Scholarships for Art Students in Europe

Europe is home to some of the world’s top art schools and universities, many of which offer generous scholarships and financial aid packages to talented art students from around the world. Earning a scholarship can help significantly reduce the costs of studying art abroad in Europe. This article provides an overview of top schools in Europe that offer scholarships for art students, along with their requirements and application processes.

Royal College of Art, London, UK

The Royal College of Art (RCA) in London is one of the most prestigious art and design schools in the world. The RCA offers a wide range of postgraduate degrees in fine art, architecture, design, and humanities subjects. Notable RCA scholarship programs for international students include the RCA Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship and the RCA International Scholarship.

RCA Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship: Covers 80% of tuition fees. Eligibility requirements include a first-class undergraduate degree and a strong portfolio. The application deadline is January.

RCA International Scholarship: Covers 50% of tuition fees. Requirements include a minimum upper second-class undergraduate degree and a promising portfolio. The deadline is also January.

Central Saint Martins, London, UK

Central Saint Martins (CSM) at the University of the Arts London is a leading art and design school known for its avant-garde programs. Scholarship options for international students include:

CSM International Excellence Scholarship: Covers 60% of tuition. Requires a minimum 76% average in your last two years of undergraduate study and a creative portfolio. The deadline is usually January.

CSM Overseas Research Scholarship: Awards £5,000-£10,000 per year for PhD research. Applicants must have a distinction in their Master’s degree and strong samples of previous research work. The deadline is usually January.

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Austria

The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (Akademie der Bildenden Künste Wien) is Austria’s most prestigious art university. Notable scholarship programs include:

Erasmus+ Master Scholarships: Covers living expenses for the duration of a Master’s program. Open to EU and some non-EU citizens. Requires a minimum 7/10 GPA in previous studies.

Mobility Grants: Partial scholarships awarded competitively to international students for short-term study periods up to 12 months. The deadline is usually November.

The portfolio requirements, interviews, and deadlines for admission with scholarship support vary by department. Be sure to check online.

Stockholm University of the Arts, Sweden

Located in the vibrant Swedish capital, Stockholm University of the Arts (Konsthögskolan i Stockholm) is considered one of Europe’s top fine arts institutions. Key scholarship opportunities include:

Vice-Chancellor’s Grant: Covers tuition (20,000 SEK/year) for the best international applicants to Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. Based solely on artistic merit demonstrated through the entrance examination portfolio. No extra application is needed.

Erasmus+ Exchange Scholarships: Provides monthly stipends for students enrolled in exchange semesters abroad in Europe through Erasmus+. Supports mobility between EU/EEA countries and institutions.

All international students applying directly to degree programs at Stockholm University of the Arts are considered automatically for the Vice-Chancellor’s Grant based on their entrance exam portfolio and transcripts.

Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, Italy

Founded in 1563, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze in Florence, Italy is one of the oldest continuously operating academies of art in the world. Noteworthy scholarship opportunities include:

Excellence Scholarships: Covers full tuition for one year for the top international students selected each year for admission to Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. Based on the evaluation of the entrance exam portfolio and transcripts. No extra application is required.

Erasmus+ Scholarships: Supports mobility between Italian and other European institutions for study or placement periods. Living allowance provided based on cost of living in destination country/city.

Academy Admission Scholarships: 50% tuition waivers awarded each year to top applicants selected through the competitive admissions process, which involves portfolio review and testing. No additional application is needed.

Academy of Fine Arts Hamburg, Germany

The Academy of Fine Arts Hamburg (Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg) is one of Germany’s leading art universities. Notable scholarship programs include:

Erasmus+ Scholarships: These scholarships support international student exchanges between the HFBK and universities in other European countries and cover living costs in the host country.

Excellence Scholarships: Provides up to a one-year full tuition waiver to top international students selected each year for admission to Bachelor’s and Master’s programs based on entrance exam portfolio and interview. No extra application is required.

Stipends from HFBK Support Associations: Private associations such as the HFBK Alumni Association and Walter-Benjamin-Stiftung award achievement-based stipends to current HFBK students in need each semester.

Academy of Fine Arts Krakow, Poland

Established in 1818, the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow (ASP) is Poland’s most prestigious institution for education in fine arts. Key funding sources for international students include:

Partner University Scholarships: Awarded by European partner universities under exchange agreements with the ASP for 3-12 months of study periods. Contact the host university for details.

Polish Government Scholarships: The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education supports international exchange studies at Polish universities through multiple programs, including Erasmus+ and scholarships for individual foreigners.

Aspiring art students interested in earning an internationally recognized degree while keeping costs affordable would do well to research these top European art schools offering attractive scholarship packages for qualified international applicants. With a strong portfolio and excellent academic credentials, many talented non-EU students can study art in Europe with much of tuition and living expenses covered through competitive merit-based scholarships.

All the best!