Top Art Colleges in the UK

Most people believe that studying art and design courses is only painting and drawing, and that design is only working with Photoshop. A degree in art or design, on the other hand, may lead to employment in a variety of industries such as fashion, textiles, photography, TV production, multimedia, museums, jewellery, furniture, and much more. Artful masterpieces are created when creativity and passion are combined with education. So, if you have a passion for art or design and want to pursue a career in the field, attending one of the top art and design universities in the UK would be a huge advantage. However, before applying through UCAS, ensure that you have chosen the correct course because each school has different specialisations and modules.

1. The Royal College of Art (RCA)

The Royal College of Art was ranked first in the world in the QS World University Rankings for Art and Design in 2020. It is a public research university in London that only offers postgraduate degrees in art and design. You will prepare for your Master's studies at the RCA by enrolling in the Art and Design Graduate Diploma. You can specialise in fine art, fashion and textiles, humanities, and products, interiors, or spatial design when you enrol. If you pass the programme with distinction, you will be able to enrol in an MA or MRes programme, depending on the area of studying art and design courses you choose to specialise in during your graduate diploma.

2. London University of the Arts (UAL)

The University of the Arts London, which is ranked second in the world and tenth in the United Kingdom, received a silver award from the TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework). In 18 subjects, its nine art and design schools offer pre-degrees, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and short courses. Read our blog "Explore the Main Topics You Can Study at UAL" for an overview of the main topics you can while studying art and design at UAL. One of the top art and design universities in the UK has nine art and design schools: Chelsea College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Camberwell College of Arts, Wimbledon College of Arts, and London College of Fashion are some of the art schools in London.

3. The Ruskin School of Art at the University of Oxford

The Ruskin School of Art was the first art and design college in the UK, and it is now one of the top art and design universities in the UK. It prepares students to become artists by offering a three-year studio-based BFA programme with excellent teaching standards. After completing this course, you will be qualified to work as an art writer, art teacher, practising artist, or curator in public and private galleries. You could also work in academia, film, or architecture.

4. University College London (UCL)

The Slade School of Art is located at University College London and welcomes talented artists who want to improve their skills and knowledge in the fields of painting, sculpture, and fine art media (including film, photography, etc). UCL offers a supportive study art and design courses in environment as well as a personal tutor assigned to each student who has a diverse background in the arts and primarily assesses and guides the student's education throughout the course. This university is located in the heart of London, allowing you to get a more hands-on artistic education by being close to museums, art galleries, and theatres.

For more information about studying Art and Design in the UK, please connect with our study abroad partners today!

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