As we start a new year, we’re revisiting the question of STEM vs. STEAM education. What’s the difference between these two academic categories, and which is better for international students to pursue? (Spoiler: They’re both great.)

You may be familiar with the term STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. A STEM education helps prepare students for the knowledge economy, where many jobs require a strong foundation in science and math.

But, when we talk about “steam”, we aren’t referring to Valve’s popular digital video game storefront. In the education sector, STEAM stands for something different. In this article, we’ll cover what STEAM education is, how it differs from STEM, and why both are great directions to choose for your study journey.

Ready to be inspired? Check out our conversation with international student and ApplyBoard STEM for Change Scholarship winner Amandeep!

What is STEAM?

STEAM is an approach to education that focuses on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. In other words, it’s STEM but with arts classes added in! And while it’s true that the main difference between STEM vs. STEAM is the inclusion of the arts and humanities, the benefit of building these classes into your program might not be immediately clear. 

After all, if you plan to study civil engineering or robotics, why would you need to learn history or philosophy? It’s a fair question, but the answer may surprise you!

If you’re still thinking about what you want to study, check out our guide to choosing the right study program.

STEM vs. STEAM

A STEM education is incredibly valuable. Science is all around us. Technology is always evolving and plays a key role in our daily lives. Engineering provides the guiding principles of our structures, machines, and other inventions. Mathematics helps us think analytically about the world and solve complex problems. 

Together, these fields form much of our understanding of the world and how it works. Plus, with growing career opportunities across STEM fields, students graduate prepared to enter the workforce. However, STEM education can sometimes put more focus on technical proficiency over creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. 

Many employers are looking for graduates who can think critically and drive innovation in their field. Critics of the STEM model point out that much of it is designed to get students “good jobs” without preparing them for jobs that don’t exist yet. By combining arts and humanities learnings with STEM classes, students are better equipped to come up with and share ideas, no matter which career they pursue.

STEM is already an interdisciplinary approach to education. Adding in arts classes makes this approach more well-rounded, and can help students build important interpersonal skills.

The “A” Is Key

The value of a liberal arts education is often debated. With a less clear line from academics to employment (for example, while most engineering students become engineers, fewer history students become historians), many wonder how to take what they learned in humanities and arts-centric courses and grow into successful careers. 

While post-secondary enrolment in arts and humanities programs have dipped over the last few decades in some (but not all) study destinations, employers still value humanities students. Especially as artificial intelligence use increases in the workplace, almost 90% of employers are looking for graduates who can think critically and who are curious about the world around them. Strong communications skills (75% of employers) and teamwork skills (80%+) rounded out the three most valuable skills employers are looking for per a 2025 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey. While these skills are learned across all fields, they’re especially well-honed among arts and humanities students.

In fact, a 2025 study found that college students who participated in arts-based activities developed stronger analytical abilities as well as creative problem-solving skills, making them better equipped to complete complex coursework.

Through visual arts education, students developed disciplined mental habits, which students then applied to their other classes, allowing them to improve their overall performance.

So, STEM vs. STEAM? Which Should I Study?

Ultimately, when it comes to STEM vs. STEAM, the right choice depends on your career goals and learning style. 

Many primary and secondary schools now offer STEAM programs. However, very few universities or colleges offer specific programs built around STEAM. Here’s the good news: most undergraduate programs in math and science are built with STEM in mind. If you have electives, you can take some classes in arts and humanities subjects to broaden your skill set.

If you’re looking for a more focused post-secondary STEAM education, speak with an undergrad advisor. Your education is one of the most important investments you’ll ever make, so it’s wise to use the free resources available on campus! Advisors can help you build a class schedule that works with your goals.

By adding the arts into STEM programs, educators are helping to shape tomorrow’s great innovators and creative thinkers (that’s you):

“We talk about moving from STEM to STEAM, to include the arts and humanities and social sciences in a program of preparation for young people … The liberal arts element and the humanities element can add real value to the curriculum of a student pursuing an education program.”

– Paul Davidson, Universities Canada president and CEO

If you’re ready to start your journey as an international student,create a free profile on the ApplyBoard platform to find a study program that matches your academic goals.