Guide · Study
Significant Art Schools in the World
Art needs no permission and no diploma — but a great school can sharpen the skills you already have, and open doors you did not know were there.
Art school is the dream of many art-loving students who want to build a career in the field. Even though art has no boundaries, and needs no teaching to exist, one joins an art school to learn new things and polish existing skills. So if you are looking for a great art school somewhere in the world, here is a list to start with.
Royal College of Art
London, United Kingdom
One of the oldest colleges in Britain. Established in 1896, it has been ranked the number-one art and design school in the world for many years running. It offers postgraduate degrees in art and design to students from all over the globe. Among its notable alumni are Christopher Dresser, Sir Edwin Lutyens, Alan Rickman, Tony and Ridley Scott, and Barbara Hepworth.
University of the Arts London
London, United Kingdom
Established in 1986 and formerly known as the London Institute, it comprises six world-renowned colleges of art: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Fashion, London College of Communication and Wimbledon College of Arts. One of the largest art universities in the world, it has produced great artists such as Maggi Hambling, Tim Roth, Howard Hodgkin, Peter Doig and Anthony James.
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
In 2016 its graduate programme was ranked number one in the US News & World Report. It grants graduate degrees in design, architecture, fine arts and art education, and has its own art museum on the premises. Its most famous alumnus is Seth MacFarlane, creator of the show Family Guy.
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California, USA
Ranked third among the best art colleges in 2016, CalArts was founded by Walt Disney and his brother Roy. It grants degrees in the performing and visual arts, and is especially known for animation and graphic design. Special emphasis is placed on quality and on genuine development in the field, rather than on results and grades.
Oslo National Academy of the Arts
Oslo, Norway
Norway’s largest college of art, with almost 500 places for students. Established in 1996, it offers degrees in the visual arts, design and the performing arts. The academy was formed by the merger of five colleges, now organised into three faculties: the Faculty of Visual Arts, the Faculty of Design and the Faculty of Performing Arts.
Central Saint Martins
London, United Kingdom
Commonly known as CSM, this college is an amalgamation of two great colleges and was established in 1854. It offers graduate and postgraduate degrees as well as diploma courses, in acting, art, design, fashion, graphics, jewellery and textile design. Its notable alumni include Maria Björnson, Jarvis Cocker, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen.
A closing thought
Six schools, three countries, one common thread: each has spent generations — Oslo drawing on five older colleges, Central Saint Martins tracing back to 1854 — turning raw talent into something the wider art world recognises.