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Subject · 90 verified programs

Drawing degrees

Degrees that treat drawing as a primary discipline, from observation and mark-making to conceptual and expanded drawing practices.

Also called: Drawing and Printmaking, Painting and Drawing, Drawing Practice, Disegno, Dessin.

45 BFA · 20 MFA · 11 BA / BA (Hons) · 5 Other master’s award · 5 Other bachelor’s award · 4 MA · 6 named major, 24 dedicated degree, 60 official concentration

90 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 drawing study

Drawing is both a foundation for many arts and an independent field in its own right. In degree study it covers observation, line, tone, structure and composition, but also drawing as a way to think, plan and communicate. Contemporary drawing can extend into animation, installation, text, performance and digital tools, so programs vary in how traditional or experimental they are.

Students typically draw regularly from life, from objects and from imagination, using materials such as graphite, charcoal, ink, pastel and mixed media. They also learn to analyze their own work and others’ through critique. Over time the emphasis moves from skills toward developing a personal approach and a body of work with a clear line of inquiry.

As a specialization, drawing sits within fine arts and is closely related to painting and printmaking, but it is not the same as illustration, which focuses on images made to accompany or interpret text and ideas for an audience. Few programs offer drawing as a stand-alone major; it more often appears as an area of emphasis or an official concentration.

What study typically involves

  • Observational drawing from the figure, objects and environments
  • Line, tone, perspective and spatial structure
  • Drawing materials and processes
  • Conceptual and experimental drawing approaches
  • Sketchbooks and visual research methods
  • Critique and contextual study of drawing’s history
  • Development and presentation of a body of work

Award titles. Drawing is commonly studied within BFA, BA or BA (Hons) degrees and at postgraduate level within MFA or MA programs, sometimes as a named pathway. Research degrees, including practice-based PhDs, may involve drawing as the main practice. Titles differ internationally, so the official program page is authoritative.

Drawing commonly appears as an emphasis within a fine arts degree or as part of a combined painting and drawing program. 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 drawing-related programs are often asked for a portfolio that shows observational work alongside more personal or exploratory pieces. Sketchbooks may be requested in addition to finished works. Some programs set a timed drawing exercise or hold an interview.

Practices vary by country and program. Some admissions processes rely on a set number of digital images, others on physical portfolios reviewed in person, and postgraduate applications generally ask for a statement describing the direction of the work.

Always confirm details on each official admissions page, including formats and deadlines. Admission is never guaranteed, and no universal template applies.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, funding in some programs includes teaching assistantships, studio roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships. Assistantships may involve teaching introductory drawing courses.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial funding or none. Check the details directly with the program and funders.

Costs beyond tuition. Drawing is often lower in materials cost than some media, but students typically still pay for papers, drawing materials, portfolios or storage, scanning or photography, and framing.