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Subject · 197 verified programs

Ceramics degrees

Degrees in making work from clay and glazes, covering functional ware, sculptural forms and design for production.

Also called: Ceramic Art, Ceramics and Glass, Clay, Ceramic Design, Pottery.

89 BFA · 45 MFA · 25 BA / BA (Hons) · 18 Other bachelor’s award · 10 MA · 9 Other master’s award · 1 BDes · 130 official concentration, 16 named major, 50 dedicated degree, 1 documented pathway

197 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About ceramics study

Ceramics is the making of objects from clay that are hardened by firing, and degree study covers a wide spectrum from functional vessels to sculpture and installation. Students learn about clay bodies, forming, surface decoration, glazes and kiln firing, and are often asked to consider how a work relates to use, history, architecture or the body.

Programs typically combine technical instruction with critique and contextual study. Hand-building, wheel-throwing, slip casting and mold-making are common, and many programs add digital tools such as three-dimensional modeling or printing for molds and forms. Glaze chemistry and firing technique are treated seriously because results depend on careful testing and record keeping.

Ceramics is a material-based craft and art discipline. It differs from sculpture, which is not tied to one material, and from jewelry and metalsmithing, textile design and other craft-based subjects with their own materials and traditions. Some programs place ceramics in an art context, others in a craft or design context, and some combine it with glass or related materials.

What study typically involves

  • Hand-building, wheel-throwing and slip casting
  • Clay bodies, glaze testing and surface decoration
  • Kiln loading and firing methods
  • Mold-making and small-batch production
  • Digital design and fabrication in some programs
  • History of ceramics and contemporary practice
  • Critique, exhibition and a final project

Award titles. Ceramics is commonly studied within BFA, BA or BA (Hons) programs and at postgraduate level within MFA or MA degrees, sometimes titled with craft or design wording. Research degrees, including practice-based PhDs, may involve ceramic practice. Award titles differ internationally, so the official program page governs.

Ceramics often appears as an emphasis within a fine arts or craft degree, sometimes grouped with glass or sculpture. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Applicants to ceramics-related programs are usually asked for a portfolio of work in clay and often related drawing or other three-dimensional work. Photographs should show forms from several angles, and applicants may be asked to note techniques and dimensions. Previous clay experience is not always required at entry level.

Requirements vary by country and program. Some admissions processes use fixed numbers of digital images, others use in-person review, and postgraduate programs generally ask for a coherent body of work with a statement of intent. Interviews may be included.

Check each program’s official admissions page for formats, limits and deadlines. Admission is never guaranteed, and no universal template exists.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, some programs offer teaching assistantships, studio or kiln technician roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships. Studio roles may involve maintaining kilns and materials.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial or no funding. Verify details directly with each program and funding body.

Costs beyond tuition. Ceramics students commonly pay for clay, glazes, kiln firing fees, studio access and tools, along with packaging and transport of fragile finished work.