Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp's 2017 Graduate Show. Photo: KRISTOF VAN ACCOM/AFP/Getty Images
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Programs:
Undergraduate & Graduate: Fashion Design
Tuition: €1.123,8 for students from the European Higher Education Area taking 60 credits; €7.200,2 for students from other countries taking 60 credits.
Famous Alumni: Bruno Pieters, Demna Gvasalia, Martin Margiela, Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs, Marina Yee
Enrollment: 84
Graduation Rate: 23%
Student/Teacher Ratio: 12:1
Classes are taught in: Dutch and English
Percentage of International Students: 83%
What the Students Say:
"A technical background is very useful, and you must not be afraid of being pushed. It requires a plethora of self confidence."
The Bottom Line: The Royal Academy is an elite art and design school with a small-but-esteemed fashion design program that encourages an experimental, conceptual approach to design. Since the "Antwerp Six" — Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs and Marina Yee — put the school and city on fashion's map in the early 1980s, it has continued to produce all-star designers. It's known for its serious students — many drop out because they can't handle the work load, and the school's teaching methods have even been called into question recently. If you're exceptionally dedicated, with an experimental, innovative and avant-garde sensibility, this may be the place for you, but we'd suggest familiarizing yourself with its approach to design education before committing.
More Info: https://ap-arts.be/en/
The 25 Best Fashion Schools in the World in 2019: See the full list.
Last updated December 2019.