Is an Art Degree really worth it?
Heads up: This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more.
Why Choose an Art Degree?
At the age of 18 most people aren’t thinking about what their every day will look like when they Graduate. We are told to get good grades, go to uni, get a job, and then what? Ah yes, spend the next 40 years working for a corporate capitalist overlord – where it’s completely normal to be working for 50 hours without a break – with the off chance you’ll get some money thrown at you. Is that really what you want?
Too many students are pushed away from pursuing their artistic ventures, this is usually under the guise of love by someone who doesn’t think there is a future in art; but if art school taught me one thing, it was that there’s more to life than the opinions of others. So, why not clear the air before you pick a future that might not be right for you, and let’s find out if that art degree is actually worth it?
Is Art a Good Future?
Choosing to do any degree and seeing it through is not a walk in the park. All of them are stressful and require dedication and a spark. There is no such thing as an easy degree and the arts are no different, despite what you may have heard elsewhere. They require an adventurous person who is prepared to change their relationship with their artistic passions.
Studying an art subject will make you develop new critical thinking skills, and aid in you developing more than just your academic potential. You will be given new perspectives on the world around you and be introduced to ones you would never have thought about. That being said, a future in art isn’t for everyone, many students drop out within their first year due to the shift in perspective. Art degrees encourage self-expression, which lead to self-exploration. Those changes quickly help you figure out if an art degree, or an arts school is for you.
There are a few opposing stereotypes about Art school graduates. You know, the ones where you leave in a different social class and move to New York? Or the one where you will leave and regret your choices? But there is way more to it than that! Those who Graduate leave University with a level head on their shoulders! There are more than enough careers in the art world – Graphic design for instance, a mid level designer can earn well over £35,000 per year!
Any future in art is dependent on your relationship with creativity over those academic years of study. You can go in wanting to become a painter, and leave textile artist. You may not have a definitive idea of the job or career you want to pursue after graduating, but in art you may find the parts of your journey that are unknown, are the best, most informative parts of your art career..
What types of Art Degrees are there?
There are many degree options when it comes to studying art at the university level. Most art students graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, and can go on to get a Masters Degree or PhD in Art or Fine Art.
Most Common Art Degrees:
– Bachelor of Arts (BA)
– Bachelor of Arts with Honors (BA Hons)
– Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
– Masters of Arts (MA)
– Masters of Fine Arts (MFA)
There is also the option of combining your studies to include two degrees, or specializations. The subjects tend to stay close to each other, so you’ll be hard pressed to find Art History & Biology for example. Choosing to study abroad might open up different options.
Common Art Degree Combinations:
– Fine Art & Art History
– Fine Art & Education
– Fine Art & Film
– Fine Art & Design
– Art & Dance
– Art & Performing Arts
A good place to begin when deciding which degree to pursue is by looking in the areas or art mediums you’re interested in, here are a few popular pathways, also known as streams, specializations, or majors:
Popular Art Specialisations:
– Photography
– Painting
– Illustration
– Art curation
– Art history & theory
– Graphic design
– Metal work
– Animation
– Cultural arts
– Interior design
– Printmaking
– Sculpture
What is the difference between a BA and BFA art degree?
In the UK and Ireland a BA or Bachelor of Arts is one of the standard undergraduate degrees. A BA with hon/s is basically the same thing, except achieved with honours. Hons are like the grade you passed with, top students, usually those who get A’s in their dissertation and final year, are awarded a first-class degree. This is followed by an upper (2:1) and lower second-class (2:2) degree, and those with the lowest marks gain a third-class degree.
If you are interested in studying abroad, consider the fact that other countries may have different specifications and criteria for entering Universities. For example, you might hear the term BFA or Bachelor of Fine Arts. The BFA is equivalent to the UK’s BA Fine Arts. So if you wanted to get an Art degree in America or Canada you could get a BFA or a BA. A BFA is a term for any Fine Art program – including painting, sculpture, printmaking or any other fine art medium. Whereas a BA could include Creative writing, Game Design, or Music.
What careers can you get with an Art Degree?
Career options tend to depend on the type of degree and specialisation you graduate with. Like all career paths nothing is set in stone, you may go to uni to study drawing and leave a ceramist. If anything, an art degree encourages you to experiment and think about all the potential possibilities, encouraging the growth and development of your practice.
Teaching and careers in design are popular options but there are many art careers to work towards. You may choose to get a job in a creative field to utilise your degree and the skills you’ve gained in University. Or you may be interested in starting your own art business. Currently, the most common way to gain exposure as an artist is through social media, getting your name out there or freelancing
For example, freelance Graphic designers may earn different money than Illustrators. It takes a lot of hard work to make it in any industry, but freelancing during Uni can help you gain experience so that when you graduate you have more options. A successful art job or career may require additional work alongside your education
How much does an Artist make?
If you already have an art degree, these jobs might be a good place to start ! Here’s a list of the 8 highest paying art jobs in 2021 according to Indeed:
1. Store planner – National average salary: £27,418 per year
2. Gallery manager – National average salary: £29,563 per year
3. Senior fashion designer – National average salary: £34,717 per year
4. Interior designer – National average salary: £35,214 per year
5. Industrial designer – National average salary: £38,279 per year
6. Technical designer – National average salary: £38,865 per year
7. Art director – National average salary: £44,970 per year
8. Creative director – National average salary: £64,252 per year
What are the top 10 UK Universities offering an Art Degree?
The art school tier list is one that will always be changing. You may have already heard of the following art universities as they are known to offer valuable art programs. They all provide quality art facilities, studios and knowledgeable and creative teaching staff – but it’s important to not just apply somewhere for the name, make sure to properly research your universities before applying:
1. Royal College of Art, London.
2. The Slade School of Fine art, University College London.
3. University of the Arts London – Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, Camberwell College of Arts, London College of Communication, and London College of Fashion.
4. Goldsmiths, University of London.
Not included on this list is the Royal Academy of Arts, as you can not get a degree or qualification from the school. However, enrolling there is free and can further your art career.
What do you need to apply to a University Arts program?
In the UK you firstly need to make sure that you’re registered to UCAS. This is the same for all students, from there you’re able to apply to 5 different courses. But before you do that you need to do your research! The two most important questions to ask yourself are;
Look at the entry dates for the courses
You need to get your applications in before a specific time, this can be between November to January, but it can change from school to school;
Look at the entry requirements
They’re quite similar for a lot of UK art schools. If you don’t have a relevant A-level or equivalent you might need to do a foundation year. Otherwise, focus on working hard so that your grades at the end of the year meet the requirements
Personal Statement
You will have to write a small essay about yourself and why you want to go to University. This is called a personal statement and is seen by all the Universities you apply to. It’s a big part of why it’s better to apply to the same course at different universities, vs. different courses. (So make sure you’re certain of what you want to study!)
Specific requirements set out by art schools:
Written Essay
Your future art school may request additional things from you depending on what course you are applying to, for example a written essay on a particular topic. This is more common in Art History courses, but you should be prepared to write one, just in case.
Portfolio
And finally, an essential part of your entry into any art course is an art portfolio. Art courses usually require a portfolio of 10+ images of your work. Universities look for potential in prospective students, so it’s best to have as much work as you can finished and complete before you submit your portfolio.
What are the best jobs for Art Students?
The best job for any student is a part time job. Internships and apprenticeships are great, but living at university can be expensive. Some students study during the week and then work weekends, while others are surviving on student loans and prayers. I’ve heard the rare tale of someone working a full time job. But considering the amount of writing, revising, creating, traveling, and studying the average student is busy with, it may be very difficult and overwhelming to manage a full-time job on top of your school work, and still manage to achieve good grades..
You might not have to work during university if your student loan can cover you, or you’ve attained a scholarship, grant or have a healthy amount of savings, but surprises can happen along the way and the cost of art supplies can be eye-watering, even with a student discount! Your laptop could break half way through the year like mine did, not to mention those takeaways, night out meals, and £5 bottles of wine eventually add up.
10 best jobs for uni students
I suggest looking for part time jobs within the university itself. Temp jobs or places with flexible hours are the best, but depending on your situation go for what works for you. You can find a lot of great flexible jobs in the service and retail industries, as well as in admin if you have any extra spare time. Added bonus points if your job relates to what you want to do when you graduate, and a good creative job can help your CV look good:
Receptionist
Places like Gyms are great places for students to work, the hours are flexible and they often offer staff discounts – just in case you want to work out some of that schedule stress!
Online Tutor
You don’t have to be great at Math to be a tutor, especially as there are so many subjects that you could teach. If you grew up speaking a different language, or aced your Biology A-level, there’s someone out there who is willing to pay you to learn!
Nanny
If you have a lot of spare time between or after classes this might be a good place to start, especially if you grew up with pesky younger siblings! Working with children is not for the faint of heart – a child will tell you your hair is ugly and mean it.
Virtual Assistant
There are quite a few people who just need direction in the world, someone to remember and remind them of their tasks and duties. This job can be meticulous, but is perfect for a time oriented student!
Supermarket Assistant
There are tons of benefits to working in places such as these, for one, worker discounts, but there is also a lot of room for growth in these roles. If you work hard and find a way to balance, you could find yourself in a management role before you graduate!
Cloak room manger
This is one of the most fruitful student jobs (if you’re comfortable in that environment of course). You collect coats, label them, and keep track. For the rest of your shift you’re free to crack on with your work – an easy win win for a night owl!
Bar Staff
If you’re strong, sociable, and don’t mind making friends with your local beer hound, or shooing away a drunk girl trying to steal ice – working at a bar/pub might be great for you!
Barista
This job can be very tricky, getting orders right and fast in a skill that takes time! But if you’re fortunate, you can find a nice café and have a fun time learning to make and experimenting with cute drink ideas!
Freelancer
Probably the job I should have started with; freelancing is the best thing you can do as a student. Depending on your field or overall knowledge, you can find yourself gaining experience and making good connections early on in your career, so by the time you graduate you’ll have a working portfolio that others might not be able to match!
Dog Walker
For some, this is the dream job. Over the past few lockdowns there has been a rise in pet adoptions and sales. As we try to return to “normal” people are unable to spend as much time with their pets; working from home is still a fulltime job., and not everyone has time to give their excited pets the tlc they deserve during their lunch break. Maybe you can lend them a paw? (That one was bad, I’ll see myself out…)
What can I do to earn money after graduating?
If you can keep your student job, I suggest it. Otherwise, prepare for war. We all graduate at the same time. That means there are thousands of students with your exact degree roaming the streets in search of that job! Most won’t find a job for months after they graduate – your grades don’t matter when the market is saturated.
One person I know graduated with a first in a booming industry, they applied for jobs everyday for months with no luck. Eventually they got an internship, but that was still months on! The thing is, you don’t have to look for a job in your field. A lot of entry level jobs will hire anyone with a minimum amount of experience and transferable skills. If you learn how to write a good cv to highlight your strengths, you’re winning.
Getting work after graduating:
– Create a winning CV
– Register with recruitment agencies
– Apply to many jobs, even if it’s out of your comfort zone
– Look for internships and apprenticeships that can benefit your future
– Start freelancing
– Network with industry professionals. Getting new contacts often leads to opportunities
So, is an Art Degree worth it?
Whether or not an art degree is worth it depends on you. If art is something you are passionate about or you’re certain it’s the right track for you, you’ll know if it is worth it. You will meet people who may be “more creative” than you, or have a similar and “better” style, but don’t let that deter you from achieving your goals.. Because no matter what happens, if you’ve gotten into your desired art school, you’ve done it from your merit alone.
If you love art, but you’re not entirely sure about going to art school – give it some more time to think it over. It’s not uncommon for people to drop out of their first year, there are different reasons for each. But staying in something you don’t enjoy can be a considerable amount of wasted time. But you find different results in doing different things; there is more to an art degree than just art, you may discover a new version of yourself along the way, and it doesn’t matter how old you are, art is for everybody.
Share your art school experiences in the comments below, and if you’ve never shared your art before, submit to become the next Artist of The Month!
Click the share buttons, send this post to a friend or subscribe to our newsletter for more posts like this one. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to share your art with us by submitting your work or tag #darkyellowdot on Instagram.
Need More Advice?
Articles to Help:
How To Make An Outstanding Art Portfolio
How To Write An Artist Statement People Will Want To Read
How To Explain Your Art To People
Sites to Help:
Top Ten Art Universities in The UK
12 High paying art jobs and Careers
6 Steps You Need To Take To Apply to University
Courses to help:
Art & Design, Portfolio Preparation
How To Write A Personal Statement For Elite Universities
