How to apply for art and design at UWE Bristol: three-year Fine Art, Illustration, Graphic Design, Animation, Photography, Fashion, Interior and Product Design degrees at the City Campus, all at 112 UCAS points, course-by-course portfolio guidance, Gaokao 72% for Year 1, portfolio requirements and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfers

The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is in Bristol in south-west England. Its art and design degrees belong to the School of Arts and are taught at the City Campus, mainly the Bower Ashton studios; Fine Art is based at the contemporary art venue Spike Island. This guide covers 2027/28 entry using UWE'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 are BA (Hons) degrees starting in September, all listed as open for applications, and all with a typical 2027/28 offer of 112 UCAS points. Course codes are in brackets:

• Fine Art (W101): three years full-time, or six years part-time; painting, sculpture, installation, performance, film and digital media
• Graphic Design (W211): three years full-time
• Illustration (W224): three years full-time
• Animation (W615): three years full-time
• Photography (W640): three years full-time
• Fashion Textiles (W23A): three years, or four years sandwich
• Fashion Communication (W2P2): three years full-time
• Interior Design (2C3W): three years, or four years sandwich
• Product Design (W241): three years, or four years sandwich
• Product Design Technology (W240): four years sandwich, or three years full-time

• With Foundation Year: UWE says every art and design degree has an integrated Foundation Year (Year 0), for example Fine Art W10F, Graphic Design W22F, Illustration W20F, Animation W61F, Photography W64F, Fashion Textiles W23F, Fashion Communication W2PF, Interior Design 2C3F and Product Design W41F. It builds your portfolio and also supports your English and communication skills.
• Course pages say international students who don't meet the academic requirements can qualify through one of UWE's Art and Design foundation courses.

2. Portfolio and interview

• Who submits one: course pages such as Fine Art and Product Design say applicants with subject-relevant qualifications are considered on their predicted or achieved grades, and those whose qualifications fall outside these areas are asked for a digital portfolio. The selection page says applicants "may be required" to submit one. Product Design Technology says only applicants who don't meet the standard entry requirements may be asked.
• How it's assessed: most courses say decisions are made primarily on the work and ideas in the portfolio, and you may be invited to an online interview if there are further questions; Product Design may use a telephone interview. Interviews must be your own unaided work.

The selection page suggests, for each course (summarised):

• Fine Art: work and ideas from notebooks, sketchbooks and research, plus self-initiated and project work.
• Illustration: sketchbooks; life or observational drawing; digital and/or handmade experiments; discuss one important piece (video, audio or written; you needn't appear on film); and in 75 words or less, how research and cultural references influence your work.
• Graphic Design: sketchbooks; recent annotated art and design projects; drawings and work across media, not just graphic design; and a statement you'd wear on clothing, written out in a font of your choice.
• Animation: 25–30 images in total; drawings from imagination and from life, design for screen (storyboards, layouts, character sets) and model making; animation work welcome but not essential; discuss one piece.
• Photography: 25–40 images, ideally including short sequences; work in other media; discuss one piece.
• Fashion Textiles: sketchbooks; recent drawing, collage, photography and material experiments; plus five drawings of items from your wardrobe (shoes, knitwear, a shirt, denim and a coat) in any media or scale.
• Fashion Communication: sketchbooks; only your strongest outcomes (photography, film, styling, graphics, drawing or collage); discuss a piece you'd like to make; social media links if you have them.
• Interior Design: sketchbooks; 2D and 3D work such as drawings and collages; digital and handmade experiments; annotations or short reflections.
• Product Design: you may be asked for a 10–20 page online portfolio of about 10–15 projects over 15–20 pages (A3 equivalent), sent as links for the Product Design lecturers to review.

3. Entry requirements

General (2027/28):

• 112 UCAS points, plus GCSE English at C/4 or equivalent.
• Most courses need no specific A-level or IB subjects. Product Design lists A-level "Art and Design; Design and Technology" and an IB Higher Level pass in a subject such as Design Technology or Visual Arts; Product Design Technology needs an A-level in one listed subject such as Art and Design, Design and Technology, Maths or Physics.
• English: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component, or an approved equivalent.

Students at high schools in China (China page):

• Year 1: Senior High School Certificate with at least 85%, or the Gaokao with at least a 72% overall average in the subjects relevant to the degree, or one year at a Chinese university with 70%. UWE notes these are minimums and competitive courses may ask for more.
• If you fall short: with a Senior High School Certificate score of at least 70 you can be considered for UWE's Art and Design foundation; for other courses there are international foundation and international year one options at UWE's International College, with guaranteed progression.

Students at Canadian high schools (Canada page, including BC):

• Year 1: a Canadian Secondary School Diploma or Quebec DEC with a 65% overall average in at least five subjects. Competitive courses may ask for more; check course pages for subject requirements.
• If you fall short: a High School Diploma with a 60% average makes you eligible for the Art and Design foundation.
• BC courses are not listed separately; UWE has not published any further requirement.

Under 18: you need a consent form signed by a parent or guardian; if your parents live outside the UK, you must appoint a guardian from an AEGIS-accredited agency.

4. How to apply and deadlines

• Routes: international undergraduates can apply through UCAS, through one of UWE's education agents or representatives, or at a regional office.
• UCAS deadline: the undergraduate page refers to the January UCAS deadline, after which you can still apply through UCAS or use UCAS Extra; check UCAS for the 2027-entry date.
• International key dates: published only for September 2026 entry so far: courses with an interview requirement closed to new applications on 29 June 2026, other courses on 3 August, with deposits due by 7 August. September 2027 dates have not been published yet.

5. Fees and scholarships

• International fee: £17,500 a year for 2027/28 on all the course pages above (home fee £10,050).
• International Student Scholarships: up to £4,000, for international and EU students who pay international fees; the selection method is not stated on that page.
• Canada scholarship of £4,000: once you hold an offer, send a short video answering three questions (why UWE, what you're looking forward to, how UWE could attract more students from your country) by 31 May for September entry. It is a first-year fee discount, and recipients take part in ambassador activity.
• Canadian loans: UWE can certify Canadian student loans such as OSAP and StudentAid BC.

6. Transfers

• China: a three-year diploma with 70%, or two or three years at a Chinese university with 70%, can lead to advanced entry "in some cases".
• Canada: UWE partners with Durham College and Fanshawe College, and students transferring from them receive a £2,000 first-year scholarship.
• Other advanced-entry rules are not published; ask the international admissions team.

7. Checklist by background

Students at high schools in China:

• 85% in the Senior High School Certificate, or a 72% Gaokao average in relevant subjects, for Year 1; IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component
• Prepare work against the selection page list for your course: about 25–30 images for Animation, 25–40 for Photography
• Apply through UCAS or UWE's agents in China

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

• A 65% average in at least five subjects
• After your offer, send a video by 31 May for the £4,000 Canada scholarship

Transfer students:

• With a Chinese diploma at 70% or two to three years of university, ask about advanced entry; Durham and Fanshawe students receive £2,000

Sources: UWE Bristol, BA Fine Art; BA Graphic Design; BA Illustration; BA Animation; BA Photography; BA Fashion Textiles; BA Fashion Communication; BA Interior Design; BA Product Design; BA Product Design Technology; Selection processes; Art and Design foundation year; International applications; Key dates for September 2026 entry; China; Canada; Undergraduate applications; Scholarships and bursaries. Courses, entry requirements and fees are for 2027/28 entry; international key dates are published only up to September 2026 entry. Check UWE Bristol for the latest details.