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Subject · 231 verified programs

Sculpture degrees

Degrees in making three-dimensional work, from carving, casting and fabrication to installation and expanded sculptural practice.

Also called: Sculpture and Installation, Three-Dimensional Art, 3D Studies, Skulptur, Sculpture and Expanded Practice.

94 BFA · 51 MFA · 34 Other bachelor’s award · 23 Other master’s award · 22 BA / BA (Hons) · 4 MA · 3 Other research doctorate · 134 official concentration, 23 named major, 73 dedicated degree, 1 documented pathway

231 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 sculpture study

Sculpture is the making of three-dimensional work, and degree study in it covers a wide range of materials and methods. Traditional processes such as carving, modeling, casting and assembling sit alongside welding, woodworking, mold-making, found objects and digital fabrication. Many programs also treat sculpture as an expanded field that includes installation, site-specific work and performance.

Students typically move between workshops and the studio. They learn to handle materials safely, plan constructions and test ideas through maquettes or small models, then develop larger projects in response to critique. Attention is given to space, scale, weight, surface and the relationship between a work and its setting or viewer.

Sculpture is a medium-based specialization within fine arts. It differs from ceramics and jewelry and metalsmithing, which are defined by specific materials and craft traditions, and from industrial design, which is concerned with products intended for use or manufacture. Programs may offer sculpture as a major, as an emphasis within fine arts, or combined with related areas such as installation or public art.

What study typically involves

  • Workshop methods in wood, metal, plaster, clay or other materials
  • Modeling, carving, casting and assemblage
  • Welding, fabrication and mold-making where facilities exist
  • Installation and site-specific approaches
  • Digital modeling or fabrication in some programs
  • Health and safety in workshop environments
  • Critique, contextual study and a final exhibition project

Award titles. Sculpture is commonly studied within BFA, BA or BA (Hons) degrees and, at postgraduate level, MFA or MA programs. Research degrees, including practice-based PhDs, may place sculptural practice at the core. Naming conventions differ by country, so the official program page is authoritative.

Sculpture often appears as an emphasis within a fine arts degree or as an MFA concentration, sometimes grouped with installation or public art. 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.

Sculpture programs usually ask for a portfolio documenting three-dimensional work through photographs from several angles, along with drawings or sketchbooks that show planning. Short videos may be accepted for kinetic or time-based work. Applicants are often asked to note materials, dimensions and dates.

Requirements vary by country and program. Some institutions look for evidence of workshop skills, others for conceptual range, and postgraduate programs generally seek a coherent body of work and a statement. Interviews or practical tasks may be used.

Check the official admissions page for each program for formats, limits and deadlines. Admission is never guaranteed, and this directory does not set a universal template.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, some programs offer teaching assistantships, workshop or technician roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships. Workshop-based roles may involve supervising facilities.

Funding terms vary between programs, countries and years, and many students receive partial or no support. Confirm details directly with the program and funding bodies.

Costs beyond tuition. Sculpture can involve substantial costs for materials, workshop or casting fees, fabrication, storage, transport and installation of large works.