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Studies & Degrees in Visual Arts

Visual arts is the study and practice of art made to be seen: drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, installation and digital media. A programme combines long hours in the studio with art history and theory, and students finish with a body of personal work and a portfolio. The boundary with design, film and animation is open, and many schools let students move between them.

What students learn

Most programmes start with a foundation in several disciplines and then let students specialise. At Deree – The American College of Greece, for example, students take foundation to advanced studio classes together with art history and art theory, and develop skills in painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, performance, computer art and video. The Visual Arts diploma at Camosun College in Canada covers graphic design, ceramics, sculpture, performance art, animation, analogue and digital photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, video and film, as well as art history, visual culture, art theory and professional practice.

Technology has a growing place. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid includes a subject on the technological image next to drawing, sculpture and painting in the core module of its fine arts degree, and the University of California San Diego offers majors in media, in interdisciplinary computing and the arts, and in speculative design alongside studio art.

Qualifications and levels

  • Spain. The university route is the bachelor's degree in fine arts (Grado en Bellas Artes), with 240 ECTS credits. At the Universidad Complutense de Madrid the degree starts with a basic training module of 60 ECTS credits, followed by a core module on the principles and processes of drawing, sculpture, painting and the technological image, and an advanced module of strategies and projects. Official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Private centres such as U-tad, in Las Rozas, offer official bachelor's degrees in animation and digital design, according to the centre.
  • United States. Visual arts is a major within a bachelor's degree. At the University of California San Diego the Visual Arts department has five majors: art history, theory and criticism; media; studio; interdisciplinary computing and the arts; and speculative design. A visual arts major can be combined with a major from another department. The department also has MFA and PhD programmes.
  • Canada. Colleges offer two-year diplomas that connect with university degrees. The Visual Arts diploma at Camosun College lasts two years full time and is open to international students. Graduates with a B average are accepted into the third year of the Bachelor of Fine Art at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, according to the college.
  • Greece. Deree – The American College of Greece awards a BA (Hons) in Visual Arts that is validated by The Open University in the United Kingdom.
  • Courses for visiting students. In Italy, Florence University of the Arts teaches digital photography, video-making and graphic design at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels in its School of Digital Imaging and Visual Arts. Ask any private school what recognition its qualification has before you enrol.

Admission and portfolio

Requirements depend on the country and the school. Many art programmes ask for a portfolio of work, an interview or an entrance test in addition to the school-leaving qualification, so check the admission page early: preparing a portfolio takes time. The portfolio matters at the end of the course too. Camosun College notes that graduates leave with a portfolio they can show to institutes of advanced study, granting agencies, prospective clients and employers.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 84 active schools for visual arts. The United States has 48, Spain six, Italy five, and Canada and Australia four each; Mexico has three, and New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Greece, Argentina, Chile and Brazil two each. Examples from the directory are U-tad and ARTENEO Formación en Artes Visuales in the Madrid region; the University of California San Diego, the University of Washington and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in the United States; Florence University of the Arts in Italy; Camosun College in Canada; the Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico; and Deree – The American College of Greece.

Careers

Graduates work as independent artists, illustrators, photographers and animators, in galleries and museums, in art education and in the wider creative industries. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid lists artistic creation in all techniques and media, and creation in the audiovisual field and new technologies, such as video games, video art and animation, among the outlets of its fine arts degree.

Income from art alone is uncertain, and official figures reflect that. In the United States there were 53,400 jobs for craft and fine artists in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall employment is projected to decline 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, although about 4,300 openings a year are expected as workers leave the occupation. The same source notes that a bachelor's degree is common among these artists and that some of them work in museums or galleries or teach art classes.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a visual arts degree take?

In Spain the Grado en Bellas Artes has 240 ECTS credits, which is four academic years. The college diploma at Camosun College in Canada takes two years full time and can lead into the third year of a bachelor's degree.

Do I need a portfolio to apply?

Often, yes, but it depends on the school. Check the admission requirements of each programme well before the deadline.

Can I earn a living as an artist?

Some graduates do, but many combine their own work with teaching, commissions or jobs in the creative industries. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 1 percent decline in employment of craft and fine artists from 2025 to 2035.