Where can you study Art and/or Design in English?

Typical there are TWO distinct pathways:

• Speciality school focusing on a specific medium such as film or architecture or a comprehensive art school offering many different art related majors or
• A comprehensive university with art and design programs.

Is one better? Honestly, it depends on you, your goals and desires around what you want out of your post-secondary experiences.

In the Art & Design focused institution admission is primarily concerned with your portfolio.

For the comprehensive university, you will need to have strong enough academic background as evidenced by your transcripts and you may also need to submit a portfolio.

Even if you are not sure you will be applying to North America, be sure to check out the free service by AICAD to review you portfolio.

We invite you to upload your artwork to receive feedback from AICAD institutions – the leading art & design schools in the US & Canada. This is not a formal application to any of the participating colleges, but rather a special opportunity for informal advisement on developing your portfolio. This site is open to all students from 9th -12th grade as well as college students interested in transferring.

Not sure what to study?

• AICAD offers brief descriptions to help clarify the different forms of visual art and design.

• The Futur – Focuses on the “business” of design. Great for understanding how designers think and talk to clients.

• Flux Academy – If you are curious about Web Design or UI/UX, Ran Segall explains the lifestyle and skills perfectly.

• Will Paterson – Excellent for anyone interested in Logo Design and Typography; he makes the technical parts feel accessible.

• CharliMarieTV – A professional web/marketing designer who vlogs about her career journey, perfect for seeing the “real world” of a design job.

• The Art Career Project – This is arguably the most comprehensive blog for you. It has deep-dive guides on over 100 art careers, including salary data and education requirements.

• Art School Graduate Podcast – Features interviews with artists and designers about their journeys from school to professional life.

• Design Matters with Debbie Millman – One of the oldest and best podcasts. It features world-famous creatives talking about how they found their path.

• Careerpilot (Art & Design) – A fantastic breakdown of jobs you can do based on your favorite school subjects.

Looking for help in preparing your portfolio?

• This guide will help you.

The Americas

• USA: The National Association of Art and Design schools list 325 member universities
  • AICAD list 33 Art and Design speciality schools
• Canada: 1025 visual arts programs listed and another 221 design programs
  • AICAD list 4 Art and Design speciality schools

Europe

• UK: 1751 programs
  • Useful guide to art and design in the UK
• Ireland: 140 programs
• Holland: about a dozen programs
• Germany: 23 programs
• Finland:80 programs
• France: 1 programs
• Switzerland: 5 programs
• Sweden: 21 Programs
• Europe: Design: 110 programs, Film 158 programs, 29 Visual arts

Australia/New Zealand

• Australia: 631 Programs
• New Zealand: 374 Programs

Asia

• Hong Kong: Several (need to check each university)
• Singapore: 26 programs in design
• Malaysia: 41 including degrees and study abroad semesters
• Japan: 4 listed here.

Architecture in Europe

• Umea (Sweden),
• Aalto (Finland),
• La Salle Campus Barcelona – Universidad Ramon Llull (Spain)
• Universidad Europea-Combined Bachelor’s Degree in Fundamentals of The Architecture + Master’s Degree in Architecture (Spain)
• Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera (Spain)
• IE University (Spain)
• Marbella Design Academy (Spain)
• Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
• Politecnico di Torino (Italy)
• ARCHIP – Architectural Institute in Prague (Czechia)
• Faculty of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (Slovakia)
• Architecture University of Pécs (Hungary)
• Cracow University of Technology (Poland)
• Kaunas University of Technology – Kaunas, Lithuania
• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania)
• Berlin International University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
• Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands)
• Ireland has six programs of architecture. 
• and, of course, the UK has dozens of possibilities.

Art and Design Degrees in Europe

The Netherlands

The Netherlands is the “hub” for English-taught creative degrees in Europe. Almost all major art academies here offer English tracks.

Germany

While public “Kunsthochschulen” often require German, several top-tier private and specialized public institutions offer English programs.

Italy

Italy offers a mix of historic fine arts and world-leading fashion/industrial design.

Spain

Spain’s design scene is dominated by private “Escuelas Superiores” that offer degrees equivalent to University Bachelors (Grado). Barcelona is arguably the best city in Europe for Graphic and Industrial design.

Finland & Sweden

Nordic design is world-famous, and their universities are highly experimental and research-driven.

Estonia & Lithuania

These Baltic nations are rising stars in digital and multimedia design.