London is said to be one of the most popular destinations to study anything arts and design.
Every year, thousands of international students find their way to London because of the vast amount of creativity, innovation and research in the city.
Later in this article, we will list the best fine art schools in London.
What is the difference between Arts and Fine Arts?
Arts is said to be the expression that is used to define human creativity and the skill-set through various activities and its forms, whereas Fine Arts, is a type of art that includes singing, acting, dancing, sculpting, or playing an instrument.
That means that Fine Arts is considered to be a type of art but then arts is a broad term that embraces many other creative and artistic activities.
List of the best fine art schools in London
- University College London
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- University of the Arts London
- University of Westminster
- London Metropolitan University
University College London
University College London is said to be one of the top fine art schools in London because of its four-year programme that comprises three areas of practice which are:
- Painting
- Fine art media
- Sculpture
They have a practice-based staff filled with practising artists and scholars.
Benefits of attending this school
Each student is allocated their own studio space each year.
Undergraduates can decide to apply for international exchanges. The Slade has exchange agreements with some art schools in China, Europe and the United States.
The Slade’s location, close to many important galleries, museums, libraries and theatres, provides opportunities to access a wide range of learning resources and research.
Applications for admission are usually made through UCAS. Applicants who are still schooling will be provided with advice on the process.
Key information
The program starts in September each year.
Application deadline: 26 January.
However, ensure you visit the website of the school to find out the exact deadline and start dates.
Location: London, Bloomsbury
Proof of English Language proficiency is required for students whose education were not conducted in the English Language.
Tuition fees:
UK students: £9,250 (2022/23)
Overseas students: £32,100 (2022/23)
Goldsmiths, University of London
This is one of the fine art schools in London that offers BA(Hons) Fine Arts and MFA Fine Art. The BA(Hons) Fine Art is a 3 years full-time course while the MFA Fine Arts can be a 2 years full-time, or 4 years part-time, or 3 years combined full-time and part-time course.
The BA(Hons) Fine Arts helps you gain the expertise that will help you develop independent thought and confidence in your practice, as well as transferable skills suitable for employment in the creative industries.
There will be seminars to help their students develop the confidence and ability to discuss their own work with others.
The MFA Fine Art is a two-stage program designed to subject the making of the artwork, the ideas and concepts involved to artistic and critical scrutiny.
Also for the MFA Fine Art applicants for Year One full-time and part-time (home students) Diploma stage: undergraduate degree of at least second class (or international equivalent) plus experience as an artist
Applicants for entry directly onto Year Two full-time and Year Three part-time of the programme (home students) routes: you must already be in possession of 120-grade credits for postgraduate study from another programme to apply for direct entry into Year Two of the programme on either a full or part-time basis.
Requirement for part-time study: you need to have your own studio space in which to work over the four years of the programme.
Key information
They are ranked 15th in the world for art and design (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021).
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, they offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.
They accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September.
Application deadline: midnight on 31 January.
Tuition Fees:
- Home – full-time: £9250
- International – full-time: £23870
University of the Arts London
This is one of the top fine art schools in London that is ranked 2nd in the world for Art and Design according to the 2021 QS World University Rankings, for the third year in a row.
University of the Arts London is Europe’s largest specialist art and design university, with over 19,000 students from more than 130 countries.
University of the Arts London courses covers photography, interior design, product design, media, graphics, fine art and performance arts. University of the Arts London has launched the careers of many famous creatives.
They were established in 2004 and it brings together six esteemed arts, design, fashion and media colleges. These colleges include:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Central Saint Martins
- Chelsea College of Arts
- London College of Communication
- London College of Fashion
- Wimbledon College of Arts
University of the Arts London is one of the fine art schools in London that gives students unique opportunities to learn and create innovations across a whole range of disciplines and at all levels.
Key information
They are ranked:
- 52nd in the Times University Guide 2022
- 26th in the Guardian University Guide 2022
The University of Arts London currently has 12 halls of residence spread around London, providing over 3,000 beds.
Home tuition for Students: £9,250
Home Continuing students: £9,250
International students tuition: £22,920
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is home to the Centre for Research and Education in Art and Media (CREAM), one of the most successful and highly rated Arts research centres in the UK. They take care of the following disciplines:
- Digital
- Drawing
- Installation
- Intervention
- Interdisciplinary
- Moving image
- Painting
- Performance
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Sound
Many of their courses offer international work experiences and the university does all it can to provide students with the best global opportunities that all students can apply for.
This simply means whatever you are studying, you have a chance to go abroad through the following means:
- Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
- Attending an international summer school or field trip
- Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad
Key Information
Tuition fees:
- UK tuition fee: £1,540 (Price per 20-credit module)
- International tuition fee: £2,400 (Price per 20-credit module)
Tuition fees for postgraduates:
- Full-time tuition for home students: £5,520
- Full time tuition for international students: £14,110
- Tuition for part-time home students: £2,760
- Tuition for part-time international students: £7,055
For their courses that start in September, you should try to apply by 1 August. If you need to apply for a visa to study in the UK, you should aim to apply by 1 July.
Four courses starting in January below are the necessary deadlines:
- Application deadline (International) – 26 November
- Application deadline (Home) – 7 December
- Meeting conditions and paying deposit (International) – 13 December
- Meeting conditions (Home) – 10 January
There are scholarships for students:
Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship; amount: £5,000 per year Deadline: 8 July.
Great Start Scholarship; Amount: £2,000 per year Deadline: 8 July.
London Metropolitan University
This is one of the famous fine art schools in London that has a challenging undergraduate degree.
You’ll be taught in cutting-edge studios by practising London artists who are passionate about art and teaching.
Facilities include spacious art studios, the latest 3D printing and laser-cutting facilities, exhibition spaces and even a roof garden.
You’ll also have access to state-of-the-art digital media, print, painting, photography, ceramics and sculpture workshops.
91% of students say that lecturers in this course are good at explaining things and that they make the subject interesting (National Student Survey 2020).
They’re also ranked in the top 30 universities in the UK for art according to the Guardian university league tables 2022.
They also accept mature students with diverse backgrounds and experiences and encourage applications from international/EU students with required qualifications.
Key Information
Cost for international part-time students: £4,277 per 30 credit module (if you require a student visa you will not be able to study on a part-time basis) | duration is 6 years.
Cost for international full-time home students: £17,110 per year | duration is 3 years.
Cost for part-time home students: £2,310 per 30 credit module | duration is 6 years.
Cost for full-time home students: £9,250 per year.
After attending the fine art schools in London
Attending the fine art schools in London will prepare you for the following job roles:
- Advertising executive
- Artist
- Arts educator
- Curator
- Features writer
- Journalist
- Gallery owner or director
- Moving image production professional
- Museum archivist
Conclusion on fine art schools in London
Attending the fine art schools in London helps improve your decisions making abilities, boosts your self-confidence as well as your creative abilities.
However, It is not just about attending these fine art schools in London, you must practice if you must succeed.
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