How to apply for art and design at Arts University Plymouth: a specialist arts university whose dozen-plus three-year degrees all require a portfolio, with four-year Integrated Foundation and sandwich year options, portfolio requirements and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfers

Arts University Plymouth is in Plymouth, Devon, in south-west England, with its main site at Tavistock Place. It teaches only art, design and media. This guide covers September 2027 entry using the university's own website, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Courses

All degrees are BA (Hons), three years full time. Each also has a four-year Integrated Foundation version (previously called Extended BA) with a preparatory first year. UCAS course codes from the course pages (three-year / four-year Integrated Foundation):

• Fine Art (W101 / W103)
• Painting, Drawing & Printmaking (WWDF / W102)
• Illustration (W220 / W221)
• Graphic Design (W214 / W211)
• Textile Design (WYC2 / J400)
• Fashion Design (W290 / W234)
• Fashion Media & Marketing (NW52 / 7BD5)
• Interior Design & Styling (5LWB / B68G)
• Game Arts & Animation (W61M / W618)
• Photography (W645 / W600)
• Craft & Material Practices (67T2 / 69K5)
• Costume Production (PW34 / W451)

There are also two media degrees: Film & Screen Arts (W692 / P311) and Content Creation (CW20 / 7PW5, marked "subject to validation").

Sandwich year: every undergraduate course has an optional sandwich year, open to international students if visa conditions are met. It sits between Year 2 and the final year, lasts 6–12 months in the UK or abroad, is self-arranged and needs university approval. The fee is up to £1,250 and the award reads "with Sandwich Year".

One-year Foundation Diploma: the university also runs the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design as a pre-degree course, applied for directly; the 2026/27 international fee is £12,500.

2. How to apply and deadlines

• Route: applicants aged 18 or over apply for full-time degrees through UCAS, institution code P65. The China and Canada pages say direct undergraduate applications are accepted "in some cases"; ask Admissions.
• Deadline: the undergraduate how-to-apply page gives the January deadline for September 2027 as 6pm on Wednesday 13 January 2027. The international how-to-apply page says the deadline for most courses is 18:00 GMT on the last Wednesday of January. The two pages differ; check UCAS. Clearing is open after 30 June.

3. Portfolio

• Every course needs one: no offer is made before a portfolio is seen. If your application meets the entry requirements, you'll be invited to submit one for review by an academic.
• How many pieces: the portfolio tips page recommends no more than 20 pieces, while some course sections on the same page say around 20. Work in progress and process work are welcome, as are sketchbooks (a page-turning video or selected pages). Explain your role in group work; all work should be your own.
• Format: share one link, which can be PowerPoint, Google Slides, a PDF, Canva, a website or blog, YouTube or Vimeo, or image, sound or video files, then complete the portfolio submission form. Portfolios are normally reviewed within 7 days. You can also bring work in person to an Applicant Experience Day.
• Interview: the international page says that in some cases you may have an online interview with a course leader, by phone, Google Chat, Zoom or WhatsApp.
• A How To Create A Portfolio PDF (September 2026) is linked from the how-to-apply page but stored on an external file host, so this guide hasn't read it.

4. Entry requirements

General: 104–120 UCAS points from A-Levels, an Art & Design Foundation Diploma, BTEC, IB and others. The university says grades aren't essential on their own and the portfolio matters as much. The four-year Integrated Foundation typically asks for at least 32 UCAS points, including a creative subject, and a portfolio.

Students from China (China page), any one of:

• Senior high school certificate at 70%+ and Gaokao at 60%+
• Senior high school certificate at 85%+
• One year at a Chinese university with at least 60%
• A UK foundation qualification at 55%

For the UAL Foundation Diploma: Huikao 70% or senior high school certificate 80%, plus IELTS 5.5 (5.5 in each component). Applicants from China need an English test.

Students from Canada (Canada page), any one of:

• High school diploma from English-speaking Canada with at least 55% in at least five subjects
• Quebec DEC with at least 55% in at least five subjects
• BC: British Columbia Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma with Cs in five Grade 12 courses

The UAL Foundation Diploma needs Grade 11 completed with an average of 50%+. Canadian nationals don't need to prove English.

English: the language page (labelled 2025/2026 entry) asks undergraduates for IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component, or TOEFL iBT 4 (3.5 in each), PTE Academic 50 (50 in each), LanguageCert Academic B2 with 70 in each, or Trinity ISE II 90 (80 in each). 5- and 10-week pre-sessional courses are available.

5. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the undergraduate fees page gives £18,000 a year for international BA students starting in 2027/28 (the same for Integrated Foundation). The international finance page still lists only the 2026/27 fee of £17,500. Fees usually rise each year for new and current students.
• Deposit: students needing a visa pay a non-refundable £2,000 before a CAS is issued; the balance is due in full at enrolment, with no payment plans.
• Creative Scholarships: undergraduate applicants who submit a portfolio are considered automatically, with awards made on merit by a panel up to £2,000 as a fee reduction. The undergraduate fees page words this as up to £2,000 per year.
• Pro-Vice-Chancellor's Creative Excellence Award: £2,500 for a new full-time BA student, two awards; submit a portfolio first, then a form with a statement of up to 500 words.
• The international finance page still shows last cycle's material deadline of 25 February 2026; confirm the 2027 date with international@aup.ac.uk.

6. Transfers and advanced entry

• The Canada page says students with a diploma from a recognised college might enter Year 2 or Year 3 (final year); contact international admissions.
• The China page lists one year at a Chinese university with 60% as an entry route; it doesn't say whether this allows advanced entry.
• Other advanced-entry conditions aren't published; email international@aup.ac.uk.

7. Checklist by background

Students at high schools in China:

• Certificate 70% plus Gaokao 60%, or certificate 85%; IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component
• Apply through UCAS (P65); the how-to-apply page gives 13 January 2027, but check UCAS
• Submit a portfolio link when invited: no more than 20 pieces, with process work and sketchbooks

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

• BC: Cs in five Grade 12 courses; other English-speaking provinces: 55% in at least five subjects
• No English test needed for Canadian nationals
• A portfolio is required; 2027/28 fees are £18,000 a year

Transfer students:

• With a college diploma, ask international admissions about entry to Year 2 or Year 3

Sources: Arts University Plymouth, BA Fine Art; Fine Art entry requirements; BA Painting, Drawing & Printmaking; BA Illustration; BA Graphic Design; BA Game Arts & Animation; BA Fashion Design; BA Interior Design & Styling; BA Photography; Integrated Foundation entry requirements; Undergraduate how to apply; Undergraduate fees, finance and funding; Sandwich year; Portfolio tips; International how to apply; English language requirements; International fees and scholarships; Entry requirements for China; Entry requirements for Canada. This covers September 2027 entry; some pages still show 2025/26 or 2026/27 details. Check Arts University Plymouth for the latest information.