Top 20 Best Art Schools In The World 2024
Top 20 Best Art Schools In The World 2024: Rankings for Art and Design Schools. The best art schools are institutions that teach students to think creatively across disciplines and provide them with the instruction and resources that will enable them to fulfill their artistic potential.
All the schools on this list on this article are forward-thinking, well-respected colleges with constantly evolving curricula that always keep pace with changes in the art world. Finding the best internationally recognized art schools in the world to nurture your skills, talent and passion for art is a great place to start as an intending art student.
The best art schools in the world provide individuals with the knowledge and resources that will enable them to fulfill their artistic potential and become the best they can be.
1. Parsons School of Design —USA
Parsons School of Design is on the list of best Art schools in the world 2022 and is located in New York City, a global centre of art, design, and business. In Parsons school of design students collaborate with peers, industry partners, and communities around the world. This school of art has an interconnected network of design laboratories where students explore global phenomena and engage in research.
2. National School of Fine Arts (Paris, FR)
The National School of Fine Arts (referred to as the Beaux-Arts de Paris in France) offers two levels of admission: entrance into the first year and entrance into a course of study. The admissions process for the initial year involves an interview along with a drawing test and culture and analysis test. The undergraduate degree includes an examination of the student’s educational file, the presentation of a selection of significant artistic works from their three years of study, and an interview with the jury — this process is conditional for moving forward to the fourth year, which is designed to be a transitional year into professional life. Students are recommended to pursue professional internships at this time.
3. Rhode Island School of Design—Providence, Rhode Island (US)
RISD is considered by many to be the best art and design school out there. With distinguished faculty members, extensive resources for students, and a strong career services department, RISD offers pretty much anything you could want in an art and design education. RISD also has an associated museum with thousands of works in its collection that span different time periods, cultures, and media.
4. ArtCenter College of Design —Pasadena, United States.
The Art Center College of Design teaches students skills which they can apply to the real world to become artists and designers. This prepares these individuals to take up roles in advertising, publishing and even become industrial designers. Art Center College of Design has a mission to teach students to create and influence change.
5. Design Academy Eindhoven —Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Design Academy Eindhoven is involved in lots of research, as it seeks to drive educational innovation, and foster the development of knowledge. Design Academy Eindhoven is a design school where individuals are educated in what they bring to the world and guided through the process. The school provides new tools, new areas of expertise and a broader set of design and research skills for their students.
6. Glasgow School of Art—Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow School of Art is Scotland’s only public self-governing art school and is also one of the best Art schools in the world 2022. It is divided into two campuses: the School of Fine Arts and the School of Design. GSA is at the head of research in creative disciplines, with research centers including the Digital Design Studio, the Institute of Design Innovation, the Mackintosh Environmental Architectural Research Institute, and the Glasgow Urban Lab. Glasgow School of Art also has an extensive student and staff exchange program with about 75 of the world’s leading Art, Design and Architecture schools.
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)— Cambridge, United States.
The Massachusetts institute of technology has about 12 museums and galleries on campus. The MIT Museum attracts about 125,000 visitors every year. Students engage in music, theatre, writing and dance groups. The highly rated school of arts at Massachusetts has faculty members which include Pulitzer Prize winners and Guggenheim fellows.
6. Central Academy of Fine Arts (Beijing, CN)
The Central Academy of Fine Arts is one of the most selective schools in China, turning away over 90% of its annual applicants. The academy is divided into eight specialty schools that focus on the following subjects: Chinese painting, plastic arts, experimental art, arts administration and education, design, architecture, humanities, and urban design.
The China Central Academy of Fine Arts offers 20 undergraduate majors in specific concentrations like digital media art, clothing and apparel design, environmental design, and sculpture.
7. Tokyo University of the Arts—Tokyo, Japan
As the only national arts university in Japan and the best Art schools in Japan, Tokyo University of the Arts seeks to develop Japanese art and culture and emphasize a spirit of artistic freedom and creativity. Through collaboration with other universities and institutions, TUA works to create new forms of artistic expression and demonstrate the power of art to influence global trends. TUA also runs an exchange program with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
8. Aalto University —Espoo, Finland.
Aalto University has a mission to build a society of Innovation, where breakthrough discoveries are combined with business thinking and design. This institution of learning was established through a fusion of three reputed and widely recognised universities in the Helsinki metropolitan area of Finland. This university offers over 50 degree programmes (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level degrees).
9. Pratt Institute—New York City, New York (US)
Pratt is at the center of the New York art scene, and is consistently ranked among the top art and design colleges in the world. A highly distinguished faculty made up of leaders in artistic fields means that students will make meaningful connections to the art world during their time at Pratt. Career Counseling services are excellent and have a high job placement rate after graduation. Pratt also sits on a beautiful enclosed campus that gives students a sanctuary apart from the hectic city life.
10. Berlin University of the Arts—Berlin, Germany
The Berlin University of the Arts is the largest art school in Europe and one of the best Art schools in the world. Its faculty includes some of the most well-respected contemporary artists in the world, including Chinese artist and social activist Ai Weiwei. There are four colleges within the University system that specialize in Fine Arts, Music, Design, and Performing Arts. Berlin University of the Arts has more than 170 international partnerships with other universities.
11. Parsons School of Design at The New School—New York City, New York (US)
The New School emphasizes a design thinking approach to solving problems on a global scale. Parsons is dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of arts education; it strives to continually embrace new trends and interdisciplinary approaches to the arts. It also has a community service and social justice focus, encouraging design projects that have tangible outcomes in the world.
12. Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design—London, England
Central Saint Martins is a constituent college of the University of the Arts in London. It is considered one of the world’s leading institutions in art and design education. The college offers nine different areas of study to students, including Graphic Communication Design, Fine Art, and Jewelry and Textiles. Facilities include digital fabrication studios, letterpress studios, a digital media lab, an animation lab, and more.
13. California Institute of the Arts—Valencia, California (US)
CalArts is an internationally recognized art school that encourages students to go beyond the boundaries of traditional media. It has a strong focus on individualized attention for each student. Students are also given a high level of creative freedom and independence in their studies, artistic promise is the number one criteria for admission.
14. Politecnico di Milano
Politecnico di Milano is amongst high performing universities in Europe, and the largest Italian university in Engineering, Architecture and Design, with over 45,000 students. The university is interested in research as it plays a vital role in its mission. It also has about seven campuses situated in Milan and in other nearby Italian cities.
15. Royal College of Arts —London, United Kingdom.
Royal College of Art is the oldest art and design university in world that has been in continuous operation. this top best art school has always maintained a tradition of innovation and excellence in creative education. For five consecutive years Royal College of Arts has been ranked as the number one Art and Design university in the world.
16. University of the Arts London
The University of the Arts, London is Europe’s largest specialist art and design university and one of best Art schools in the world. It has thousands of students from over 130 countries in the world. UAL comprises of six esteemed arts, design, fashion and media Colleges, which includes:
- Chelsea College of Arts.
- London College of Communication.
- Camberwell College of Arts.
- Wimbledon College of Arts.
- Central Saint Martins.
- London College of Fashion.
17. School of the Art Institute of Chicago—Chicago, Illinois (US)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago boasts a strong global reputation; its alumni include Georgia O’Keeffe, David Sedaris, and Edward Gorey (who is one of my favorite artists!). SAIC has an interdisciplinary curriculum, meaning that students are encouraged to experiment widely across artistic disciplines before deciding on the best medium for their ideas. The education at SAIC is highly customizable, encouraging students to be creative in combining different types of art.
18. Goldsmiths University of London
As one of the best Art schools in the world in 2022, Goldsmiths is located in New Cross. The school has a international reputation built around creativity and innovation. This school is a member of the University of London, and is known for its high educational standards. The quality art College offers teaching in fields like arts and humanities, social sciences, computing, and entrepreneurial business and management.
19. Delft University of Technology —Delft, Netherlands.
Delft University of Technology was ranked amongst the best art schools in the world. Delft University of Technology excels in a number of subjects. The Materials In Art and Archaeology of Delft University of Technology studies objects from cultures using ground breaking and analytical concepts and approach. They support the conservation of artwork and the technical art history through their experience in the elemental and structural characterization of materials.
20. Tongji University —Shanghai, China (Mainland).
Tongji University’s College of Communication and Arts offers bachelor and masters degree programs which students can choose from. To cater for the needs of post graduate professionals (media and design), the established the following:
- The Research Centre of Chinese Literature.
- The Centre of Media Arts.
- The Research Centre of Design Arts,
- The Research Centre of Innovation Thinking.
Why attend an Art School?
An art school might be a good starting point for your career. As an aspiring artist, it can be a place where you can develop your creative abilities and become a professional. Art schools that are members of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) do not only teach art but also offer a curriculum with full liberal arts and science requirements.
Some careers in the artistic landscape may not require a formal degree. However, attending art schools offer lots of benefits for your career in arts.
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