How to apply for art and design at the University of Northampton: three-year Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, Photography, Fashion, Interior, Product Design and Games Art degrees with a portfolio after your offer that can make it unconditional, China residents applying via representatives, portfolio requirements and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfers

The University of Northampton is in Northampton in the English Midlands. Its art and design courses are at the Waterside Campus (Fine Art in the campus Development Hub). This guide covers September 2027 entry using Northampton'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 that course pages list as starting in September, three years full-time, or four years with an Integrated Foundation Year. In brackets: the UCAS codes for the three-year and foundation versions, then the typical A-level offer:

• Fine Art (W100 / W101): BBC; painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and digital arts
• Graphic Design (W210 / W211): BBC
• Illustration (W220 / W221): BBC
• Animation (I710 / I711): BCC; also 4–6 years part-time
• Photography (W640 / W642): BBC
• Fashion, Textiles & Footwear (W230 / W236): BBC
• Fashion Marketing and Communication (N562 / N563): BBC; the page says the course is still undergoing validation
• Interior Architecture & Spatial Design (W250 / W252): BBC
• Product Design (W240 / W241): BBC
• Games Art (I630 / I631): BCC
• Games Design (I620 / I622): BCC, plus GCSE Maths at C/4

• BTEC offers are usually DMM; foundation versions usually ask for A-level DEE or BTEC MPP.
• Fine Art and Graphic Design say they expect applicants to have studied art or a relevant subject at A-level, BTEC or equivalent; Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Interior Architecture and Product Design all accept a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

2. Portfolio and chats

The chats and auditions page says art and design applicants are invited to an informal chat or portfolio review.

• Portfolio courses (Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Fashion, Textiles & Footwear, Interior Architecture, Product Design): after your offer you're invited to share work, and a successful portfolio may upgrade your offer to unconditional. Upload it within 21 days in the "Documents" section of the applicant portal, as a PDF or Word file named "My Portfolio", no larger than 10MB; HEIC files aren't supported.
• What each course asks for:
  • Fine Art: 10–20 pieces, such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture or 3D, photography and digital art, plus sketchbook work; work in progress is fine
  • Illustration: 10–15 pieces, showing research, ideas and development as well as finished projects
  • Graphic Design: 5–10 pieces, such as logos, branding, advertising, editorial, typography, photography, illustration, web or app design and moving image; sketchbooks and experiments welcome
  • Photography: 5–10 images, plus visual research or journal work and a short piece of writing on photography or lens-based media
  • Fashion, Textiles & Footwear: one piece showing your drawing ability and two pieces showing design development
  • Interior Architecture: conceptual thinking, experimentation and creative exploration, through sketches, process books, models, photography, printmaking or mixed media, spatial and material experiments; mood boards and 3D interior visuals are welcome but not required and not the focus at this stage
  • Product Design: 3–5 pieces of design work in 2D and 3D, such as ideation sketches, concept renderings, sketch models and prototypes, and CAD drawings
• Animation, Games Art and Games Design: an online chat of about 30 minutes on Blackboard Collaborate; email a digital portfolio of about 6–8 pieces to the course team a week before. For Games Art this can include observational drawing (perspective or anatomy), painting, concept art, animation, sculpture, graphic design and 3D modelling. The Animation and Games Art pages say all selected applicants are invited to a portfolio review and discussion.
• The Photography page adds that international students may submit their portfolio electronically.

3. Entry requirements

• English: IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with at least 5.5 in all bands.
• Students from China (East Asia and South East Asia page): Year 1 accepts the IB Diploma, an IB Certificate with good results, a foundation programme from a UK awarding body, and A-levels. The page does not list the Gaokao or the Chinese high school certificate, so whether they're accepted and at what level isn't published; ask Northampton's China team or check the course page.
• Students from Canada (Americas page, including BC): Year 1 accepts High School Graduation, the IB Diploma, an IB Certificate with good results, a foundation programme and A-levels; grade requirements aren't published, so ask the international team.
• If your grades fall short of Year 1, you may be offered the four-year option with the Integrated Foundation Year; pre-sessional English is available if your English is below the standard.

4. How to apply and deadlines

• Residents of China must apply through Northampton's Principal Representative or one of its recognised representatives in China (the same applies to India, Pakistan, Malaysia and several other countries). For other countries, recognised representatives are the preferred route.
• Other routes: UCAS (Northampton's code is N38; UCAS charges a fee), or "Apply now" on the course page through Northampton's online service, which is free.
• Documents: English test results, certified copies of certificates and transcripts, at least one reference and a personal statement.
• Deadlines: courses may close once full, so apply early. Key dates are published only for September 2026 (international deposit 7 September 2026, or 31 August for some courses; CAS issued by 21 September) and January 2027; September 2027 dates haven't been published. The pages we read don't give the 2027 UCAS deadline, so check UCAS.

5. Fees and scholarships

• International fee: the course pages show 2026/27 rates of £17,000 a year for new students, the same with a foundation year; home fee £9,790. 2027/28 fees haven't been published.
• University of Northampton International Scholarship: a merit-based reduction of £2,000, £3,000 or up to £4,000 every year (not in placement years), as long as you progress; up to £12,000 over a three-year degree. No separate application; the outcome is in your offer letter. To accept it you pay £7,000 of your first-year fee before your CAS is issued. The Americas page says students from Canada and the region are eligible.
• Canadian student aid: Northampton works with several provincial programmes, including StudentAid BC and OSAP; StudentAid BC applicants should email the international team when they submit.

6. Transfers

• The Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Interior Architecture and Product Design pages say students with a relevant HND or Foundation Degree and a suitable profile may enter Year 2 or 3.
• Northampton also offers top-up courses for international applicants.
• Other advanced-entry rules aren't published; ask the international admissions team.

7. Checklist by background

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through Northampton's representative in China, and ask the China team how the Gaokao and your high school certificate are used
• IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in all bands; upload your portfolio within 21 days of the invitation, 10MB maximum

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

• Grade requirements aren't published, so contact the international team first
• The International Scholarship comes with your offer; if you use StudentAid BC, email Northampton when you apply

Transfer students:

• With a relevant HND or Foundation Degree, you can apply for Year 2 or 3

Sources: University of Northampton, BA Fine Art; BA Graphic Design; BA Illustration; BA Animation; BA Photography; BA Fashion, Textiles & Footwear; BA Fashion Marketing and Communication; BA Interior Architecture & Spatial Design; BA Product Design; BA Games Art; BA Games Design; Design, Art and Performing Arts chats and auditions; How to apply as an international student; Key dates for international students; East Asia and South East Asia (China); Americas (Canada); International scholarships. Course pages show 2027/28 entry; fees are the 2026/27 rates, and international key dates are published only up to September 2026 and January 2027 entry. Check Northampton for the latest details.