How to apply to art and design at UBC Okanagan: the Kelowna campus Visual Arts BFA asks for 15–20 images and a 300-word letter of intent by 31 January, and the Bachelor of Media Studies has its own portfolio; portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, Canadian high school students and transfer students

The University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus (UBC Okanagan) in Kelowna, in BC's interior, offers the Visual, Digital and Performance Arts BFA with a Visual Arts major, taught by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS). The faculty also offers the Bachelor of Media Studies (BMS), which also needs a portfolio. Forbest has a separate guide to Visual Art at UBC Vancouver; this one covers the Okanagan campus only, for students at Canadian high schools (especially BC and the Vancouver area), students at high schools in China, and transfer students.

1. What the BFA covers

• Length: four years. Okanagan BFA programs require 126 credits, and UBC notes they may take more than four years. Co-op is optional.
• First year: foundations in drawing and two-dimensional, three-dimensional and digital media, plus art history and creative and critical theory (for example VISA 102, VISA 104, VISA 106, ARTH 102 and CCS 150).
• Media: drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, video, animation, computational arts and movement-based performance, chosen to suit your practice.
• Upper years: the final two years are self-directed, with faculty supervision, ending in an exhibition. There is an off-campus art practicum course.
• Options: a Visual Arts major or minor, minors in Theatre or Art History and Visual Culture, and a dual degree with a Master of Management.
• The faculty offers CAD 2,500 undergraduate research awards for summer research and creative work.

2. How to apply: two steps

• Step 1: apply to UBC. Vancouver and Okanagan share one online application; you can submit only one, with a first and second choice. Choose the Okanagan BFA with "Major Visual Arts". The application fee is non-refundable.
• Step 2: submit the portfolio and letter of intent. After you apply, UBC emails a list of required documents. The portfolio and letter must be sent together, online or by mail to the faculty.
• Deadline: the portfolio page says 31 January (no year is shown; for 2027 entry plan on 31 January 2027 and follow your email).
• Selection: places are limited and entry is very competitive. Admission is based on the portfolio, letter of intent and grade average. The faculty says you don't need advanced skills; it wants to see work in progress and sketchbook pages as well as finished pieces.

3. BFA portfolio requirements

• Work: 15–20 images and/or links to up to three short videos (three minutes each at most), showing your best work and the range of media you have explored.
• Image description page (required): titles and media matching your numbered images and videos. You may add a link to your website.
• Letter of intent: up to 300 words on why you want to study visual arts, with your name, address and email. An artist statement is welcome but optional.
• Format: one .doc/.docx or one merged PDF; no PowerPoint or other presentations. Include your name in the file name, for example Lastname_Firstname_Portfolio.pdf.
• Size: no larger than 5MB; images at most 160 dpi and 1000 px on the long side. Post videos on YouTube or Vimeo and paste the links (with any passwords) into the description page. Three-dimensional work can be documented on video.
• Do not send original work. If you mail a portfolio and want it back, use a reusable mailer with return postage.

4. Bachelor of Media Studies (BMS) portfolio

• Apply to UBC choosing the Okanagan BMS, then submit materials by 31 January. Admission is based on the portfolio, letter of intent and grade average.
• Letter of intent: PDF, up to 500 words, on why you want to study media studies.
• Portfolio: up to 12 images of artwork; it may also include apps or games you have coded, creative coding, media art (such as Arduino projects), up to three short video links, blog posts, website designs and writing samples.
• Portfolio summary: PDF, up to 300 words, with titles, media and durations.
• Combine everything in one PDF or one ZIP file under 5MB. This guide did not read the BMS program page, so check UBC's admissions site for its other requirements.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC: high school graduation; English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 in Grade 12; a portfolio and letter of intent. No Grade 11 courses are specified; at least six Grade 12 courses are recommended but not required.
• The faculty's portfolio page lists the English course as "English 12 or English 12 First Peoples", while UBC's admissions site says English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12. Go by the admissions site.
• Related subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies, and Visual and Performing Arts.
• The program page gives no recommended grade range.
• Dates for Canadian high school applicants: if you graduated before applying, submit final grades by 15 March 2027; current students must finish all courses by 30 June 2027.

6. Students at high schools in China

• Credentials: graduation from a university-preparatory senior secondary program; the Upper Middle School Report of Grades; Huikao or academic proficiency test results and Gaokao results provided by CSSD.
• Gaokao: UBC expects at least the provincial Tier 1 university cut-off. If you are not writing the Gaokao, submit three or more AP exams in distinct subjects with competitive results.
• Grades: UBC says that in past years a 75% average (pass mark 60%) on China's scale was required; it varies by degree and year.
• BFA requirements: no specific courses, but a portfolio and letter of intent are required.
• High school applicants from outside Canada must submit documents by 15 March 2027.

7. English requirements

• Four or more years of full-time English-medium study in Canada, immediately before UBC, meets the standard; so do IB English A at 5 or higher, AP English at 4 or higher, and other routes.
• Tests: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 90 (reading and listening 22, writing and speaking 21), or 4.5 on the new scale; Duolingo 125; PTE 65. Submit proof by 15 February 2027.

8. Timeline (September 2027 entry)

UBC's dates page displays under the Vancouver section, and the Okanagan dates link redirects to it; the dates below are the university-wide ones listed there.

• Early October 2026: applications open.
• 15 November 2026: international students applying for the International Scholars Program submit the UBC and award applications.
• 1 December 2026: Canadian citizens and permanent residents apply by this date for Presidential Scholars and similar awards.
• 15 January 2027: UBC application deadline.
• 31 January: BFA/BMS portfolio and letter deadline; the dates page also lists 31 January 2027 for other admission documents.
• 15 February 2027: English proof deadline.
• 15 March 2027: document deadline for high school applicants from outside Canada.
• 1 May or 1 June 2027: most students accept their offer and pay the deposit (see your letter); 1 May is also the first-year housing guarantee deadline.

9. Costs and scholarships

• First-year estimate (UBC cost estimator, year not stated): Okanagan Fine Arts international tuition CAD 51,530, Canadian students CAD 6,201; student fees about CAD 950 and books and supplies about CAD 1,600. Media Studies is also CAD 51,530 for international students and CAD 8,252 for Canadian students.
• Application fee: CAD 173.25 for international applicants and CAD 78.50 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, non-refundable (as verified in Forbest's other UBC guides).
• International Scholars Program: based on financial need and overall achievement, requires school nomination; apply by 15 November.
• Faculty entrance awards for new art students are not described on the pages read; ask the faculty (fccs.ubco@ubc.ca).

10. Transfer students

• The BFA portfolio page does not give separate portfolio rules for transfer students; ask the Department of Creative Studies (creativestudies.ubco@ubc.ca).
• UBC minimum (UBC transfer page, as verified in Forbest's UBC Vancouver guide): a transfer average of at least C (60%), usually on the most recent 30 credits. This is only eligibility; competition is higher. BC college students can check course equivalents in the BC Transfer Guide.

Checklist

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

• Apply to UBC by 15 January 2027, choosing the Okanagan BFA with a Visual Arts major
• Take English Studies 12 (or English First Peoples 12)
• By 31 January, submit 15–20 images (and up to three short videos), the description page and a letter of intent of up to 300 words, in one file under 5MB

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 15 January 2027, or by 15 November 2026 for the International Scholars Program
• Reach the provincial Tier 1 Gaokao cut-off and submit CSSD-verified Huikao and Gaokao results, or three or more AP exams
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 bands); submit English proof by 15 February
• Submit the portfolio and letter of intent by 31 January

Transfer students:

• Transfer average of at least 60%; confirm portfolio requirements with the department

Sources: UBC Okanagan Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies and UBC Undergraduate Admissions, Visual, Digital and Performance Arts (BFA); BFA portfolio submission; BMS portfolio submission; Visual Arts (BFA) program page and requirements; Dates and deadlines; English language competency; University/college transfer; International Scholars Program. Information is for September 2027 entry (2027/28 Winter Session). Check UBC for the latest details.