Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Founded in 1871 in Finland, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture has since established itself as one of the most prestigious art schools in the world, offering arts related courses at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Admission to Aalto is extremely competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 8 percent for the BA program. The school’s small size, with less than 200 full time students across BA and MA programs, allows for students to benefit from highly engaged teaching groups and individual tutoring. Students rated the school’s course offerings in technical skills highly, but expressed dissatisfaction with courses in business and marketing. Overall, the students’ rating of the quality of their teachers and peers came in below average compared to other schools in our survey. However, over 80 percent of survey participants reported finding a job within 6 months of graduation and an impressive 100 percent of students surveyed felt prepared to work in the fashion industry.