Creative Arts, Design & Communication Courses

Which creative arts course is for you?

You can choose from a wide range of art courses if you want to express your thoughts and creativity, such as fine arts, music, photography and writing.

Design courses such as fashion design, graphic design, fashion and textiles and even product design are available if you have ambitions to create functioning art and become a designer.

If you want to share your imagination with others then consider courses in production and theatre and stage management, illustration, animation and film production.

This directory will help you through the stages involved in studying a creative arts course in the country of your choice. Once you’ve read it, you can search for a course to study abroad using the search box at the top of this page.

Arts degrees and design degrees can be studied at both universities and colleges. Some courses have higher entrance requirements than you might expect, and you may need to show a portfolio of work or audition to prove your ability and commitment to study.

Although careers in creative arts are not always the highest paid, they are extremely fulfilling if you have the talent and interest. If you can apply your creative energy in the commercial sector, you may be able to achieve the best of both worlds.

Undergraduate creative arts and design degrees normally take three years of full-time study to complete and provide you with a strong knowledge base of your chosen subject. The degrees also help you to enhance your practical skills within that discipline. Even if you decide to work in a different industry, the academic skills and knowledge acquired by studying a creative arts and design degree will be easily transferable.

Postgraduate creative arts and design courses usually take between one and three years of full time study to complete. Masters degrees are the most popular type of postgraduate degree for students in the creative arts and design fields. Masters degrees normally take one year to achieve and allows you to further your knowledge within specific fields of the creative arts and design industry and usually enhances your employability within that sector.

Which Creative Arts and Design Course is Right for Me?

It’s important to know which area of the creative arts and design industry you want to be a part of when you complete your course as the subjects covered in different courses can all lead you to very different careers. Is it fashion or film that you see yourself working in? Perhaps you would like to work in advertising or web design. You could also train in dance or acting. There are courses available in all areas of arts and design, try using a course search at the top of the page to view some of the options.

The location in which you choose to study art and design abroad can be important for your career. If the industry you wish to work in is predominantly based in London, New York or Berlin, it would be beneficial for you to find a course in the appropriate country. This will help you to build up your contacts within that city during your studies and provide you with a taste for the culture and life before starting a full-time job within the industry. Whether you want to study creative arts courses in the UK or you want to find design degrees in Europe, Australia or the USA, StudyLink can help you. If you have an idea of the course you would like to study, look at our destination directories for more information on the countries you would like to study in.

Next Steps

When you have settled on your ideal course and destination, there are a few more steps to consider to make sure you are ready to apply for your creative arts course.

Requirements

Typical requirements to study creative arts and design courses abroad vary depending on your course or specialist area – check with the institution that offers your course to make sure. You may also be expected to provide a portfolio of your work to demonstrate your proficiency in your chosen area.

Most creative arts courses abroad are taught in english so it is likely you will be required to prove you have the required English language skills.

Typically you will require an English level of IELTS 6 or TOEFL 550 (paper) 213 (computer) – depending on level and institution*.

Tuition fees vary depending on the country in which you study and the level of study but typically range from US$10,000 to US$23,000+ per year.

*Students with a lower score may still be accepted if they complete an English language course or a foundation year before going on to their chosen degree. You can read our advice pages on studying English language. TOEFL is no longer accepted as proof of English language for UK courses.

Visas

If you’re studying a creative arts course abroad, you need to meet the requirements to gain a visa to enter the country in which you will study. For further information and advice on student visas, we recommend our dedicated advice on student visas page.

Applying

Take the time to perfect your creative arts course application, as there are likely to be many steps to get right. Most courses can be applied for online, once you have found your ideal course on StudyLink, click through to the website of the institution offering that course. If you can’t apply online, there are normally contact details available on your chosen institutes website to obtain an application form.

If your course requires a portfolio of you work, be sure to submit work that meets the requirements given. You may also be required to provide a personal statement with your application. For help preparing your personal statement, refer to our writing a personal statement for studying abroad guide.