Why You Should Study Art & Design in the UK?

The UK’s progressive approach to higher education, offering a unique and effective balance of academia and creative freedom, makes it a truly unique place to practice and study art and design in the UK. Art and design courses in the UK provide students with every aspect that they will need to prepare them for a creative career, offering a wide variety of exceptionally qualified lecturers that encourage students to think outside the box, push themselves, explore alternative avenues and carve out a path for themselves.

Although it forces you out of your comfort zone and aids in your pursuit of a more in-depth understanding of art and design in the UK, moving to another country can be a different option to consider.

Art & Design courses in the UK

Despite the fact that there are more specialized courses that offer an in-depth education in a specific art, such as fine art, graphic design, advertising, animation, and much more, art and design courses in the UK offer students a singular opportunity to dangle their toes in the many different facets of art and design. In addition to having some of the best universities and higher education programs in the world, the UK is home to many institutions with strong ties to the creative sector, giving their students access to an immersive learning environment. The UK is home to the best art institutions in the world and offers more than 2,000 degrees in the visual arts.

Art and culture in the UK

The country is full of cities with vibrant arts and culture scenes, from Liverpool to London. Students can be confident that this country offers a wide variety of museums, galleries, and theaters to completely immerse them in the art they feel passionate about, wherever they choose to study. The UK is also well-known for its renowned festivals that honor not only music but also art, theater, comedy, and other genres. Make the most of studying art and design in the UK and visit the likes of Glastonbury, Fashion Week, and the Edinburgh Fringe, making connections with other bright minds in your industry.

Wide Creative Career Opportunities in the UK

The UK has been a hotspot for creative excellence for centuries, from the Beatles to Banksy to Vivienne Westwood. For those who work as creators in the film, theater, television, and advertising industries, this opened the door for the best creative industries in the world. Art and design courses in the UK allow you to follow a similar path, experiencing many of the things about the UK that made these great minds so successful. 

1. World-class Institutions

Not only does the UK have some of the best and most internationally renowned creative schools in the world, but each one has unique courses that help you grow and develop as an artist. Both traditional universities and creatively focused institutions exist and offer a variety of courses and specialisms. These include UCL (University College London), University of Oxford, Royal College of Art, University of the Arts London and The Glasgow School of Art.

2. Art in Culture

Both traditional paintings and contemporary design in a variety of media are crucial to British culture. We are a nation that celebrates artistic expression and prides itself on supporting the arts and ensuring there is enough funding for both the general public and children of all ages to learn about and create art.

3. Access to Art

The UK is host to thousands of art galleries, displaying exhibits of both iconic and newer pieces. In the capital, the most famous museums include the Tate Modern, the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Academy of Art, whilst in the vibrant northern cities of Manchester and Liverpool, cutting-edge artistry is on display at esteemed locations. Even universities are getting in on the art game—the University of East Anglia in Norwich is also home to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, which houses pieces of artwork that span over 5,000 years, and Royal Holloway at the University of London in Surrey boasts its own picture gallery that even claims to hold a haunted painting.

4. Flourishing Passion

Inspiration and passion are two things that are very important to artists. You’ll be able to find artistic expression anywhere and everywhere if you choose to study art and design in the UK. There is a lot going on, from regional artistic events to famous, highly accomplished people. Shakespearean theaters and underground music festivals are frequently performed on the campuses of UK art universities. You can easily find like-minded people to connect with. You'll be given a variety of tools and knowledge to help you succeed as an artist.

5. Importance to Performing Arts

The UK is home to some of the top performing arts institutions, where planning numerous stage events and performances is given top priority. As a result, those who are talented and passionate about acting, singing, or dancing will succeed in all areas. Those places will help you gain a thorough understanding of the theory and history of the creative fields before honing your talent for an ultimate expression.

6. Music

The UK offers a huge selection of musical genres. They have a combination of theory and practice, which suggests that their skills are well-honed and developed. You'll have the opportunity to engage in cultural immersion, during which you'll discover a portion of a different nation, as well as its people, culture, perspectives, food, etc. Living in another country will open doors for different styles of music and variations in music composition. Additionally, you'll be able to hone your cross-communication abilities. You'll naturally learn to respect the perspectives, mindsets, cultures, and rituals of other nations.

7. Cinematography

Students who study film will have the opportunity to see firsthand how top-notch movies are made, learning everything from editing to lighting design and narrational image composition. That is not all. You’ll get to experience unique art equipment like high-quality HD cameras and motion-capturing technology. 

8. Design the Career you Desire

You will undoubtedly benefit from the diverse art and cultural practices there if you approach the creation of your own work of art with a light and flexible mind. In addition to improving your language skills, studying art and science in the UK will prepare you to succeed anywhere in the world.

Best Art And Design Colleges in the UK

Some of the best universities to pursue Art and Design courses in the UK are,

• Royal College of Art, United Kingdom.
• University of the Arts London, United Kingdom.
• Parsons School of Design at the New School, United States.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), United States.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) the United States.
• Politecnico Di Milano, Italy.
• Aalto University, Finland.
• Glasgow School of Art (GSA), United Kingdom.
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), United States.
• Pratt Institute, United States.

Undergraduate Art and Design courses

There are universities that are the best universities for art and design in the UK. Some of the undergraduate art and design courses that you can pursue in the UK are,

• Architecture BA (BA).
• Creative and Cultural Industries: art Direction BA (Hons)
• Creative and Cultural Industries: Events and Experiences Design BA (Hons)
• Fashion BA (Hons)
• Fashion Promotion and Communications BA (Hons)
• Filmmaking BA (Hons)
• Fashion Promotion and Communications BA (Hons)
• Fashion BA (Hons)
• Fine Art BA (Hons)
• Fine Art & Art History BA (Hons)
• Foundation Diploma in Art, Design & Media Practice
• Graphic Design BA (Hons)
• Historic Building Conversation FdSc and BSc (Hons) top-up.
• Illustration Animation BA (Hons)
• Interior Design BA (Hons)
• Photography BA (Hons)
• Product & Furniture Design BA (Hons)

Post-Graduate Art and Design Courses in the UK

Some of the Art and Design courses that you can pursue in the UK are,

• Aesthetics and Art Theory MA.
• Art Business MA.
• Computer Animation MA.
• Curating Contemporary Design MA (in partnership with the Design Museum)
• Fashion MA
• Fine Art MFA.
• Graduate Diploma in Creative Practice.
• Graphic Design MA.
• Illustration MA.
• Interior Design MA.
• Museum and Gallery Studies MA.
• Photography MA.
• Product & Furniture Design Ma.
• Project Management for Creative Practitioners MSc.
• Sustainable Design MA
• Sustainable Fashion: Business and Practices.

Cost for studying Art and Design in the UK

The cost of studying in the UK for any course can be and it differs from university to university. Depending on the university, some courses may cost a lot of money, while others may be more reasonably priced. The tuition fees for art and design courses in the UK fall on an average of £18,000 to £35,000 per year for an undergraduate degree and £20,000 and £25,000 per year for a post-graduate degree.

This international student should also allocate money for housing, transportation, food, and textbooks. It is very important for international students to look for what are the scholarships available for Bournemouth University of Arts.

Career Options for Art and Design graduates

Some of the best career options for Art and Design graduates are,

• Cinematographer (£ 17,383 per year)
• Art Framer (£ 21, 049 per year)
• Curatorial Assistant (£ 21,112 per year)
• Artisan (£ 23, 308 per year)
• Art Instructor (£23, 315 per year)
• Photographer (£ 23, 858 per year)
• Videographer (£23, 863 per year)
• Graphic Designer (£24, 399 per year)
• Curator (£ 6, 871 per year)
• Illustrator (£29, 783 per year)
• Gallery Manager (£30 597 per year)

Entry Requirements for Art and Design in the UK

Admissions standards vary from university to university. But, some of the basics are

• UCAS Personal Statement.
• A copy of your academic transcript (English version)
• A copy of your English Language Proficiency IELTS with a score of 6.0 or more than that.
• A copy of your passport.
• A portfolio of your work/if you have relevant work experience.

To find out more about art and design courses in the UK, and universities for art and design, contact AHZ Associates today. We’re here to help international students find the best university courses for them!