How to Apply to Art and Design at the University of Connecticut: The School of Fine Arts BFA with a 15–20 Image Portfolio, Studio Foundations and Seven Concentrations, with Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Connecticut (UConn), undergraduate art and design is taught by the Department of Art & Art History in the School of Fine Arts, mainly on the Storrs campus. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UConn’s official information, for students at high schools in China (including A-level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Degrees and concentrations

• BFA in Art: 66 art/design credits and 12 art history credits plus general education, with a professional studio focus.
• BA in Art: within 120 credits, at least 42 studio credits and 9 art history credits, with the rest in general education and electives, leaving room for a minor or double major. The comparison chart on the admission page lists 12 art history credits and 30 credits at the 3000 level for the BA, while the degrees page lists 9 art history credits and at least 15 credits at the 3000/4000 level; check the catalog.
• Foundations first: all students complete Studio Foundations and then choose a concentration: Graphic Design, Illustration/Animation, Industrial Design, Painting/Drawing, Photography/Video, Printmaking or Sculpture/Ceramics. Once declared, students follow that concentration’s plan of study and are encouraged to take advanced courses across concentrations.
• The department also offers a BA in Art History (applicants submit an essay, not artwork) and minors in studio art and art history. The School of Fine Arts also has a separate Digital Media Design program (BFA concentrations in Game Design, 3D Animation, Motion Design & Animation, Digital Film/Video Production and Web/Interactive Media Design require a SlideRoom portfolio; the BA needs no extra component). It belongs to another department, whose pages we did not read; see dmd.uconn.edu/apply.
• Campus: art courses are offered at the Stamford campus every semester, but all art students must complete their degrees at Storrs. About 200 students are in the studio art degree.

2. Portfolio

• Who submits:
  • BFA: a successful portfolio review is required for admission to the department; submit through SlideRoom (accessed through the Common App, with a small supplemental fee).
  • BA: UConn’s pages differ. The department’s portfolio guidelines say the BA in Art requires an essay rather than a portfolio, while the comparison chart and first-year steps on the same page say a portfolio is required; the admissions office’s restricted programs page says both the BFA and BA in Art submit a portfolio via SlideRoom. BA applicants should check with the department.
• How many: 15–20 images of your best work, showing independent thinking and a range of visual art experiences; your strongest area should make up the largest part.
• Observational drawing: if drawing is the focus, include at least 10 drawings from direct observation.
• What to include: finished pieces, works in progress and sketchbooks; drawing, artist books, painting, photography, graphic design, video and animation (upload or link), digital media, multi-dimensional work (sculpture, installation, performance, wearable art, functional objects), prints and mixed media. Applicants submitting digital photographs must also show other forms of image-making.
• Discouraged: renderings of action heroes or anime characters, unless you plan to concentrate in Illustration/Animation and the characters are your own original designs. Heavy reliance on filters or Photoshop in photographs can obscure the review.
• In-person review: you can meet a faculty member to discuss your work, but only SlideRoom portfolios are considered for admission, so you must upload even if you attend. Sophomores and juniors are welcome to come for advice.
• If you are not ready: if your portfolio shows you are not ready for Foundations, the department will recommend entering through ACES (the Academic Center for Exploring Students), taking art classes more slowly and building a portfolio for a mid-year or end-of-year review in your first year.
• A successful portfolio review does not mean admission to UConn; you must also be admitted academically.

3. Deadlines (fall 2027 entry)

• 1 December: priority deadline for merit scholarship and Honors consideration.
• 15 January: Common App and SlideRoom portfolio deadline for first-year and international applicants.
• Early Decision: the admissions office’s fall 2027 dates list Early Decision with a 1 November deadline and notifications from mid-December, but the department FAQ says there is no early admission at UConn. Both statements are shown; follow the admissions office’s dates.
• Spring entry: the admissions office lists 1 October; international students cannot apply for spring.
• How to apply: Common App or Coalition, with an $80 fee; a personal essay of 250–650 words; two letters of recommendation are optional but preferred. No admission decision is made for the School of Fine Arts until the additional component (the portfolio) is received.
• Testing: optional, with no effect on admission or scholarship consideration if not submitted.

4. International requirements

• Education: complete secondary school equivalent to U.S. grades 9–12 and be eligible for university in your own country, with college preparatory courses in English, mathematics, physical science and social science.
• Transcripts: sent directly by your school, including senior-year courses and latest grades; non-English documents need certified English translations.
• English (required for non-native speakers; minimums): TOEFL 4.5 new scale (79 old), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110, LanguageCert Academic 70, PTE 60. Waivers include at least two years at a U.S. secondary school (excluding ESL), SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 510+, ACT 24+ on English, Reading and Composite, and IB Higher Level English 5+. Applicants who are otherwise admissible but miss the English requirement may get conditional admission through UConn’s American English Language Institute (UCAELI).

5. Students at high schools in China

• Documents: when applying, submit Grade 10 and 11 transcripts showing Grade 12 courses; after graduating, submit three-year transcripts and the graduation certificate, with certified English translations.
• Gaokao and art exams: UConn does not publish whether they are considered; ask Undergraduate Admissions.
• AP: the department says an AP portfolio score of 5 can substitute for Drawing I (in the minor requirements); credit toward the major is not published.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• Documents: submit Grade 9–11 transcripts when applying; after graduating, Grade 9–12 transcripts and the provincial diploma.
• BC: grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published, and the listed English waivers do not mention Canadian schools; check with Admissions.

7. Transfer students and change of major

• Who is a transfer: anyone with 12 or more transferable college credits after high school.
• Art is a restricted program: transfers submit via SlideRoom (the department’s transfer steps list a portfolio for the BFA and an essay for the BA). The department gives 1 February for the Common App and SlideRoom; the admissions office also lists the School of Fine Arts (except Art History and Theatre Studies) at 1 February, noting supplemental components may have different deadlines, so check with the department.
• GPA: successful transfer applicants typically have a 2.7 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale); some restricted programs require more, and the threshold for art is not published.
• Change of major: current UConn students select “Current UConn Student Change of Major/Additional Degree Applicants” in SlideRoom. The department says SlideRoom submissions for the BFA reopen on 1 August.
• International students cannot transfer in for spring.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 estimates for out-of-state students at Storrs (USD; international students are not listed separately): tuition 39,678, university and student fees 4,564, housing 8,288, food 6,896, for direct costs of 59,426; with waivable health insurance (3,214) and the textbook package (570), 63,210; the official estimated total (including books, travel and personal costs) is 67,108. Whether art majors pay extra material or studio fees is not stated on the pages we read.
• University scholarships: apply by 1 December to be considered for all university-wide merit awards; the Global Excellence Award and Global Distinction Award are for international applicants and renewable for four years; most merit awards are considered automatically.
• Department scholarships: the Department of Art & Art History has a small number of merit scholarships for first-year students, and SlideRoom portfolios are used in award consideration; offers must be accepted or declined by 15 April. From sophomore year, students can compete through the annual Scholarship Exhibition.
• Financial proof: after admission, the I-20 requires a financial statement and proof of funds for the first year.

Application checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare 15–20 images, with at least 10 observational drawings if drawing is your focus; submit the Common App by 1 December for scholarships, then upload through SlideRoom from the Common App by 15 January
• Send Grade 10–11 transcripts (showing Grade 12 courses) with translations; TOEFL 4.5 (new), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110
• If applying for the BA, ask the department whether to submit a portfolio or an essay

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

• Same dates and portfolio; send Grade 9–11 transcripts and the provincial diploma after graduating
• Ask Admissions whether you need English scores

Transfer students:

• Submit the application and SlideRoom materials by 1 February; international students can only start in fall; ask the department about GPA and credit evaluation

Sources: University of Connecticut, Art & Art History undergraduate admission; Undergraduate degrees in art; International first-year applicants; First-year dates and deadlines; Transfer dates and deadlines; Transfer admission requirements; Restricted programs; Tuition and costs; Merit scholarships. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check UConn for the latest details.