Studying Art Abroad: What to Check Before You Apply

Studying art in another country raises questions that a home-country applicant never meets: what the degree is called and whether it will be recognised where you plan to use it, how the application works, what language you need, whether you may enter and stay, and what you will pay. This guide lists those questions. It does not recommend a country, and it does not promise admission, funding, a visa or any professional recognition.

Degree names and levels differ by country

The same title does not always mean the same content, and different systems name the same level differently. Several frameworks describe levels:

• The UK. The QAA's Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a separate framework for Scotland. They set out the levels of qualifications and requirements for each.
• Europe. The Bologna Process led to the European Higher Education Area, in which participating countries agreed to adopt bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies as three levels, with the aim of making recognition of study abroad easier; the European Commission says implementation is uneven. The European Qualifications Framework has eight levels based on learning outcomes. Neither sets the content of an art degree.
• Other countries publish their own frameworks, for example Australia's. Check the official source for the country you are interested in.

Within a level, titles vary. UAL's undergraduate courses use titles such as BA (Hons) Fine Art: Painting, and its postgraduate pages describe MA and MSc degrees and graduate diplomas; the page we read does not mention an MFA. A US MFA and a UK MA in fine art are not the same degree. See BFA versus BA and MFA versus MA. Do not assume that a degree from one country is recognised for jobs or further study in another; ask the school and the relevant authority in the country where you will use it.

Portfolio and application practice

Practice varies. UAL, for example, describes a process in which you apply, then may be asked for a digital portfolio uploaded to its own tool by a deadline, and may also be asked for a written task or study proposal, a personal statement and a short video task for postgraduate courses. It adds that transcripts must be official and translated into English, that non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history form, and that deferral requests are not accepted for postgraduate courses. Other countries use different steps, including entrance exams or studio tests in some systems. Read preparing an art portfolio, then the school's own instructions.

Language

Check the language of instruction and the evidence you must show. UAL, for instance, asks for a qualification such as IELTS if you do not meet its English requirements, with evidence requested after an offer. Other schools use other tests or their own interviews. Some programs are taught in a local language; DAAD's study-in-Germany pages point to separate sections on requirements, programs and scholarships, so check there for Germany rather than assuming.

Entry rules and visas

Most countries require a visa or permit for long study. We do not give immigration advice; the official government pages govern. As an example from GOV.UK for the UK: to apply for a Student visa you must be 16 or over, have an offer from a licensed student sponsor, have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course, and be able to speak, read, write and understand English. It gives an application fee of 558 pounds from outside the UK, says a healthcare surcharge must also be paid, and says decisions usually take about three weeks from outside the UK. It states that degree-level study aged 18 or over usually allows up to five years' stay, and describes a graduate visa after study with a length that depends on the date of application. Work rights depend on the course and time of year, and some conditions apply. Those facts describe the UK as we read it; other countries have different rules and all rules can change.

Eligibility can also depend on citizenship even for partly remote courses: the Teachers College hybrid MA we cite elsewhere says international applicants cannot apply. See online versus low-residency study for the difference between remote study and visiting for residencies.

Costs

Studying abroad adds visa fees, health charges, flights, deposits and exchange-rate risk to tuition. International tuition can differ from home tuition. See costs beyond tuition. We do not convert currencies on this site, because rates move; look at the school's own page for each fee category.

Funding

Funding may be restricted by nationality or residence. Read MFA funding for definitions of guaranteed and competitive awards, and always ask whether a stated award applies to international students.

Recognition after you graduate

If you intend to return home or practise a regulated profession, such as teaching, find out in advance whether your foreign degree will be accepted. A degree abroad does not by itself give you teacher registration at home or abroad; see art education degrees and teaching requirements.

A short checklist

1. Compare the degree title and level against your home system.
2. Read the school's own application and portfolio instructions and dates.
3. Confirm language requirements and tests.
4. Read official visa guidance and ask the school's international office what it needs.
5. Add up all costs, including travel and health charges.
6. Ask about recognition in the country where you will work.
7. Keep copies of all emails and offers.

For shortlisting, return to choosing an art school. Confirm all details with the school and the relevant government.