The Best Art Schools in Australia

Schoolgirls in art class, unknown South Australian school, September 1917. Photo by State Government Photographer – Wikimedia Commons

The Best Art Schools in Australia

Australia is a good place to study art since it is a country of immigrants where you can get in touch with different cultures. What’s more important, several top-rated art schools in Australia enable students to learn the desired knowledge and skills from professionals or experts in the art area.

However, to achieve this goal, you need to choose and study in the best art school in Australia, lest you will not get the world-class education you wish to get.

Enrolling in a creative arts program in Australia can provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to make them visionaries and pioneers in their fields. The best creative arts programs combine instructor-led discussions with activities that challenge student innovativeness and imagination.

Students who want to pursue studies in creative arts can find a suitable program offered by the best Australian universities.

Below are the best art schools in Australia.

1. RMIT University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Australia.

Adelaide School of Arts, Annual Exhibition 1911 – Decoration of china’s natural form(GN02214).jpg
The Adelaide School of Arts was set up in 1909 when the SA Education Department took over the School of Design previously managed by the Board of Governors of the Public Library, Art Gallery, and Museum. It continued in the same location, namely the Jubilee Exhibition Building on North Terrace. It was reorganized in 1916 as the South Australian School of Arts and Crafts. 
The School held an exhibition of work each year open to the public. GN02209-2219 shows work in various categories including needlework, clay modeling, wood carving, and fibrous plaster ceiling displayed at the exhibition held in May 1911. That year there were 700 students and 200 staff (Register 25 May 1911, p60).
The 1911 exhibition was hailed in the Register as ‘the best all-round exposition yet held.’ Its reporter described the work in a number of categories, in particular art and needlework, wood carving, china painting, and metalwork. (Register, 25 May 1911, p6)
The Register reporter highly recommended the china painting. ‘Everyone may be advised to inspect the china painting. Not only are the painting and firing – the latter is done in a gas kiln on the premises by Mr. Howie – worthy of professionals, but the subjects for the designs are in most cases Australian wildflowers, which give quite a sentimental interest to the articles. Miss M. Wright must be commended for some exquisite work. It includes a dessert set in native orchids, a set of six tiles in well-known wildflowers, and a perfect afternoon tea set in bluebells. Cup and saucer and plate in Scotch thistles do credit to Miss Hubbe. Miss Barringer has employed the waratah in similar work.’ Photo by State Government Photographer – Wikimedia Commons

RMIT University is the best university in terms of student enrolment in the creative arts in Australia. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Australia as well as one of the five universities of science and technology in the Australian Technology Network.

RMIT University is structured into three colleges- College of Business, College of   Design and Social Context, and College of Science, Engineering, and Health.

Its School of Arts is one of the best art schools in Australia as well as in the world. It is ranked number one in Australia and comes in the 12^th position in the world of Art and Design.

The school is known for its diverse and internationally- renowned creative programs. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate education and research in fine art and photography.

Its animation program can help students launch a global career by promoting learning by doing through studio practice. At RMIT, the Master of Design Futures is an accelerated program for professional designers who aim to take their experience to the next level by taking on more strategic roles.

2. The University of Melbourne has a good reputation in Australia and worldwide

School of Art at the Australian National University in Canberra. Photo by Bidgee – Wikimedia Commons

It is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. It is Australia’s second-oldest university and Victoria’s oldest university as well.

It enjoys a good reputation in both Australia and the world. Currently, the institution is divided into 10 faculties, and the Faculty of Arts is one of its largest faculties.

The Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne is made up of 1 graduate school and 5 academic schools. They are the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Asia institute, School of Culture and Communication, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, School of Languages and Linguistics, School of Social and Political sciences.

From these schools, students can gain professional teaching, research, and engagement in arts.

3. The University of New South Wales is an Australian Public University

Art class in the 1950s at Prahran Technical School, Melbourne, Victoria. Photo Unattributed – Wikimedia Commons

The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) is an Australian Public University. UNSW has nine faculties, through which it offers different kinds of degrees, this includes bachelor’s, master and doctoral degrees.

The faculties at UNSW Art & Design, UNNSW Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW Business school, UNSW Engineering, and UNSW Law.

UNSW Art and Design is one of the best art schools in Australia. It provides 18 undergraduate degrees (including some double degrees associated with other UNSW faculties) and some postgraduate degrees.

These degrees are offered in Fine Arts, Fine Arts/Arts, Fine Arts/ Education, Fine Arts/Law, Fine Arts/ Advanced science, and Art Theory.

4. Griffith University is a public University in South East Queensland.

Glasgow School of Art, a building remarkably in advance of its time, 1898-1899.jpg
Mackintosh, Charles Rennie, 1868-1928. Photo from National Library of Australia Commons – Wikimedia Commons

Griffith University is a public University in South East Queensland. The University comprises four academic groups: Arts, Education and Law, Griffith Business School, Griffith Health, and Griffith Sciences.

The art school of Griffith University is under the academic group of Arts, Education, and Law. The name of Griffith’s art school in Queensland College of Art (QCA).

This college offers a wide range of courses ranging from diplomas to doctoral studies, including undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and research (Ph.D., DVA, MPhil).

5. Monash University is the second oldest University in the state of Victoria

The Freshwater Bay Primary School, Claremont, Western Australia. The buildings formerly were the state heritage listed Claremont Infants School and Claremont School of Art, built-in 1903. Photo by Calistemon – Wikimedia Commons

This University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It is the second oldest University in the state of Victoria.

It is currently divided into ten faculties: Faculty of Art Design & Architecture, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Information Technology, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Science.

Monash University has six academic schools in Australia and two overseas. The University’s Faculty of Arts has nurtured a great number of notable graduates and excellent leaders in the field of Arts.