How to Apply for Art and Design at Ohio University: BFAs in Studio Art, Graphic Design and Interior Architecture with Direct Admission on 10 Works, a Studio Art BA Path with a BFA Application by the End of Sophomore Year, Portfolio Requirements and Timelines for Students from China, Canada and Transfers

Ohio University (OHIO) teaches undergraduate art and design through the School of Art + Design in the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts, mainly on the Athens campus. This guide summarizes Ohio University’s official information for students at high schools in China, students at high schools in Canada (including British Columbia and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Degrees and majors

• Studio Art BFA: six concentrations: Ceramics, Digital Art + Technology, Painting + Drawing, Printmaking, Photography + Integrated Media, and Sculpture + Expanded Practice.
• Graphic Design BFA: the school describes a focus on sustainability and social impact.
• Interior Architecture BFA: offered on the Athens campus and through OHIO Online; the FAQ says internships are required only in Interior Architecture.
• Art Therapy: listed as a BFA on the undergraduate programs page, preparing students for graduate study in art therapy.
• Studio Art BA and Art History BA: the BA pairs well with studies in other fields.
• There are also Honors Tutorial College programs in studio art and art history, an Art Education 4+1 track, and certificates and minors such as Biomedical Arts and Museum Studies.
• Foundations: all first-year students take the Foundations Program: one lecture course, ART 1240, and four studios (ART 1200 Description + Drawing, 1230 Structure + Space, 1210 Function + Practice, 1220 Image + Design), across 2-D, 3-D and time-based modes.
• Size: the FAQ says the school has under 400 students, a student-to-faculty ratio of about 13:1, and studio classes of no more than 20, most capped at 15.

2. Getting into a BFA

• Direct entry: applicants to the Studio Art, Graphic Design and Interior Architecture (Athens) BFAs must submit a portfolio; the FAQ says a successful review lets students enter any undergraduate BFA major directly.
• Without a portfolio: applicants admissible to the university who do not submit or pass a portfolio review are admitted to the Studio Art BA and may apply to a BFA before the end of their sophomore year. Students may also choose the Studio Art or Art History BA.
• Current students: apply to a BFA with the school’s application form, a recent DARS report and a 5-10 image portfolio (PDF) submitted to the school’s front office; decisions are emailed within two weeks of the deadline.
• Online Interior Architecture BFA: direct admission requires a personal statement, with an optional portfolio.

3. Portfolio requirements

• Studio Art, Graphic Design, Interior Architecture (Athens): upload 10 images of your best original work in any media; video or audio clips are accepted (limit each clip to 2 minutes). Include detail shots or alternate views only if necessary.
• Number: you may submit fewer than 10, but submitting your 10 best works is strongly recommended, regardless of media.
• Subject matter: none is required; Ohio says work showing creativity and personal voice scores much higher than work copied from another artist or that simply fulfils a structured assignment. Collaborative work is allowed if you explain your own contribution in the description.
• Photography: phone photos are likely fine; crop so only the artwork shows (no frame, hand or floor). Descriptions for each work are optional.
• Online Interior Architecture: a required personal statement on why you want to study interior architecture, and an optional 3-5 images.
• Art History: two writing samples (PDF), three to five pages each.
• BA applicants: the Studio Art and Art History BAs do not require a portfolio for admission, but talent-based scholarships are decided by portfolio, so submitting one is strongly encouraged.
• Honors Tutorial College: applicants to the HTC studio art major should submit a portfolio; one submission serves both reviews.
• How to submit: apply to OHIO first, then log in to your applicant status portal to reach the submission form.

4. Timeline

• University application (international deadlines page, no year stated): fall early action November 15, rolling deadline February 1; spring November 1. The College of Fine Arts encourages applying by November 15; applicants by February 1 are considered on a space-available basis, and later applicants may receive major decisions later.
• Portfolio: for fall 2027 priority consideration, submit all requirements by Monday, February 15, 2027. Applicants who meet the February 1 and February 15 deadlines receive major decisions by March 15.
• Two statements: the digital portfolio FAQ also says students should submit portfolios by the university’s early action deadline (November 15) for best consideration; scholarship recommendations go to the College of Fine Arts at the end of January and initial awards are posted to MyOhio from early February. Both dates appear on Ohio’s website, so confirm with admissions for your round.
• How to apply: the Common App or Ohio’s own online application; the fee is USD 75, and international applicants can contact admissions to request a waiver.

5. International requirements

• Review: holistic, looking at course rigor, grades and grade trends; tests, essays and recommendations are optional.
• English: TOEFL 72 with writing 17 (or 4 and writing 4 on the new scale); IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; Duolingo 110; PTE 48. Students without scores can start in the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE).
• Exemptions: students educated in exempt countries (including Canada, except Quebec) generally do not need English scores, though Ohio may request them.
• Students from China: a senior secondary school graduation certificate, usually with grades of B or 80% and above; transcripts in Chinese and English, certified and sealed by the school (notary certification is not accepted). How the Gaokao is used, and whether art exams are considered, is not published; ask admissions@ohio.edu.
• Students from Canada (including BC): a secondary school graduation diploma, usually 73% or B and above; other provinces are listed on the same page.

6. Costs and scholarships

• Costs (2026-2027 estimate, international, Athens): tuition and fees USD 26,792, lodging 8,954, meals 5,582, personal expenses including books and supplies 2,259, health insurance 3,239, total 46,826; the amount to show for a 2027-2028 I-20 is also USD 46,826.
• OHIO Guarantee: Ohio residents and non-residents pay a single fixed rate for tuition, room, meals and fees for four years.
• Fine Arts talent awards: the Fine Arts Talent Award (FATA), Talent Enhancement Award (FATEA) and Talent Trustees Award (FATTA) are reserved for incoming first-year students admitted to a Studio Art or Art History major; one portfolio covers all three.
  • The same page gives an application deadline of January 15 and says scholarship portfolios are accepted through February 20; both dates are shown here.
  • Awards renew for 8 semesters with at least 15 credits per semester, a 3.0 cumulative GPA and continued study in the College of Fine Arts.
  • FATA and FATEA are open to residents and non-residents of Ohio; FATTA is for non-residents only. Whether international students are eligible is not published; ask the school.
  • Students planning a double major must list Studio Art or Art History on the application to be eligible and add the second major after enrolling.
• University scholarships: international students can receive merit scholarships only if they start in fall; applying by November 15 gives priority consideration.
• Continuing students: each spring students can apply by portfolio review for continuing student scholarships.

7. Transfer students

• General art major first: students transferring from another institution must enroll as general art majors and complete the required Foundations and studio courses, or equivalents. The admission page says transfer admission requires a portfolio review.
• Transfer scholarships: upload 5 images (video or audio accepted); the priority date is May 15.
• International transfer: students with 9 or more college credit hours apply as transfers, and foreign university records need a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES member; transfers follow the rolling deadline.
• Changing major: the FAQ says students who move to the Studio Art BA after a first year in another department may still finish in four years depending on courses taken; a What-If DARS shows what remains.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to the university by November 15 (priority for direct entry and scholarships), and no later than February 1
• Prepare 10 original works (clips up to 2 minutes) and upload them in the applicant status portal; the fall 2027 priority date is February 15
• Prepare IELTS 6.0 (5.5 per band) or TOEFL 72; transcripts in Chinese and English, sealed by your school
• Ask the school whether international students can receive talent awards

Students at high schools in Canada (including BC and Vancouver):

• BC grades are usually 73% or B and above; Canada (except Quebec) is generally exempt from English tests
• Portfolio and dates as above

Transfer students:

• Enter as a general art major and complete Foundations and studio courses; transfer admission requires a portfolio review
• For transfer scholarships, upload 5 images by May 15

Sources: Ohio University, School of Art + Design undergraduate programs; Undergraduate admission requirements; Art + Design FAQs; Art + Design portfolios; Preparing a digital portfolio; College of Fine Arts application timeline; School scholarships; Foundations Program; International dates and deadlines; International costs and aid; International application; Requirements by country. The portfolio priority date is for fall 2027; the international deadlines page does not state a year; costs are for 2026-2027. Check Ohio University’s website for the latest.