Are you Looking for an art and design school to begin a new career or to add to your existing skills? If you need a few names that are worth considering that you can add to your list, you have come to the right place. Here at the World Scholar’s Hub, we have listed the 10 best colleges and universities of visual and applied arts in Europe.
After analysis, the report says that Europe is home to 55 top art universities, with more than half (28) in the UK, following the top three.
Other countries featured on the list include (in order of ranking) Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Finland.
Table of Contents
Studying Art in Europe
There are three main types of fine art in Europe which are; painting, sculpture, and architecture. They are sometimes called the “major arts”, with “minor arts” referring to commercial or decorative art styles.
European art is classified into a number of stylistic periods, which historically overlay each other as diverse styles flourished in different fields.
The periods are broadly known as, Classical, Byzantine, Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Modern, Postmodern, and New European Painting.
Over the ages, Europe has been a sanctuary for both the arts and artists. Apart from dazzling oceans, glorious mountains, graceful cities, and historic landmarks, it is widely rated as a continent that is apotheotic for growth. It empowers the brightest minds to express themselves and create an illusionistic likeness.
The proof is in its history of habitats. From Michelangelo to Rubens and Picasso. It is vivid why a multitude of art lovers flock to this nation to mount a solid foundation for a lucrative career.
Encounter a new aspect of the world with a different position of values, foreign languages, and culture. Regardless of where you come from, enrolling in an art course in a country known for arts such as London, Berlin, Paris, and other countries across Europe will stimulate your creative enthusiasm and build your passion or discover new ones.
List of the Best Art Schools in Europe
If you’re looking to capitalize on this demand for art skills with a career in arts, these universities should be at the top of your list:
- The Royal College of Art (RCA)
- Design Academy Eindhoven
- University of the Arts London (UAL)
- Zurich University of the Arts
- Berlin University of Arts
- National School of Fine Arts
- Oslo National Academy of Arts
- Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
- Parsons School of Arts Design
- Aalto School of Arts.
Top 10 Best Art Schools in Europe
1. Royal Art College
The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public research university in London, the United Kingdom which was established in 1837. It is the only postgraduate art and design university in the United Kingdom. This top art school offers postgraduate degrees in art and design to students from over 60 countries with about 2,300 students.
More so, In 2011, the RCA was placed first on a list of UK graduate art schools compiled by Modern Painters magazine from a survey of professionals in the art world.
Again, the Royal College of Art is the World’s Best University for Art & Design for years, Consecutively. The RCA is named the world’s leading university for Art & Design as it leads 200 of the world’s top universities to study art and design, according to the 2016 QS World University Rankings .it is also also the best art school in Europe.
They offer short courses that reflect on an advanced level of teaching and are aimed at postgraduate or undergraduate students preparing for Master’s study.
Furthermore, RCA offers a Graduate Diploma pre-masters conversion program, MA, MRes, MPhil, and Ph.D. degrees in twenty-eight s areas, that is divided into four schools: architecture, arts & humanities, communication, and design.
In addition, the RCA also performs Summer school and Executive education courses all through the year.
English for academic purposes (EAP) courses is also offered to an aspirant who needs to improve their academic English stability to meet the College’s entry requirements.
Obtaining a bachelor’s at RCA costs tuition fees of 20,000 USD per year and a master’s degree at RCA will cost a student a significant sum of 20,000 USD per year.
2. Design Academy of Eindhoven
Design Academy Eindhoven is an educational institute for art, architecture, and design in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The academy was established in the year 1947 and was initially called Academie voor Industriële Vormgeving (AIVE).
In 2022, the Design Academy Eindhoven was ranked 9th in the art and design subject area in the QS World University Ranking and is widely remarked as one of the world’s leading design schools.
DAE offers a broad range of courses Currently, there are three levels of education at DAE which are; the foundation year, Master’s, and bachelor’s programs.
In addition, the Master’s degree offers five programs which are; contextual design, information design, social design Geo-design, and critical inquiry lab.
While the bachelor’s degrees are split into eight departments covering art, architecture, fashion design, graphics design, and industrial design.
Design Academy Eindhoven partakes in the Holland Scholarship, braced by The Netherlands’ Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and DAE. The Holland Scholarship provides a partial scholarship for the first year of studies at Design Academy Eindhoven.
Furthermore, The scholarship involves a stipend of € 5,000 which is awarded once for the first year of study. Please note that this scholarship covers living expenses and is not intended to cover tuition fees.
Students are also nudged to engage with the school’s Readerships programs, which usually involve close association with academic institutions, industry, and government organizations.
A year of bachelor’s studies will cost around 10,000 USD. A master’s degree in DAE will cost a student a significant sum of 10,000 USD per year.
3. University of the Arts London
University of the Arts London (UAL) has been consistently ranked 2nd in the world for Art and Design according to the 2022 QS World University Rankings. It welcomes a diverse body of over 18,000 students from more than 130 countries.
UAL was founded in the year 1986, established as a university in 2003, and took its present name in 2004. University of Arts London (UAL) is Europe’s largest public, specialist Arts and Design University.
The University has a world-class reputation For Art and Design research (A&D), UAL is one of the largest performing specialists in art and the top practice-based institution.
In addition, UAL is comprised of six esteemed arts, design, fashion, and media Colleges, which were founded in the 19th and early 20th centuries; and is breaking boundaries with its new Institute.
They offer pre-degree programs and degree programs such as photography, interior design, product design, graphics, and fine art. Also, they offer online courses in various disciplines such as Art, Design, Fashion, Communication, and Performing arts.
As one of the best universities in Europe UAL offers a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, and awards provided through generous donations from individuals, companies, and philanthropic charities, as well as from University funds.
University of the Arts London allows international students to receive the best possible preparation for studying in the school by taking pre-sessional English classes. Students can also study during their chosen degree if they wish to improve their reading or writing skills.
Each of these courses is designed to prepare and integrate new students to life in the UK and for their university courses, while the in-sessional courses are designed to provide support and aid throughout a student’s life.
4. Zurich University of the Arts
Zurich University of the Arts is the largest art university in Switzerland with approximately 2,500 and 650 staff. The university was established in 2007, following the merger between Zurich’s School of Art and Design and the School of Music, Drama, and Dance.
Zurich University of the Arts is one of the major and best universities of the arts in Europe. The University of Zurich is ranked #64 in Best Global Universities.
Known as one of the best universities in Switzerland, the German-speaking world, and in Europe broadly, Zurich university offers several academic programs such as Bachelor’s and master’s programs, further education of degrees in art, design, music, art, dance as well as Ph.D. programs in cooperation with different international Art Universities. Zurich university holds an active role in research, especially in artistic research and design research.
In addition, the university is comprised of five departments which are the Department of Performing Arts and Film, Fine Arts, Cultural Analysis, and Music.
Studying bachelor’s at Zurich university tuition due costs 1,500 USD per year. The university also offers master’s programs that cost 1,452 USD per year.
Meanwhile, despite the cheap tuition fees the university provides the students with financial assistance with scholarships.
Zurich is one of the best cities in Switzerland for studying and the campuses are great in general. Classrooms are pretty well equipped with gyms, business centers, libraries, art studios, bars, and everything a student could ever need.
5. Berlin University of Art
The Berlin University of art is situated in Berlin. It is a public art and design school. The university is known for being one of the biggest and most diversified universities.
As said earlier, Berlin University of the Arts is one of the biggest institutes across the globe offering higher education in the art domain, It has four colleges that specialize in Fine Arts, Architecture, Media and Design, Music, and the Performing Arts.
This university captures the full scale of the arts and related studies with above 70-degree programs to choose from and is one of the coveted best universities in Europe.
Also, It is one of the few art colleges to have full university status. The institution is also different as it does not charge tuition fees from students except for the advanced education master’s program. Students of the university only pay a cost of 552USD per month
Furthermore, there are no direct scholarships awarded by the University to students in their first year. The Berlin University of Arts awards grants and scholarships in Germany to international students for special projects.
They are available through different organizations like DAAD which allocates funds for International students seeking admission at the College of Music. Students that are qualified are awarded grants of 7000USD per month.
Study completion grants up to 9000 USD are also awarded by DAAD to international students in the last few months before graduation.
6. National School of Fine Art
National School of Fine Arts also referred to as École Nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Beaux-Arts de Paris is a French art school that is part of the PSL Research University situated in Paris. The school was established in 1817 and has enrolled over 500 students.
National School of Fine Arts is placed in a position 69th in France and 1527th globally by CWUR Center for World University Rankings. Also, it is regarded as one of the most well-known French art schools and is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the country to study Fine arts.
The university offers teaching in Printmaking, Painting, Communication Design, Composition, Sketching and Drawing, Modelling and Sculpture, 2D Art and Design, Visual Arts and Processes, and Illustration.
National School of Fine Arts is the only graduate institution that offers a range of programs that involve Diplomas, Certificates, and Master’s degrees in Fine Arts and related subjects. The school also offers a variety of professional programs.
Furthermore, the five-year course, which leads to a diploma that has been recognized since 2012 as a Master’s degree, assorts the foundational discipline of artistic expression.
Currently, Beaux-Arts de Paris is an abode to 550 students, of which 20% are international students. The school received only 10% of aspirants taking its entrance exam, giving the chance to study abroad to 50 students per year.
7. Oslo National Academy of Arts
The Oslo National Academy of the Arts is a college in Oslo, Norway, which was established in the year 1996. Oslo National Academy of the Arts was ranked among the world’s 60 best design programs by Bloomberg Businessweek.
Oslo National Academy of the Arts is Norway’s biggest college of higher education in the field of arts, with more than 550 students, and 200 employees.15% of the student population are from other countries.
The University of Oslo was ranked #90 in the Best Global Universities. . It is one of the two public institutes of heightened learning in Norway that provides education in visual arts and design and performing art.
The school offers a three-year bachelor’s degree, two-year master’s degree, and a year’s study. It is taught in visual arts, arts and crafts, design, theater, dance, and opera.
The Academy currently offers 24 study programs, and they are made up of six departments: Design, Art and Craft, The Academy of Fine Art, The Academy of Dance, The Academy of Opera, and The Academy of Theatre.
Studying bachelor’s at KHiO is relatively inexpensive it costs only 1,000 USD per year. A year of master’s studies will cost 1,000 USD.
8. Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
The Royal Danish Academy of Portraiture, Sculpture, and Architecture in Copenhagen was founded on 31 March 1754. Its name was changed to the Royal Danish Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in 1754.
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts) is a public higher education institution
located in the urban setting in the city of Copenhagen.
The Danish Academy of Fine Arts was ranked 11th in Denmark and 4355th in the World 2022 overall rankings, it got ranked in 15 academic topics. Also, it’s one of the best art schools in Europe.
The university is a very small institution with under 250 students They offer courses and programs such as bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees in several areas of study.
This 266-year-old Danish higher-education institution has a particular admission policy based on entrance examinations. They also provide several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, study abroad, and exchange programs, as well as administrative services.
Citizens from non-EU/EEA countries and UK nationals (following Brexit) are required to pay tuition fees at higher education institutions in Denmark.
Citizens from the Nordic countries and EU countries do not pay tuition fees of about 7,640usd- 8,640 USD per semester.
However, Non-EU/EEA/Swiss aspirants with a permanent Danish residence permit or a preliminary Danish residence permit with a view to permanent residency will be exempt from paying the tuition fees.
9. Parsons School of Arts Design
The parson’s school was established in the year 1896.
Established in 1896, by a painter, William Merritt Chase, Parsons School of Design was formerly known as The Chase School. Parsons became the director of the institution in 1911, a position which was maintained to his death in 1930.
The institution became the Parsons School of Design in 1941.
Parsons School of Design has academic affiliations with the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), and Parsons School of Design has been ranked #3 in the QS World University Rankings by subject in 2021.
For more than a century, Parsons School of Design’s groundbreaking approach to design education has transformed creativity, culture, and commerce. Today, it is a world-leading university across the globe. Parsons is known as the #1 ranking as the best art and design school in the country and #3 worldwide for the 5th time consistently.
The School considers all applicants, including international and undergraduate transfer students, for merit scholarships on the basis of artistic and/or academic ability.
The scholarship includes; the Full Bright fellowship, Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Programme inlays Scholarships, and so on.
10. Aalto School of Arts
Aalto school of arts, design, and architecture is a public university located in Finland. It was established in 2010. It has approximately 2,458 students making it Finland’s second-largest university.
Aalto school of arts was ranked #6 In the art and design subject area. Aalto Department of Architecture is ranked highest in Finland and among the top fifty (#42) architecture schools in the world (QS 2021).
Projects by the Aalto school of arts are nominated for national and international awards, such as the Finlandia Prize (2018) and the ArchDaily Building of the Year award (2018).
Regarding Finland’s high scores in international comparisons in education, Aalto University is no exception with its excellent rankings worldwide.
With a unique combination of technology, design, and business courses, most of them offered in English, Aalto is an excellent study choice for international students.
Furthermore, degree programs are grouped under five departments which are; the department of Architecture art, design, film television, and media.
If you are a citizen of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) member state, you are not required to pay tuition fees for degree studies.
In addition, Non-EU/EEA citizens are required to pay tuition fees for an English language bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
Bachelor’s and master’s programs taught in English have a tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens. There are no fees for doctoral programs. The tuition fee ranges from 2,000 USD – 15 000 USD per academic year depending on the programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best art school in Europe?
The Royal College of Art is globally known as the world's best art university. Consecutively The RCA is named the world's leading university for Art & Design. It is located at Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London.
What is the Cheapest Country to study in Europe
Germany. The country is known for offering a wide range of scholarships for international and low-tuition education
What is the Cheapest art school in Europe
The university of berlin which is one of the best art schools in Europe is also one of the cheapest in Europe with a tuition fee of 550USD per month.
Why should I study in Europe
Europe is one of the world's most exciting continents to study in. Many European countries offer excellent opportunities for living, traveling, and working. For students, Europe can be a very attractive destination, thanks to its well-deserved reputation as a hub of academic excellence.
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Conclusion
Finally, Europe is one of the best continents to study art with a relatively cheap cost of living. Therefore, we have mapped out the best art schools in Europe just for you.
Take your time to read the article and get to know more about their requirements by clicking the links already provided for you. Goodluck!!
