Erudera's Complete Guide to Studying Art in The UK
The United Kingdom has a long history of art and culture and it is a place where you will find the most diverse courses, from film and animation, graphic design to textiles or product design. Whatever your passion is, you will find art schools in the United Kingdom that will work hard in helping you develop the most necessary skills of your field, and put you back in the world ready to make an impression. So if you have a passion for music, performing arts, design, or other, UK universities will offer you the opportunity to find courses that are designed for the graduate you already have in mind, and they will prepare you for your big professional break.
Reasons to Study Art in the United Kingdom
Choose from a variety of Art programs
Art study programs in the United Kingdom vary from creative writing to film animation. You can choose between animation; film and sound; creative computing, curation, and culture; photography; fine art; fashion making and pattern cutting; textiles and materials, illustration, and many more. Whatever discipline you choose, studying in UK’s art schools will allow you to develop skills, push you to reach your ambitions, and most importantly find your unique passion.
Benefit from the collaboration of universities with industries
Regardless of the program you choose to study, universities in the United Kingdom offer unique opportunities for you to build a portfolio that will put you at an advantage in the job market. Through the numerous collaborations that UK’s universities have with different industries in and outside of the country, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of your interest, and receive the guidance you need in order to succeed in your profession.
Grow creatively and professionally
UK art schools work hard to help their students find their passion, and push them to be the best in their field. Studying in these schools will allow you to develop not only the knowledge but also the experience you need in order to realize your ambitions.
Cutting-edge research
UK’s institutions are a place where research moves beyond the traditional contexts of Art and Design. This research increases public understanding of different global issues, seeks new solutions and ideas to solve these issues, and at the same time uses its research to benefit the cultural and creative industries. UK’s art schools use their research to change the way government bodies, institutions, and organizations operate, while at the same time encouraging social, environmental, and cultural change.
Requirements
Admission requirements for an art degree vary considerably. Generally, you will need to have:
- A levels in Art or a design-related subject
- Art foundation qualification
- English language proficiency
- Portfolio
- 4-Tier Visa
Application Process
Generally, in the UK, if you want to apply for an undergraduate degree in art you do it through UCAS which is a centralized service that students use to apply to universities. Usually, students that apply to undergraduate studies send documents such as their previous academic qualifications, personal statements, and proof of language proficiency. In addition to these documents, prospective art students should send a digital portfolio of their work, as well as a portfolio statement.
Note that your digital portfolio must meet a set of requirements. Some universities prefer PDF files not to exceed 50MB, and JPEG files not to exceed 2MB. However, you should look for these specifications on the website of your chosen institution. Your portfolio statement should include information on the circumstances you have produced that work, so the admission officers are aware of the context in which the portfolio is produced.
Degree Duration: How Long Does It Take to Study Art in the United Kingdom?
Undergraduate studies in the field of art in the United Kingdom take at least three years to complete. Creative writing, photography, visual effects for film and television, music, creative writing, performing arts, animation, virtual and augmented reality are only some of the many programs you can choose to earn a degree from.
Postgraduate degrees in the field of art in the United Kingdom take one to three years of full-time study to complete. During your postgraduate studies, you can choose a field or discipline in which you would like to specialize. This could include different art disciplines, like painting, sculpture, or performing arts. In the UK there are also specialized, practice-based taught masters in drama, ceramics, dance, film production, and other disciplines.
Tuition Fees: How Much Does It Cost to Study Art in the United Kingdom?
Considering that art is a term with a broad meaning and that it encompasses a variety of disciplines, tuition fees for this field of study vary greatly. However, the cost of tuition fees does not depend on the discipline you choose to study only, but also on the country of your origin and the university you would like to attend.
Universities with a higher reputation may have higher tuition fees. Also, international students studying in the United Kingdom do not pay the same fees as home students do, they usually pay higher fees. If you are an international student from an EU/EEA country, starting your studies in August 2021, you will not be eligible to pay the same fees as home students.
For undergraduate studies in the art field, tuition fees can range from $22,414 to $32,516 (£15,800 to £22,920). Whereas, for postgraduate studies they range from $16,598 to $46,674 (£11,700 to £32,900).
Art Jobs in the United Kingdom
Obtaining a degree in the field of art, and especially in the United Kingdom, a place where art and culture go a long way back, will definitely put you at an advantage in the job market. The field of art is a broad field, and that is why there are so many job opportunities for art graduates. Your art degree will secure you a place in industries such as:
- Design
- Architecture
- Music
- Advertising
- Museums
- Galleries
- Film
- Photography
- Crafts
The salary of an arts graduate in the United Kingdom varies depending on the program in which you choose to specialize. It starts at around $31,206 (£22,000) and goes up to 83,690 (£59,000).
