How to Apply to Lingnan University for Art: Animation and Digital Arts Requires a Portfolio and Interview, Film and Visual Arts Balances Theory and Practice, Gaokao Students Apply Independently: Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Students in China, at Canadian High Schools and Transfer Students

Lingnan University is in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. Its undergraduate art degrees are offered by the Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries (DACI) in the Faculty of Arts, and there are two four-year degrees: the BA (Hons) in Animation and Digital Arts and the BA (Hons) in Film and Visual Arts. Here is what you need to know for 2027/28 entry, based on Lingnan’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. What the two degrees cover

• BA (Hons) in Animation and Digital Arts (ADA), JUPAS code JS7133, launched in 2019/20.
  • Two concentrations: Digital Animation (History of Animation, 3D Animation Workshop, Storytelling and Storyboarding, 3D Character Animation Workshop) and Arts and Technology (Introduction to Arts and Technology, Interactive Art, Visual Programming, VR/AR Workshop).
  • Required courses include Computer Graphics, Arts of Europe, 2D Animation, Film Art and Storytelling, Digital Modeling and Rendering, and Concepts of Expanded Reality, with a Year 4 capstone project (animation, game, digital arts project or media installation).
  • 48 major credits (24 required, 12 concentration, 12 electives) plus 72 university-required credits, 120 in total.
  • Places: Year 1 has UGC-funded places (through JUPAS) and self-financed places (applied for directly through Lingnan’s online system); senior-year entry is self-financed only.
• BA (Hons) in Film and Visual Arts (FVA), JUPAS code JS7905, first-year entry. Renamed from the BA in Visual Studies in 2024, it centres on the history and theory of film art and art history, with practice-based courses in computer art, studio practice, film production, curating and internships, and a Year 4 capstone project. 48 major credits, 120 in total.
• The department also runs a BA (Hons) in Creative Media Industries for senior-year entry only (for holders of local sub-degree qualifications and similar); it is not covered here.

2. Portfolio and interview

• Animation and Digital Arts: the programme leaflet says both Year 1 and senior-year applicants must submit an art portfolio in the online application.
  • Digital format (for example a PDF) showing your past work in art, design, animation and related creation; give a link for videos; no more than 20MB.
  • Shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview (individual or group) and must present their portfolio for 3 minutes.
• Film and Visual Arts: the programme pages do not mention a portfolio or interview; this is not published, so ask the department.
• Lingnan’s Gaokao page says interviews depend on the programme and are arranged by email.

3. Students at high schools in China

(a) Current Mainland Gaokao candidates (including repeat candidates)

• Independent admission: Lingnan recruits independently and is not part of the national unified admission system. Apply directly in Lingnan’s online system under “Mainland Gaokao applicants”. Under Ministry of Education rules, once you are admitted by a Hong Kong university that recruits independently, Mainland universities in the unified system will not consider you.
• Minimum requirements: a total score at or above your province’s first-tier undergraduate line or the special-category control line, and 110 or above in Gaokao English (out of 150); other English tests cannot replace it.
• The ADA first-year admission page says Gaokao candidates from both arts and science streams may apply.
• Choices: the Gaokao admission document says you may apply for 3 UGC-funded and 3 self-financed programmes at once, listed in order of preference.
• Timeline: 2027/28 applications open 8 October 2026 and close 10 June 2027 for current Gaokao candidates (Lingnan press release of 12 October 2026).

(b) Students taking international curricula or other qualifications

• Apply through the “Overseas, Mainland and Transfer Applicants Holding International Qualifications” route; the whole application must be completed by the applicant directly.
• University minimums: three A-Level passes (or two A-Levels plus two AS Levels), the IB Diploma, or a US high school diploma with SAT 1190, ACT 24 or two AP exams at 3 (from Lingnan’s international qualifications document). The art degrees do not publish separate scores.

4. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC: BC Certificate of Graduation with a 70% average in five Grade 12 or provincially examinable courses; Ontario applicants need an OSSD with a 70% average in six Grade 12 U or M courses (from Lingnan’s international qualifications document).
• English: the ADA admission page says 70% in a Grade 12 English course meets the English requirement.
• Apply through the international qualifications route; dates are in the next section.

5. English and dates (international qualifications route)

• English (one of): IELTS Academic overall 6.0 (One Skill Retake accepted); TOEFL iBT 79; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590; ACT English and Reading 23 each; AP English Language or Literature 4; IB English 4; Canadian Grade 12 English 70%; Gaokao English 110. ADA advises taking English tests by June.
• 2027/28 dates:
  • Applications open 8 October 2026;
  • Early round closes 30 November 2026;
  • Main round closes 28 February 2027;
  • Final round for non-local applicants closes 30 June 2027.
• Application fee: HKD 200 per programme choice.

6. Transfer and senior-year entry

• ADA senior-year entry (self-financed places only): graduates of a recognised full-time Associate Degree or Higher Diploma of at least two years, holders of the relevant HKALE results, or other recognised non-local qualifications. A portfolio is also required, and the English requirements are the same as above (Canadian Grade 12 English 70%, Gaokao English 110 and so on).
• Students at other universities apply through Lingnan’s online system and are assessed case by case on a rolling basis; the year of entry depends on transferable credits (from Lingnan’s transfer applicants page).

7. Fees and scholarships

• 2027-28 tuition:
  • UGC-funded programmes: HKD 49,500 for local students and HKD 205,000 for non-local students;
  • ADA self-financed places: HKD 165,000 for both local and non-local students.
  • Non-local students also pay a HKD 700 student visa fee; 2027-28 hostel fees are under review.
• Non-local scholarships: non-local applicants to UGC-funded first-year programmes are automatically considered for a full scholarship (tuition, hostel and part of academic and living expenses), a full-tuition scholarship or a half-tuition scholarship, renewable each year up to the normal study period.
• ADA admission scholarships (self-financed students only): 2 awards of HKD 5,000 for Year 1, based on academic results (for example IB 35, an average of B in three A-Levels, SAT 1300, or an 80% average in six Ontario Grade 12 U/M courses) and an outstanding portfolio, considered automatically; 2 awards of HKD 5,000 for senior-year entrants with a cGPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale (3.3 on 4.3) and an outstanding portfolio. No BC standard is listed.
• FVA entrance scholarships: for JUPAS entrants with a best-five HKDSE score of 21 or above only; 2 awards of HKD 40,000.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Gaokao candidates: apply directly under “Mainland Gaokao applicants” from 8 October 2026, by 10 June 2027; aim for the first-tier or special-category line and 110+ in Gaokao English
• For ADA: prepare a digital portfolio under 20MB and a 3-minute presentation of it
• International curriculum students: apply by the early round (30 November) or main round (28 February); IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• BC: 70% average in five Grade 12 courses and 70% in Grade 12 English
• Use the international qualifications route, ideally in the early or main round; upload a portfolio if applying for ADA

Transfer students:

• Associate Degree or Higher Diploma graduates can apply for ADA self-financed senior-year places, with a portfolio
• Current university students are assessed case by case on transferable credits

Sources: Lingnan University, Animation and Digital Arts; Film and Visual Arts; ADA first-year admission; ADA senior-year admission; ADA programme leaflet (PDF); ADA scholarship scheme; BA Film and Visual Arts (Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries); Overseas, Mainland and transfer applicants; Mainland Gaokao applicants (in Chinese); Admission requirements for Mainland Gaokao (PDF, in Chinese); 2027/28 Mainland admissions press release; International qualifications (PDF); Fees and scholarships; Transfer applicants. Information is for 2027/28 entry. Check Lingnan University for the latest details.