As a senior in high school, she took an art foundations course as an experiment and afterwords gave up her previous intentions to become an optician to become an artist Yiadom-Boakye attended Central St. Martins College of Art and Design (1996-7); however, she did not enjoy her time there, so she transferred to Falmouth College of Art (1997-2000) where she eventually was awarded her undergraduate degree in 2000. She then completed an MA degree at the Royal Academy Schools in 2003.
During her senior year in high school, Yiadom-Boakye took an art foundations course as a trial and later decided to become an artist instead of an optician. After attending Central St. Martins College of Art and Design (1996-7), she did not enjoy the experience, so she transferred to Falmouth College of Art (1997-2000) where she earned her undergraduate degree in 2000. She then completed an MA degree at the Royal Academy Schools in 2003.