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Studies & Degrees in Painting

Painting is the practice of making images with paint on a surface such as canvas, paper, wood or a wall. As a subject of study it combines three things: technical training in materials and methods, regular studio work towards a personal body of paintings, and the history and theory needed to place that work in context.

In a degree, most of the time is spent painting. Boston University, for example, states that the principal component of its painting programme is studio activity.

What students learn

University programmes usually start with a foundation year. At Boston University, observational studio work is combined with more inventive assignments in that year, and students then follow a sequence of painting courses, painting techniques and seminars. Typical content in a painting programme includes:

  • drawing, which most schools treat as the basis of painting
  • media and techniques such as oil, watercolour, pastel and mixed media
  • art history, writing and visual research
  • group critiques, where students present and discuss their work
  • a final exhibition

In the later years students often get their own studio space and work more independently. The Boston University degree ends with a thesis exhibition that includes a written component. Professional practice is part of many programmes as well: the BFA at Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture focuses on studio practice as a career.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree in the United States. The usual degree is the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting. At Boston University it is built around seven terms of painting courses plus three terms of art history. Tyler adds study abroad options in Rome or Japan.
  • Bachelor's degree in the United Kingdom. Painting is often taught inside a fine art degree. The Fine Art BA (Hons) at London Metropolitan University centres on making art in the studio, supported by professional practice and critical and contextual study modules, with workshops for painting, print, photography, ceramics and sculpture.
  • Bachelor's degree in Spain. Painting is studied within the bachelor's degree in fine arts (grado en Bellas Artes), which has 240 ECTS credits over four years, for example at the Universidad de Sevilla and the Universitat Politècnica de València. The Seville degree covers traditional disciplines (drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking) and newer ones such as digital image, photography and video.
  • Master's degree. The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is the main postgraduate qualification for artists in the United States. Boston University's MFA in Painting is a two-year programme that requires a minimum of 60 course units; Tyler also offers an MFA in Painting.
  • Courses without a degree. Private art schools and studios teach painting to all levels. Accademia Riaci in Florence lists painting and drawing among its majors, with one-year, semester, master and short courses. In Madrid, Taller de Nuevos Pintores, founded in 1977, teaches drawing and painting to students of all ages and levels, with techniques such as graphite, charcoal, watercolour, oil, printmaking and mixed media. Ask the school what kind of certificate a course gives and what recognition it has.

Where to study it

The SpainExchange directory lists 31 schools for painting. The United States has 15, Spain and the United Kingdom 3 each, and China and Mexico 2 each; Argentina, Canada, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Singapore have 1 each. In Spain the listed schools are private art schools in Madrid and Valencia, and some of them concentrate on digital painting and illustration.

Art schools normally select on a portfolio. London Metropolitan University, for instance, asks applicants to submit a portfolio of work with the application and may invite them to an interview. When comparing schools, look at how much studio space students get, whether drawing and traditional techniques are taught, how often work is exhibited, and whether the course leads to a degree or a certificate.

Careers

Painters work as independent artists, selling through galleries, commissions and exhibitions. Graduates also work as illustrators, muralists, art teachers and scenic painters, or in galleries and museums.

It is a career with little salaried employment. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 28,900 jobs for fine artists, including painters, sculptors and illustrators, in 2025. Among craft and fine artists as a whole, 58 percent were self-employed, and overall employment is projected to decline 1 percent from 2025 to 2035. The Bureau notes that many artists hold another job in addition to their work as an artist. It adds that education gives artists the opportunity to build a portfolio.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a degree to become a painter?

No formal qualification is required to work as an artist. However, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that most fine artists pursue postsecondary education to improve their skills and job prospects.

What is the difference between a BFA and an MFA in Painting?

The BFA is a bachelor's degree that builds skills from a foundation year upwards. The MFA is a postgraduate degree centred on independent studio work; at Boston University it lasts two years and requires a minimum of 60 course units.

Can I study painting at a Spanish university?

Yes, within the grado en Bellas Artes, a bachelor's degree of 240 ECTS credits over four years offered by universities such as the Universidad de Sevilla and the Universitat Politècnica de València.

Do I need a portfolio to apply?

Usually, yes. London Metropolitan University, for example, requires a portfolio of work for its Fine Art BA (Hons). Check the portfolio rules of each school well before the deadline.