The best art colleges of the world and how to get there

The world is full of options for aspiring artists. Are you an artist interested to study overseas? Do you want to learn any art as an academic certification? Then there are lots of options to explore around the globe.

The best art colleges/universities in the world are in the UK, the USA, Finland, Australia, and France. At these institutions, you can learn your craft with a lot of international exposure. The greatest advantage is that the certifications from these institutions are globally recognized. It can literally take you places!

If you want to study abroad, you will need to know about the visa options each country provides. So, let’s check out the colleges by country and learn how you can get there to learn the art of your choice.

Royal College of Art (UK)

The college was established in 1837. It is the world’s oldest art and design university that has been operating continuously. Innovation and excellence in creative education is a tradition in this college. The college offers only postgraduate studies. The college has divided its streams into Architecture, Communication, Arts & Humanities, and Design. Here you get to learn a range of disciplines. These include painting, photography, interior design, visual communication, and fashion design.

How to get there?

If you want to study in the UK, you can apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa. You should be over 16 years of age. You also need to

• Be offered a place on the course intended
• Understand, read, write and speak English
• Have enough money to live in the UK and pay for the course
• Be from a country outside EEA or Switzerland

You can apply for this visa 3 months before the commencement of the course. With this visa, you can study and work in almost any job. You may even apply to extend your stay.

Rhode Island School of Design (USA)

Rhode Island School of Design is one of the first art & design schools in the US. It is a private, nonprofit college founded in 1877. The college invites students from all around the world. They undergo a liberal learning program that is rigorous, and studio-based. Students can do their degrees and masters in 21 majors.

How to get there?

International students can use the F1 Visa to enter the USA to do a graduate or master's course. The F1 visa suits you if you are attending an academic program at a college or university in the US. You must study with full-time student status. You can stay in the US for an excess of up to 60 days beyond the time it takes to complete the academic program. This applies subject to an exception. The exception comes in if your application is approved to stay and work for as long as the OPT program prescribes.

Aalto University (Finland)

This university was established in 2010 following the merger of 3 reputed universities namely:

• The Helsinki University of Technology (established 1849)
• The University of Art and Design Helsinki (established 1871)
• The Helsinki School of Economics (established 1904)

 Here, students do their best in studies and careers under expert guidance. The university offers more than 90 Degree programs. These are available at bachelor, masters and doctorate levels.

With its training, many students get vast work experience before they graduate. The courses are in streams of media, design, art, architecture and film/television.

How to get there?

In Finland, you will need to get a residence permit to enroll in a university degree course. The Finland student visa is synonymous with Residence Permit in Finland. If your degree takes more than 90 days, you will have to register with the local authorities. If you stay beyond a year, you will have to apply for an extension of the residence permit.

RMIT University (Australia)

RMIT is a global university that ranks as the best in Australia for studying art. It is the best Art and Design University in the Asia-Pacific region. On a world scale, it is at the 11th place. The university is a global leader in art and photography. It encourages experimentation in art. The training is given in a studio environment, focusing a lot on innovation.

How to get there?

To apply for an Australian student visa, you will need to get accepted into a course in the country. The course should be one registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions of Courses (CRICOS). The acceptance will be confirmed with the Confirmation of Enrolment (COE). The COE is essential for applying for a student visa in Australia. You can apply for this visa online.

École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle, ENSCI Les Ateliers (France)

ENSCI-Les Ateliers is the only national school exclusively dedicated to industrial design. It was established in 1982. The institution offers training based on individualized tutoring. The tutelage focuses on the student and his course. At ENSCI, you learn through activity and experimentation. You learn to manage complexity and apply design practices with social responsibility.

How to get there?

To apply for a student visa in France, you may need to register with a French national agency called Campus France (CF). This is to show the intention to study in France. You must apply for the visa through the French Embassy or Consulate in your home country. All non-EU students should apply for a long-stay student visa to legally study in France. This visa is indicated with a “D” stamped in.

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