Studying in a world famous design school is every artist’s dream. Design students or artists who join these institutes not only have a successful career but made a mark in the industry and working for renowned design studios. Every aspirant wants to make sure that they study in a design college that has the right kind of faculty to guide them, a campus environment that can encourage and like-minded students who can understand their thoughts. Discover the world’s top 10 universities for art & design for the year 2016.
10 Popular International Universities for Art & Design Courses
The rankings are based on academic reputation, employer reputation and research effect. All of the 10 universities are located in Europe and the United States. Let’s have a detailed insight on these Universities.
1. Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art or RCA is a public research university in London, in the United Kingdom. It offers postgraduate degrees in art and design. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design university in the world.
The RCA was founded in Somerset House in 1837 as the Government School of Design or Metropolitan School of Design. Richard Burchett became head of the school in 1852
In 1896 or 1897 the school received the name Royal College of Art. In 1967 it received a Royal Charter which gave it the status of an independent university with the power to grant its own degrees.
The RCA offers MA, MPhil and PhD degrees in twenty-four subject areas, divided into six schools: architecture, communication, design, fine art, humanities, and materials.
School Name: School of Architecture
1. MA Programme (Architecture)
Course Duration: 2 Years
Assessment Method:
- You should have achieved a high-quality degree in architecture (RIBA Part 1) or an international equivalent degree or higher and should have at least one year’s experience working in a design office.
- Face-to-face Interview
- Submission of 6 Projects in a Portfolio
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £9,500 per annum; Overseas: £28,400 per annum.
Postgraduate Student Loan of up to £10,000 per course of study.
2. Master of Research
Course Duration: 1 Year
Assessment Method:
- Online applications should be submitted with a CV and a brief (500-word) statement that outlines your motivation for applying and your engagement with the subject.
- Face to face Interview
- IELTS exam score of 6.5 with 6 in writing.
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £12,350 per annum; Overseas: £35,800 per annum.
Postgraduate Student Loan of up to £10,000 per course of study.
3. MPhil/PhD (Architecture, Interior Design)
Course Duration: 1 Year
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £9,500 per annum; Overseas: £28,400 per annum.
Postgraduate Student Loan of up to £10,000 per course of study.
School Name: School Of Communication
1. MA Programme (Animation)
Course Duration: 2 Years
Assessment Method:
- Entrance Exam
- Portfolio Submission
- Interview by Invitation
- IELTS exam score of 6.5 with 6 in writing.
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £9,500 per annum; Overseas: £28,400 per annum.
2. Master of Research (Communication Design Pathway)
- Online applications should be submitted with a CV and a brief (500-word) statement that outlines your motivation for applying and your engagement with the subject.
- Face to face Interview
- IELTS exam score of 6.5 with 6 in writing.
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £12,350 per annum; Overseas: £35,800 per annum.
Postgraduate Student Loan of up to £10,000 per course of study.
School Name: School of Design
1. MA Programme (Design Products, Global Innovation Design, Innovation Design Engineering, Service Design, Vehicle Design)
- Face to face Interview (Only if Invited)
- IELTS exam score of 6.5 with 6 in writing.
- a good undergraduate degree or equivalent
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £9,500 per annum; Overseas: £28,400 per annum.
Postgraduate Student Loan of up to £10,000 per course of study.
2. Master of Research (Healthcare Design)
- Online applications should be submitted with a CV and a brief (500-word) statement that outlines your motivation for applying and your engagement with the subject.
- Face to face Interview
- IELTS exam score of 6.5 with 6 in writing.
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £12,350 per annum; Overseas: £35,800 per annum.
Postgraduate Student Loan of up to £10,000 per course of study.
3. MPhil/PhD (Design Research)
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £9,500 per annum; Overseas: £28,400 per annum.
Postgraduate Student Loan of up to £10,000 per course of study.
School Name: School Of Fine Arts
Some Design Courses:
1. MA Programme (Print)
- Face to face Interview (Only if Invited)
- IELTS exam score of 6.5 with 6 in writing.
- a good undergraduate degree or equivalent
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £9,500 per annum; Overseas: £28,400 per annum.
2. Master of Research (Fine Art Research)
- Online applications should be submitted with a CV and a brief (500-word) statement that outlines your motivation for applying and your engagement with the subject.
- Face to face Interview
- IELTS exam score of 6.5 with 6 in writing.
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £12,350 per annum; Overseas: £35,800 per annum.
Postgraduate Student Loan of up to £10,000 per course of study.
School Name: School Of Humanities
Some Design Courses: MA Programme (Critical Writing in Art & Design, V&A/RCA History of Design, )
- Face to face Interview (Only if Invited)
- IELTS exam score of 6.5 with 6 in writing.
- a good undergraduate degree or equivalent
Fee Structure: UK/EU: £9,500 per annum; Overseas: £28,400 per annum.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States.
Founded in 1873, MassArt is the nation’s first independent public institution of higher education dedicated to the training of artists. That pioneering spirit continues today.
Some Design Courses: Ph.D., Master, Undergraduate, Certificate, Post-baccalaureate (Animation, Architecture Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, 2D Fine Arts, 3D (Film/Video)
Admission Criteria:
- Online applications should be submitted with a CV and a brief (500-word)statement that outlines your motivation for applying and your engagement with the subject.
- TOEFL scores
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts of all relevant degrees
- Portfolio of Work
Fee Structure: $55,000 (includes all estimated student expenses)
3. Rhode Island School of Design
Founded in 1877, Rhode Island School of Design (or “RIZ-dee” for the acronym RISD) is one of the oldest and private art school best-known colleges of art and design in the U.S. It offers rigorous bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in 19 architecture, design, fine arts and art education majors. The college is located in Providence, Rhode Island, which offers its own vibrant art scene and is conveniently located between two other major cultural centers: Boston and New York.
Courses Offered: Bachelor of Fine Arts(BFA) (Apparel Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Printmaking, Industrial Design, Film/Animation/Video)
- Course Duration: 4 years
Courses Offered: B.Arch.
- Course Duration: 5 years
Design Courses Offered: Master of Fine Arts(MFA), (Graphic Design, Digital+Media, Printmaking) MA, MDES, MID (Industrial Design), MLA.
- Course Duration: 2-3 years
Admission Criteria for all courses:
- Online applications should be submitted with a CV and a brief (500-word) statement that outlines your motivation for applying and your engagement with the subject.
- 93 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on IELTS
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts of all relevant degrees
- Portfolio of Work
Fee Structure for all courses: $60,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
4. Parsons The New School for Design
Parsons School of Design (known colloquially as Parsons) is a private art and design college located in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is one of the seven colleges of The New School. Parsons was the first school in the United States to offer programs in fashion design, advertising, interior design, and graphic design. Parsons offers 13 undergraduate bachelor’s programs and 17 graduate master’s programs, and it is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious art and design schools in the world.
Offered Design Courses: BFA(Dual Degree)
- Course Duration: 5 years
- Fee Structure: $45,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
Courses Offered: BFA(Communication Design, Design and Technology, Fine arts, Illustration, Integrated Design, Product Design)
- Course Duration: 5 years
- Fee Structure: $45,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
Other Courses : MFA(Design and Technology, Communication Design, Design and Technology, Fine arts, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Transdisciplinary Design)
- Course Duration: 4 years
- Fee Structure: $50,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
Admission Criteria for all courses:
- Online applications should be submitted with a CV and a brief (500-word) statement that outlines your motivation for applying and your engagement with the subject.
- TOEFL score
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts of all relevant degrees
- Portfolio of Work
5. University of Arts London
The university of the Arts London is Europe’s largest public university based in London, England. It specializes in art, design, fashion and the performing arts. It is a collegiate university; a federation of six world-renowned colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, the London College of Communication, the London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts.
Courses Offered: BA(Hon) (Drawing, Product Design, Animation, Illustration, Fine Art: 3D Design, Print, Advertising, Games Design, Graphic Design, Graphic Design Communication, Graphic Design, Fine art: Print & Time-based Media, Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding, Illustration and Visual Media, Design Management and Cultures, Graphic and Media Design, 3D Effects for Performance and Fashion, Graphic Branding and Identity, Design for Branded Spaces, Information and Interface Design )
Course Duration : 4 years
Admission Criteria:
- 64 new UCAS tariff points (160 old UCAS tariff points) gained at GCE Advanced (A) Level or equivalent. (A Level subjects studied may include: English; History; Media; Business; Art and Design, or other subjects within Social Sciences). Ideally your A levels will be achieved at Grade C or above.
- One subject at A Level achieved at grade C or above PLUS Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3/4).Alternatively you will be considered if you have achieved a minimum of 64 new UCAS tariff points (160 old UCAS tariff points) from one of the following qualifications:
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- UAL Extended Diploma in Art and Design
- Access to HE Diploma
- International Baccalaureate
- Equivalent EU or Non-EU qualifications
- Additionally you will have achieved passes at grade C or above in at least three GCSE subjects including English.
- IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills.
- Assessed on the basis of qualifications, their personal statement, and portfolio of work.
- Ideas generation; quality of ideas and expression of conceptual thinking. Research and its application (including sketchbooks)
- Personal Statement
- Previous work experience or study
- Submit a mini portfolio via PebblePad. The mini portfolio should consist of no more than 10 images from 2 or 3 of your projects.
- Applicants successful at the mini portfolio stage may be invited to attend a full portfolio review and interview at LCC. Interviews will be held with two members of the course team, and will be relatively informal.
Fee Structure(EU Students): £12,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
International Students: £18,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
Other Courses: MA(Industrial Design, Animation, Visual Arts: Illustration, Visual Arts: Book Arts, Games Design, Graphic Communication Design, Visual Arts: Printmaking, Communication Design, Graphic Design Communication, Fine art Digital, Graphic Media Design, Interaction Design Communication, Illustration and Visual Media, Character Animation; MA Design
Course Duration: 4 years
Admission Criteria:
- Having a relevant Honours degree or an equivalent academic qualification
- Having a professional qualification recognized as equivalent to an Honours degree
- A combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning that, taken together, can be shown to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.
- IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5
- Creative intelligence and aesthetic sensitivity demonstrated by design portfolio
- Relevant previous work experience
- References and interviews help determine whether your personal and professional aspirations are compatible with the aims and outcomes of the postgraduate course.
- Project Proposal (400-800 words)
Fee Structure(EU Students): £10,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
International Students: £20,000- £25,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
6. Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private, non-sectarian, non-profit institution of higher learning located in the Clinton Hill neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York, United States. It originated in 1887 with programs primarily in engineering, architecture, and fine arts. Comprising five schools, the Institute is primarily known for its highly ranked programs in architecture, interior design, and industrial design, and offers both undergraduate and Master’s degree programs in a variety of fields with a strong focus on research.
School Name: School of Art
Some Design Courses: B.F.A (Art and Design Education, Digital Arts, (including concentrations in 2-D Animation, Digital (3-D) Animation and Motion Arts, and Interactive Arts) Film, Fine Arts ( Printmaking), Associate Degrees (including concentrations in AAS Graphic Design/Illustration, AAS Painting/Drawing, AOS Graphic Design, AOS Illustration, AOS Digital Design and Interactive Media) and Foundation (Freshman Year).
School Name: School of Design
Some Design Courses: B.F.A (Communications Design, Industrial Design)
Course Duration: 4- 5 years
Admission Criteria:
- Submit Application Online
- Recommendation Letters
- All portfolios (writing and visual) must be uploaded at pratt.slideroom.com. Online Portfolio with 12-20 images
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- Statement of Purpose
- English Proficiency
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). A minimum score of 550 (paper-based test) or 79 (Internet-based test) is required for admission.
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System). A minimum score of 6.5 is required.
- PTE (Pearson Test of English). A minimum score of 53 for the four-year programs and 48 for the two-year programs is required.
- The minimum SAT score for consideration is a critical reading score of 450..
Fee Structure: $60,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
School Name: School of Art
Some Design Courses: M.S. (Art and Design Education, Design Management, Digital Arts (including concentrations in Interactive Arts, Digital Animation and Motion Arts, Digital Imaging), Fine Arts (including concentrations in Printmaking))
School Name: School of Design
Some Design Courses: M.I.D (Masters of Industrial Design), M.F.A. (Master of Fine Arts/M.S. (Mater of Science in Communications Design) and M.S.(Master of Science in Package Design).
Course Duration: 2-3 years
Admission Criteria:
- Submit $90 Application Online
- Transcripts: transcripts should be uploaded when you complete your online application. Do not submit printouts of scanned electronic transcripts unless there are a school name and your name on the transcript. Request a student copy from your school, scan it, and upload it. Transcripts from all institutions attended after graduation from secondary school should be uploaded when you complete the application.
- 2 Recommendation Letters from Employers, professors etc.
- Online Portfolio with 12-20 images
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- Statement of Purpose(500 Words)
- GRE: Graduate Record Exam is required only for Art History, the combined Art History and Master of Library Science programs, and the Architecture (First Professional) program.
- Additional Writing Samples
- Resume
- English Proficiency
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Visit www.toefl.org for more information. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based test) or 79 (Internet-based test) is required for admission. Your score must be reported directly to Pratt by the testing service using report code 2669 Pratt Institute.
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Visit www.ielts.org for more information. A minimum score of 6.5 is required.
- PTE (Pearson Test of English). Visit www.pearsonpte.com for more information. A minimum score of 53 for the four-year programs and 48 for the two-year programs is required.
Fee Structure: $65,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
7. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is one of America’s largest private art school accredited independent schools of art and design. It is located in Chicago, Illinois. The school is associated with the museum of the same name, and “The Art Institute of Chicago” or “Chicago Art Institute” often refers to either entity. It provides degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The institute has its roots in the 1866 founding of the Chicago Academy of Design, which local artists established in rented rooms on Clark Street. It was financed by member dues and patron donations. Four years later, the school moved into its own Adams Street building, which was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Because of the school’s financial and managerial problems after this loss, business leaders in 1878 formed a board of trustees and founded the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. In 1882, the academy was renamed the Art Institute of Chicago.
Some Design Courses: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio, Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Critical Studies
Course Duration: 4 years
Admission Criteria:
- A five- to seven-page (1,250–1,750 words) writing sample,
- SAT/ACT scores, TOEFL scores when required (min. 96),
- letter of recommendation,
- a high school transcript (min unweighted GPA 3.0)
- a portfolio of five to 10 pieces of visual work,
- a personal statement.
Fee Structure: $59,050 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
Some Design Courses Offered: Master of Arts in Visual and Critical Studies, Master of Design in Designed Objects, Master of Fine Arts in Studio
Course Duration: 3 years and 2 years
Admission Criteria:
- There is an $80 non-refundable application fee ($100 for international applications). The application fee is discounted by 50% through December 1.
- One 500- to 750-word statement of purpose that describes the history of your interests and experiences in design, your personal and professional motivations and goals, and your reasons for pursuing graduate study at SAIC. Upload your statement of purpose to the online application.
- Submit an ePortfolio. Your portfolio should include a minimum of five different projects documented in up to 20 images, or up to 10 minutes of time-based work, or a combination of the two as appropriate.
- writing sample or a visual “essay” in lieu of a traditional design portfolio.
- A current résumé is required. Upload your résumé to the online application.
- An interview is required. Please contact the AIADO department prior to the application deadline at 312.629.6650 or aiado@saic.edu to schedule your interview.
- Submit an official college transcript and two letters of reference for admission into the program. Ask references to upload their letter to online application or mail them directly to the school. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and work experience in architecture, interior design, or a related field are recommended, but not required.
Fee Structure: $62,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
8. Stanford University
Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University is a private university in Stanford, California, adjacent to Palo Alto and between San Jose and San Francisco.
The university was founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford in memory of their only child, Leland Stanford Jr., who had died of typhoid fever at age 15 the previous year. The school admitted its first students 125 years ago on October 1, 1891,as a coeducational and non-denominational institution.
The Department of Art & Art History, currently comprised of 24 core faculty is an interdisciplinary department offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in art history, art practice, film studies, documentary film making and design.
Some Design Courses: BAS in Art Practice and Computer Science
Course Duration: 3 years
Admission Criteria:
- $90 non-refundable application fee or fee waiver request (counsellor verification required)
- Official testing (SAT with Essay or ACT with Writing) sent from the College Board or ACT
- School reports including counsellor letter of recommendation
- Official transcript(s)
- Letters of recommendation from two teachers
- The Arts Portfolio is optional and may be submitted to highlight extraordinary talent in the arts.
Fee Structure: $80,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
Some Design Courses: MFA Art Practice, MFA Design, MFA Documentary Film and Video
Course Duration: 2 years
Admission Criteria:
- GRE scores (required for ALL applicants- scores expire after five years)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts (upload transcripts, ONLY send originals if admitted)
- Statement of Purpose- You must indicate in the first sentence of your SOP the name of the program to which you are applying and the area you wish to study.
- Application fees $125
- TOEFL scores minimum 100 in case of IBT, 600 in case of PBT (required when the first language is not English, IELTS not accepted)
- Complete online application
Fee Structure: $90,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
9. Yale School of Art
The Yale School of Art is the art school of Yale University. Founded in 1869 as the first professional fine arts school in the United States, it grants Masters of Fine Arts degrees to students completing a two-year course in graphic design, painting/printmaking, photography, or sculpture.
The study of the visual arts at Yale began with the opening of the Trumbull Gallery in 1832. The Gallery was founded by portrait artist Colonel John Trumbull with the help of Professor Benjamin Silliman, a prominent chemist.
Some Design Courses: Bachelor of Arts
Course Duration: 3 years
Admission Criteria:
- $80 Application Fee or Fee Waiver
- Two Teacher Recommendations
- One Counsellor Recommendation
- School Report (including Transcript)
- Standardized Test Results
- Mid-Year Report (due when first semester/term senior grades are available at your school)
Fee Structure: $70,000 approx. (includes all estimated student expenses)
Some Design Courses: Master of Fine Arts
Course Duration: 2 years
Admission Criteria:
- The online application and the non-refundable application fee of $100
- A one-page statement with 500 words that addresses your influences, interests, current work direction, brief life history, and reasons for applying to a graduate program at this time. It should make reference to the representative work in your portfolio.
- References from three persons practising or teaching in the field in which application is made, attesting to the applicant’s ability and competence in that field.
- Transcripts of the academic record for the bachelor’s degree and/or transcripts from professional art schools attended. Student copies or unofficial transcripts of the academic record for the bachelor’s degree and/or transcripts from professional art schools attended are uploaded for the preliminary jury.
- Portfolio of work. Applicants who fail to upload a portfolio as outlined in this bulletin by the stated deadline will not be considered.
- The portfolio should represent images of best work, indicate current direction, and demonstrate applicant’s ability.
- At least half of the images should represent work done within the last twelve months, and all should be from within the last three years.
- The chronological order of year is embedded in our system, and you will not be able to override it. One image from the portfolio should be designated as a “representative work.” This selection will be printed for the application file as the piece you feel most strongly represents ideas central to your current body of work.
- Do not include more than one image on the screen, nor embed other pages of a publication or video within the images you place in your portfolio.
- Do not include detail photos of work in portfolio. Not more than two detail shots are included.
10. Politecnico di Milano
The Politecnico di Milano (English: Polytechnic University of Milan) is the largest state supported the technical university in Italy, It offers undergraduate, graduate and higher education courses in engineering, architecture and design. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest university in Milan.
The Politecnico has two main campuses in Milan city, where the majority of the research and teaching activity are located, and other satellite campuses in five other cities across Lombardy and Emilia Romagna.
Some Design Courses: BSc(Communication Design, Product Design)
Course Duration: 3 Years
Admission Criteria:
- Entrance Test
Fee Structure: 3500 € approx.
Some Design Courses Offered: MSc(Communication Design, Product Design in Innovation, Product Service System Design)
Course Duration: 2 Years
Admission Criteria:
- Educational background
- Transcript and degree or provisional degree must be uploaded at this step
- Programme selection
- Language Certificate
- ASP application (optional)
- Laurea Magistrale application documents upload
Fee Structure: 3500 € approx.
Some Design Courses: 1st Level Specializing Master (Industrial Design Engineering And Innovation, New Tech: Technology, Das – Design)
Course Duration: 1 Year
Admission Criteria:
- scan copy of University Degree and transcript
- a brief CV detailing the candidate’s academic and work experiences to date
- a copy of an identity document
- other documents if required, such as portfolio, language certificates etc
- a copy of Passport
Some Design Courses: PhD(Design, Design, and Policy)
Course Duration: 1 Year
Admission Criteria:
- Candidates with a Master degree or equivalent academic qualification. They must have attended a five-year curriculum at both undergraduate (bachelor) and graduate (master) level.
- Candidates with academic curriculum in design disciplines are preferred ones.
- Eligible students are able to read, write and speak English language fluently.
All of the above-listed schools are comparable in terms of course content, level of training, the superiority of staff, and astonishing campuses. But what matters most is how valuable these schools really are.
If you’re thinking about becoming a designer, you’ll want to know about the best art and design institute you can attend internationally. Joining any of the above programs will make you prepare well for your future career. These programs aren’t listed in any specific order. We have listed schools on this list, which can provide you a top-notch design and art education. The most important factor in choosing one of these schools is that best fits your own preferences and interests. For this, you can check out the courses available at the leading graphic design institute in Delhi.
Click Here to Know: Top 10 Design Colleges and Institutes of India
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An Insight on Designs, Designers and Design Industry from ADMEC Multimedia Institute
