lot of passion and creativity and if you have noticed this passion and love for the arts in you, it is only advisable that you pursue your passion and develop your artistic talents to the fullest. However, the institution that you attend will be a huge influence on your talent, passion, and career as an artist this is why you need to put in the extra work in choosing a befitting school.

In this blog post – Best Art Schools in the World – I have compiled a list of befitting art schools from around the world that you can apply for. These art schools are widely recognized for their achievements and contributions in the field of arts and also for the renowned people they trained, that is, their alumni who are among the world’s best artists – dead or alive.

Aside from being famous, these top art universities will equip you with the skills, methods, and techniques required or necessary to grow and develop your talents to the fullest. They will also offer you opportunities that will help bring your creativity to light and then turn your creativity into a successful career.

After extensive research on art schools from across the world, I compiled a list of 15 of the best art schools in the world and I ranked them according to the following;

  1. These schools are famous both for their past and present successes in the art world
  2. These best art schools have the right materials, infrastructures, and resources that enable students to fulfill their artistic potential.
  3. Change is constant in every situation and you can equally agree that art evolves as the world does, well these best art schools know this and evolve their curriculum with respect to the changes in the art world.
  4. These best art schools offer their students a wide variety of majors in the artistic discipline to aid in fulfilling careers.
  5. The schools are recognized globally and their reputations are standard
  6. In the aspect of infrastructure, these best art schools have cutting-edge facilities to help the students explore further and make their visions a reality such as creating a life-like 3D animation or developing design programs and art-making software
  7. In these best art schools, you get to meet great artisans who have contributed majorly to the art world, you’ll meet other intelligent students to share experience and knowledge.
  8. The schools will help to build you up professionally and prepare you to take on the workforce.

These best art schools in the world are great schools that a great many artists have gone through or contributed to in their lifetime thus it should greatly assist in boosting your passion and inspiration to be a part of it.

If you are still not sure of the art field you would like to get into, we have a list of arts and crafts courses that will help you easily find a course that suits you best. While waiting to get admitted into your dream art school, you can start taking online art courses and gain some basic background knowledge of what you want to study.

      Best Art Schools In The World

Listed below is the list of the 15 best art schools in the world with more information on each of the schools provided below:

  1. Berlin University of the Arts, Germany
  2. School of the Arts Institute of Chicago, USA
  3. Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London
  4. Bauhaus University, Germany
  5. ArtCentre College of Design, USA
  6. Glasgow School of Art, Scotland
  7. University of the Arts Bremen
  8. Braunschweig University of Arts, Germany
  9. Pratt Institute, USA
  10. National School of Fine Arts, France
  11. China Central Academy of Fine Arts, China
  12. Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany
  13. ECAL, Switzerland
  14. ArtEZ University of the Arts, The Netherlands
  15. California Institute of the Arts, USA

1. Berlin University of the Arts, Germany

Established in 1696, the Berlin University of Arts is the largest art school in Europe and one of the best in Germany specializing in architecture, music, design, fine arts, and the performing arts. The university offers quality education and is equipped with the latest infrastructures to keep up to date with the ever-evolving art world.

Students who want to pursue a career or develop their talents in the arts should pursue admission to this school and you can decide to apply through the online portal or go apply in person. Admissions are open to both citizens and foreigners.

2. School of the Arts Institute of Chicago, USA

School of the Arts Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is located in Illinois, Chicago USA, and was established in 1866.

The art institute is one of the best art schools in the world and is being recognized globally, in fact, it is known as “the most influential art school”, having the world’s third-largest museum filled with different art collections which should help your educational experience.

SAIC adopts the “Interdisciplinary Curriculum” which means that you don’t necessarily need to declare a major you can begin with an idea and choose from a variety of media to fulfill your vision this simply means you can decide to combine sculpture, film, and ceramics or decide to do only painting.

Any path you decide to take the institute will teach and prepare you with the skills and knowledge to become successful in your area of preference. However, the school offers a wide variety of study areas for you to major in but if you don’t want to you can go for the interdisciplinary curriculum.

3. Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London

Established in 1898, Central Saint Martins (CSM) is one of the best art schools in the world but it is affiliated to the University of the Arts, London. CSM offers full-time courses at foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels, and a few short and summer courses, its environment is well-designed and conducive to students’ learning.

CSM is a world-renowned arts and design college bringing together a diverse range of creative practices under one roof for students to select from. The institute equally provides facilities with cutting-edge amenities for students to make better use of and develop their skills efficiently.

4. Bauhaus University, Germany

Bauhaus University is located in Weimar, Germany was established in 1860 and has gained worldwide recognition as one of the best art universities in the world.

The university has long been imparting knowledge and has created lots of popular domestic and international alumni who have contributed majorly to the art world.

Bauhaus University has a wide variety of art courses which students can make a pick from and you will be taught and well-equipped with all the knowledge to become a professional in what you decided to major in. The university offers an international-oriented range of bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs.

5. ArtCentre College of Design, USA

The Art Centre College of Design is located in Pasadena, California USA established in 1930 and ranked as one of the best art schools in the world which offers undergraduate, postgraduate degree, and public programs.

In this school, students get to be tutored both theoretically and practically by practicing artists and designers who will guide and teach you step by step how to design and create their kind of artistry.

6. Glasgow School of Art, Scotland

Ranked third in the UK and established in 1845, the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) located in Scotland, UK is not just one of the best art schools in the UK but also in the Globe. GSA is known for its world-class specialist research in all forms of art. The institute offers a higher form of education to undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. degree programs in architecture, design, and fine arts.

GSA has the biggest art and design research community in Scotland and has contributed generously to the art space. Students will gain firsthand knowledge on how to bring their creativity to life through research and the institute is equally equipped with the right amenities that make this possible.

7. University of the Arts Bremen

Established in 1873, the University of the Arts Bremen is one of the best schools in the world for arts. The German art school is organized into the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design and the Faculty of Music.

The institute is one of the few that brings both music and fine arts under one roof and offers diploma programs, and bachelor, and master’s degree programs in a wide variety of courses in graphic design, drawing, information design, media studies, painting, new media, photography, and many more.

8. Braunschweig University of Arts, Germany

Ranked as the second-largest college of fine arts in Germany and founded in 1952, Braunschweig University of Arts is one of the best art schools in Germany specializing in the arts and is internationally oriented to award both doctoral and professorial degrees.

The school is equipped with sophisticated laboratories and workshops that are used by students to provide optimal conditions for thinking, learning, working, and artistic practice which they need to achieve their goals. The school offers a wide variety of arts and related courses in undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs.

9. Pratt Institute, USA

Known as one of the world’s multicultural epicenters for design, culture, arts, and business Pratt Institute is one of the best art schools in the world established in 1887 and located in New York City, USA. The school has campuses in Brooklyn and Manhattan providing students exceptional learning environment and a creative hub amid renaissance, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Pratt Institute also adopts the interdisciplinary curriculum style to promote collaborative and creative strategies for design thinking and also provides the students with state-of-the-art facilities.

The school offers a wide variety of courses in architecture, art, design, and liberal arts and science in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. There are also continuing and professional studies programs available.

10. National School of Fine Arts, France

Located in Paris, France the National School of Fine Arts was established in 1648 and is ranked as one of the best art schools in the world and has contributed to the art world with many of its century-old works still available today.

This institution trains and educate students, organized in artistic practice studios run by renowned artist, who devote themselves to high-level artistic creation, these students are then equipped with fundamental and professional elements needed to develop and sustain their artistic undertakings.

The National School of Fine Arts also adopts the interdisciplinary curriculum style to encourage the students to specialize in different approaches.

11. Central Academy of Fine Arts, China

Established in 1918, located in Beijing China, the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) is managed by China’s Ministry of Education and is known as the most prestigious and renowned art institution in China which is among the reasons it is included in our list of the best art schools in the world.

The academy consists of six schools namely: School of Fine Art, School of Chinese Painting, School of Design, School of Urban Design, School of Humanities, and School of Architecture. A wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs are provided through these schools.

Students are trained to become professionals, in any field, they venture into, with creative thinking and practical capabilities.

The CAFA has a museum that includes precious collections and thousands of Chinese painting scrolls dating to the Ming Dynasty which helps to inspire students and gain more experience.

12. Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany

The Stuttgart State Academy of Arts and Design was established in 1761 and due to its contribution to the art field, the art institute is nationally and internationally recognized as one of the best art academies in the world. It is also the largest art school in Germany.

With numerous courses in the fields of architecture, art, design, artistic teaching, and art-science restoration the institution provides students with a wide range of research and study opportunities.

The school environment is equally friendly for learning, interdisciplinary courses, and collaborations of the respective degree programs, especially distinguishing the working method.

The university has more than thirty state-of-the-art workshops and facilities where students are equipped with technical, practical, and job-specific knowledge and also have the opportunity to implement their ideas and concepts using analog and digital techniques.

13. ECAL, Switzerland

Ecole Cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL) is a university of art and design located in Lausanne, Switzerland known for its excellence in art projects, innovations, and collaborations which have brought the school to be placed in the list of best art schools in the world.

The university offers six bachelor’s degree programs in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Cinema, Photography, and Media and Interaction Design.

Offers five Master’s programs in Fine Arts, Film, Photography, Product Design, and Type Design. Offers two Master of Advanced Studies in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship and in Design Research for Digital Innovation.

The university has top-notch research facilities for students to express their creativity and develop their full potential.

14. ArtEZ University of the Arts, The Netherlands

ArtEZ is an art academy in the list of the world’s best art schools located in The Netherlands and merges several art institutes and art disciplines with branches in Arnhem, Enschede, and Zwolle which stands for the “A”, “E” and “Z” in its name.

The university offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Music, Design, Fine Arts, Fashion, Theatre, Creative Writing, Architecture & Interior, and Dance which you can study in any of the branches. ArtEZ prepares students for professions in which art, knowledge, and creativity play a major role.

15. California Institute of the Arts, USA

There are other art schools in California but this particular institute is special as it has gained global recognition due to its excellence and contribution to the art world and has been ranked as one of the best schools in the world for art.

The university was founded by Walt Disney in 1961 and the contributions of Walt Disney to the visual and performing arts are well known.

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is specifically for students who want to pursue a career or develop their talents in both the visual and performing arts, mentoring and empowering these students to build their distinctive creative voices and independent points of view and to develop effective career pathways in line with their individual artistic goals.

CalArts offers Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral degree programs through its six special schools; School of Art, School of Critical Studies, School of Dance, School of Music, School of Film/Video, and School of Theatre.

Conclusion

There you have the list of the best 15 art schools in the world for you to make a pick from, these schools I have compiled will be a catalyst for your underdeveloped artistic talents, and fill up your love and passion for the arts through research and quality tutoring.

You get to become professionals in your field of study which makes you stay ahead of the competition, you contribute to the art space, go places that you’ve never dreamed of, make a name for yourself, and oh, yes you get to make money.

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