Fall 2026 graduate applications open

At Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts (VCUarts), graduate study is an active site of inquiry—a space where making, thinking, and critical exchange converge to reimagine the possibilities of art and design in contemporary culture. Across ten disciplines—Art Education, Art History, Craft and Material Studies, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Kinetic Imaging, Painting + Printmaking, Photography + Film, Sculpture + Extended Media, and Theatre—our programs cultivate a dynamic interplay between conceptual exploration, material engagement, and scholarly research.

Each program invites you to push against the limits of convention, experiment with emerging ideas and technologies, and articulate a practice that is both deeply personal and socially resonant. You’ll work within an ecosystem of artists, designers, scholars, and performers committed to rigorous investigation, dialogue, and innovation.

Our world-renowned faculty and visiting artists foster an environment that values experimentation, criticality, and reflection. Through the Visiting Artist Lecture Series and intensive seminars, students engage with leading voices across disciplines to examine the cultural, historical, and theoretical forces shaping creative production today.

Graduate students benefit from individual and shared studio spaces, state-of-the-art facilities, and a curriculum designed to support cross-disciplinary engagement. Central to this experience are the resources of the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU—a catalyst for new ideas and the site of Graduate Thesis Exhibitions—and the forthcoming CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation, envisioned as a hub for interdisciplinary research, technology, and creative collaboration. Together, these spaces expand the classroom into the public sphere, linking graduate students to dynamic networks of experimentation and contemporary practice.

Funding opportunities are extensive and include graduate assistantships, scholarships, research grants, and travel grants—all supporting ambitious creative and scholarly pursuits.

VCUarts is not simply a place to study, but a generative context for transformation—an ever-evolving conversation between form, idea, and impact. Here, you are encouraged to challenge assumptions, rethink methodologies, and develop a practice that contributes meaningfully to the discourse of our time.

Applications are now open for fall 2026 admission. Deadlines vary by program, with most due January 15, 2026. Visit here to learn more about our programs and application requirements.