How to apply for art and design at Robert Gordon University: a shared foundation year at Gray's School of Art before four specialisms, direct Year 1 entry for Photography and Interior Design, portfolios via Flickr, Gaokao 60% for Year 1, portfolio requirements and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfers

Robert Gordon University (RGU) is in Aberdeen, Scotland, and most of its art and design degrees are run by Gray's School of Art. This guide covers 2027 entry using RGU's own website, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Courses

These are the degrees on RGU's art and design undergraduate list; each course page lists four years full time with a September start. The course pages we read did not show UCAS course codes. RGU's UCAS institution code is R36; look up course codes on UCAS.

Four courses that start with a shared foundation year: Year 1 is the BA (Hons) Foundation in Art and Design, taught in two large open-plan studios, and you choose one of these before Year 2 (1 foundation year + 3 years of the specialism):

• Fine Art: painting, printmaking, sculpture, moving image and more (the course list includes photography, while the foundation page says drawing)
• Communication Design: graphic design, illustration, photography
• Fashion and Textile Design: fashion design, textile design
• Product, Ceramics and Jewellery

Each of these four pages says entry is from Year 2 only, either after the foundation year or with suitable qualifications.

Two courses with direct Year 1 entry:

• BA (Hons) Photography: four years
• BDes (Hons) Interior Design: four years, run jointly by the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment and Gray's School of Art

2. Portfolio and interview

• Foundation year, the four specialisms and Photography: all applicants with suitable qualifications are invited to a portfolio review or interview. You submit a digital portfolio through a Flickr account, following the downloadable Gray's School of Art portfolio guidance. After viewing portfolios, the school offers places to successful applicants and may invite others to interview. Offer holders are invited to an Applicants Event at the school.
• The guidance on the page is labelled "2025 Entry", and its download link redirects to an address that the site's robots.txt disallows, so we did not read it. The number of pieces and format are not published on the pages we read; ask admissions@rgu.ac.uk for the current guidance.
• Applicants for Year 2 attend an "advanced" portfolio review or interview.
• Interior Design: applicants without a Higher or equivalent in Art (Art and Design or Product Design in Scotland; Art and Design or Design and Technology in England) show creative ability through a portfolio, normally 12–15 items such as drawings, paintings, models, craft or photography.
• Applicants without standard qualifications can apply with creative work and experience, but still have a portfolio review or interview.

3. Entry requirements

UK qualifications:

• Foundation year (Year 1) and Photography: A Level CC including Art and Design (or a creative or media subject) and English (or a written subject such as History); IB 24 including HL Visual Arts and English
• Direct entry to Year 2 of the four specialisms: A Level BCC (same subjects), IB 27, or a relevant HNC/HND or Diploma in Foundation Studies
• Interior Design: A Level BCC including Art, with English at GCSE grade 6/B if not at A Level; IB 28 with HL Visual Arts and English at grade 5
• English: IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5; some courses may ask for more, so check with admissions@rgu.ac.uk
• International students who do not meet direct entry can start through RGU's International College (ICRGU)

Students from China: the China page says (as a guide, with each case considered individually):

• Year 1: Senior High School Graduation Examination (Huikao) average of 65% or higher (treated as Scottish Highers), or a Gaokao of 60%, i.e. 400/660 (treated as A Levels)
• Year 2: a Gaokao of 70%, i.e. 465/660
• You also need the subject requirements on the course page, such as Art and Design and English
• Most undergraduate courses need IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each area

Students from Canada: the Canada page says:

• Requirements vary slightly by province, but generally 65% in four Grade 12 subjects; BC courses are not listed separately
• College diploma or advanced diploma holders may get advanced entry, assessed case by case from transcripts
• The page does not say whether Canadian students are exempt from IELTS; ask RGU

4. How and when to apply

• International students can apply through UCAS, or, if applying only to RGU, directly online (with school certificates, transcripts, a personal statement, English results and a passport copy).
• The undergraduate applicants page says "to guarantee equal consideration applications should be submitted to UCAS by 29 January", without a year; it also says most courses accept later applications, the cycle stays open until the end of June, and Clearing follows. Check UCAS for the 2027 dates.
• Direct applications are acknowledged within 5 working days; applications needing academic review, such as advanced entry, take longer.
• International students wanting a January start apply through ICRGU's 9-month International Year 1, which leads into Year 2 of the chosen degree; the page does not say which art and design degrees this covers, so ask RGU.

5. Fees and scholarships

• RGU currently publishes 2026-27 fees: £18,940 a year for international students on the foundation year, the four specialisms, Photography and Interior Design. Fees are fixed for the course at the rate in your offer letter. 2027-28 fees are not yet published.
• The foundation year has extra costs: a £90 studio fund in Year 1 and £50–150 for materials.
• International Student Discount for Undergraduate Students: self-funded international students entering Year 1 in September who meet the standard entry requirements get £2,000 off each year, with no separate application; it appears in the offer letter.
• Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholarship: for international and EU students, covering the full first-year tuition fee. You need an RGU offer for a full-time undergraduate course, entry to Year 1 or 2, and a September 2027 start; applications close on 1 June 2027, and selection is on academic merit, community engagement and extracurricular activities.
• Only one RGU-funded scholarship applies per programme; if you qualify for more than one, the higher discount is applied automatically.

6. Transfer and advanced entry

• The four specialisms take direct Year 2 entrants (see above). Communication Design, Fashion and Textile Design, and Product, Ceramics and Jewellery say a relevant HND from a partner college may be considered for Year 2 or 3; Photography says Year 3.
• The China page says a UK BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma may be considered for Year 2, and a BTEC HND for Year 3 subject to course mapping.
• The Canada page lists partner colleges with mapped routes (such as Durham, Fanshawe, Mohawk, Seneca and St Lawrence); others can send transcripts to admissions@rgu.ac.uk for case-by-case review. The page does not say which subjects are mapped.

7. Checklists

Students at high schools in China:

• Gaokao 60% (400/660) for the Year 1 foundation year, 70% (465/660) for Year 2; IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each area
• Prepare a Flickr portfolio and ask admissions for the current guidance first
• Apply through UCAS or directly; the Vice-Chancellor's scholarship closes on 1 June 2027

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

• Generally 65% in four Grade 12 subjects, plus the subject requirements on the course page
• Ask whether you need an English test

Transfer students:

• College diploma or HND holders can apply for Year 2 or 3 and attend an advanced portfolio review

Sources: Robert Gordon University, Art and design undergraduate courses; Foundation in Art and Design; Fine Art; Communication Design; Fashion and Textile Design; Product, Ceramics and Jewellery; Photography; Interior Design; Students from China; Students from Canada; Undergraduate applicants; Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholarship; International Student Discount for Undergraduate Students. Fees are the 2026-27 rates currently published; check RGU for the latest details.