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Arts is a diversified field that encompasses an array of forms from visual to musical, literary, and much more. As our everyday lives are getting intermingled with an exhaustive amount of time spent on our mobile devices, the importance of aesthetically pleasing visuals has also increased. Visual arts have expanded from earlier being limited to painting, drawing, photography, and printmaking to digital photography, graphic design, VFX, animation, and so on. Similarly, visual expressions have also evolved with time as early man conveyed his thoughts through scribbling on the walls of the caves, and now we send emojis over text messaging apps to express our emotions! If you are interested in exploring this striking and engaging field of study, this blog enlists the top visual arts courses across a host of specialisations, which you can consider to nurture your unique talents and tread the path of an artist!
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What is Visual Arts?
The term ‘visual arts’ envelops an array of art forms, including both expressive arts, for example, drawing, painting, photography, and films, as well as handicrafts, interior design, and product design, among others. Visual arts courses aim to impart to students a holistic understanding of their chosen art form, from its historical context to the present-day technologies used in the art form and how it has evolved over the years. You can either follow the creative career path of an artist or explore professional prospects in the corporate sector, from graphic designer, interior designer, fashion designer, art director, visual conceptualiser, among others.
What are the Best Specialisations in the Visual Arts Courses?
Here is a list of best specialisations you can explore for visual arts courses
- Fine Arts
- Painting and Drawing
- Sculpting
- Ceramics
- Theatre Studies
- Interior Design
- Photography
- Fashion Designing
- Videography
- Graphic Designing
- Product Designing
- Crafts
- Filmmaking
- Animation and VFX
- Architecture
Also Read: Music Fine Arts Scholarship
Visual Arts Courses Across All Levels of Study
A plethora of visual arts courses are offered at diploma, bachelor’s, and master’s levels and spread across specialised disciplines. Here is a list of popular visual arts courses at the diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.
| Level | Visual Arts Courses |
| Diploma | Diploma of Arts Diploma in Fine Arts Digital Visual Effects Art Education Diploma in Graphic Design Diploma in Visual Arts Visual Arts Certificate in Studio Diploma in Visual Art and Design Design Management Diploma in Animation Diploma in Product Design Interior Design Certificate |
| Bachelor’s | BA/Bachelor of Visual Arts Bachelors in Theatre Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Bachelor’s in Product Design Bachelor’s in Fashion Design Bachelor’s in Interior Design Bachelor’s in Architecture |
| Master’s | MA/Master of Visual Arts Master’s in Arts and Cultural Management Master of Fine Arts Master’s in 3D Animation and VFX Master’s of Architecture |
Some Important Visual Arts Courses
Now, we have discussed some of the important visual arts courses at the diploma, bachelor’s, and master’s levels.
Digital Visual Effects
In this diploma course in Visual Arts, the student will learn about adding visual effects to the recorded videos and films while integrating the essential aspects of storytelling alongside the effects. A diploma in Digital Visual Effect imparts students with the technical knowledge and skills to explore promising opportunities in the media and entertainment industry as a VFX artist, animators, designers and conceptualises.
Diploma in Graphic Design
This Graphic Design course specializes in the study of commercial print and visual structures and provides students with the knowledge of Interactive Design for Mobile Platforms, Two-Dimensional Design + Typography, Publication Design, and Motion Graphics. You will get to learn major Graphic Design software applications such as Adobe Photoshop as well as the essentials of visual and graphic design from aesthetics, colour scheme to design.
Bachelor of Visual Arts
Amongst the popular Visual Arts courses, this bachelor’s degree covers a wide range of specialisations in Visual Arts and provides students with the opportunities to specialise in their field of interest. It is usually a 4-year undergraduate degree course and encompasses subjects like Appreciation and Fundamentals of Visual Arts, Still Life and Drawing, Print Making, Painting, Photography, Clay Modelling, to name a few.
Master’s in Interdisciplinary Education in Arts
This master’s program focuses on the study of methodical experimentation with creative and social activities and exercises, which can be added to the school curriculum to facilitate interdisciplinary education. The guideline of the course is to give students the information, abilities, and perspectives to lead artistic assessments of the aesthetic endeavours, types of expression, and masterful items found in contemporary society. The course also gives consistent training to holders of instructing and training degrees or related studies who wish to improve their abilities in the areas of creative thinking and communication, giving access to doctoral projects in these fields.
Also Read: Creative Career Options
Top Universities for Visual Arts Courses Abroad
We have tabulated below the world’s top 10 universities that offers visual arts courses at diploma, bachelor’s, and master’s level, along with their QS World University Rankings 2025 (by subject), and annual tuition fee.
| University | QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 (Arts & Design) | Annual Tuition Fee (2025) |
| Royal College of Art, London | 1 | GBP 26,000-39,000 |
| University of the Arts London | 2 | GBP 29,000-33,000 |
| The New School, New York City & Paris | 3 | USD 20,000-28,000 |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) | 4 | USD 63,966 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 5 | USD 30,000-55,000 |
| Politecnico di Milano | 6 | EUR 167-3,800 |
| Pratt Institute | 7 | USD 26,000-53,000 |
| Aalto University | 8 | EUR 12,000-15,000 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 9 | USD 40,000-55,000 |
| Design Academy Eindhoven | 10 | EUR 2,000-3,000 |
Also Read: Careers Involving Math and Music
Popular Careers in Visual Arts
After completing a diploma or degree program in visual arts, you can choose from a vast range of career opportunities in your chosen specialisation. Graduates can either work as freelancers or find full-time prospects in their field of interest. Here are some of the major career prospects in the visual arts
| Job Role | Average Salary (Per Year) |
| Painter | INR 30 Lakhs-40 Lakhs |
| Sculptor | INR 30 Lakhs-38 Lakhs |
| Cartoonist | INR 40 Lakhs-50 Lakhs |
| Multimedia Consultant | INR 55 Lakhs-65 Lakhs |
| Photographer | INR 28 Lakhs-38 Lakhs |
| Art Gallery Director | INR 65 Lakhs-75 Lakhs |
| Fashion Designer | INR 40 Lakhs-55 Lakhs |
| Graphic Designer | INR 35 Lakhs-50 Lakhs |
| Interior Designer | INR 35 Lakhs-50 Lakhs |
| Landscape Designer | INR 35 Lakhs-45 Lakhs |
FAQs
Ans. Visual Arts is a broad field of creative expression that primarily involves art forms which are visual in nature, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and design. Visual Arts courses aim to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of their chosen medium, covering both traditional techniques and modern technologies. These programmes also emphasize the historical evolution of art, helping students appreciate the cultural and contextual development of visual practices across different periods and societies.
Ans. There are several high-quality diploma courses in Visual Arts, each catering to different interests and career paths. Some of the most sought-after options include Diploma in Fine Arts, Diploma in Visual Arts, and Diploma in Graphic Design. For those inclined towards technology-driven creativity, courses like Digital Visual Effects, Diploma in Animation, and Diploma in Product Design are excellent choices.
Ans. Visual Arts offers a wide range of specializations, allowing students to pursue their specific artistic interests and career goals. Popular specializations include Fine Arts, Painting and Drawing, Sculpting, Ceramics, and Graphic Designing. Students can also explore applied and modern fields such as Interior Design, Photography, Fashion Designing, Videography, and Theatre Studies.
Additional Reads
| Top Careers After Arts Stream: Courses, Jobs & Salaries | Best Performing Arts Colleges in India |
| Career Options After 12th Arts in 2025 | Arts Stream Subjects in Class 11, Courses, Jobs 2025 |
| Top Courses in the UK After 12th Arts | Government Jobs After 12th Arts Stream |
We hope this blog has provided all the information needed regarding visual arts courses. Are you planning to enrol in one of the top universities for a visual arts degree? Experts at Leverage Edu will help you with your admission formalities. They will review your applications and guide you through all the processes involved. Register today for a free session.
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